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.
Commenting on the Chancellor's Autumn Statement announced yesterday, Cllr Hazel Watson Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition on Surrey County Council said:
Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have criticised the Conservative-run administration at County Hall for spending £4,158 of Surrey Council Taxpayers money on a two day trip to Farnham Castle in Surrey for 26 senior Conservative councillors and council officers.
An answer to a question from Surrey County Council's Liberal Democrat Communities spokesperson Councillor John Orrick to the County's Conservative Cabinet today has confirmed that the Liberal Democrats were right to raise concerns about co-operation across the County's borders over fire and rescue provision.
The Conservative-run administration at Surrey County Council have failed to take action supporting local residents concerns over Heathrow and Gatwick expansion, despite a unanimous vote by a meeting of the County's Full Council.
The Coalition Government has today announced that Surrey will get £7.5 million to deliver 15 hours a week free early years education for the poorest two-year olds by 2014.
Councillor Hazel Watson, the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition on Surrey County Council, has welcomed the news that the Coalition Government's plans to bring superfast broadband to Surrey have been approved by the European Commission.
