Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, tonight delivered the Political Studies Association/Hansard Society Annual Lecture.

He said that our political system is out of step with modern life and set out how the Government plans to change that by reforming the country's political institutions, decentralising power and protecting civil liberties.

Commenting on the Government announcement to provide guaranteed respite care by making £400m available to carers, Liberal Democrat Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow said:

"This huge investment will make life a little bit easier for carers who are some of the most unsung heroes across the country.

Woking Lib Dems welcome the Coalition Government's new deal on council housing. Under this new deal, local councils like Woking will be allowed to keep their tenants' rents - and the money they make from selling council houses - instead of having to hand over much of this cash to Whitehall. It could free up funds for repairs and, possibly, new council houses.

Woking Lib Dem councillors were dismayed to read extracts from the Browne Review report on university tuition fees calling for the present cap to be lifted. Woking Lib Dems are opposed to forcing students to take on huge amounts of debt to fund their university education.

Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, Cllr Richard Sharp said:

Surrey County Council has approved a motion put forward by the Liberal Democrat group, agreeing to investigate the use of renewable energy to generate income for the Council, whilst lowering carbon emissions.

Lib Dem Environment Spokesman Cllr Will Forster said: "I am delighted that the Council has agreed to take on our initiative. We made our proposal following the announcement by Chris Huhne MP, the Lib Dem Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which lifted the previous government's ban on local authorities selling electricity to the National Grid."

Liberal Democrats up and down the country assembled this week for the party's annual conference, the first since the formation of the coalition government back in May of this year.

On Wednesday afternoon Nick Clegg gave his first speech to conference as Deputy Prime Minister. It was a speech that laid out the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government so far and our aspirations for the future. So much has already been achieved and many Liberal Democrat manifesto pledges are being actioned in government:

On the 15th July 2010 local elections were held for the Surrey County Council seat of Normandy & Pirbright and the borough seat of Pirbright. The results of the elections were as follows:

Guildford BC Pirbright

Gordon Jackson - Conservative 364

Philip Douetil - Lib Dem 199

(Maj 165)

Surrey CC Worplesdon

At its Annual General Meeting, Woking Borough Liberal Democrat Council Group elected Richard Sharp as Leader and Bryan Cross as Deputy Leader.

Cllr Richard Sharp said, "The Lib Dem Council Group has committed itself to the same key principles and vision as the national coalition: the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility, and the vision of a strong society where those who can, do and those who can't, will always be helped. We have also reconfirmed our commitment to making progress on the key priorities of the Council (decent & affordable housing, the environment, and health & well-being), with innovative plans in difficult economic conditions.

Following the sad death of Mike Nevins there are two by-elections on Thursday 15 July. One for the county seat of Normandy & Pirbright and the other for the borough seat of Pirbright.

Pirbright and part of the county seat are in the Woking parliamentary constituency but Guildford borough.

The Liberal Democrat Normandy & Pirbright county seat candidate is Paul Cragg - link to Paul Cragg page