Following a question from one of my Lib Dem colleagues, Surrey County Council yesterday confirmed it was opening several coronavirus testing centres, including Goldwater Lodge in Woking, for essential workers who are asymptomatic and have no symptoms. A pilot scheme will be introduced initially at three sites at the beginning of February.  Bourne Hall in Epsom, […]

The York Road Project and I have written to the Government calling for those working with homeless people to be treated as a priority group in the coronavirus vaccination programme. Several years ago when I served as Mayor of Woking, I chose the York Road Project, as my mayoral charity.  The invaluable work they do […]

The Lib Dems are calling on the Government to raise Carer’s Allowance by £1,000 a year, to help support 1,250 unpaid carers in Woking during the pandemic. The party’s leader, Ed Davey, who has promised to be the voice of the 9 million carers in our country, has written to the Prime Minister urging him […]

Earlier this month, Woking Borough Council agreed to implement all the recommendations of an independent review into the decisions and Council processes behind the Woking Football Club development. This review heavily criticised the way the Conservative-run Council is managed and made more than 20 recommendations for improvement. The independent review confirms the serious issues raised […]

The Lib Dems have called for teachers to be vaccinated against covid after the Government admitted schools were the epicentre of high community transmission. My colleague Daisy Cooper, who is the Lib Dem Spokesperson for Education and MP for St Albans, has written a letter to Ministers Gavin Williamson and Matt Hancock to ask them […]

My Lib Dem colleagues and I are urging residents to respond to the latest proposal by the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner for a 5.54% increase in the police element of Council Tax. The proposal corresponds to an annual increase of £10 for Band A households, £15 for Band D, and £30 for Band H […]

As we are in another national lockdown, I want to make sure local people in Woking are aware of where to get the latest advice and support. This virus sadly is not just going to go away quickly despite the hope a vaccine has brought us. As difficult as it is, we will get through […]

As Christmas approaches and 2020 draws to a close, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the very best for the New Year. There is no doubt that this year has been a difficult one for all of us.  The challenges of separation from loved ones, loneliness and financial uncertainty have conspired to […]

The Lib Dems and I have condemned the Chancellor for failing to introduce a comprehensive plan to save jobs after it was revealed that almost 3,000 people in Woking are currently on Universal Credit. As a party, we have criticised Rishi Sunak’s constant chop-and-change approach, urging him to put in place a proper plan to […]

The Conservatives running Surrey County Council have launched a consultation on plans to cut school funding for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN). They plan to abolish the “additional SEN funding” which goes to 67 primary and 2 secondary schools in Surrey.  Beaufort, Goldsworth, St Hugh of Lincoln, West Byfleet Infant and West Byfleet Junior Schools […]