Thank you to all who voted for her, and for the army of volunteers who put so much effort in.
The work starts now.
You can watch her gracious acceptance speech via this link.
When Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman, Councillor Jonathan Lees, addressed the "Save Epsom Hospital" rally in Rosebery Park on 14th July, he found himself following on after veteran Labour MP Jack Ashley, now Lord Ashley, a long-term supporter of Epsom General Hospital.
According to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council's latest issue of their 'Insight' magazine, "residents' association councillors work together in the council but are not a political party". This is not true.
The Audit Commission's findings in Epsom & Ewell Borough Council for the year 2005/6 have now been published. The Commission was clearly unhappy with performance on recycling and street cleansing. Jonathan Lees, Leader of the Opposition and Councillor for Stamford Ward issued the following statement :
Surrey County Council's poor performance in the delivery of some of its key services, compared to other councils, was highlighted today by the Liberal Democrats. Of particular concern is its poor performance in improving the condition of the roads. According to recent Government figures nearly 40% of Surrey's main roads were in need of repair last year.
The new Lib Dem team at County Hall dived straight in today, putting forward proposals to give Surrey residents the right to present petitions to the Full Council. For the first time this would allow residents direct access to its most important decision-making body. The intention was to make the County Council more democratic by bringing it into line with the many other councils across the country that already give their residents this right. The motion was proposed by Eddie Owen (Guildford East) and seconded by John Doran (Horsell). However the proposals were voted down by an alliance of Conservative and Labour councillors, so Surrey residents will continue to be denied the rights available to residents in many other parts of the country.
Following the County Council elections on 5th May, the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council re-elected Hazel Watson as Group Leader, with Ian Beardsmore as her deputy. Colin Taylor chairs the group and John Doran is treasurer.
Leader's Speech to Autumn Conference 2025
Women’s rights around the world are under attack, with authoritarianism on the rise and deep cuts to UK aid undermining decades of progress. Defending women's rights must be a top priority and the UK must act boldly.
Two years of brutal civil war have turned Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 30 million people in urgent need of aid. Our new policy calls for UK leadership to end the conflict - standing with the Sudanese people.
