The Liberal Democrat councillors on Uttlesford District Council have asked that the council should volunteer to house some refugees from Afghanistan, as part of the new Afghanistan citizens' settlement scheme announced by the Government today.

Cllr Melvin Caton, the leader of Liberal Democrats on the council said "Uttlesford has welcomed a number of Syrian families to the district in recent years following the civil war in that country. We should do the same for refugees that are fleeing their homes or face threats of persecution from the Taliban in Afghanistan."

All members of Liberal Democrat group on Uttlesford are part of a cross party group of thirteen councillors that have called for a vote of no confidence in the Leader and Cabinet of the Council led by the Residents of Uttlesford Party. Conservative, Green and Independent councillors form the rest of the signatories.

Uttlesford Liberal Democrats have said that the decisions of the Planning Inspectors allowing expansion at Stansted Airport to 43 million passengers per annum and the award of costs against Uttlesford District Council will result in an "environmental and financial disaster" for residents in the Uttlesford district.

Locally in Uttlesford we face a consistent line of attack from Residents for Uttlesford and from independent councillors against 'Westminster parties'.

We are saddened that this has culminated in a post on the R4U facebook page in which Dan Starr (in an interview with The London Economic) seems to attribute the cause of the death of an MP, presumably Jo Cox, to Westminster party activists. (link to article here)

This May 6th, Liberal Democrats will be standing candidates in Essex County Council elections as well as in two by-elections for Uttlesford District Council.

Introducing your Essex County Council Candidates

Our local communities need a strong local voice at Essex County Council. Having neglected town and rural services for years, the Conservatives are now intent on cutting a further £46 million from the budget.Our stretched local public services, like the libraries, mental health and youth services are going to be under threat again. Liberal Democrats are the main opposition to Conservatives at Essex County Council. We are best placed to work Essex-wide to make real progress:

Uttlesford Liberal Democrats fear that the decision on the appeal against further expansion at Stansted Airport could result in an environmental and financial disaster for the Uttlesford district and its residents.

At the conclusion of the public examination into the appeal against the District Council's refusal to grant permission for the airport to expand to 43million passengers per annum(mppa), the local Liberal Democrats have expressed dismay and doubts about the strategy that the council adopted during the appeal hearing.

Liberal Democrats in the East of England have called on the Government to reinstate the EnAble Fund for disabled candidates running for public office.

With political campaigning made more difficult because of Covid-19, disabled candidates are unfairly disadvantaged. The current Conservative Government should fulfil the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, which states disabled people have the right to 'participate effectively and fully in political life on an equal basis with others.'

Adam Robertson, Diversity Lead for East of England Liberal Democrats, said: