BRACKNELL FOREST
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Listening | Caring | Competent

Standing up for Liberal values in Bracknell Forest. Fighting for community engagement, fairness and transparency in our Borough.

 Sandhurst Liberal Democrats stand up to Reform Campaigner

Councillors Leigh Quigg and Mike Forster unmasked a Reform attempt to weaponise the Union Flag at Sandhurst Town Council.  Councillor John Edwards, who had previously insisted he is an independent Councillor was forced to admit that he is Reform’s Bracknell Forest Campaign Manager and a fully paid up member of the party.  Politicising our Union flag is a new low for Reform and Liberal Democrats have called them out for trying to create division in our community. 

We will continue to defend our community from the divisive and hostile brand of politics that Reform brings.Residents can see the Bracknell News article here – Councillor admits Reform membership in flag debate

The video of the meeting at Sandhurst Town Council is here  

Bracknell Forest Liberal Democrats Open Letter to Residents

https://www.facebook.com/BracknellLiberalDemocrats        16 September 2025

 

Dear Residents of Bracknell Forest,

As your Liberal Democrat representatives, we want to thank you for your continued engagement in shaping the future of our community. Bracknell Forest is a vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking borough—and we believe it deserves leadership that reflects these values. We were elected on a platform that focuses on resident’s needs and our community’s ambitions, and we are concentrating on doing just this.

As Liberal Democrats we stand for fairness, openness, and opportunity for all. We believe in a society where everyone—regardless of background—can thrive. Our priorities are clear: investing in public services, protecting the environment, supporting small businesses, and ensuring that every resident feels safe, respected, and heard.

The Liberal Democrats believe that fixing the immigration system means ending the hostile environment created by the Conservatives and treating people with dignity and respect. We must also uphold our international obligations including providing legitimate and safe routes to apply for asylum. What this doesn’t mean is providing an open door – it means examining each case on merit and deporting those who don’t meet the asylum threshold to a safe place.

In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in divisive rhetoric from far-right groups, including those now seeking influence in our councils and in our communities. These voices often trade in fear, blame, and misinformation. They claim to speak for “ordinary people” while offering no real solutions—only slogans and scapegoats. Their disingenuous attempts to create a conspiracy around the Afghan Resettlement Scheme, to run down our country more broadly and particularly their faux concerns regarding freedom of speech, is shameful.

We reject their approach utterly.

The Liberal Democrats offer a positive alternative. We believe in evidence-based policies, not populist soundbites. We support strong communities, not culture wars. And we know that real change comes from collaboration, not confrontation.

Here in Bracknell Forest, we’re working hard to:

●        Protect local services including health from cuts and ensuring that residents concerns are heard in the Council. We will keep pressure on those who provide GP and NHS services in our Borough to meet the standards of care we are entitled to, including feeding in our community requirements for the re-build of Frimley Park.

●        Champion clean energy and our green spaces such as supporting the Borough Council’s Green Bond and protecting areas such as Horseshoe Lake, ensuring a sustainable future for our children.

●        Support mental health and social care, especially for our most vulnerable residents who are challenged by the unfunded SEND mess left by the Conservatives.

●        Promote inclusive education, where every child has the chance to succeed and that education is properly funded including SEND provision.  We will continue to champion the provision of a new SEND school in Bucklers Park and to keep the pressure on the Department of Education to pay their fair share.

●        Stand up to hate and extremism, wherever it appears including the disinformation and bile spread by the far right in our community.

We believe in transparency and accountability. That’s why we’ve launched initiatives like Reform Watch, holding far-right councillors to account and exposing policies that threaten our public services and community cohesion.

We know that many residents are frustrated—by the cost of living, by long NHS waiting times, by the lack of affordable housing. These are real issues, and they deserve real answers. Bracknell Forest Liberal Democrats are committed to tackling these challenges with practical, compassionate solutions—not by pointing fingers or stoking division.

We’re proud of our record in delivering for residents across Bracknell Forest, and we’re ready to do more. But we need your support. In the run-up to the 2027 council elections, we ask you to look beyond the noise and choose a party that puts people before politics.

Together, we can build a Bracknell Forest that is greener, fairer, and more united.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Warm regards,

Mike Forster

Bracknell Forest Liberal Democrat Chair

Sandhurst Town and Borough Council

Mike.forster@bracknelllibdems.org.uk

 

 

Leigh Quigg

Sandhurst Town Council Liberal Democrat Group Leader

Leigh.quigg@bracknelllibdems.org.uk