Kieron Franks

🔶️ | 25 | Chelmsford City Councillor for Great Baddow East | Promoted by the Liberal Democrats, 66 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6AU

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

A brilliant end to our Next Gen 20 programme at @LGAcomms Conference 2026, with amazing councillors from authorities ranging from Durham to Dacorum. It was great to see the impact of @libdemlocalgov in every part of England and we got a very warm welcome from LD-led @BCPCouncil!

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

A great weekend in Coventry at the @LGAcomms Local Government Reorganisation training course with @libdemlocalgov colleagues from @ChelmsLibDems @SCLibDems @LibDemsBwd and the Cotswolds!

[ALDC @ALDC]

Guildford South East-Surrey

LD GAIN from RGV

LD (Catherine Houston): 1,426 (41.3%, +18.0%)
Con: 788 (22.8%, -8.1%)
RGV: 565 (16.3%, -21.4%)
RFM: 416 (12.0%, New)
GRN: 172 (5.0%, New)
LAB: 89 (2.6%, -5.6%)

Well done to Cllr Catherine Houston and the Liberal Democrat team!

[ALDC @ALDC]

Staines-Spelthorne

LD GAIN from GRN

LD (Laura Barker): 804 (38.0%, New)
RFM: 499 (23.6%, +21.6%)
IND: 261 (12.3%, New)
Con: 231 (10.9%, -21.9%)
GRN: 163 (7.7%, -36.3%)
LAB: 158 (7.5%, New)

Well done to Cllr Laura Barker and the Liberal Democrat team!

[ALDC @ALDC]

Ashton-Preston

LD GAIN from LAB

LD (Ronan Hodgson): 659 (35.5%, +14.0%)
RFM: 548 (29.5%, New)
LAB: 429 (23.1%, -35.7%)
IND: 101 (5.4%, New)
Con: 61 (3.3%, -16.4%)
IND: 60 (3.2%, New)

Well done to Cllr Ronan Hodgson and the Liberal Democrat team!

[LocalCouncils.co.uk @councilsUK]

In @SpelthorneBC Staines ward, the Liberal Democrats have gained the seat from the Green Party. Laura Barker is the winner

[LocalCouncils.co.uk @councilsUK]

In @prestoncouncil Ashton ward, the Liberal Democrats have gained the seat from Labour. Ronan Hodgson elected

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

@KeyworkerMan Ha ha, no 👎

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

As one of the party's youngest councillors who grew up in a low-income household in Doncaster, I wholeheartedly agree that we need to do more to make space for working-class candidates to stand as Lib Dems.

(1/6)

[Tom Gordon MP @tomgordonLD]

After helping my mum knock on doors this weekend, I’ve decided to start a bit of a project.

It’s about making politics more accessible to working class communities, and making sure we get the politicians we need and that we deserve.

Read a bit more about it below.

🧵1/7

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

I'm hopeful that you can make a difference here and I'm very keen to help however I can.

We need more than a sticking plaster approach to this - a wholesale look at making our party inclusive is needed.

(6/6)

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

Don't get me wrong, I make that choice and I'm glad to volunteer.

But it's a sacrifice that most working-class people aren't able to make. Until we make our processes accessible, working-class people won't take part - not because they don't want to but because they can't.

(5/6)

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

@SamuelCLT_OTT that an individual has a right to choose for themselves according to their own faith (or lack thereof).

It's not about the merits of the bill but instead denying someone the ability to engage with their own faith, just because they didn't impose it on someone else. (2/2)

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

@SamuelCLT_OTT Surely, if you think Tim should have been treated differently - you should absolutely support Chris in his indignation?

Alternatively, if you don't - what do you reasonably expect a person elected as a Liberal to do, if not to separate their personal faith from the belief (1/2)

[ALDC @ALDC]

Maldon West, Maldon District Council

🔶LD (Sarah Dodsley): 573 (41.5%, +6.8)
➡️RFM: 488 (35.3%, new)
🔵Con: 204 (14.8%, -2.6)
⚪MDI: 83 (6.0%, -28.5)
🟢GRN: 33 (2.4%, new)
LIB DEMS GAIN FROM MALDON DISTRICT INDEPENDENT GROUP

Congratulations to Cllr Sarah Dodsley and the team!

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

@MaryRegW @CRobertson_LD @SamF_H Fair enough 😆 (though if we hadn't been directly facing the sun, I might have found it a bit easier!)

[Kieron Franks @k_afranks]

@MaryRegW @scjlibdem Now I need to fight the urge to go
to GE HQ overnight and make sure it's done right before you see it...