SOUTH NORFOLK'S LIB DEM TEAM

Over the last twenty years the Party's organisation in South Norfolk, in what was once a very safe blue area, has been built up to challenge the Conservatives at every level of political activity.

South Norfolk District Council

Following the 1979 district elections there was just one Liberal member on South Norfolk Council which was controlled by a large Conservative/Independent majority. Since that date the picture gradually changed until at the 1995 elections, following four years of no overall control for any party, the Liberal Democrats took outright control of the council for the first time. In May 1999 this position was confirmed with Liberal Democrat councillors returned for 27 of the 47 seats. In May 2003, under new ward boundaries, the Liberal Democrats retained control again but in 2007 the Tories won a majority of the seats once again. Currently the Council comprises 7 Liberal Democrats and 29 Conservatives but we regard this as a temporary situation. There are no Labour or Independent Councillors.

Election statistics demonstrate the distortions of the first-past-the-post voting system. The parties' share of the votes in South Norfolk in 2007 (2003 in brackets) were: LD 39% (46), Con 55% (40), Lab 2% (7), Others 4% (6); while the seat share was: LD 15% (61), Con 85% (39), Others 0% (0). We are the only major party in South Norfolk campaigning for PR at local elections.

The Liberal Democrat group on the council try to apply the Party's basic principles to local issues. When in control of the council they work to implement District Manifestos produced locally for the council elections. A new Manifesto is drawn up for each election following a local conference where all members of the Party within the district are entitled to speak and vote. The next elections are scheduled for May 2011.

Norfolk County Council

Liberal Democrat councillors currently represent two of the ten county divisions in South Norfolk (the remainder are all held by Conservatives). This is two less than prior to the county elections of May 2005 where the higher turnout resulting from the general election taking place at the same time undoubtedly affected the result. The Labour candidates finished in third place in all but one of the ten divisions. New division boundaries were used for this election.

It is interesting to note that voting on the same day the electors of South Norfolk voted very differently in the two elections held on 5th May 2005. For the general election the share of the votes was Liberal Democrat 30%, Tories 45%, Labour 22%, Others 6%, while for the county election the figures were Liberal Democrat 36%, Tories 44%, Labour 14%, Others 6%. The next county elections will be in May 2009 unless a switch to a system of Unitary Authorities is agreed beforehand.

After 100 years of Independent and then Conservative control the county council became balanced in 1993 leaving no party with an overall majority. The Liberal Democrat group then worked in a loose arrangement with Labour to run the council until the Tories regained control in 2001. A Liberal Democrat County Conference is held in November each year where all members of the Party in Norfolk are able to influence county policy.

Branch Structure

South Norfolk Liberal Democrats believe in devolution and try to put it into practice. The Local Party is organised on the basis of local branches covering one or two of the constituency's ten county divisions. Each branch committee is responsible for all activities in its area, particularly campaigning and elections. Branches appoint representatives to serve on the Local Party's Executive Committee, which coordinates all the Party's activities in South Norfolk.

Since 1997 the district has covered two parliamentary constituencies with the parishes of Cringleford, Colney and half of Costessey forming part of Norwich South. The two constituency Local Parties have agreed that South Norfolk LP should retain responsibility for local government activity in these areas.

Parliamentary Elections

The Party, or more strictly the Liberal/SDP Alliance, took second place in the South Norfolk constituency for the first time at the 1983 general election and has retained it ever since. The figures in 2005 were: Richard Bacon (Con) 27,480 44.8%, Ian Mack (LD) 17,617 29.9%, Labour 13,262 22.5%, UKIP 1696 2.9%. With the Liberal Democrats already holding the North Norfolk seat, South Norfolk will be a prime target for the Party at the next general election. The recent review of constituency boundaries will be implemented at the next general election. This creates an extra seat in Norfolk and reduces the size of the South Norfolk constituency by transferring Wymondham and the area around Hingham to the new Mid Norfolk constituency.

European Elections

Since 1999 South Norfolk has been part of the Eastern Constituency for Euro elections. This now returns 7 MEPs to the European Parliament. At the latest election on 10th June 2004 Liberal Democrats achieved 18.3% of the votes in South Norfolk (compared with 14% across the whole Euro constituency and an increase of 2.7% since 1999) and elected Andrew Duff as an MEP. The next elections are due in June 2009.

The Wider World

Members of South Norfolk Liberal Democrats play a active role in the Party's activities at county, regional and national levels. We send representatives to conferences and participate in a variety of ways in the democratic processes which direct the Party.

Liberal Democrat Philosophy

The Liberal Democrats were formed in 1988 following the merger of the Liberal Party and the SDP. They thus combine the traditional values of Liberalism and Social Democracy. This is perhaps best summed up by an extract from the Party's constitution:

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity....

Join the Team

IIf you would like to join the Party or help 'South Norfolk's Winning Team' or just require more information about the Liberal Democrats please contact

South Norfolk Liberal Democrats, 17 Hall Lane Wacton Norwich Norfolk NR15 2UH
Telephone: 08703 219662