Recorded hate crimes are up 17% from last year, and have more than doubled in the last 4 years.

Racial hate crimes have increased 14% year on year, while those based on sexual orientation have risen a terrible 27%. Attacks on people based on religion, disability and transgender people have also risen year on year.

Kickstart is the name of the Association of Liberal Democrat Campaigners and Councillors (ALDC) residential campaign training weekend. It runs twice a year - in the summer and autumn.

Attendees get tailored, professional advice; training and bespoke mentoring from experienced and successful Liberal Democrat campaigners and councillors.

Q - I'm sure being at the centre of a parliamentary by-election is impossibly exciting, but also busy, exhausting and overwhelming, with huge highs and lows. What stands out the most for you from the campaign?

A - It really was! But incredibly exciting at the same time. I had seen Liberal Democrats gear up for a by-election before, but until you are at the centre of it you really can't appreciate the extent of the support, the enthusiasm and sheer hard work we do as a team to have these great results at by-election. Seeing Lib Dems come together and campaign together - that is definitely what stands out for me.

The Government's Counter Terrorism Bill has now moved to debate in the House of Lords. The Liberal Democrats opposed the bill in the House of Commons for a simple reason: this bill does little to keep us safe, but a lot to erode the individual freedoms of people in the UK.

In the future we might have a Government who are prepared to ride roughshod over our freedoms as citizens.

Councillors have called for the county council's highways contract to be publicly scrutinised in the wake of Chelmsford's Army and Navy flyover closing.

The Leaders of the Opposition Councillor Mike Mackrory and Councillor Stephen Robinson, both Lib Dems, have argued that Essex County Council's current contract with Ringway Jacobs is "too expensive" for the services it provides..

Cllrs. Stephen Robinson and Lee Ashley have launched a survey on speeding in roads in St Andrews ward that are used as a 'rat-run'.

https://chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/en/survey/pines-highfield-sunningdale-roads-speeding-survey

Will Corbyn stand up to the Tories and their chaotic Brexit? Can Theresa May provide any clarity about what a real Brexit deal might look like?

No, and no.

Labour's Conference was riven with divisions over Brexit. Keir Starmer said he wanted to give the people the chance to remain, John McDonnell says this isn't on the table.

The leader's consultation on proposals for party reforms is still running for the next 2 weeks - and we want to make sure as many people as possible can take part.

That's why we've produced a consultation pack for your local party to use. You can see the pack here:

If you couldn't make the first online consultation session, fear not!

We've recorded the entire thing - and you can cactch up now: