🔶 Ben (Lib)Dempsey 🔶

@benedictdempsey.bsky.social

Sussex Lib Dem; nature conservationist; Brighton fan Promoted by T. Murray on behalf of Benedict Dempsey (Liberal Democrats) at Liberal Democrats, Heidenhain Building, Suite B, 200 London Road, Burgess Hill, RH15 9RD

The Conservatives have effectively committed to even more unsustainable development. Building homes cannot be at the expense of our environment. We should overhaul the planning system to make our communities more sustainable. These plans would do the opposite. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Tories to pledge to scrap Environment Agency and Natural England

Shadow chancellor will also promise to scrap affordable homes regulations as part of strategy to refocus on growth

theguardian.com

The motion passed at Green Party Conf' actively undermines a 2-state solution, and does not address the rising threats of Islamophobia and Antisemitism here in the UK. This is a divisive motion that pours fuel on the fire of tensions in the UK, and will leave many British Jews feeling less safe.

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This thread explains some helpful facts re historic tree cover. We don't need to perpetuate inaccuracy to justify increasing tree cover now. Current & future environments & needs are different. Better to explain why than keep pretending we can return to some halcyon days to fix the mess we've made.

Clemency Cooper@clemencycooper.bsky.social · last mo.

'Most of Britain was covered with wild, sprawling forest' is a common misconception about the time of the Norman Conquest. Usborne history books were an important part of my early obsession with archaeology but it's disappointing to see such a huge inaccuracy still being published.

Flap in an illustrated children's book reading 'Most of Brian was covered with wild, sprawling forest.'

This is a really inadequate Home Office statement in these circumstancds It empathises with this protest as expressing legitimate concerns, singles out violence against police, and simply fails to say "violence threatening asylum seekers, migrants & other minorities is shocking + wrong"

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"Drill baby drill' say the Tories while Europe burns. A natural disaster on our doorstep. The climate emergency means every summer will have intense heat leading to devastating fires. It's time to speed up our transition to renewables, not slow it down. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wildfire now nine miles away from French city of Bordeaux, mayor warns

Thomas Cazenave says they are preparing if further evacuations are issued, as the mayor of a nearby town called the situation "catastrophic".

bbc.co.uk

10 years on, the very same politicians who caused the Brexit mess say nobody can dare try to fix it. We say enough. It's time for a bold new deal with Europe to make Britain safer, richer and stronger. Watch our new film here ⬇️ youtu.be/ihdhBLT6YYM

It's time for a bold new deal with Europe.

10 years on, the very same politicians who caused the Brexit mess say nobody can dare try to fix it. We say enough. It's time for a bold new deal with Europe to make Britain safer, richer and…

youtu.be

I signed a motion calling for World Heritage Site designation for English chalk streams, like the Itchen and Meon. It would formally recognise them as sites of outstanding universal value, strengthen protections, and help unlock funding, research and public engagement to support their recovery.

Danny Chambers smiling to camera standing by a part of the Meon River in Hampshire. The river and trees can be seen in the background.

"I've signed a parliamentary motion calling for UNESCO World Heritage Status for chalk streams."That this House recognises that chalk streams are among the rarest freshwater habitats on Earth, with around 200 known globally and approximately 85% found in England; notes that these unique rivers support exceptional biodiversity, including Atlantic salmon, water vole, brown trout, southern damselfly and white-clawed crayfish; further notes the internationally significant chalk streams flowing through South Cambridgeshire, including the River Cam, River Rhee, River Granta and Bourn Brook; acknowledges the profound environmental, cultural and scientific importance of these globally rare ecosystems and the growing pressures they face from pollution, over-abstraction, sewage discharges and unsustainable development; welcomes the introduction of the Chalk Streams (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) Bill on 25 February 2026; further recognises the tireless work of local communities, conservation organisations and chalk stream groups working to protect these fragile habitats; and calls on the Government to begin the formal process of nominating England’s chalk streams as a serial UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, strengthen planning and environmental protections for chalk streams, tackle over-abstraction and pollution, and ensure that fines levied on water companies for environmental damage are reinvested directly into restoring and protecting these irreplaceable rivers.

Liberal Democrats are proud to serve their community. We don’t sow division; we fix potholes and church roofs, and we always sweat the small things. 

🔶 Vote Liberal Democrat this Thursday to elect a local champion for your community. 🗳️

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This is a democratic farce. The government is essentially asking Conservative council leaders if they would like to grant themselves an extra year in power. It is like a teacher asking a student if they’d prefer to skip their exams because they aren’t ready. news.sky.com/story/millio...

Millions could see county council elections delayed again

The government is expected to argue that the delay is needed because councils need more time to complete a reorganisation process.

news.sky.com

This delay is another example of the govt’s shambolic indecision Sussex is being denied the chance to vote for Lib Dems’ positive vision for the future We’ll keep working for a prosperous, tolerant and green Sussex, starting with the county council elections in May www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

New mayoral elections to be delayed in four areas of England

The new mayoralties in Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Hampshire and the Solent, and Sussex and Brighton will now be contested in 2028.

bbc.co.uk

The Chancellor missed a lot of opportunities to turn the corner in today's budget. Freezing tax thresholds will hurt families already struggling, Sussex businesses should have been backed, and crucially Brexit damage is still being ignored. My reaction to the budget👇

GOVERNMENT SAYS SUSSEX WILL HAVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN MAY 2026 Elections have already been postponed once, and James MacCleary MP has been pushing to make sure Conservative-run county councils will face voters in May. It’s time for Sussex to have its say, and for a fresh start. Watch James, below

The government say there needs to be strong justification for delaying Sussec council elections again. I hope they will tell Sussex Tories that wanting to cling onto power isn’t that. It’s time for elections, it’s time for change in Sussex. Read their reply to my call for votes to go ahead 👇

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Great to be in Brighton today and listen to ideas for supporting businesses here. I want to draw Sussex together and make it a place to do business. Got a business based in Sussex? I'd love to hear how we could support you and grow our economy. Email me at: ben.dempsey@sussexlibdems.org.uk

Sussex is brilliant, and people here deserve a positive plan for what's next. We need a Mayor who gets our communities and will fight hard to make this amazing county even better. Great to listen and chat with residents in Maidenbower (Crawley), Broadbridge Heath, and Horsham this weekend.

Great to join Jess Brown-Fuller MP in Chichester. She's delivering for West Sussex on fighting to stop sewage dumps, the local hospital, and the cost of living. With five Lib Dem MPs working hard in their communities, we have the positive momentum to stop Reform UK's divisive politics across Sussex