Cllr Gary Busuttil and I spoke supporting the Renters’ Reform Bill especially the removal of no-fault evictions but pointing out that Labour-run Ealing council is a lousy landlord with a poor record on housing repairs and safety. All we heard from the Tories was special pleading for landlords.

Lib Dems Andrew Steed and @conniehersch.bsky.social quizzed the portfolio holder about the noise and other nuisance from Gunnersbury Park events. The cabinet member claimed that there were no breaches of noise levels but will check if Ealing officers can attend the review meeting.

@ealinglibdems.bsky.social leader @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social asked a question about whether Ealing Council would allow EV charging gullies. The Labour answer was no on the basis that lamppost charging is cheaper which seems utterly incorrect in the long term as the electricity prices are so high

A good day canvassing on the Trees Estate in South Ealing earlier. Lots of positive support for @ealinglibdems.bsky.social but concerns that Labour Ealing has failed to repair damp council homes.

We had a great morning canvassing in Ealing Common. A huge thank you to Lib Dem vice-presidential candidate @kamhussain.bsky.social who came all the way from Leeds to take part! My colleagues Lakhbir Singh and @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social had shorter journeys.

At last. A symbolic but important step.

Since the UK Supreme Court’s ruling, I have received many messages from constituents who are concerned about the rights of trans people. I too am concerned by reports of rising discrimination as well as confusion over the ruling’s interaction with the Gender Recognition Act.

Congratulations to Ealing’s Chloe Kelly on scoring the winning penalty to win the Euros for England!

At Ealing’s planning committee, the application for flats up to 22-storeys on the locally listed Southall Community Centre site was DEFERRED in order for officers to negotiate an affordable percentage higher than the derisory 19% offered by the developers.

In a debate on parks and trees, @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social revealed that fraud has occurred relating to tree watering and @andrewsteed.bsky.social pointed out the importance of parks to health.

My Lib Dem ward colleague @conniehersch.bsky.social and I proposed a motion calling for an independent inquiry into the Lammas Park SuDS scheme fiasco. A sound idea but implemented shockingly badly with large parts of the park fenced off for two years.

I asked how much Ealing Borough Community Infrastructure Levy funding will go towards “Your Voice Your Town”. The portfolio holder admitted that amounts will be “modest” for the first three years.

@ealinglibdems.bsky.social leader @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social raised an urgent question about how the Ealing children’s centre cuts fly in the face of government policy. The portfolio holder responded by attacking the Lib Dem group.

🔶 The Lib Dems have reported the BBC to Ofcom for giving "undue prominence" to Reform UK in its coverage of the UK-France deal yesterday #LibDems #ReformUK #BBC

Enjoying the Ealing Beer Festival. It’s gratifying how the demographic has shifted over the years. When I first went it was nearly all middle aged white blokes. It’s now significantly more ethnically diverse, a bit more gender diverse and a much larger age range - lots of young people here tonight.

I attended Ealing’s overview and scrutiny committee which considered an opposition call-in of the administration’s children’s centre closures moved by @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social. Sadly all Labour members of the committee voted to uphold the decision.

Knocking up in the Fulham Town by-election.

Spent an enjoyable evening knocking on doors in South Acton ward for the @ealinglibdems.bsky.social.

I was honoured to light a lamp to start the event launching the autobiography of the esteemed Tamil Poet, Kasi Anandan in Greenford today.

Met up with @conniehersch.bsky.social for @ealinglibdems.bsky.social canvassing in Ealing Common on a lovely day!

Finding lots of support for @ealinglibdems.bsky.social in Ealing Broadway ward this evening with Adam Keenan and Mandy Lurie.

Hurry! The deadline for an early bird ticket for members and supporters for Autumn #LDconf (20-23 Sept in Bournemouth) is TOMORROW at midnight! After that prices must go up. libdems.org.uk/conference

Lib Dem councillors @conniehersch.bsky.social and @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social moved an amendment calling for the council to take a range of measures to make it easier to dispose of waste as well as fining flytippers. @ealinglibdems.bsky.social

My Lib Dem colleague Cllr Jonathan Oxley and I spoke on our motion seeking to save 10 of Ealing’s excellent children’s centres from Ealing Labour’s proposed cuts.

In questions at tonight’s Ealing council meeting, @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social challenged the Labour administration on Winter fuel payments and the two child cap, while I asked a question about building on our parks, which the portfolio holder refused to answer. @ealinglibdems.bsky.social

Lib Dem councillors: please give me your first preference to represent you on the LGA Safer & Stronger Communities Board.

Minister for Children and Families Janet Daby spoke at the LGA councillors’ forum today. She stressed the importance of family hubs in children’s welfare… something that Ealing’s Labour administration should listen to rather than closing Children’s Centres. @libdemlocalgov.bsky.social

Had lunch yesterday with Andrew Hickey, as smart, sweet, & fascinating a human that exists. (Content warning: Our lunch contained gluten, dairy, and graphic depictions of 2 chubby guys eating hamburgers & talking about Fleetwood Mac. If this may upset you, please read the transcript first.)"

On International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, I want to say to the LGBT+ community: I hear you, I get it, I stand with you, and the Liberal Democrats will never stop fighting to build a country and a world where you are truly free to be who you are.

I spoke on behalf of the opposition to support the nomination of Cllr Anthony Kelly as the Mayor of Ealing for the next municipal year.

At the lighting of the beacon in Walpole Park, Ealing to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

At the Heisenberg Breakfast Co in St Mary’s Road. It’s a small West London chain hitherto in Richmond and Chiswick but the Ealing branch opened today with a 20% opening day discount.

@conniehersch.bsky.social and I attended the Park Community Group AGM last night at UWL. Good to meet so many local people and this year there was a fascinating talk by the director of the Ealing Broadway Centre. I was reminiscing that I first attended this meeting in 1994.

@ealinglibdems.bsky.social were knocking on doors in Ealing Common this afternoon. Crime and anti-social behaviour came up frequently.

I asked Ealing’s @metpolice.bsky.social top cop about weak engagement with Ealing’s Citizens Tribunal, whether a focus of more officers to address local problems can be more agile and how Safer Neighbourhood Teams are working across the borough.

Scrutinising the Safer Ealing Partnership. I asked @londonfire.bsky.social borough fire commander how his officers prepare for increased flooding risk due to climate change. He gave a reassuringly comprehensive answer on work with environment agency on this - new equipment, procedures and training.

Lib Dem councillors @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social, Steed, Zissimos and I spoke in a debate on Ealing’s local plan. Among the issues we covered were failure to deliver affordable housing, mould in council homes, forcing Ealing Community Transport to leave Ealing and mud under Hanger Lane gyratory.

Lib Dem Cllr Andrew Steed quizzed the finance portfolio holder about the spring statement and how the council can help people hit by the Labour government’s benefit cuts.

Lib Dem Cllr Jonathan Oxley challenged Ealing’s Labour council leader on the removal of qualified teachers from the virtual school for looked after children.

Ealing Lib Dem @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social spoke in support of Greenford residents who don’t want a CPZ and objected in large numbers to the rigged consultation.

A standing ovation for @eddavey.libdems.org.uk who just closed @libdems.org.uk conference and delivered one of his most powerful Leader’s Speeches to date 🔶

My @ealinglibdems.bsky.social councillor colleagues @conniehersch.bsky.social, @athenazissimos.bsky.social and I are reinvigorated after an excellent Lib Dem Spring Conference in Harrogate.

I asked minister “Spiralling adult care costs are an existential threat to many councils. How can the gov’t ensure the Casey Commission delivers a new system that doesn’t just kick the can down the road until 2028?” He agreed we can’t wait and need to look at a place-based whole system approach.

It’s sad that Ealing borough still doesn’t have a stadium suitable for a top flight club in any sport. archive.ph/xHzK6

Checking out the Met Police live facial recognition being carried out in Ealing Broadway today. There are obvious civil liberties concerns and some previous trials have found higher error rates among ethnic minorities, though the police claim that this new technology is very accurate.

Ealing planning committee also voted unanimously to confirm the withdrawal of permitted development rights for turning houses into small HMOs. This doesn’t prevent all new small HMOs but requires the applicants to establish that they will not be harmful to neighbours.

Ealing planning committee has unanimously GRANTED permission for demolition of an industrial building at 65 Stirling Road and construction of a 12 story building with two floors of industrial space with 49 flats above, including 35% affordable housing.

🚨 BREAKING 🚨 The #LDConf app is LIVE! Install it now for all your conference needs! Android: youngliberals.uk/ldconference IoS: apps.apple.com/gb/app/liber...

Spent the afternoon knocking on doors in Walpole ward listening to residents with @mattmellor.bsky.social, @cllrgarymalcolm.bsky.social, Craig O’Donnell and William Francis. The issue that came up most often was the SUDS scheme that has closed much of Lammas Park for so long.

I asked the portfolio holder re the @eveningstandard.bsky.social exposé that managers tell wardens there is an “expected ticketing rate of 1.27 per hr” which “will be checked? For 8 hrs it will come to 10 or 11 PCNs minimum… it is GEL policy.” He said they have “performance benchmarks” not targets.