Helen Rujbally wins Westway By-election
Last night Helen Rujbally won a decisive victory in the Westway by-election for the Liberal Democrats, called following the resignation of popular Caterham councillor Caroline Warner.
Helen won both the District and Parish council seats that she contested, winning the District Council seat with over 50% of the vote, and beating local Conservative Councillor Eithne Webster to win the Parish Council seat.
Street Lights CUT - Support for Elderly CUT - Recycling Centres CUT
But Surrey Tories grant £400k to Guildford Art Gallery
There was outrage last week as the Tory administration of Surrey County Council gave a grant of £400,000 to an art gallery in Guildford that has £37million in the bank!
Hardworking Helen says, “Surrey needs to save money - we understand this. But to cut vital services like streetlights, opening hours of recycling centres and important support for the elderly whilst giving money away to profitable organisations is stupid.”
Delays to EU Withdrawal Bill make Southern Rail look punctual
Responding to reports the EU Withdrawal Bill will be delayed again, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said:
“The delays to this Bill make Southern Rail look punctual.
Vince Cable responds to IPPR report on inequality
A report by the IPPR has revealed that wealthiest 10% of households have five times the wealth of the bottom 50% and nearly 900 times the wealth of the bottom 10%.
Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable commented:
Dismay as "broke" County Council gives £400K grant to Surrey art gallery with £38 MILLION in funds
Liberal Democrat county councillors have condemned a decision by Conservative-run Surrey County Council to award a £400K grant to an art gallery which has £38m of funds and an income of £1.2m a year.
The Watts Gallery in Compton, Guildford, was awarded the money following a decision by the Leader of the Council at a meeting on 12th September 2017. In the papers produced, the County Council's Chief Finance Officer warns that the County Council's financial position is extremely serious, that the proposed expenditure has not been budgeted for and that the gallery was already "financially viable".
