South West Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats

UK tourists travelling to Europe could face mobile phone roaming charges post-Brexit.

The Guardian reported this week on a leaked document showing how UK citizens could face the additional charges.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "From food and petrol prices to mobile phone bills, it's clear Brexit is hitting consumers in the pocket.

Liberal Democrat candidate Antony Hook became the first Liberal Demcorat Councillor on Faversham Town Council yesterday after seizing the Abbey Ward seat from the Conservatives who slumped to third place.

Antony is well-known locally and has now stood twice in European Elections as a Liberal Democrat candidate.

A West Cumbrian councillor who has been fighting to save maternity services in Whitehaven has been chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Copeland MP Parliamentary By Election.

Rebecca Hanson was selected last week to stand in the upcoming by-election, which was called following the shock resignation of current Copeland MP Jamie Reed.

Mrs Hanson, a Cockermouth councillor, has strongly opposed Success Regime plans to remove services, and particularly consultant-led maternity, from the West Cumberland Hospital.

She recently published her own research to demonstrate the safety risk to mums in labour and their babies. [News & Star]

The Liberal Democrat ambition is to take control of British politics - and after a good 2016 successfully fighting back against the Tory Leavers they have got off to a cracking start in the first fortnight of 2017.

With three Lib Dem gains and a Lib Dem hold the performance of the last 2 weeks could scarcely have been bettered - but it was!

The Liberal Democrats won a stunning success on the 1st December by taking the Richmond Park & North Kingston Parliamentary Seat from the Conservatives. One effect of this was to reduce the Conservative majority in the House of Commons to 9 - and also to bring the number of Liberal Democrats up to 9. Interesting!.

Peace, quiet and butterflies in the tranquility of late summer.

Aldbury Nowers is 11½ hectares (28½ acres) of chalk grassland, scrub and beech woodland that supports a splendid mix of wildflowers and as many as 30 different butterfly species.

Cared for by the staff and volunteers of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, the reserve is located near Tring in Aldbury Parish north-east of the Ridgeway Path on the rising slopes of the Chiltern Escarpment.

It's not just Aldbury that has a Gardening Club - Wigginton has one too. Mind you, with many people having close links to both villages there's a certain amount of overlap and duplication of participation. Do you live in or near Wigginton? Then why not join in too.

If you like fresh air, a serious challenge, a sense of achievement (when things go well!), a productive hobby, the delicious taste of your own fresh vegetables and insight into the true value of food - then the Wigginton Gardening Association is for you.

Congratulations to the amazing Shirley Williams who has been made a Companion of Honour in the New Year Honours list.

Tim Farron said:

Shirley is a liberal lion. She is a hero of mine and many, many others. She is a tireless and doughty campaigner for progressive politics. Britain is a better place because of her.