There is enormous scope to improve Britain's railways, providing reliable and affordable train services and cutting emissions. The Tories' and Labour's ideological obsessions - the former with privatisation, the latter with nationalisation - only serve to get in the way of making real improvements through investment and regulation. We will improve the railways, reform the franchising system and improve services to customers. We will:
Brexit negatively impacts staff retention at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, the Liberal Democrats have warned. Figures published by the Liberal Democrats reveal that 78 EU staff working at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust have already left the health service this year including 21 nurses and midwives. In the three years since the Brexit vote, 301 NHS staff from the EU have left the local trust. Staff departures from Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust are part of a worrying national trend: over 3,250 NHS staff from the EU have left the health service so far this year, including 1,116 nurses. The data, based on responses to Freedom of Information requests across 50 NHS hospital trusts, reveals that:
Why Mole Valley residents are voting for Paul Kennedy:
Paul Kennedy's statement on the Liberal Democrats policy:
At the recent Mole Valley Scrutiny Committee, Liberal Democrat councillors defeated an attempt by the Conservatives to delay the implementation of the much-needed Opportunity Dorking regeneration initiative to promote the culture and economy of Dorking. The proposal had already been considered by Scrutiny Committee in October, but none of the Conservative councillors (apart from the Chairman of Scrutiny to give his formal report) had attended or asked any questions at the subsequent Cabinet meeting which approved it.
Skills Wallets are a plan to allow every adult in England to access training throughout their lives, after leaving full time education.
I have written with Lib Dem MPs in Surrey to the Department for Education, stating how we have lost confidence in Surrey County Council and it's ability to deliver SEND services. We request the Secretary of State intervenes immediately.
Chris praises work of local campaigners in holding UKOG to account.
Last night Chris was on Ian Dale’s LBC show talking about the national crisis in special needs provision and what a better special needs education system might look like.
Chris Coghlan MP for Dorking & Horley interviewed September 20th on BBC Radio Surrey about the ongoing works in Dorking's West Street.
Chris Coghlan, MP for Dorking & Horley, and Hazel Watson, County Councillor, visited the site of the sinkhole in Dorking’s West Street, and are keeping up the pressure on Thames Water to fix the issue.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian children have found safety in the UK – but many still face uncertainty, disruption, and trauma. They deserve security, stability, and the chance to thrive.
The contaminated blood scandal is one of the gravest injustices in NHS history. We must honour victims with recognition, dignity, and compensation – and ensure no one ever suffers from such injustice again.
Years of Conservative cuts have hollowed out the legal aid system, leaving millions without access to timely legal advice. Our new policy will legal aid a guaranteed right, ensure no one is left without help.
