Following strong results in the local elections on 2nd May, the Liberal Democrats make up the largest group on the Town Councils of Lewes, Seaford and Newhaven and have therefore nominated the new mayors for all three towns!

In Seaford, Nazish Adil, known as 'Pinky', has become the town's first ethnic minority British Asian mayor. She is a very active local resident and pledged to work to ensure all voices are heard in planning for the town's future. Pinky said, “The core Lib Dem values of tolerance and respect for diversity are at the heart of my motivation for running for election; so I am delighted to be able to step up and serve the community to deliver on the interests of all our residents.”

In Lewes, John Lamb follows Lewes’ first ethnic minority mayor, Janet Baah, and he has set out a clear demand to deliver on the Lewes Neighbourhood Plan, which includes low cost housing as a key priority for local residents. John said, “It’s a real privilege for me to take over as Mayor after Janet Baah. Janet set a very high bar with her commitment to bringing a fresh perspective to the role and I look forward to continuing to ensure that people of all backgrounds are valued in our town. I have worked for many years on technology for people with disabilities, so accessibility will continue to be a strong focus in my term as Mayor.”

In Newhaven, Graham Amy leads a strong team with an overall Lib Dem majority on the Town Council. He set out priorities to ensure that Newhaven's residents are properly consulted on future priorities for the town and a demand to regenerate the High Street. Graham said, “The Lib Dems are leading the push for a change across Lewes District. We champion local action and listen closely to residents’ views. We will continue to push for better representation of local needs at all levels; by ensuring that the Town Councils are able to support local residents and pushing back against the Tory cuts at District and County Councils and central government.”

The full results are now in for local elections across England and the Lib Dems have had the best results in 20 years, we have taken more than 700 new seats and have firmly demonstrated our local campaigning impact up and down the country! In Lewes District we were heartened to receive such wide backing from voters in every part of the District. While the results were mixed, overall we have held steady and in some cases made surprising gains.

Counter proposal

On the night of 26 April a number of properties on Prince Edward’s Road and Park Road in Lewes, displaying political party posters, were vandalised. Graffiti were sprayed on houses displaying Liberal Democrat, Green and Labour posters, including words such as ‘traitors’ and ‘hypocrites’. The vandalism includes damage to property and the public footpath.

The recent vandalism appears to follow a national trend of anti-social behaviour against political posters and individuals who are involved in local democratic political activity.

Speaking for the Liberal Democrats, Simon Burall, who lives at one of the addresses targeted, said:
“We are only days away from local elections and volunteers across the District are giving up many hours of their time to work for improvements to their local area. Acts of vandalism are never justified and these recent graffiti are completely different to the normal politics of Lewes. Whatever your political affiliations, we should live in a society which respects other people’s views.
This is a really worrying development for the health of our local democracy and we will work with others to ensure a more open tolerant society.”

Zoe Nicholson, speaking for Lewes District Green Party, said:

“Our experience of campaigning in the district has been overwhelmingly positive so it's surprising and very sad to see people expressing their political views in this thuggish and intimidating way. 

'It's really clear from speaking to local people that they're fed up of the squabbling and bitterness of Westminster politics at the moment.

 The vandalism is bad enough, but using highly charged language like 'traitors' against political opponents is not acceptable. We will continue to shun this kind of negative campaigning and focus on positive messages in our campaign, and we stand with other parties against any form of intimidation or extremism.”

Emily Clarke, speaking for Lewes Labour said:

“It is really sad to see this kind of attack on democracy in our town and criminal damage done to the property of residents who are exercising their right to take part in the upcoming local elections. We are experiencing a time when the country is divided on huge issues such as Brexit and people on all sides hold strong and differing views. However, the use of this type of language aimed at local political opponents, who are genuinely working for the community in which they are standing and residents’ property is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. As with any attack on democracy, it is important that we stand together against those who seek to intimidate us.”

Free sanitary products will be offered to girls in all primary schools in England from early 2020. This follows Chancellor Philip Hammond's announcement last month of funding for free sanitary products in secondary schools and colleges.

Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons last month calling on the Government to extend its policy on free sanitary products to primary schools, colleges, universities and NHS GP surgeries.

Commenting on the announcement, Layla Moran said:

“It is brilliant news that children in primary schools in England will now have access to sanitary products. From the age of 8, girls may start their period and this should not mean that they miss out on education at such a pivotal time.
 
“Girls should not be penalised because of their period. The number of those who have been missing school each year because of their period is heart-breaking and unacceptable.
 
“It is now time for the Conservatives to go further and eradicate period poverty wherever it exists. They must provide free sanitary products in places including universities, hostels, GP surgeries, women’s shelters, libraries, and leisure centres.”

The full text of Layla Moran’s live EDM on Period Poverty is below and can also be found here: https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/52737/period-poverty
 
That this House welcomes the Government’s commitment to roll out free sanitary products across NHS hospitals and secondary schools in England; notes however that periods may start as early as 8 years old; is appalled that pupils in England are missing time in school, college and university because of a lack of access to sanitary products; is alarmed at reports that 40 per cent of girls in the UK have used toilet roll because they couldn’t afford menstrual products; and calls on the Government to expand its commitment to include primary schools, colleges, universities and NHS GP surgeries in England

• UK-wide action to green ourselves.
• Action to decarbonise capitalism – starting with the City of London.
• And an international green new deal – where richer countries support poorer countries. 

In the first week of full campaigning for Lewes District Council elections, the Lib Dems have set out a bold vision for the future of the District. Their proposals focus on fighting for a fairer future for Lewes District and providing opportunities for all, with key policies on low cost housing, improving green spaces and supporting our local high streets; as well as a central pledge to bring more transparency to council decision-making, to ensure that the District Council is more accountable to the voters and council tax payers of the Lewes area.

There is currently no overall control on Lewes District Council and the Lib Dems are the main challengers to the Conservative group, the Lib Dems have a dynamic new team standing across the District and are pushing to take control.

Senior Liberal Democrat District Councillor Stephen Gauntlett (Seaford Central) said: “Over recent years, we have seen a handful of Tory councillors making key decisions behind closed doors in a ‘cabinet system’, they are out of touch with the needs of our community and have failed to listen to changing needs across the District. 

“While national budgets have been squeezed, local budgets have been slashed and local people have been let down. The Liberal Democrats will open up the council, letting all councillors contribute. We’ll also run a regular residents’ survey to ask local people what matters to them; and we will ensure that the council provides more information so that you can see how your taxes are spent and make sure they are spent fairly.”

Councillor Janet Baah (Lewes Bridge) said: “We will focus on fairness of opportunity, including support to local start-ups and small businesses and put buying of council services from businesses in the District at the heart of a Liberal Democrat council; while reducing our impact on the environment, such as reducing plastic waste and improving recycling.”

“Local Liberal Democrats are committed to improving opportunities for all our residents. We want to ensure young people have a future here and will enable them to build their lives by developing low cost housing and thriving high streets so that no one is left behind.” added Councillor Julie Carr (Newhaven North).

“This is our council,” Lewes Town campaigner Oli Henman said, “We believe that everyone should have a say in its decision making. A vote for your local, hardworking Liberal Democrat candidate will make this a reality”.

The Liberal Democrat local manifesto sets out a bold vision to deliver a fairer deal for residents, ensuring budgets are available to tackle the major issues in our District: a cleaner and greener local environment; low cost housing; support for local businesses; and a more open inclusive council. The manifesto is available here (4MB download).

Lewes District Council’s budget, passed on Monday night, included a number of amendments put forward by Opposition Liberal Democrat group leader Sarah Osborne to safeguard jobs and the environment. 

The Lib Dem amendments include: spending £10,000 on a citizens science project to measure air quality around the district; spending £10,000 on projects to improve and preserve local biodiversity; and spending £28,000 to replace litter bins with dual litter and recycling bins to make it easier for residents to recycle “on the go”.

Cllr Osborne’s amendments also included the appointment of a trade and investment account manager. They would be responsible for attracting investment and supporting businesses within the district.

Cllr Osborne said: “Never before have local authorities needed to do more to attract new businesses to their areas.

“We know we will soon be partially reliant on business rates for much of our income and of course we face the challenge of a possible Brexit.

“Thus we need to resource and have a focused approach to boost the start-up and growth of businesses in the Lewes area.”

A final amendment sets out plans to use empty council-owned assets as ‘pop-up business spaces’ in Lewes and Newhaven, in an effort to provide office space for small scale businesses and start-ups.