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:

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SAY NO TO R4U U-TURN ON CABINET REVIEW

The Residents for Uttlesford election manifesto in 2019 promised: "We will review
and improve or replace the current Cabinet system to make the District Council fairer
and to ensure all that all voices are heard."
"Fine words, which we agree with. But what is the reality", says Stansted Lib Dem
councillor, Geoffrey Sell? "The recommendation at last week's meeting of the
Governance Review Working Group was to stop work until Spring of 2021 on
reviewing the current Cabinet system. A reason given for this was that the Corporate
Plan had allocated no resources for the review."
Lib Dem councillors Ayub Khan and Geoffrey Sell both expressed their opposition
and labelled it "a failure of political will".
Said Cllr Khan, (Lib Dem, Stansted South & Birchanger): "If you think something is
important the necessary resources will be found".
The two Liberal Democrat councillors fortunately managed to secure the support of
colleagues from other parties. They are now recommending the continuance of the work of
the Governance Review Group.
Cllr Khan added "Now is not the time for R4U to put this on hold. We have to look at
how we can do better as a Council in communicating with and being accountable to
local residents."
Cllr Sell called upon the R4U administration to honour its manifesto pledge and to
commit the necessary resources so that the review can go ahead.

Uttlesford Liberal Democrats have responded to reports that the Government is expected to publish plans next month to reorganise councils in Essex. The leader of Uttlesford Lib Dem councillors, Cllr Alan Dean said that "the time is not right for such an upheaval whilst local councils are still dealing the
consequences of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the emerging economic recession.
"Reorganisation would be extremely resource intensive and an unwelcome distraction at a
time when we should be completely focused on responding to the recovery our communities
in Uttlesford need", Cllr Dean said.