The government have opened their consultation on whether MK should expand with 40,000 more homes. Here's the link: shorturl.at/u5uJe The consultation closes on Sunday 18 May.

I'm in favour of the city growing. But this consultation gives us the opportunity to say that developers mustn't be allowed to ride roughshod over residents already here, and to highlight the impact of Keeper's Place on Broughton Grounds Lane and Broughton Road.

You can complete the consultation online or by email. Please do so - we've got to keep up the pressure on Hallam Land.

Plymouth Liberal Democrats are calling on Labour-run Plymouth City Council to increase the number of bus stops that have shelters, to protect bus passengers from the weather and give them somewhere to sit while they wait.

Commenting, Steve Guy (pictured), the Liberal Democrat council candidate for Plymstock Dunstone in the elections to Plymouth City Council on 7 May, said: “Speaking to residents on the doorstep, this is coming up time and again. Some older people have even told me that they just stay at home and don’t go out, because they know they’d have to wait at a bus stop without a shelter, getting cold and wet – and that’s before they have even got to where they want to go!

“As one lady said to me, ‘If only we had a bus shelter I would feel easier about waiting for a bus. Especially as they do not always turn up.’ She’s absolutely right! We cannot expect people, especially older residents, to stand in the pouring rain waiting for a bus that is sometimes late or may not even turn up.”

The problem has got far worse in the city in recent years after over 200 Plymouth bus shelters were removed in 2022. These were replaced with just a bus stop, which offers no protection from the weather or anywhere to sit while you wait.

Steve continued: “Plymouth is my home city and it is a marvellous place to live, but it’s undeniable quite wet sometimes. It rains here on average on about 150 days every year, the Met Office website tells me, and with a metre or three and a half feet of rainfall annually, we get more than the English average.

“Put simply, our city is wet sometimes so we need more bus shelters. It’s not rocket science!

“Buses are a lifeline for many people, of all ages, to meet up with friends and family, go to the shops, access the library, or just to get out of the house and go somewhere for a walk or just sit and stare out at the fabulous view from Jennycliff or the Hoe. Many people don’t have a car so have no other option to get around.

“The Labour-run council has just overseen an eye-popping £7.5 million spent on new bus stops on Royal Parade, which has seen several bus routes lose their Royal Parade stops. With this kind of money sloshing about, couldn’t the council have looked at providing a few more humble bus shelters in places like Plymstock?

“If elected as the next city councillor for Plymstock Dunstone, I will ensure that there is someone in the council chamber standing up for this area. Like with the £7.5 million spent on Royal Parade, it feels to me like too often areas away from the city centre are just ignored by the Labour-controlled council. That has to end.”

It has become quite fashionable for political parties to claim a vote for them is the best way to beat Reform.

Elections don't lie.

Since last May's local elections there have been 224 Council By-Elections (for 227 Seats) according to the website Council By-Election Results — Election Maps UK

They have summarised the results showing the number of seats won and the net position in terms of gains and losses

RFM: 78 (+66)
LDM: 63 (+20)
CON: 28 (-22)

GRN: 18 (+3)
LAB: 17 (-52)
Ind: 9 (-9)
Local: 5 (-6)
PLC: 5 (+1)
SNP: 4 (-1)

 

So when we Liberal Democrats claim a vote for us is the best way to beat Reform it is a claim backed by the evidence of 224 by elections across the UK

Richard Bray, the Lib Dem candidate for Compton in the city council elections on 7 May, is calling for the Labour-run council to tackle the overgrown path between Elm Road and Crow Park, in Mannamead.

Currently, dock plants and other vegetation is covering much of the path, which helps pedestrians save time as they walk through the neighbourhood.

Lib Dem candidate Richard said: "Some of those plants are doing good work, for bees and other pollinators, and those ideally should be kept. Those that are obstructing the pathway however should go. There does need to be a clear and wide way through for pedestrians.

"We should be making it easier and safer for people to choose to walk as well as cycle. That would help keep people fit and make for quieter streets. Maintaining streets and paths is a massive part of making that an attractive option for local people."

"Too often the Labour-run city council seems to forget areas like ours. Even everyday tasks like maintaining paths - the bread and butter work of a local council - appear to get forgotten while they spend millions on things like new bus stops in the city centre.

"We need a council here in the city that ensures the basics get done, and this overgrown pathway is just one example of how Labour-controlled Plymouth City Council does not do that."

Safer, cleaner streets and paths is an election priority for the Liberal Democrats in the city council elections on 7 May, and something Lib Dem councillors elected will champion.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today used a visit to a community centre in Muirhouse to say that “carers deserve better” and announce how his party will deliver change with fairness at its heart.

The party’s manifesto will commit to:

• Giving unpaid carers a fair deal by increasing Carer Support Payment by £400 a year for unpaid carers.
• Creating Young Carers’ Leads for schools and colleges, giving every young carer someone who they can turn to for help balancing learning and caring for their loved one.

According to Carers Scotland’s State of Caring: The Cost Of Caring 2025, 48% of unpaid carers have cut back on essentials like food and heating, 35% of unpaid carers have taken on debt and 39% of unpaid carers report poor mental health and 30% poor physical health.

Speaking while helping the charity set up their Easter Fun Day, Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are the party of care and we get stuff done for carers. We won the right for family carers to earn more and passed the Carer’s Leave Act giving new rights to 2.4 million carers across the UK. My colleague Ed Davey has spoken movingly about his own experience as a carer, first as a teenager nursing his mum during her long battle against bone cancer and now as a father for his disabled son John.

“Family carers are the backbone of support for thousands of Scots. Without their love and commitment, our health and social care services would collapse.

“But they are telling us they are struggling to make ends meet and don’t have the support they need. Family carers, young and old, deserve better.

“We will increase Carer Support Payment by £400 a year for unpaid carers, and give every young carer someone at school who they can turn to for help balancing learning, life and caring for their loved one.

“Wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach regional ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart. Scotland’s carers deserve better and with the Scottish Liberal Democrats you can vote for it.”

Jayne Mackie has won the Fremington & Yelland byelection for the North Devon Liberal Democrats.

The former teacher and nursery worker from Yelland thanked local residents for placing their trust in her, and promised to represent every kind of person in the community.

Jayne also paid tribute to the late Neil Denton, the area’s former Councillor, and praised his true dedication to the people of Fremington.

The full results were as follows:

Lib Dems (Jayne Mackie) - 752 (49.9%)

Reform UK - 496 (32.9%)

Green Party - 131 (8.7%)

Conservatives - 116 (7.7%)

Labour - 12 (0.8%)

Lib Dem GAIN from Independent

Neighbours and friends helped run a giant byelection campaign, meaning Jayne joins popular local Lib Dem Councillor Frank Biederman as Fremington's second district councillor.

Frank said: “Local residents have made a great choice: Jayne is a passionate defender of green spaces and community work. I've always greatly respected her wise head on planning issues, and it's great to see her return to the Council.”

Local Lib Dem MP for North Devon Ian Roome added: "Jayne has a proven track record in the community and will be a fierce advocate for local residents. Many people told me how much she impressed them, and she will be an asset to Fremington & Yelland. Well done everyone!"