On Thursday 2 May 2019, the Liberal Democrats achieved their best ever local elections results. In Rugby, we won three seats in Paddox, Eastlands and Rokeby & Overslade, whilst in Bilton we beat Labour to second place and increased our vote in other wards including Admirals & Cawston.

Nationally the party did very well with 1351 Councillors elected including an increase of 30 Councillors in the West Midlands. Across Warwickshire, Lib Dems gained eight seats in Stratford Upon Avon and seven in Warwick. In Soilhull, Lib Dems gained two new Councillors.

Rugby Liberal Democrats want to make Rugby an even better place to live, work and enjoy.

We were the first to call for a new cultural quarter including hotel and conferencing facilities to be incorporated into the redevelopment of the town.

We have called for a bus and coach interchange in the town and brought forward proposals for such a facility using Council owned assets. Both Conservatives and Labour have chosen not to support our ideas.

Commenting on the passing of Rugby Borough Council's Housing Allocations Policy at Full Council on Tuesday 23 April 2019, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group, Cllr Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox) said:

"Liberal Democrat Councillors supported the passing of Rugby Borough Council's revised Housing Allocations Policy, but the true test will be how and what impact it has on Rugby's housing waiting list.

Commenting on the passing of Rugby Borough Council's Single Use Plastics Policy at Full Council on Tuesday 23 April 2019, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group, Cllr Tim Douglas (Paddox) said:

"After proposing a motion with Councillor Noreen New to look at ways Rugby Borough Council can reduce its use of single-use plastics, Liberal Democrats welcome this much needed policy. It is a step in the right direction, but the Council must not delay and begin engaging with partners, suppliers and the local community. We've all got our bit to do in reducing plastic waste.

The Liberal Democrats have announced the list of MEP candidates in the West Midlands for the EU elections on the 23 May 2019.

The diverse list of candidates includes former MEPs, current Councillors and other hard-working community activists.

List of Liberal Democrat candidates in the West Midlands:

1. Phil Bennion
2. Ade Adeyemo
3. Jeanie Falconer
4. Jenny Wilkinson
5. Jennifer Gray
6. Beverley Nielsen
7. Lee Dargue

Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Nick Long has reported fly-tipping near Saunton Road.

There was a very large pile of filled black sacks and other litter and rubbish which had been dumped in the undergrowth on a green open space between Saunton Road and Wentworth Road.

Nick Long contacted Rugby Borough Council and asked them to clear the fly-tipping.

As a result of a recent suggestion by local Liberal Democrat Councillors in Rokeby and Overslade an abandoned site that long ago contained garages is being cleared of vegetation by the Council.

The work is being done to allow topographical and geotechnical surveys to be undertaken in connection with the future use of the land.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox) has reported and raised his concerns about empty cylinders left at the GEC car park on a Sunday morning and also at Buchanan Road and Whinfield rec car park.

Commenting, Councillor Roodhouse, said:

"It seems clear to me that we are not tackling the problem of nitrox oxide (laughing gas). I can see no education on the subject going on and no tightening of the laws. The cylinders can be bought on line with no checks. The Government needs to do more. Evidence is suggesting that the use of this gas does damage brain cells, whilst leaving them lying around spread across areas could lead to unintentional consequences."

On 28 March 2019, the Liberal Democrats led a debate in the House of Commons calling for an end to fracking because of its adverse impact on the environment and its incompatibility with tackling the climate crisis.

Liberal Democrat Climate Change Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse, who is leading the backbench debate, is also expected to warn the Conservative Government's proposed changes to planning permission for fracking sites would deprive local authorities of their "historic rights of self-determination."

The debate comes hot on the heels of the #FridaysForFuture movement which saw Swedish student Greta Thunberg inspire hundreds of thousands of school pupils across the world to strike in aid of tackling climate change, including in the UK.

On 2 April 2019, the House of Commons debated the Mental Capacity Bill which now includes huge concessions the Liberal Democrats secured from the Government.

The Bill aims to reform the process in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 for authorising arrangements enabling the care or treatment of people who lack the capacity to consent, which give rise to a deprivation of their liberty.

The Liberal Democrats led a cross-party effort which secured a huge concession from the Government to remove their exclusionary definition which would have led to people not being protected when deprived of their liberty, and further includes a commitment to review the Code of Practice.

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Judith Jolly said:

"This Bill when it was first introduced was one of the worst pieces of legislation ever to be considered by Parliament.

"What was proposed by the Conservative Government would not have fixed any of the issues we see at the moment in authorising care for those who can no longer consent, and instead would have ridden roughshod over their rights.

"Through consistent, hard work over the past few months, the Liberal Democrats have secured key concessions to the Conservative Government's shoddy legislation. Today's win removes the Government's exclusionary definition of deprivation of liberty to protect the rights of those who are not capable of consenting.

"Liberal Democrats demanded better of the Government, and secured better for all those in care."