The new enlarged Surrey County Council (now with 80 members) met formally for the first time on 24th May. A new chair (David Davis) and vice-chair (Angela Fraser) were elected. The previous leader Nick Skellett was re-elected and announced his new cabinet, including three new faces.
Responding to the publication of the Identity Cards Bill, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Mark Oaten MP, said "If there was ever any doubt that the costs of this scheme were going to spiral out of control, the new figures should put paid to them. £93 is a ludicrous amount of money to ask people to pay, especially when you consider the combined cost for a family with children over the age of 16."
Parliamentary candidate Hannah Hedges was jubilant last night as Liberal Democrats came second behind Peter Lilley, the Conservative candidate. in the general election, with Labour in third place. Hannah Hedges said "This was a very good night for the local Liberal Democrats. We all worked hard for this results and we are grateful for the strong support for the Lib-Dems in this constituency. We increased our vote by over 4,000 and our share of the vote increased from 18% to 26%".
Commenting on today's agreement by the richest fifteen EU member states to set a new spending goal in the fight against world poverty, Andrew George MP, Liberal Democrat International Development Spokesperson, said "The new spending goal of 0.51 % is by far not ambitious enough. Four EU countries have already achieved the UN target of 0.7%."
New Leader of the Opposition on Rochdale Council Cllr. Alan Taylor has responded to Labour and the Tories joining forces by vowing to lead the party into control of Rochdale Council.
The BBC reports that plans to exhibit a boring machine used to build the Channel Tunnel are causing controversy in Shepway. Planners at Shepway Council want to put the machine, which was sold on the internet site eBay, on display in Folkestone near junction 13 of the M20.
