A strong opposition means a more accountable council

2.10.18pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 8th Jul 2006

Liberal Democrats on South Cambridgeshire District Council have decided to move into opposition.

The decision was taken because the Conservatives' dishonest campaign in the last elections meant that the trust necessary for cross-party co-operation was no longer there.

During the election campaign the Conservatives misrepresented the role of the Lib Dems by giving the impression that we alone ran the Council, when in fact all parties had worked together to get through a difficult year.

A list of "cuts" to frontline services were invented, that Lib Dems were supposedly responsible for. Lib Dems, it was claimed, 'reduced facilities for disabled children' when in fact means testing for grants for the disabled had been stopped, meaning MORE people were eligible, not less.

Lib Dem Group Leader John Batchelor said "The Conservatives only need the support of four 'Independents' to get their policies through, so they need to take on the responsibilities this role gives them. Liberal Democrats on the Council will scrutinise the Conservatives and Independent administration carefully, to ensure that the interests of the people of South Cambridgeshire are best served."

The move into opposition means that Lib Dems will no longer have any seats on the Cabinet and that Sebastian Kindersley will no longer lead the Council. Liberal Democrats will instead play a bigger role in scrutinising the role of the majority parties and ensure that none of local peoples' Council Tax is wasted.