The Liberal Democrats have held a conference in one of the seats they are hoping to seize from the Conservatives at the next general election.
Party members from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight descended on Wokingham for the party’s regional conference.
The conference was opened by Catherine Bearder, regional chairman and a former Liberal Democrat MEP for South East England who led the Lib Dem group in the European Parliament.
Attendees were welcomed to Wokingham by the local party chairman who talked about Wokingham and the tremendous support they are receiving from local residents.
Mike Dixon, Chief Executive Officer of the Liberal Democrats, spoke about the national political situation and how Liberal Democrats were winning local elections and parliamentary by-elections across the country.
Councillor Sarah Kerr (Liberal Democrats, Evendons) executive member for climate emergency and residents services on Wokingham Borough Council, talked about the practical actions the Liberal Democrats in Wokingham are taking to help council departments and residents address climate change and how this contributes to improving lives in so many ways locally and globally.
Anthony Hook, Liberal Democrats Group Leader on Kent County Council, another former Lib Dem MEP for South East England, spoke about the fundamental need for immigrants to have a fair hearing before decisions were taken about their status and the many problems with the Conservative government’s management of immigration.
Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham concluded the event discussing her role as Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education and the difference that Lib Dem MPs make for their constituents.
The conference also held policy debates on school travel and housing that will inform national Lib Dem policy.
The conference was held at The Holt School in Wokingham.
The Wokingham constituency is a target for the party for the next general election, which must be called in the next 20 months.
The party announced its candidate for the constituency, cllr Clive Jones (Liberal Democrats, Hawkedon) last year.
Cllr Jones is currently serving as the leader of Wokingham Borough Council after the Liberal Democrats took control of the council following the 2022 local elections.
He has pledged to be a full time MP who will look after residents’ interests.
Political prediction site the Electoral Calculus has projected that Sir John Redwood, the Conservative MP for Wokingham, will retain the seat in a general election.
It has predicted Sir John winning the seat both as its currently constituted and if 2023 parliamentary boundary changes are adopted.
The changes would see the Wokingham constituency acquire Finchampstead, Twyford and Sonning from neighbouring seats and lose Earley and the West Berkshire villages of Burghfield, Bradfield and Aldermaston.
Earlier this year, cllr Jones criticised Sir John for earning just under £700,000 as an investment strategist, following an investigation by Sky News.
In his defence, Sir John said: “I provide a seven day a week service to constituents. Wokingham comes first when allocating my time.”
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