Statement from Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats:

“This is the public health policy the Prime Minister should have announced before Christmas, but yet again, Boris Johnson ducked the difficult decisions, failed to listen to experts and acted too late.

"Just yesterday morning Johnson was telling parents that schools were safe and children should definitely go. Today he is telling us that they must all move to remote learning but without any proper future plan.

“The Prime Minister’s failure to act earlier means we are seeing record numbers of new infections, a rising death rate, hospitals overwhelmed and NHS and care staff exhausted.

John Orrick

1950-2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Councillor John Orrick. After many months’ valiantly fighting leukaemia, he died peacefully of an infection on Tuesday, 10 November 2020. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Annie and family.

First elected to Tandridge Council in 1997 John has represented the people of Queens Park and Caterham Hill on the Parish, District and County Councils.

There are few councillors who instinctively attracted such warmth of feeling across party divisions as John Orrick. A naturally good humoured man liked by both political friend and opponent. His passions and dedication right up to the very last to the people he represented will be his testament.

John’s family has asked for privacy at this time and we ask that this is respected. Arrangements and memorials will be advised.

You can support a local charity in memory of John by visiting John Orrick's Memory Christmas Tree website. All proceeds go to the 'Christmas at Home' scheme, run by The Westway Centre.

Surrey Liberal Democrats are calling to extend free school meals so that no child living in poverty misses out - even during holidays and periods of lockdown.

Last night, Tory MP’s including East Surrey M.P. Claire Coutinho, voted against a motion to continue funding free school meals over the school holidays until Easter 2021. This bill was introduced following the campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford.

Whyteleafe Liberal Democrat Councillors are celebrating an award of £502,000 to Whyteleafe’s Station Road surgery to support the expansion of its premises and the upgrading of services to its patients. The money comes from a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund and was awarded by the District Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee at the 22ndSeptember meeting.

New council homes will be zero carbon in Tandridge thanks to local Lib Dem councillors’ climate change initiative. Last night’s Tandridge Housing Committee agreed to build a trial 12 new net zero carbon council houses in Caterham. This follows the Liberal Democrat Councillors introducing a motion to declare a climate emergency earlier this year which was supported by all councillors with the exception of the two Harestone Conservative Councillors.