Lib Dems elect new county leader (Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@cambslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems elect new county leader

May 11, 2010 11:16 AM

Fiona Whelan - new county group leader

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have announced today (Monday, May 10) that Fiona Whelan will be taking over as group leader from David Jenkins.

Fiona has lived in Caldecote for the last five years and has been the county councillor for the Hardwick division since winning the seat at a by-election in November 2008.

She has been the Lib Dem Shadow Spokesperson for Adult Social Care since June 2009. A lawyer by Training, she was an IT Trainer for 12 years working for a large

multi-national company in Switzerland, Germany and Holland and then became self-employed when she relocated to England for family reasons.

She has two sons who attend Comberton Village College, is currently the Vice Chair of Caldecote Parish Council and is a governor of Caldecote Primary School which both her sons attended.

Fiona also sits on the board of the Cambridge branch of the National Autistic Society - a charity close to her heart as her 12-year-old son suffers from autism.

She is a board member of the Caldecote Little Footsteps Children's Centre and represents the county council on the Cambridgeshire Care Partnership and Relate. She is also a "young" associate member of COPE - Cambridge Older People's Enterprise.

In her spare time Fiona is a keen motorcyclist having passed her test last year.

As she takes on the role, Fiona says that one of the most pressing issues for the Lib Dem group at the county council is to see a resolution to the long overdue Guided Bus project and ensure that the taxpayers of South Cambridgeshire do not have to foot the bill for any

overruns or overspends.

"Our new MP, Julian Huppert, consistently pushed for reassurances that the project would not cost the taxpayers a penny and I shall be pushing for the same commitment from the administration," she said.

"In addition, with stinging budget cuts already announced locally, and the threat of them nationally, the group will be seeking to maintain the safeguarding of essential services for Cambridgeshire residents - wherever they live"

Former Lib Dem group leader, David Jenkins, county councillor for Cottenham,

Histon and Impington is stepping down due to increased work commitments.

"I've been very fortunate to have worked closely with David for the last 18 months and I look forward to carrying on the achievements of both David and his predecessor, Julian Huppert at a county level," added Fiona.