Next Stop Stockport as funding is secured for Metrolink extension to the borough!

Speaking after the government announcement of a funding package for the regions, including money for an extension to bring Metrolink in to the borough, Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of the Council and of the Liberal Democrats at Stockport Town Hall said:

“We are so proud that after our Next Stop Stockport campaign, the government have heard us at last and delivering Metrolink is on track! We have always been proud to advocate on behalf of our borough – we all know how fantastic it already is and just how much potential it has. Our £1 billion regeneration of the town centre and many national plaudits as a great place to live and do work are testament to the momentum that has been built. It’s fantastic to see that the Government now finally agree with us on this and are backing our ambitious approach and record of delivery.

“The addition of a Metrolink extension is a gamechanger for Stockport. It provides a massive boost to our residents’ job and leisure opportunities, a reduction of emissions, and another way for people to come and see everything our borough has to offer. This has been a long and hard-fought win for the Lib Dems locally and the whole of Stockport moving forward.”

Cllr Grace Baynham, Cabinet Member with responsibilities including transport, added: “We have worked tirelessly with officers to ensure that Stockport has absolutely everything going for it in terms of business cases for Metrolink. Our state of the art Transport Interchange was specifically built with Metrolink in mind and, along with the money promised for more electric buses and other sustainable transport projects, this will be transformative. It will provide a huge boost to our already flourishing Town centre, and the positive effects will ripple out well beyond and into our wider borough.”

Lib Dems support Stockport Pride with pride

Local Liberal Democrats will be out in force this Sunday, demonstrating their support for Stockport Pride, the annual event that allows our LGBTQ+ community and their allies to come together and celebrate everyone’s right to truly be who they are, challenging discrimination and continuing the fight for acceptance and equality.

Speaking ahead of the event, Cllr Jake Austin, Lib Dem Group coordinator of our involvement with Stockport Pride, said: “We are proud to stand with the entire LGBTQ+ community at a time when they face another rise in prejudice and barriers to living life as their genuine selves. We always have a large group of Councillors and activists taking part, all coming together to show our solidarity and support whilst enjoying what is always a really fun day.”

Cllr Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Public Protection and lead on equality and diversity, added: “Pride is inherently political and its values are core beliefs of Liberal Democrats, who have advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and equality for decades. We will be proud to march with our friends under a party banner, demonstrating our support as we strive to make Stockport a great place that truly welcomes everyone and is only intolerant of intolerance. I encourage everyone to come and enjoy the fun.”

Stockport Pride will be in the marketplace from 11am to 7pm this Sunday, with many events and stalls open through the day. Come and say hello at the Liberal Democrat stall and join in with us during the march.

Stockport Liberal Democrats Raise Alarm Over Labour’s Planning Reforms

Liberal Democrats have raised concerns about the continuing changes to planning being drip-fed by the Labour government, with announcements today around loosening the requirement to protect nature and biodiversity and a consultation on moving more planning decisions away from residents through their locally-elected representatives.

Added to the changes already announced last year and earlier this year, it means Lib Dems will have to bring forward a draft Local Plan for consultation wildly at odds with the version they published last summer. Government action means the new draft will have to include the release of significant tracts of Green Belt land, now termed “Grey Belt” by the government, to meet the much higher, compulsory housing and employment land targets that all councils face.

Cllr Jake Austin, Cabinet Member with responsibility for delivering the Local Plan, said:

“Not content with announcing plans to railroad over local democracy by drastically reducing the say our residents and communities will have over development, the government is now rolling back on its promises to protect our natural environment. Labour are creating a system which gives developers a free pass to build without consideration for our communities, green spaces, or natural environment.

“We are committed to making sure Stockport builds enough homes for everyone who wants to make this brilliant borough their home, and we will work tirelessly to make this happen, but Keir Starmer’s drastic reforms are bulldozing through the protections that keep building sustainable.

“Development is a careful balance between building the homes we desperately need without disrupting our communities or destroying our environment. This Labour government is making it impossible for any local authority to maintain that balance.”
Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of the Council and of the Liberal Democrats at Stockport Town Hall, said:

“We have always accepted the need to build more homes in our borough. But they have to be the right homes in the right places. To date we have focussed on breathing life back into our Town Centre and the surrounding areas, but there was always going to be a need for careful development in other parts of the borough to meet demand.

“The Liberal Democrats drew up and published a plan last summer that delivered what Stockport needed in a sustainable way, but the new Labour government have completely changed the rules. They haven’t just thrown the baby out with the bathwater, they’ve lobbed the bath out the window with it! They’ve given the green light to developers to concrete over our Green Belt and change our communities forever. Councils like Stockport and others across GM will be given no options to avoid this. Local people and councillors will essentially have no say over whether the government allows large scale development by the back door.

“People should be angry with the Labour government and their Green Belt Land Grab. We certainly are.”
Stockport Liberal Democrats join a growing group of organisations warning the government against its proposals, with the RSPB describing the reforms as a step that will “put wildlife seriously at risk”.

International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

Today, Stockport Liberal Democrats are marking International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Saturday, 17th May 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the decision by the WHO to remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases, and is a key time of year where we can reflect upon the growing challenges that members of the LGBTQ+ community face.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Cllr Jilly Julian said

“Last year, there were 26,000 hate crimes committed against members of the LGBTQ+ community. 26,000 (recorded) incidents of violent acts committed against someone, simply for being who they are. This year’s theme is the “power of communities” which reminds us that while problems of this scale can often feel bigger than us, it’s important to be able to look within our own communities here in Stockport and see how we can counter the increasingly dangerous and vicious rhetoric that is being propagated every single day.”

“It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the value of the LGBTQ+ community that so many of our friends have found a home within. We recognise the importance of ensuring that every single resident in our borough feels safe to live their lives without fear of persecution. The journey towards LGBTQ+ equality continues, and we will never stop standing up for all of the communities in our wonderfully diverse borough.”

Stockport Liberal Democrats announce new Cabinet Team

Stockport Liberal Democrats have made changes to their Cabinet Team ahead of Stockport Council’s Annual Meeting on the 20th May.

The changes will see an injection of fresh faces as 3 members will serve on the cabinet for their first time. The Cabinet will work under the Leadership of the newly elected Group Leader, Cllr Mark Roberts, joined by Cllr Jilly Julian as Deputy Leader who continues to serve as the member with responsibility for finances.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Mark Roberts, said

“I am so pleased to be able to announce our crack team of local champions for Cabinet. The challenges we face are considerable in the light of national pressures but I’m more than confident that we will rise to those challenges. We have a strong foundation to build on from the previous Liberal Democrat administration that helps to ensure we will deliver on our priorities and ambition for the people of Stockport. Building a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable place to grow up, raise a family and enjoy old age. Living happy, healthy lives in a fair, free and tolerant society.”

The new faces that join current cabinet members Cllr Grace Baynham, Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, Cllr Jilly Julian and Cllr Wendy Meikle are:

Cllr Jake Austin, the new lead for Housing and the Environment, who said

“After working for councils across Greater Manchester and advocating for stronger housing and climate change policy in last year’s GM Mayoral election, I am looking forward to being an advocate for our fantastic borough as we face those challenges together .

Four years ago, my husband and I chose Stockport as our home because we believe in its vision and future. I am proud to play my part in making it happen.”

Cllr Micheala Meikle, who has been appointed the new lead for Economy, Regeneration and Skills, said

“I was born, raised and continue to live in Stockport and feel deeply invested in its success. It is a privilege to raise my family in such a forward thinking, diverse and thriving borough. In my new role I’m looking forward to contributing to Stockport’s ongoing development.”

Cllr Dan Oliver, the new lead for Communities, Culture and Public Protection, has extensive experience in both the public and voluntary sector. Dan said

“I am deeply passionate about communities and social justice, with a professional career that has involved tackling poverty across GM and leading campaigns for national policy change. I’ve lived in Stockport my whole life and always looked for ways in which I can best serve my community, such as leading a local youth group for more than a decade.”

The four remaining cabinet members all served during the past civic year, however there have been some changes made to their roles.

Cllr Jilly Julian continues as the Council’s lead for Finance and Resources, but also steps up to the role of Deputy Leader. Jilly balances raising a young family and running her own business all alongside her tireless work in the community. Jilly’s previous years working on the cabinet were spent focused on protecting Stockport’s frontline services in the face of national government cuts.

Cllr Helen Foster-Grime will now serve as the lead for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care. As a lifelong borough resident with board level experience of blue chip companies, Helen has built a strong record of public service in her elected volunteer role. She has served as a cabinet member previously and is driven by a passion for helping the people of Stockport

Meanwhile, Cllr Grace Baynham will continue in her role as Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services, bringing with her several years of experience working within the NHS, and three years on the cabinet. Grace is driven by trying to do her best by for the people of Stockport for the coming year.

The final member of the cabinet is Cllr Wendy Meikle, who continues as lead member for Children Families and Education. Wendy is looking forward to building upon the successes of her previous term working as a cabinet member, and is driven by a passion to continue to be a champion for all the early years help that Stockport provides.

Cllr Mark Roberts added

“As we move into a new chapter, it’s important to thank both the outgoing Leader, Cllr Mark Hunter, and outgoing cabinet members, Cllr Keith Holloway, and Cllr Colin MacAlister for their incredible work over the last few years. They have always put Stockport first and we wouldn’t be in such a strong position without them. Cheadle Hulme South and Marple South & High Lane are lucky to have such excellent representatives to continue fighting their corner.


“For the coming year, I am incredibly pleased with the talented individuals that I’ll be working alongside. There is a healthy mix of different perspectives and life experience, and I believe we are fully equipped to face the challenges ahead, and keep Stockport moving forward.”

Response to Conservative attack re Local Plan

Cllr Mark Hunter has written the below in response to an open letter from the Conservative Councillor on Stockport Council:

Cllr Crossen,

Thank you for your email. I am disappointed, but not surprised, that you choose to ignore reality whilst writing a letter clearly intended more for voters’ eyes than for mine.

As you should be well aware, Stockport councillors – including Conservative councillors who have since lost their seats – voted to leave the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework at the end of 2020, with a view to protecting our Green Belt. It was the right decision.

That was under a local Labour administration that did not then do enough to draft and adopt a Local Plan, and they left it to the Liberal Democrats to pick up the pieces when we regained minority control of the council three years ago, at the end of May 2022. Since that time we have taken and continue to take senior legal advice at each stage on the most appropriate way forwards.

You will recall that the summer of 2022 was particularly special for the Conservative party. Boris Johnson had to resign as Prime Minister, Liz Truss briefly replaced him, crashed our economy and was eventually replaced in turn by Rishi Sunak.

During that chaotic time there was much speculation during the leadership campaigns about changing the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and about making the then compulsory housing targets only advisory. As this change would enable us follow through on our ambition to protect our precious Green Belt, the new Cabinet under my leadership took the decision to pause work, avoiding an expensive consultation on a Local Plan that might be out of date before the consultation was complete. This saved our hard-pressed Council Tax payers around £0.25m according to an official estimate. The Conservative government confirmed at the end of 2022 that this would happen, and a new NPPF was expected to be published in the Spring of 2023.

Sadly, Michael Gove as Secretary of State chose instead to take a year to issue a revised NPPF, and it was late December 2023 before this was published. We re-commenced work immediately under this new guidance and, despite being forced to pause announcements due to the pre-election periods for the Local Elections and then General Election in 2024, we did publish a draft Local Plan back in July 2024.

It can be found here:

Agenda for Cabinet on Friday, 19th July, 2024, 12.00 pm – Stockport Council

This focussed on Brownfield first development, protecting our Green Belt as we have always aimed.

Shortly after publishing that draft Local Plan, the new Labour government announced the planning rules would be altered again, entirely changing the game with their 10 million homes housing ambition and strictly enforced, compulsory housing targets. We were forced to wait for yet another update to the NPPF by central government.

Our Local Development Scheme was published within days of Labour finally issuing the updated National Planning Policy Framework, showing how we would deliver a Local Plan to the government’s deadline. A key matter remained unresolved, however – what did the compulsory targets mean in places like Stockport where such huge housing numbers could only be delivered through the release of Green Belt. This would apparently involving a new classification of land called “Grey Belt”. All Local Plans under the previous rules not yet at Regulation 19 Consultation were to be abandoned and the new rules used instead.

Sadly, but unsurprisingly given our experience to date, the government then delayed issuing the clarity and guidance on Grey Belt/Green Belt for months. When it eventually came, the guidance was completely out of line with what the planning community had expected. Our consultants are currently working through what this means for Stockport. This government delay will have a knock on to all councils and their preparation of Local Plans.

We continue to urgently progress our Local Plan but it will now be even more difficult protect the Green Belt our residents rightly cherish. Overnight, Angela Rayner’s compulsory housing target removed our ability to defend such land from the clutches of developers who are intent on concreting over it, in the pursuit of profit.

Labour’s new rules will make it much easier for them to build there. Unlike the draft Local Plan the Lib Dems published last summer, which would have built the right homes in the right places, but which we were blocked from progressing.

I hope this clarifies the fact that the Liberal Democrats have not been dragging our heels, on the contrary we have been keen to make progress and have been repeatedly frustrated by changes in government policy.

We hope you will join our calls to government to overturn the approach taken by both the current Labour government and its Conservative predecessors, who have given all of the power to developers whilst tying councils’ hands behind their backs at the expense of our valuable Green Belt.