Local councillor Cllr Manu Singh explains why he recently decided to leave the Green party and join Spelthorne Liberal Democrats.

"This has not been a decision taken lightly. I remain deeply committed to public service and to standing up for the issues that matter most to our community. However, after careful consideration, I believe the Liberal Democrats offer a stronger platform to deliver practical, results-driven action for residents.

The party’s clear organisation, strong local focus, and consistent work ethic in addressing community concerns have greatly impressed me. I am particularly encouraged by their pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to governance, prioritising action and delivery over ideology.

Importantly, the Liberal Democrats demonstrate a genuine and credible commitment to environmental protection, championing realistic climate policies while balancing local needs. They also place strong emphasis on supporting younger people: improving education, expanding opportunity, and strengthening mental health and future prospects.

My priority remains unchanged: to work tirelessly for residents, to listen, and to deliver meaningful outcomes. I look forward to continuing that work with renewed focus and energy as part of the Liberal Democrat team."

Councillor Manu Singh

We are delighted to announce that last night, the Spelthorne Liberal Democrats' executive committee agreed to support the campaign to include "South Middlesex" in the name of the new West Surrey Unitary Authority.

As a local party we believe that local identity is incredibly important and that local heritage forms a crucial part of that identity. Having "South Middlesex" in the name will also ensure Spelthorne is not forgotten in the new Unitary Authority.

Middlesex County Council was abolished in 1965, at which point Spelthorne was included in the administrative county of Surrey. However, Middlesex still exists as a historic county, and our shared Middlesex identity remains strong with many residents, after all, our addresses still have "Middlesex" on them.

With the abolition of Spelthorne in 2027, the last formal vestiges of our area's Middlesex identity will be extinguished too. We believe Local Government Reorganisation is a fantastic opportunity to rekindle Middlesex and our candidates and councillors will do their best to promote the inclusion of "South Middlesex" in the name of the new West Surrey Unitary Authority.

Popular local councillor, Harry Boparai, has been reselected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Spelthorne in the next General Election. 

Harry says

"The campaign starts now!  

By the time the next general election comes around, I’ll have knocked on every door in our constituency, listening to my neighbours, hearing your concerns, and sharing my plans to fix them.

Last year at the general election, I had so many ideas I wanted to bring to life if elected. I fell short due to tactical voting , but those ideas haven’t gone away, they’ve simply been waiting for their moment.

With the fantastic team I have behind me, I’m more confident than ever we can pull this off and improve the lives of everyone across Spelthorne.

I can’t wait to get out there, meet as many of you as possible, and work together to build the community we all want and deserve to see. "

Harry increased the Lib Dem vote share in the 2024 General Election by 4%, and Spelthorne has now been categorised as a Liberal Democrat/Reform marginal seat by multiple independent polling websites. 

Harry's experience as a councillor, his local knowledge and his passion for Spelthorne make him the best choice to beat Reform and the discredited Conservatives in Spelthorne. 

The Staines by-election was held on Thursday 16th of October and our fantastic candidate Laura Barker won with 37.9% of the vote. 

The full result is below:
Lib Dem: 37.9%
Reform: 23.5%
Ind: 12.3%
Con: 10.9%
Green: 7.7%
Lab: 7.4%
TUSC: 0.4%

This election proves that only the Liberal Democrats can beat Reform in Spelthorne.

This is a victory for all Staines residents, who now have a dedicated community champion in their corner. The message to the failing establishment parties and the divisive Reform UK could not be clearer: Staines demands real, positive change, and rejects hatred and division.

Laura is honoured to have been elected as the representative for the people of Staines and will work hard to implement his promises and fight for all Staines residents.

“Thank you to the residents of Staines who have placed their trust in me. I will do my best to improve the lives of everyone in our community. The work begins now.” Cllr Laura Barker

Liberal Democrat councillors Suraj Gyawali and Harry Boparai are standing shoulder to shoulder with residents in Catherine Drive, Avon Road and Dale Road to oppose an inappropriate development on land that is vital to the local community.

The site in question is not just any piece of land. It is an Adopted Highway, maintained at public expense by Surrey County Council, and intended for public use. It is also designated Urban Open Land and listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Despite these protections, a developer has brought forward a proposal that would remove this shared community space, damage the environment, and undermine the character of the estate.

Residents are rightly alarmed. The development would be out of keeping with the planned estate, visually intrusive, and detrimental to the carefully designed street scene. It would also result in the loss of valuable green space, with no equivalent public benefit in return. To make matters worse, the scheme threatens protected trees—a key part of the local environment—and early evidence suggests that the land may be contaminated, raising concerns about health and safety.

The community’s response has been nothing short of inspiring. More than 140 residents have already signed formal objections, with many more submitting individual representations online. Households across Catherine Drive, Avon Road and Dale Road are uniting in opposition, determined to protect a piece of land they use and value every day.

But this is not an isolated case. Across the borough, we are seeing developers attempting to take their chances on small plots of land—often ones that serve as vital green space or public assets. These speculative applications disrupt the balance of our communities, erode trust, and chip away at the harmony and spirit that make our neighbourhoods special.

Cllr Suraj Gyawali says "It is important to emphasise the strength of local feeling on this matter. Residents hold this land in the highest regard and are determined to see it protected. Households from Catherine Drive, Avon Road, and Dale Road—who are regular users of the land—are now coordinating a collective objection.

As Liberal Democrats, we believe our role is clear: to defend the integrity of our estates, protect green spaces, and ensure that development works with communities rather than against them. We are committed to making sure residents’ voices are heard loud and clear at every stage of the process.

This fight is about more than one piece of land. It is about standing up for the principle that public spaces, community assets, and local character must not be sacrificed for short-term gain. Together, with the residents we represent, we will continue to press the Planning Inspectorate to reject this damaging proposal and to protect the places that matter most to our community.