Last Tuesday, a constituent contacted my office to report that residents in Staplefield had been without water since 9pm the previous evening and had yet to receive any assistance or bottled supplies. Despite neighbours raising the issue with South East Water shortly after the outage began, the company later claimed it was unaware of the situation until 2pm the following afternoon, nearly 18 hours later after households first lost water. This meant that at that point, no plan had been made to support the 136 affected households.

I immediately pressed South East Water for an urgent update and for bottled water deliveries to be arranged, and I was reassured that supplies would be provided, including to those on the Priority Services Register. However, by that evening, residents reported that no water had arrived, leaving households, businesses and livestock to face another night without supply. I have since learnt from local schools that they had to close, only realising there was no running water when staff arrived to school in the morning. Communication was sparse and unclear, which understandably heightened concern across the village.

The following morning, I raised the issue on BBC Sussex. Although the water supply had been restored earlier that day, the promised home deliveries never materialised. Instead, bottled water was left at a central location around 9pm, twenty-four hours after the outage began. Residents were not informed. 

I spent Sunday afternoon in Staplefield talking to people in the village. What became clear from my conversations was that people had very different experiences of the outage. Some had no water at all, whilst others had no interruption to their supply. They all agreed that South East Water's communication was poor and there was a sense of weary resignation that supply interruptions are only to be expected these days.

This breakdown in communication reflects broader concerns I have raised with South East Water. In the same week, Burgess Hill estate agent Mansell McTaggart faced severe flooding to their basement, with water repeatedly returning despite South East Water coming out with tankers to pump away the water. Staff reported a lack of accountability and inadequate response, leaving them to manage ongoing damage alone with no certainty about when they would be able to resume their business and begin to deal with the damage.  

While I recognise that improving water infrastructure will take time, residents deserve clear communication and reliable support when services fail. I have raised these concerns directly with the Minister for Water and Flooding, and I will continue to hold South East Water to account to ensure our communities receive the service they deserve. 

Liberal Democrats have accused Liverpool City Council of putting children at risk by leaving school crossing patrol vacancies across the city empty to save money.

Since January, Allerton councillor Andrew Makinson has been pressing Liverpool City Council to open the vacant posts for recruitment.

“Around Booker Avenue Primary School, two crossing patrols have been missing since the Autumn, leaving parents and children struggling to cross busy roads. The problem is the same at many schools throughout Liverpool,” said Andrew Makinson.  

“Many parents contacted me at the start of the year asking why their lollipop wardens were missing. We know it can be a struggle to recruit people for these part-time jobs, so I contacted the council offering to help to advertise the jobs in the local community, only to be told that recruitment had been closed.” 

In January, Liverpool City Council was heading for a projected £40 million overspend on their budget. The ruling Labour cabinet requested that departments manage overtime and recruitment to help bring costs under control. 

“Liverpool City Council may insist that there was no formal recruitment freeze, but the result for our city’s children was the same,” said Andrew Makinson. 

“Every year, this council finds itself massively over-budget as they struggle to control costs. It is a disgrace that our city’s children are put at risk by this Labour council’s financial mismanagement.”

Liverpool City Council is now promising to advertise these vacancies within the next few weeks, but it is unlikely that anyone will be in post before the new school year in September. 

Caithness, Sutherland & Ross MSP David Green has secured a commitment from Scottish Government energy minister Stephen Gethins to visit Dounreay and discuss the future of the nuclear workforce in Scotland.

The commitment was made during portfolio questions in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday and follows a commitment made by the newly elected far north MSP to support the nuclear industry in the far north.

Speaking remotely at last week’s Dounreay Stakeholder Group meeting, Mr Green said he was keen to work with community representatives and organisations to promote the interests of the substantial workforces that remain at Dounreay and Vulcan.

During the election campaign, Mr Green joined fellow Liberal Democrat Jamie Stone in writing to the Scottish Government urging ministers to reconsider their long-standing opposition to new nuclear power.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament chamber, Mr Green said: "The Minister will no doubt agree that energy security must be considered alongside our climate obligations.

"But that is why I urge the Scottish Government to heed the advice of the Climate Change Committee when they say, "nuclear is essential to the UK's decarbonised electricity mix.

"I also urge the Minister to recognise that decommissioning in Scotland - including at Dounreay in my constituency - depends on retaining skills for the long-term.

"Will he therefore agree to visit Dounreay, meet our nuclear workforce, and address concerns that his government's opposition to new nuclear sends a message that their future lies elsewhere?"

In response, the Energy Minister reiterated the Scottish Government’s view that nuclear power is an expensive technology, but confirmed he would be “delighted” to visit Dounreay and engage with local MSPs and the workforce.

Following the exchange, Mr Green said: “Opportunities are opening up for new nuclear south of the border, but the Scottish Government remains committed to using its control of the planning process to block it in Scotland. I fear that leaves an experienced workforce looking elsewhere to use their skills.

“I thank the Minister for agreeing to visit Dounreay and I look forward to welcoming him to the Highlands. He will find a highly skilled workforce, significant potential and a community eager to seize future opportunities.”

ENDS

Liam McArthur, Orkney’s MSP has today sought the government’s support for consent to be granted as soon as possible for the replacement of the electrical cable serving North Ronaldsay after SSEN confirmed the fault developed earlier this year could not be fixed.  

Mr McArthur also called on the government to ensure the fibre in any replacement cable can be used to boost digital connectivity and resilience in North Ronaldsay.  

In response, Energy Minister Stephen Gethins acknowledged the issues raised and offered to meet with Mr McArthur to discuss the matter in more detail.  Mr McArthur has since written to the Minister inviting him to visit Orkney over the summer recess to engage on issues of island resilience and digital infrastructure, as well as meet with local representatives of the energy sector.  

Commenting after the exchange, Mr McArthur said:  

“The damage to the electrical cable serving North Ronaldsay has had a significant impact on island residents, who have been reliant on a diesel generator for power for most of the early part of this year.  

“A new cable will be required and every effort must be made to ensuring this is consented and laid as soon as possible. Steps also need to be taken to address the financial losses many islanders have faced due to having to turn off their turbines during this period.  

“Replacement of the cable, however, does present an ideal opportunity to deliver fibre to the island, strengthening community resilience by providing better digital connectivity for households and businesses in North Ronaldsay. 

“I met with SSEN earlier today who confirmed they are open to allowing access to the fibre in their cable. I plan to approach telecoms providers to encourage them to take up this offer and hope the Minister will now support those efforts.

“This is part of a wider effort to improve resilience across the islands and so I welcome the Minister’s willingness to visit Orkney over the summer to engage in more detail on this and related issues”. 

The all-party Finance Committee of Sevenoaks District Council has told its Conservative Cabinet to be flexible and negotiate a long-term future for the town's Stag Theatre with the local Town Council.

Councillors were considering a recommendation to levy a new charge of £650,000 on the Town Council in exchange for a transfer of the community theatre's freehold.

Many councillors - along with more than 7,500 residents who have signed a petition promoted by the Theatre - argued that a nil-cost transfer would enable the theatre to flourish, attract additional investment and continue serving the communities around Sevenoaks. 

With changes in local government organisation expected to be confirmed in the new few weeks, the Theatre's trustees are anxious to see its future settled quickly.

Cllr Alan Leaman, leader of the Council's Lib Dem group, said: "I hope we are seeing signs of common sense breaking out at the District Council. We need the elected leaderships of the two Councils to get together and devise a way forward for the Stag that meets its needs and is acceptable to both. The time for dogma is over. The public interest must come first."

EMBARGO: 22.30 10th June 2026

Ed Davey tells Andy Burnham to defy the whip and “back family carers”

Today (11th June), as part of Carers Week, Ed Davey will visit a group of young carers, as he calls for Burnham to prove he is “serious about social care” by backing a Lib Dem amendment to provide new support for carers.

Following repeated interventions by Andy Burnham on social care, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has challenged the Labour frontrunner to “prove he’s serious about fixing care” by backing family carers, and voting for guaranteed respite breaks in the Government’s Health Bill.

The Liberal Democrat amendment put forward by Ed Davey and Lib Dem Care spokesperson, Alison Bennett, would ensure every family carer is entitled to guaranteed breaks.  A vote on the amendment is expected in July, after the by-election, meaning if Burnham wins, he will vote on it.

The party has warned that the failure to support family carers is putting pressure on the NHS as people stop being able to look after an elderly or disabled loved one and have to put them in hospital. The party argues that the lack of breaks and support stops carers from being able to work or look after their own health. The party are also campaigning for paid carer’s leave at work- building on the entitlement to unpaid leave secured by Lib Dem MP, Wendy Chamberlain.

44% of carers say the person they care for experienced an emergency admission or unplanned visit to hospital in the last 12 months. 30% of carers say their physical health is bad or very bad.

Visiting a local carers group today, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said:

“After looking after my mum as a teenager, and now caring for my son John, I know first-hand how rewarding caring can be – but also how tough it is. And I've spoken to millions of carers who feel forgotten and ignored.

“We need to change that. We are putting forward a new law to give every family carer a guaranteed break. If Andy Burnham is serious about fixing social care and the NHS, he should back our law and promise to vote for it if he’s elected in Makerfield.

“If Andy Burnham shows courage and gives us that backing, I have no doubt this amendment would become law.  We will work constructively with anyone who takes care and carers seriously”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Amendment:

To move the following clause—

“National Respite Care Scheme

(1) Within six months of the passage of this Act, the Secretary of State must establish a National Respite Care Scheme.

(2) The scheme under subsection (1) must make provision for—

(a) a local authority carrying out a carer’s assessment under section 10 of the Care Act 2014 to be required to consider whether a carer is able to take sufficient breaks from their caring responsibilities.

(b) unpaid carers to receive support to take breaks from their caring responsibilities to—

(i) maintain their physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing,

(ii) participate in work, education, training or recreation, and

(iii) participate in family and community life.

(c) a carer to receive appropriate support if a local authority carrying out an assessment under subsection (2)(a) determines that a carer is unable to take sufficient breaks from caring

(3) Under subsection (2), “support” may include—

(a) replacement care for the cared-for person;

(b) respite services;

(c) any other steps a local authority considers appropriate as support.

(4) The Secretary of State must provide sufficient support to local authorities to ensure the scheme under subsection (1) is delivered in every local authority.

(5) For the purposes of this section, “carer” has the meaning given by section 10 of the Care Act 2014 and includes a young carer within the meaning of section 96 of the Children and Families Act 2014.”

Member’s explanatory statement: This amendment would require the Secretary of State to establish a National Respite Care Scheme.

Data on carer’s mental, physical health and hospital visits can be found here.