Herefordshire Liberal Democrats

06/06/2026

30/05/2026

Liberal Democrats repeatedly warned that Labour’s jobs tax would hammer job opportunities for young people.

The Government must urgently scrap their jobs tax and unlock the opportunities young people need to build a future they can actually believe in.

28/05/2026

21/05/2026

At a meeting of Herefordshire Councillors on 6th March the council agreed to investigate the feasibility of a rail link between Hereford and Gloucester also serving Ross-on-Wye. The Council gave the Conservative admiistration twelve months to talk to Gloucestershire County Council, the government and local businesses and to find a source of external funding for a feasibility study.

In an open letter sent to Cllr Philip Price the cabinet member responsible for the work, Cllr Louis Stark asked for an update on progress and offered a draft set of terms of reference.

For the full story follow the link in the comments

17/05/2026

Supporting farmers means our rural communities survive and food security for Britain is attainable.

14/05/2026

Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP Slams "Timid" King’s Speech.

Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP hasn’t held back in her assessment of the latest King’s Speech, labeling the government’s legislative agenda as "timid" and lacking a cohesive vision for the country.

​In a series of pointed critiques, Daisy Cooper MP argued that the government is failing to address the structural issues stifling the British economy and public services.

​🇪🇺 On Europe and the Economy
​Cooper emphasised that the "botched Brexit deal" continues to act as a drag on national prosperity. She urged the government to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action to fix the UK's relationship with its closest neighbors.

​"The government says they want to have a stronger relationship with Europe, but they still have these red lines which they're refusing to drop... If you want to tackle the cost of living crisis, you need a closer relationship with Europe." Daisy Cooper MP

​Despite growth being a stated priority, the economy remains stagnant. The Liberal Democrats believe the Prime Minister needs to drop the red lines and pursuing a customs union to allow British businesses to thrive and export effectively once again.

​🏥 On the NHS and Social Care
​While the government proposes various reforms, Cooper warned that they are missing the bigger picture by ignoring the crisis in social care.

​"The government's tinkering around with the NHS, but they're failing to sort out social care, which is the only way that you can save the NHS in the long term." Daisy Cooper MP

​💼 On Small Businesses
​Cooper acknowledged the small victories, such as tackling late payments, but argued that these are overshadowed by a heavy tax burden that prevents local enterprises from truly flourishing.

​"They're not supporting small businesses with all the weight of burden and tax that they're putting on small businesses through all these other measures." Daisy Cooper MP

​📉 The Verdict
​Ultimately, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a bolder approach. The current plan simply "doesn't add up to an overall vision of what they're trying to achieve." Daisy Cooper MP

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12/05/2026

🔶🔶🔶No local elections here in Herefordshire but Liberal Democrats did stunningly well across the country. We are the voice for those who want real change, not dangerous populism. For those who want to build Britain up, not burn it all down.🔶🔶🔶

11/05/2026

📰 The true story of the 2026 local elections.

📈 The Liberal Democrats gained council seats across England. Like we did last year, and the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that and... you get the picture.

8️⃣ People across the country have been electing more LibDems every year for eight years straight.

👷‍♀️ That's because they know that LibDem councillors work hard for their area, bring communities together rather than driving them apart and sweat the small stuff.

🔶 If you want to see more LibDem councillors in Herefordshire next year join us now.

11/05/2026

“The leading contenders for the Labour leadership, including Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting, should put the country first and commit to fixing our broken relationship with Europe if they enter Number 10,” Ed Davey MP

Link to full release in comments.

21/11/2025

NEWS | Liberal Democrat councillors have condemned Herefordshire’s minority Conservative administration after it emerged that a Liberal Democrat motion agreed in July to pursue advanced manufacturing and defence investment has simply not been acted on – just as the Government names 13 areas for new munitions and energetics factories, with Herefordshire nowhere on the list.

In July, Council backed, with only two votes against, a detailed Liberal Democrat motion which required the administration to:

▪️Develop a “Herefordshire Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Prospectus”, highlighting the county’s strategic readiness to host defence-related investment, including a munitions facility, with a focus on clean and sustainable manufacturing.

▪️Write formally to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Department for Business & Trade urging them to consider Herefordshire for one of the new factories

The motion explicitly tied any defence-linked investment to strong environmental and ethical standards, with a focus on modern, low-carbon manufacturing, apprenticeships and community benefit.

Four months on, councillors learned this week that:

▪️The letter to Ministers was never sent
▪️The prospectus remains in draft form

On Wednesday 19th November the Ministry of Defence announced 13 areas including neighbouring Monmouthshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire as locations for new “factories of the future”, backed by £1.5 billion and at least 1,000 skilled jobs across the UK. Herefordshire is not among them.

Councillor Terry James, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Herefordshire Council said

“This is particularly shameful inaction on behalf of the Conservative led council. How hard is it to write a letter letting the government know we’re open for business?

“They've had months and months to pull their fingers out. Herefordshire has a thriving defence and security sector and a long track record in defence manufacturing.

“I simply can’t understand why the Conservatives would sit on their hands when the future of people’s jobs and businesses are on the line.”

“This administration simply isn’t working. It isn’t working for the people of the county and it isn’t working for businesses and workers. I don’t know who they actually are working for.”

Cllr Ed O’Driscoll (Liberal Democrat, Ross-on-Wye East), who proposed the original motion, said:

“This is exactly what we warned about. Council did the right thing in July. We put party politics aside and agreed a clear, practical plan to get Herefordshire to the front of the queue for clean, high-skill defence manufacturing. Instead of acting, Cabinet and senior officers have moved at a glacial pace.

“The letter was never sent, the prospectus is still in draft, and now the Government has named its initial sites including our neighbours in Monmouthshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire while Herefordshire isn’t even on the pitch. That is not bad luck. It is a failure of political leadership and basic follow-through.”

“The administration has spent considerable timing talking up 2026 as their ‘Year of Delivery’. On this evidence, 2025 has definitely been their “Year of non-Delivery” and Herefordshire residents pay the price in lost jobs, lost skills and lost investment.”