Last week, the news broke that the verdict of Ofsted’s most recent monitoring visit to Surrey County Council’s Children’s Services would not be published until after the election on Thursday 6th May. The explanation for this from the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills is that “it is normal practice to delay […]

Earlier today, Surrey County Council unanimously agreed to my motion which would see the Council look at holding meetings remotely after lockdown as finished. The County Council and I hope virtual meetings will save taxpayers money and reduce its environmental impact, as well as encourage more working age people and those with caring responsibilities to […]

An estimated 1,647 care home residents – 17% of Surrey’s care home population – have tested positive for coronavirus since the Government lifted the last national lockdown on 2nd December 2020. This distressing information came in response to a question from the Lib Dem team and I at the County Council’s Adults and Health Select […]

The Lib Dems are calling on the Government to “give carers a break”, by giving councils immediate emergency funding so they can provide the support services unpaid carers need to take a weekly break. Almost 10,000 – 9,817 to be exact – people in Woking are looking after elderly, disabled or vulnerable people during the […]

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 and I are asking people across Woking who care for relatives to get in touch and share their story – to mark National Carers Rights Day. Lib Dem Party Leader Ed Davey has said he wants the party to be a strong voice for the millions of carers across the country – […]

The Lib Dems are calling on the Government to ramp up mental health support for health and care staff in Woking to ensure “world-class” support for those tackling the virus head on. Highlighting the “deep scar” coronavirus will leave on health and care staff in Woking, the local Lib Dems and I have put forward a package […]

The Lib Dems have launched a campaign calling for a ‘Frontline Support Package’, a five-point plan to give frontline workers the support they need and the recognition they deserves as they get us through this appalling coronavirus crisis. Acting Leader of the Lib Dems Ed Davey thanked the “army of workers protecting us” in hospitals, […]

Earlier today, my Lib Dem colleagues and I voted against Surrey County Council’s proposed budget for 2020/21 as it would put services to vulnerable people at further risk.  Almost every day I hear from families struggling with their child’s SEND needs or trying to get care packages for elderly relatives.  The County Council rations these services […]

Brexit is making the staffing crisis at St Peter’s and Royal Surrey NHS Trusts even worse, the Lib Dems have warned. Figures published by the Lib Dems reveal that 78 EU staff working at the Royal Surrey NHS Trust and 63 at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital have already left the health service this year. […]