Liberal Democrats put Southwark front and centre at annual party conference. 

Southwark Liberal Democrats have been leading national conversations at the Liberal Democrats' annual autumn conference in Bournemouth, ahead of a key set of local elections in May next year. 

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrats, sat on expert panels on supporting small and medium house builders, and accelerating social housing delivery.  

Taking experience from Southwark residents, Cllr Rachel Bentley and Francesco Guerrieri successfully passed a motion reaffirming the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to abolishing leasehold and building homes that are fit for purpose. Francesco, who is himself a leaseholder in Bermondsey, railed against a system that is ripping people off and exacerbating the cost of living crisis. 

Elsewhere, Cllr David Watson, who represents the ward with the highest crime rate in Southwark, spoke passionately about the need to take crime and policing seriously in light of Labour's failure to tackle crime and ASB in London. 

Commenting, Cllr Victor Chamberlain said: 

"We're putting Southwark on the national stage, making sure our excellent MPs and Peers continue to lead on the change Southwark and the country is crying out for. 

Labour have totally failed on crime, housing, and the cost of living - this conference has shown that only the Liberal Democrats have the ideas and energy to tackle these issues, and we'll be taking this momentum forward to take the fight to Labour next May"