On Wednesday, Essex Liberal Democrats and the University of Essex jointly hosted former Lib Dem Leader and Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable for a virtual Q&A.

The well attended event gave Essex based Lib Dems an opportunity to hear about our plans for the 2021 local elections from Leader of Chelmsford Council, Cllr Stephen Robertson as well as an introduction to Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Candidate Callum Robertson.

What: Q&A with Sir Vince Cable, former leader of the Liberal Democrats and Business Secretary

When: Wednesday, 7:30pm-9pm

Where: Online! The link is here

Who: Vince Cable, former Liberal Democrat Leader and Callum Robertson, Candidate for Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

Cost: Free! Literally nothing!

On Monday 28, Essex Lib Dem Police Commissioner Candidate Callum Robertson joined Brentwood Lib Dems where he spoke about his plans for linking in his Police campaign with the local campaigns being run by the brilliant local councillors in Brentwood.

He spoke about how we should be combating Nitrus Oxide (also known as laughing gas) saying:

Cllr David Kendall shares his experience of the pandemic...

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic I found demand for my carpet cleaning business was very quiet, so I applied for a job with the NHS and for three months I worked in a Nursing Home in Chelmsford as a Cleaning Supervisor.

The job gave me a good understanding of how a nursing home operates and gave me the opportunity to see first-hand the dedication and commitment shown by the care workers to the elderly residents in their care. It was a pleasure to be part of such a great team of people all focused on nursing people back to health, including some recovering from Covid-19. My admiration and respect for all those working in the NHS and the care sector has grown even stronger and I will certainly use my new found knowledge and experience to give them as much support as I can through my role as a county and borough councillor.

While the NHS job certainly kept me busy, I'm pleased to have also kept up to date with all my casework across the Brentwood South Division and Pilgrims Hatch ward.

Essex Lib Dem Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Candidate Callum Robertson used a speech at the Liberal Democrat Conference to take the Tories to task over their breaking of international law.

His speech is below:

"Good evening conference

First off, I want to say thanks to the staff members and FCC members who have put on a blinder of a conference in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

To beat the Conservatives across Essex in May 2021, we need to be active and fighting for our communities. We have brilliant Lib Dem Councillors who are doing just that, some brilliant examples from this week include:

• Colchester Borough Council Leader Mark Cory has stood up to Tory MP Will Quince over the disastrous internal market bill
• Chelmsford City Council, led by Lib Dem Stephen Robinson has announced a 2 Million investment program for Chelmsford

Brentwood Council will, thanks to Lib Dem councillor Karen Chilvers, be writing to Brentwood & Ongar MP. Alex Burghart, to ask him to engage with the RSPCA in their campaign to move to silent fireworks.

Karen said:

"Many RSPCA supporters wrote to their councillors last year asking the council to take action to stop the unreasonable noise made by fireworks. Unfortunately, council powers are limited so I sought out the best solution which is to ask for our MP to take action on behalf of all animal lovers in parliament.

Councillors Sarah Cloke and Dominic Naylor joined the Brentwood Borough Council 'Race for Life' team today.

The team statement said:

"Cancer is happening right now, which is why staff at Brentwood Borough Council will be taking part in a Race for Life to raise money and save lives.

"1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK's groundbreaking work."

Essex Lib Dem PFCC candidate Callum Robertson revealed his shocked at victims of domestic abuse being reported to the Home Office Immigration as a result of reporting their experiences.

Earlier today, Robertson listened to workers at Essex domestic abuse charity Changing Pathways who told him that abuse victims were being detained in immigration centres after they disclosed their abuse to the Police.

Today, Callum Robertson, the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner continued his listening tour of community organisations Essex with a virtual visit to the South Essex Citizens Advice Bureau.

Katherine, the CEO of the South Essex CAB branch, which covers Basildon, Brentwood, Thurrock, Rayleigh and Castle Point met with Callum Robertson to discuss how the Office of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex can best support the third sector in the delivery of frontline services.