Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

This time last week, 100,000 people marched through the streets of London calling for the public to have a final say on Brexit.

Everyone can see the Conservatives are making a mess of Brexit, Theresa May's negotiations on the deal are getting more chaotic and confusing - meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour leadership is helping the Tories deliver a destructive Brexit that will be bad for Britain.

Epsom and Ewell MgSO₄ Arts Festival 2-8 July 2018

The year 2018 is being celebrated as the 400-year anniversary of the discovery of Epsom Salts, Magnesium Sulphate MgSO₄.

Events have been organised at Epsom Library, Bourne Hall and Nescot, with live performances at lunchtime in Epsom Square (formerly known as Derby Square).

On 18th June 2018, the Home Office issued a letter to the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, regarding Ahmed Hassan's interaction with the police and Home Office, prior to the Parsons Green bombing incident in September 2017. Commenting on the letter, Cllr Hazel Watson (Liberal Democrat, Dorking Hills) said today:

Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have launched a petition calling for the recent increase in allowances for Conservative councillors to be reversed. The increase was voted through by Conservative Councillors with four new positions of "Deputy Cabinet Member" created, each at a cost to the taxpayer of £10,000, despite the County Council planning millions of pounds of cuts to services over the next year. The Conservatives also voted to reinstate allowances for vice-chairs of committees, contradicting a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel which concluded that allowances for vice-chairs were not necessary.

Liberal Democrat County Councillors in Surrey have heavily criticised the Conservative-administration at County Hall after Conservative Councillors awarded themselves thousands of pounds of extra allowances in a vote at Council yesterday. The vote means that 4 new Deputy Cabinet positions will be created, at a cost of £40K a year, as well as extra allowances for committee vice-chairs. Liberal Democrat County Councillors opposed these increases and voted against them at County Hall.

Cllr Chris Botten, Leader of the Liberal Democrats at Surrey County Council, said:

Reacting to the news that Government Commissioners will be overseeing Children's Services in Surrey for 3 months, Cllr Chris Botten, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said:

"I welcome the decision for Commissioners to work in Surrey over the next 3 months. The County Council needs a laser-like focus in improving these vital services for the children of Surrey and the work of the Commissioners will aid this process.

Responding to the publication of today's Ofsted inspection of Surrey County Council, Cllr Chris Botten, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

"The publication today of the Ofsted report into Surrey's Children's services makes difficult reading, and tells of a slow, almost dilatory approach to improvement since the last Ofsted inspection.

The Liberal Democrat group on Surrey County Council have appointed Cllr Chris Botten as Group Leader following the retirement of Cllr Hazel Watson from the group leadership, a role she has fulfilled continuously since 2005.

Cllr Botten, who has represented Caterham Hill division since 2017, said: "Hazel has worked incredibly hard over many years and I will be looking to build on her strong legacy. It is fitting that her 25 years as a county councillor will be celebrated at next week's Council AGM.

The South Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have won control of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Tthis is an amazing result and the first time that the Liberal Democrats have been in charge of the district since it was created. It is a huge responsibility, but the leaders of the local party believe there could not be a better team to take it on.