About us

"The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity."

Preamble to the Federal Constitution

The Isle of Ely Liberal Democrats is a branch of the English Liberal Democrats (see www.libdems.org.uk); in 1995 it was decided it should cover the geographical area at the north end of the District of East Cambridgeshire, centred on the villages on and near the old island of the Isle of Ely.

Members of the branch, being members of the English Liberal Democrats, endeavour to campaign on matters that affect people locally which contribute to the aims of the Liberal Democrats to build that better society envisioned above. Issues and campaign topics can vary from the very local to national and even international concerns.

We hold regular meetings open to party members where we consider policy and campaigns of interest to local residents. If you wish to have more information about joining the party please contact our Branch Chair (see contacts details on this web-site).

The area of the branch is represented in parliament by the MPs for South East Cambridgeshire and North East Cambridgeshire. We work closely with the local constituency Liberal Democrat parties in seeking to return Liberal Democrat MPs to these seats.

Recent Political Representation

Most elections have been a fight against the main opposition Conservatives.

Local Westminster Election victories

The Isle of Ely has been frequently represented by Liberals at Westminster.

The branch area covers four County Council seats (‘divisions’) of Ely North & South, Ely West, Littleport and Sutton and the many East Cambridgeshire District Council seats (‘wards’) within that area.

Local District Council Election victories

The greatest recent success has been taking overall control of East Cambridgeshire District Council in May 1999. East Cambs had been ‘independently controlled’ since its formation 25 years before in 1974, and was in fact the sole remaining independent principal authority in Anglia.

This rise to control the Authority was led by members within the branch from a base of only four District Councillors in 1991, on the 37 seat council. Through the work of newcomer to Ely, from Scotland, Councillor Donald Adey (Ely South Ward) a powerful campaign team was forged and at the next ‘all up’ in 1995 a total of thirteen seats were won.

The 1999 elections saw, every one of the then seven seats in Ely come over to the Liberal Democrats, with twenty being won overall. Again, the lead member, in this campaign development, was an Ely member, Councillor Simon Higginson (Ely North Ward).

A leading factor in winning this election was a local campaign to save an area of land between the River and Broad Street, Ely from the council’s planned housing development. This election victory allowed creation of the Jubilee Gardens.

Local Cambridgeshire County Council Election victories

Between 1993–1997 and 1983–1989 the Liberal Democrats were the dominant coalition partner running the County Council.

Almost every village within the branch has at sometime been represented by a Liberal Democrat. You could help bring about our next election victory that allows us to continue to build that better society.