On 13 June, at the Whittle Overview and Scrutiny Committee, newly elected Rugby Borough Councillor Tim Douglas for Paddow Ward raised the issue of empty homes in Rugby with the Council Leader and the Chief Executive.
Rugby Liberal Democrats encourage local residents to share their experiences about day-to-day life in Warwickshire.
Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has expressed his determination that the party continue to fight for a tolerant, openhearted, optimistic, and outward looking vision of Britain: "We should be proud of our positive, principled, and patriotic campaign for the UK to Remain at the heart of Europe. Our fight for an open, optimistic, liberal, diverse and tolerant Britain is needed now more than ever."
"I'm devastated and I am angry. After the referendum we have become a deeply divided country, " Leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron says:
This is not a great day, the referendum is over. Remain lost. We can put away our posters, our hyperbole and our support for George, Dave and Jeremy. There is work to be done. Perhaps more clear than a desire to leave the European Union. The result and accompanying commentary illuminates the stark divisions in our society. This was not just a no to the EU, its rules, and its immigration policy, it was a slap in the face of the political establishment. Yet the decision will not be an easy one to reverse, if possible at all. The recurring position of the EU was that out is out, to conspire through political back channels to return us to the union would be undemocratic and illiberal. Perhaps the only situation where this is possible would be if an election was called by the new Conservative leader before the activation of article 50, and the winning party stood on a manifesto on returning. Even still it is unlikely and our efforts would be better spent on working for a liberal, outward looking Britain moving for
What happens now? Initial reactions in London and Brussels have been stark, along the lines of 'Out means Out'. Will they change with more considered reflection? As the foreign ministers gather in Berlin today and the leaders of Germany, France and Italy meet on Monday to prepare Tuesday's European Council ('summit') meeting, economic interests may have started to impinge on political considerations. It seems most likely, however, that when David Cameron arrives in Brussels on Tuesday he will find his 27 counterparts almost all singing from the same (German-language) hymn sheet.