Southampton Liberal Democrats - working for you

Welcome

Southampton Civic Centre

You're probably already familiar with our community newsletter "Focus". This Website is an on-line version of "Focus". If you visit this site regularly you'll see that we keep the site updated with information about Southampton and your community.

As you know, Liberal Democrats Councillors and Focus Teams work all year 'round to improve your community. If there is any way we can be of help, please do get in touch!

If you share our passion for working for local people and believe in the Liberal Democrats aims, why not join us? By being a member you keep in touch with the Party throughout the year, join us at our regular social events, and get a vote in all Party Elections.


State opening was like Groundhog Day - Gidley

Wed 18th Nov 2009

Commenting today on the Queen's speech and the state opening of Parliament, Hampshire MP Sandra Gidley said:

Sandra Gidley in Parliament

Ford job losses a blow to families and the local economy

Fri 6th Feb 2009

Southampton's two Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates have added their voices to those people who are extremely concerned by Ford's announcement that up to 500 jobs will be lost at the Swaythling plant.

Lib Dem Team at outside the Ford factory (photography: David Goodall)

Lib Dems Complete Election Team

Sun 25th Jan 2009

Southampton's Liberal Democrats have selected their candidate to fight in the city's Test seat at the next general election. David Callaghan was chosen by the local Lib Dem party members as their choice to take on the constituency's current MP, Alan Whitehead.

Southampton Candidates David Goodall (Itchen) and David Callaghan (Test) (photography: David Goodall)

Government help needed to avoid Ford crash

Tue 13th Jan 2009

Commenting on the announcement by Ford bosses this morning (Tuesday 13 January) that the city's Swaythling plant will have its production cut to one shift per day, amounting to a reduction in workers' pay of over 15%, City MP, Sandra Gidley said:

Sandra Gidley MP

Fairer Economic Future

Sun 4th Jan 2009

People today are struggling with spiralling debts, rising food and energy bills and unaffordable mortgages. A decade of complacency by Gordon Brown has meant that with plummeting house prices, falling growth, inflation problems and rising unemployment, the UK economic outlook has not looked so bleak since the 1990's Tory recession. So after the 10p tax fiasco and ineffective 2.5p VAT cut what the economic situation actually demands is a fairer economic future.

David Goodall with Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP  (photography: David Goodall)

Tory axe for care homes

Tue 16th Dec 2008

News of the closure of two care homes, Birch Lawn and Whitehaven Lodge, by the ruling Conservative administration came as a great shock to the staff and residents in the homes.

David Goodall outside Birch Lawn Care Home (photography: David Goodall)

All hands on deck for Ford workers

Mon 1st Dec 2008

On Friday Sharon Bowles MEP met with the CEO and Chairman of Ford Europe, John Fleming, accompanied by Lib Dem MPs Chris Huhne and Sandra Gidley. The meeting followed Monday's announcement that Ford will be downsizing Southampton's Swaythling plant, and removing production of the Transit van to Turkey.

Sharon Bowles MEP (photography: David Goodall)

New figures show scale of Southampton's sexual health time bomb

Wed 26th Nov 2008

City MP, Sandra Gidley has obtained new figures which show that only one in twenty 16-25 year olds in Southampton has been screened for Chlamydia - a disease which now affects 1 in 10 of the same age group.

Sandra Gidley MP

Free swimming in Lib Dem Eastleigh not Tory Southampton

Mon 24th Nov 2008

From next April, under 16s and over 60s will be able to swim for FREE at Fleming Park Leisure Centre, thanks to Eastleigh Borough Council deciding to take part in a national scheme to boost fitness for young and old alike. Unfortunately the good people of neighbouring Southampton are not so fortunate, because the Conservative run City Council there has decided not to take part.

Quays Swimming without council backing for free swimming

Unhappy New Year for Ford Workers

Mon 24th Nov 2008

As Ford bosses announce that Southampton's car plant will be closed for a further 17 days during the first quarter of 2009, amounting to a 4% pay cut for the site's staff Hampshire Liberal Democrat MPs Sandra Gidley and Chris Huhne along with Euro MP Sharon Bowles have announced that they will be meeting with Ford Europe's CEO on Friday in an effort to help the city's workers:

Sharon and Sandra at Ford Southampton

City's Pensioners take their winter fuel fury to Westminster

Wed 22nd Oct 2008

Bassett and Swaythling MP Sandra Gidley has welcomed Southampton's Pensioner's Forum to Westminster today, where she was joined by Labour MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead, to hear about the plight of the city's elderly - many of whom will struggle to afford to heat their homes this winter.

Sandra Gidley MP

The Government must help the whole economy

Tue 14th Oct 2008

The Government is 'fire fighting' to help the banking sector, but it is not just the bank sector that needs help from the Government the whole economy needs a boost from a change of thinking at the top. Inflation has hit as 16-year high and like everyone else in the country, residents of West End and Southampton are suffering from rocketing food and energy prices.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP and Cllr David Goodall highlight the 'real' inflation rate (photography: David Goodall)

Support the Gurkhas

Fri 26th Sep 2008

It's an ongoing disgrace: Gurkhas who retired from the British Army after 1997 can automatically stay in the UK, but those who retired earlier must apply, and many have been refused and face deportation. Pension rights for years served by Gurkhas before 1997 count at only around a quarter of the level of years served after that time. Now the high court has backed the Gurkhas campaign the government must not only give all retired Gurkhas the right to live in this country, but must give all Gurkhas a full British army pension when they retire.

David Goodall signing the petition to support the Gurkhas justice campaign (photography: David Goodall)

Southampton Itchen Lib Dems back David for Westminster

Tue 26th Aug 2008

Liberal Democrats in Southampton Itchen have selected David Goodall to fight the Southampton Itchen at the General Election. The keenly fought selection contest produce a 75% turnout, addressing a packed hustings meeting, David Goodall said :-

Local Party Chair Cllr Gerry Drake congratulates David on becoming PPC for Southampton Itchen (photography: David Goodall)

Outstanding local school receives outstanding report

Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Townhill Infants School gives the children very best start to their education according to the latest Ofsted report. The school was given the highest possible grade of "outstanding" across the board following its inspection. The inspection was also backed by the test results with pupils gaining higher than above average standards in reading, writing and maths by the end of year two.

Headteacher Penny Orme, pupils & staff celebrate their success

The Liberal Democrat vision for Britain

Fri 18th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats in Southampton have welcomed the launch of the Liberal Democrats' vision for Britain by Party Leader Nick Clegg MP. Called 'Make it Happen', the paper will be debated at the party's conference in Bournemouth in September.

Nick Clegg - Make it Happen

Elizabeth Mizon - 571st Sheriff of Southampton

Wed 14th May 2008

Councillor Elizabeth Mizon first came to Southampton from Lancashire in 1967 to take up her first teaching appointment which was at Weston Park Junior School.

Liz Mizon - Southampton's new Sheriff

Liberal Democrats launch Local Election Campaign

Thu 24th Apr 2008

The Liberal Democrats have launched their 2008 election campaign here in Southampton.

Liberal Democrats "Flying Bird of Liberty (Libby)" logo

In my view - Lib Dems Put City First

Tue 26th Feb 2008

Since taking minority control of the Council the Conservatives' record has been alarming:

Cllr Adrian Vinson

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News from the Liberal Democrats

£63bn PFI bill for the NHS says Lamb
Mon 8th Feb 2010

Tories put neo-con ideology above national interest on defence said Harvey
Mon 8th Feb 2010

Brown and Cameron are the real roadblocks to reform says Clegg
Mon 8th Feb 2010

Free theatre tickets scheme is an absolute shambles says Foster
Mon 8th Feb 2010

3 Questions for Jack Straw at Iraq Inquiry says Davey
Mon 8th Feb 2010

More News from the Liberal Democrats...

Online Poll

Do you think Southampton Roads and Pavements need improvement ?

View the results so far.

Southampton Itchen General Election Result

Turnout: 43225 (56%)

48.3%
 
Labour: 20871 (−6.2%)
26.8%
 
Conservative: 11569 (−0.6%)
21.2%
 
Liberal Democrat: 9162 (+6.2%)

View the results in detail.

Quotes of the Week

"I hate to say it, but only one party leader seems to have grasped that, if you construct a system where unskilled people are worse off by taking a job than by staying on welfare, they remain trapped in poverty - and that is Nick Clegg."

Lord Norman Tebbit

Daily Telegraph online - 13 Jan

"It's unbelievable that the Tories are still planning to cut taxes for a handful of millionaires when the majority of people across the country are feeling the squeeze. We need fair tax cuts that put money back in the pockets of ordinary people. The Tory sums simply do not stack up. It is irresponsible and highly misleading for George Osborne to continue to pretend that they do."

Vince Cable MP

Responding to Conservative Spending Plans - 4 Jan

Southampton Test General Election Result

Turnout: 41783 (54%)

42.7%
 
Labour: 17845 (−9.8%)
25.9%
 
Conservative: 10827 (+0.4%)
24.8%
 
Liberal Democrat: 10368 (+6.7%)

View the results in detail.

Sandra Gidley's recent appearances (TheyWorkForYou)

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services | Defence | Written Answers
Thu 4th Feb 2010

Malaya (Rosette) | Petitions | Commons debates
Wed 3rd Feb 2010

Winter Fuel Payments: South East | Work and Pensions | Written Answers
Tue 2nd Feb 2010

Winter Fuel Payments: South East | Work and Pensions | Written Answers
Mon 1st Feb 2010

Business: Government Assistance | Business, Innovation and Skills | Written Answers
Mon 1st Feb 2010

More Sandra Gidley's recent appearances (TheyWorkForYou)...