A Liberal councillor who made LGBT+ history
Sam Green was the first openly gay politician ever elected in the UK – and possibly the world.
ED
by Ed Davey
19 Nov 2025
Save Favordale
Pendle Liberal Democrats
Petition to SAVE Favordale
Petition to SAVE Favordale and STOP Lancashire County Council closing Favordale Care Home in Colne. Lancashire County Council is reviewing the future of five care homes in the county, including Favordale in Colne. Favordale is a caring and loving home which is rated as 'Good' by external inspectors. Liberal Democrat councillors are campaigning to SAVE Favordale and STOP the county council closing it down.
24 Nov 25 - Favordale Latest Update
Favordale staff have been gagged from talking to media outlets by their bosses at LCC (this is to be as expected). There are now 5 bedrooms empty and LCC have informed Favordale that no more residents cannot be accepted as further rooms become available. Reform Councillors still maintain this is all lies stirred by Lib Dem Councillor David Whipp.
Over 3000 signatures were collected on the “Save Favordale” petition in the first week. Today
24/11/ 25 Government Re-organisation of Burnley and Pendle
The Reform led Lancashire County Council (LCC) supported the 2 Unitary Model. There will be no further response until Feb 2026 at the earliest.
14 Nov 2025 Summary: David Whipp
Over 1,600 people responded to the survey carried out by Pendle and Burnley councils.
Eight out of ten people backed the local councils' proposals for five smaller unitary councils in Lancashire, rather than options being put forward for councils three or four times larger.
Charities, community groups and businesses also strongly backed having more local councils following local government reorganisation.
I'm very pleased that so many people took the trouble to respond to the survey. It's crucial to get this right. I hope that Government ministers will listen carefully to what local people are saying.
This is one of only two surveys in the county that have asked local residents what they want - and the message is loud and clear. There's massive support for our five-unitary option, which proposes councils in the 'Goldilock's Zone' of being just the right size.
Our proposal would keep local government LOCAL; create agile councils able to innovate and improve services; ensure a fair share of resources across Lancashire; give East Lancashire two voices in new combined authorities; and be the best size to tackle the crisis in social care.
In the coming weeks, councillors across the county will be making their minds up on the options sent to the Government. Local residents have given us some powerful ammunition in backing five unitaries. I hope colleagues will get the message loud and clear.
Burnley & Pendle LGR Results Summary
2 Sept 25. Respond to Lancashire LGR Survey
Veteran Liberal Democrat councillor David Whipp is asking residents to help keep local control of local services.
"The Government is replacing local district and county councils with large 'unitary' bodies," said Councillor Whipp. "For people in Pendle, that could mean having a council of half-a-million or over 700,000 residents.
"I think councils that size would be much too big. Residents would loose any semblance of local control of their services and facilities.
"I'm backing an option for a new unitary council based on Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.
"This would be the right size to run social care services properly and small enough to care about all the townships and communities in our area.
"The proposal for five unitary councils to replace the 15 existing bodies in Lancashire is the one to back at our end of the county."
An online survey is underway asking residents what they think about the options.
Here's a link to the survey. https://www.givemyview.com/lancashirelgr
Councillor Whipp is asking people to fill in the survey. "This asks a lot of 'motherhood and apple pie' questions, with only two narrative questions giving people a chance to let authorities know what they think about unitary councils. Unfortunately there isn't an opportunity for people to 'vote' for an option."
Nov 2 2025: last Wednesday, Nigel Farage presented a bill in Parliament to withdraw from the ECHR and undermine your human rights. It’s only because of the Lib Dems that his shambolic plan was defeated.
We’re proud to stand up for Britain’s proud tradition of freedom, fairness and justice.
The European Convention on Human Rights was written after the Second World War to protect ordinary people from tyranny and abuse - and it still does so to this day. From bringing justice for the Hillsborough families to protecting children facing abuse, it’s crucial we maintain these protections by staying in the ECHR.
16 July 25. Pendle Borough Council sets out Key Actions for next 12 Months
Working hard for you
Liberal Democrats are working hard to represent our communities in Parliament, and in council chambers across Britain. We are committed to keeping council services local and effective!
In an historic General Election on 4th July the Liberal Democrats secured 72 seats in the new parliament on a vote share of 12.2%, for the first time securing the same share of seats in the Commons as their share of the vote. They are also now the largest third party in over a century, whilst the Conservatives have returned their fewest number of MP's ever.
This followed on from a local elections in which the Liberal Democrats came second here in the North West of England winning 50 seats to the Conservatives 43 seats, and across Lancashire we secured 3rd with 21.5% of the vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
Here in Pendle the Liberal Democrats are working hard to secure the help and services local people need following years of cuts and chaos from the former Conservative Government followed by the severe austerity of this Labour Government.
Pendle Council has agreed Liberal Democrat proposals to scrap a controversial multi-million pound Waste Transfer Station in Nelson.
At the council's budget meeting, Liberal councillors successfully proposed investing in a Empty Homes initiative; energy saving at sport and leisure centres; and public realm improvements in town centres (Barnoldswick, Brierfield and Earby), instead of spending over £2 million on the transfer station.
The Liberal group stopped Conservative cuts to street cleansing. The Tories wanted to cut two mechanical sweepers, reducing cleaning in many parts of Pendle, but with Nelson getting extra resources.
The Conservatives also wanted to charge for bulky household waste collections and lost bins. They wanted to bring back a profit-driven private enforcement company to issue fines. Previously, the arrangement had resulted in ‘easy pickings’, such as dogs off lead, being targeted, with no improvement in littering or dog fouling. The Liberal group defeated these changes.
A Liberal Democrat proposal to re-wild Marsden Park Golf Course was lost. The course is set to close, and future use of the land is uncertain. A feasibility study into building a crematorium was also voted down, with a majority of councillors continuing to back spending millions on a large new cemetery in Nelson.
Tackling Homelessness
Councillor Mary Thomas is pictured outside a house on Ruskin Avenue in Colne that has stood derelict for over 15 years. There are over 800 such houses in Colne that could be brought back into use before any green land is built on.
Safety First!
On 21 March 2024 Pendle Council narrowly voted in favour of a Liberal Democrat motion to implement stronger taxi safety measures. That resolution has still not been implemented! Tonight (29th January 2025) the Liberal Democrats put the safety of residents in Taxis ahead of party when they stepped down from the shared administration agreement that helped secure a fair deal for Pendle.
Leisure Centre Saved
Colne Leisure Centre and swimming pool have been saved from the threat of closure. The newly elected Liberal Democrat leadership at Pendle Borough Council have secured the money for a new roof and for energy efficiency to keep it open to serve all the people of Colne and surrounding villages. Cllr Andy Bell says "Closing the Leisure Centre and swimming pool was madness. Council Tax is there to provide services like these. I'm really glad that common sense has prevailed at Pendle Council"
Treasure Our Town
Treasure Our Town is a long-running Colne Town Council initiative that puts people and community pride at its heart. Each month from March to November, Councillors and volunteers head out into different parts of Colne to do llitter picking, report fly-tipping, noting blocked drains etc, and flagging issues to local Councils. Help is required: Colne in Bloom require help to plant bulbs in May & October; become a Friend of Alkincoates and help care for the park; join Alkincoates Buddies and care for The Secret Garden. email: ColneLibDems@gmail.com if you can help in any way.
Anti-social Behaviour in Colne Affects Everyone
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) continues to be a problem in Colne especially in parks, play areas and community favcilities. Alkincoates Park has been targeted with arson; damage to the wall at The Secret Garden; Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and play equipment vandalised. Councillors work with the police via Colne & District Partnership which meets monthly at Colne Town Hall and is open to the public. The forum is an opportunity for the public to be heard and raise concerns.
Get it Together
Liberal Democrat Councillors have called on Together Housing to sort the repairs on their estates in Colne. Tenants are concerned about paths, fences and common areas which are is disrepair. Cllr Andy Bell says the 'tenants should be afforded the courtesy of being kept informed when repairs are likely to be carried out. However it appears to tenants that that collection of rent is their only interest. Andy promises "we will continue to demand better for the residents in Together Housing and for all of Colne."
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Trans Awareness Week
November 13−19 2025 marks Trans Awareness Week. It is a time to listen to and act on the voices of transgender and non-binary people, celebrate their contributions and resilience, and recognise the barriers they continue to face.
13 Nov 2025
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Josh Babarinde elected as the new President of the Liberal Democrats
Members have elected Josh Babarinde, MP for Eastbourne, as the new President of the Liberal Democrats.
12 Nov 2025