Surrey County Councillors today unanimously backed a Liberal Democrats’ motion responding to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review into the tragic death of Sara Sharif. 

In proposing his motion Cllr Lance Spencer, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats’ group, said he had been motivated on two counts. In the first instance Sara had for a short time lived in his division (Goldsworth East & Horsell Village). Secondly and more importantly, he had been dismayed by Surrey County Council’s initial response to the findings in the review. In his view the local authority had tried to brush its failings under the carpet by insisting that Children’s services had made progress since the tragedy and that the issues identified in the review needed no further examination.

Councillors from across the political spectrum agreed with Cllr Spencer and spoke in support of the motion that has now committed the Council to urgent, transparent and time-bound action including:

• Extraordinary Select Committee meeting: To be held before year-end, scrutinising the review in public and shaping recommendations to the Secretary of State. 
• Independent expert review: Commissioned by the Chief Executive to examine culture, systems and training, with interim findings due February 2026 and final recommendations by March 2026.
• National engagement: The Leader will write to the Secretary of State and MPs, pressing for urgent national action and legislative change.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Liz Townsend, Lib Dem member of Children’s, Families & Lifelong Learning Select Committee: “The motion sets firm steps: public scrutiny, independent assurance and national engagement. Our priority is restoring public confidence and ensuring these failures are never repeated.”

In response to the unanimous vote across the council chamber, Cllr Spencer remarked that: “Councillors have united in the interests of children’s safety. This sends a clear message that urgent, comprehensive action is required, and accountability will follow.”

 

 

The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council are very proud that one of their members, Harry Boparai (representing Sunbury Common & Ashford Common) is the deserved recipient of the LGIU CCLA ‘Community Champion’ 2025 award.

His success was celebrated by the LGIU with a highly complimentary testimony in praise of his approach and achievements in his role as both a county and a borough councillor.

“Councillor Harry Boparai from Surrey County Council and Spelthorne Borough Council is a tireless, hands-on problem-solver praised for his impact on everyday quality of life. His focus is on the issues that matter to residents, from tackling rogue landlords and fly-tipping to improving road safety. Well-known for his practical support of local causes, he plays a leading role in protecting green spaces, heritage projects, and supporting organisations working with young people.”

Many congratulations Harry!

 

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have expressed their profound sadness and distress at the findings of the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review into the death of ten-year-old Sara Sharif, who was so brutally murdered by her father and stepmother at their family home in Woking in August 2023.

The independent report lays bare, in painful detail, how from birth Sara was known to local services and repeatedly the subject of safeguarding concerns. Yet throughout her short and troubled life, she was failed by the very authorities — including Surrey County Council — that were supposed to keep her safe.

Cllr Paul Follows, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said:

“On behalf of our Group, I want to express our deepest sorrow at the suffering endured by Sara — suffering inflicted by those who should have loved and protected her. No child should ever experience such pain or neglect.

“We are heartbroken that the systems designed to protect vulnerable children were riddled with gaps, delays, and fragmented processes — gaps that, tragically, meant there was no effective safety net to catch and protect this little girl. Time and again there were missed opportunities to intervene, and those failures must be acknowledged in full.

“We are also deeply concerned by Surrey County Council’s handling of this case and by its response to the review. Despite repeated requests, opposition members were not briefed in advance of the report’s publication, and to date no officers or senior politicians have accepted responsibility for the failings identified.

“We believe the Council’s public response has lacked the compassion, humility and urgency that are surely required in the face of such a devastating tragedy. This raises wider concerns about how the Authority approaches its duty to protect and support vulnerable children and families across Surrey.”

“Supported by our MP’s in parliament, the Liberal Democrat Group at Surrey County Council is repeating our calls for systemic, national reform and for a comprehensive and transparent review of Surrey’s safeguarding systems — one that ensures real accountability, learning and change so that no other child is ever so grievously let down again.”

 

Success in all three of yesterday’s county by-elections means that the Liberal Democrats are now the largest opposition group on Surrey County Council. 

Alan Ashbery (Camberley West), Catherine Houston (Guildford South-East) and Tony Pearce (Caterham Valley) will now join new members Louise Morales (Woking South) and Andy Burton (Hinchley Wood, Claygate & Oxshott) elected in by-elections held in July and August respectively, to boost the number of Lib Dems on the County Council to 19.

Surrey Lib Dems group leader, Paul Follows was delighted with the results:

“I am thrilled by these latest election wins, and they are testament to how hard everyone has been working to get our message across to the electorate.

“These results also underline how Surrey’s political landscape continues to change. It is clear the Conservatives are in retreat and since they cancelled the elections last May, they have not won a single by-election, whereas we have now picked up wins in all five.

“However, I can assure you we are not complacent about the challenges ahead, but the Liberal Democrats do have the momentum and are clearly best placed to keep the Reform party at bay. 

“We are approaching a period of unprecedented change in the form of Local Government Reorganisation so I look forward to welcoming the new members to our group so that we can all work together in preparing for the two or maybe three new unitary authorities.”

 

 

The LGIU & CCLA Cllr Awards are the only national Awards to recognise and honour the hard work and dedication of councillors and therefore the Surrey Lib Dems are delighted that a member of the group, Harry Boparai, divisional member for Sunbury Common & Ashford Common, has been shortlisted in the Community Champion category. 

Harry was first elected to Surrey County Council in December 2022 and was later voted in as local councillor for Sunbury Common on Spelthorne Borough Council. As a twin hatter he has been able to use his position on both councils to tackle a wide range of problems, some of which have featured in articles on surreylibdems.org.uk. (See links below) 

From the get-go Harry was keen to tackle difficult issues in order to improve the lives of residents in his area and it is clear from the award submission that many wanted to recognise his successes and show their appreciation for his hard work. “Councillor Boparai works tirelessly in our community to deliver change for the residents. He is proactive and responsive and is a shining example of public service.” 

All winners will be announced at a ceremony on 18^th November.

 

Councillor funds welcome boost to local youth services - Surrey Liberal Democrats 

Sunbury residents welcome improvements to local pavements - Surrey Liberal Democrats 

Lib Dem councillor uses grant to support work of Sunbury foodbank - Surrey Liberal Democrats 

Lib Dem councillor reports success on local land issue  - Surrey Liberal Democrats 

New Surrey Lib Dem hits the ground running - Surrey Liberal Democrats 

Surrey Lib Dems are outraged that the 2025 county elections have now been delayed until 2026. Over the last few years Surrey residents have been demonstrating their dissatisfaction with the county’s Conservative-run authorities at the ballot box; five of the eleven district/borough councils now being under Lib Dem control with a further two part-controlled under a coalition arrangement. The local elections in May 2025 would have given voters in Surrey the chance to oust the Conservatives at county level.

The decision was taken by the new Labour government in response to a request from the current county council’s administration, while also confirming Surrey’s inclusion on its fast-track programme for local government reorganisation and subsequent devolution. The ambitious timeframe for establishing one or more unitary authorities to cover the whole county would instead see councillors elected to serve on the new interim ‘shadow’ councils in May 2026.

Following the announcement the Leader of Surrey Lib Dems Paul Follows, echoed the views expressed by fellow Lib Dem councillors and MPS in stating that democracy delayed, was democracy denied. 

He went on to say: “We are certainly living in interesting times. Labour has put forward a turbo-charged agenda for shaking up the way local government operates and the Conservative administration in Surrey has decided to jump right in with both feet. It means that those currently in power can avoid going to the electorate for a verdict on how they are running services in the county and how in particular they are failing to support some of our most vulnerable residents.”