A Unite/Mori student survey carried out in January 2004 on voting intentions gives the Lib Dems a leading share of 34%, with Labour on 28% and the Tories third on 19%. Students will have a major impact in 2005, as the elections are expected during the university year, on May 5, unlike in 2001 when the elections fell during the holiday period.
Commenting on the launch of an online map to tell homeowners about flooding risks in England and Wales, Norman Baker MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, said:
Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy today launched the Liberal Democrat Pre-manifesto - the first important stage in the manifesto process, which will take the Party into the General Election.
Under new Liberal Democrat proposals police chiefs would sign contracts with local communities setting out how many officers they would deploy. The "minimum policing guarantees" would set funding levels for local police for a rolling three-year period. The guarantees are part of the party's new plans to tackle crime. The plans include using money earmarked for the government's ID card plan to hire an extra 10,000 front line police and 20,000 community support officers.
Question to 5 February Cabinet Meeting from Hazel Watson (Dorking Hills):
Speaking in response to the widely distributed email from Surrey County Council's Chief Executive to a member of the public over the recent stay by Conservative Cabinet members and senior council officers at Farnham Castle, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition Hazel Watson said:
The Conservatives were pushed into an unprecedented fourth place in the Sunbury Common by-election yesterday, as Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Spoor stormed to victory, gaining more than double the number of votes of his nearest rival.
Surrey County Council's Conservative-run administration have rejected a call by the Liberal Democrats for the County's speed limits policy to be changed to make it easier for 20mph zones to be introduced where evidence says they are required and they are supported by local residents.
Councillor Fiona White (Guildford West), the Deputy Leader of Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats has condemned the Conservative leadership at County Hall for having no ambition to improve arrangements for the protection of children in Surrey.
At tomorrow's meeting of the Full Council of Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats will be calling on the Conservative-run County Council to enable more parents of disabled children to have short breaks to support them in their caring role.
