Fearing losing a vote, on the morning of the budget announcement at full Council, the Conservative administration have incorporated a proposal into their budget, put forward by Edwina Hannaford, Leader of the Lib Dems on Cornwall Council, which will inject £400,000 into the fuel poverty voucher scheme potentially proving a lifesaver to families having to choose between heating and eating.

Cornwall Liberal Democrats have slammed Conservative budget proposals that will come before full Council on February 22nd as an “abject failure of leadership” that shows no concern for those most in need in our Cornish communities.

Cornwall Liberal Democrats will take their Housing Justice Charter to Parliament.

The Charter restates and reinforces the Cornwall Liberal Democrats’ longstanding commitment to register and limit second homes, tax them more, invest more in social housing, strengthen planning controls to stop unaffordable projects as well as demand the payback of over £100 million of Cornwall’s covid aid to second homers to combat the housing emergency. A petition will be presented to Parliament in the spring.

Cllr Colin Martin said, “Cornish residents in insecure housing are experiencing a perfect storm – a shrinking and expensive private rented sector and an industrial-scale growth of wealthy investors of second, holiday and Airbnb homes.

“Treating Cornwall as a developers’ paradise hasn’t worked. The Cornish housing stock has been one of the fastest growing places in the UK since the 1960s, yet the housing problems of locals have deteriorated.

“Cornwall’s growing army of locals in caravans, winter lets, inadequate, insecure accommodation and worse deserve answers …and decent homes”

Opposition parties have united to condemn cuts to essential Children's services as the Conservatives vote to slash £5.2m from social care and education.

Liberal Democrats on Cornwall Council have called for emissions on aircraft using Newquay airport to be reduced every year and eliminated altogether by 2040.

Conservative-run Cornwall Council is recommending the closure of four public leisure centres in Cornwall – those at Falmouth, Launceston, Saltash and Wadebridge – and the hydrotherapy pool within St Austell Leisure Centre.  

We call upon Cornwall Council to keep our leisure centres open.

Lib Dems on Cornwall Council have announced that Leigh Frost, Councillor for Bodmin – St Petroc, will be their ‘Strong, sustainable economy’ spokesperson leading on economy for Cornwall Liberal Democrats.

New Lib Dem Council Group leader Edwina Hannaford has announced the first two appointments to her team, and they are both focused on the environment: Colin Martin is spokesperson for the Climate Emergency and Rob Nolan is spokesperson for the Ecological Emergency.

Cllr Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall Councillor for Looe West, Lansallos, Pelynt and Lanteglos, has been elected by Liberal Democrats on Cornwall Council to be their Group Leader with Cllr Colin Martin, Cornwall Councillor for Lostwithiel and Lanreath, as her deputy.

Cornwall Liberal Democrats have launched their Cornwall Council election manifesto Standing Up for Cornwall setting out their priorities for Cornwall.