The Group

The Liberal Democrats at the LGA operate a full and open election process with all Liberal Democrat councillors in England and Wales whose councils are LGA members having a vote. Positions are normally elected ever two years with the last elections taking place in 2025 and the next ones set for 2027. The group is made up of the officers and all the members that have been elected to represent Lib Dem councillors in the range of policy areas that the LGA works on.

The LGA Liberal Democrat Group Leadership Team

Group Leader 

Cllr Joe Harris
Cotswold and Gloucestershire 

Group Deputy Leader 

Cllr Bridget Smith 
South Cambridgeshire

Group Chair 

Cllr Lucy Nethsingha
Cambridgeshire

Group Whip

Cllr Heather Kidd
Shropshire

Additional LGA Lib Dem Group Board Member

Cllr Amanda Hopgood
Durham

National Lead Peer

Alan Connett
Devon

LGA Committee Members

Children and Young People 

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson (lead)
    Portsmouth
  • Cllr Amanda Hopgood (lead until May 2026)
  • Cllr Jane Carr 
    Milton Keynes
  • Cllr Dine Romero (sub) 
    Bath & North East Somerset

Inclusive Growth

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Carl Cashman (lead)
    Liverpool
  • Cllr Mike Ross
    Hull
  • Cllr Jim Millard
    Richmond
  • Cllr Andrew  Brown (sub)
    Bristol

Community Wellbeing

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Wendy Taylor (lead)
    Newcastle
  • Cllr Sarah Osborne 
    East Sussex
  • Cllr Mike Bell 
    North Somerset Council
  • Cllr Rebecca Trimnell (sub)
    Gloucester

Culture, Tourism and Sport 

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Darry Smalley (lead)
    York
  • Cllr Liz Green
    Kingston
  • Cllr Elizabeth Scott 
    Durham
  • Cllr Robert Pritchard (sub) 
    Hull

Neighbourhoods

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Victor Chamberlain (lead)
    Southwark
  • Cllr Hayleigh Gascoigne
    Vale of White Horse
  • Cllr Paula Widdowson
    York
  • Cllr Alexander Ehmann (sub)
    Richmond

Fire Services 

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Carolyn Lambert (lead)
    East Sussex
  • Cllr Stuart Bray
    Hinckley and Bosworth
  • Cllr Paul Edgeworth
    Sunderland
  • Cllr Roger Price (sub)
    Hampshire

Improvement

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Tim Pickstone (lead)
    Cumberland
  • Cllr Lucy Nethsingha
    Cambridge
  • Cllr Mike Evemy
    Cotswold
  • Cllr Roger Hayes (sub)
    Kingston

Public Sector Reform and Innovation

  • Cllr Caroline Leaver (lead)
    Devon and North Devon
  • Cllr Alex Wagner
    Shropshire
  • Cllr Michael Mullaney
    Hinckley and Bosworth
  • Cllr Diana Lugova
    Vale of White Horse

Economy and Resources 

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Keith House (lead)  
    Eastleigh
  • Cllr Mark Jeffery
    Portsmouth
  • Cllr Michael Headley
    Bedford

Safer and Stronger Communities 

Three places and a sub

  • Cllr Ryan Priest (lead)
    Dudley
  • Cllr Aga Dychton
    Watford
  • Cllr Thalia Marrington
    Cornwall
  • Cllr Jon Ball (sub)
    Ealing

District Councils Network Lead 

Cllr Bridget Smith
South Cambridgeshire

County Councils Network Lead 

Cllr Lucy Nesthinga
Cambridgeshire

Cllr representative on Liberal Democrat Federal Board

Cllr Simon McGrath
Merton

LGA Commercial Advisory Board   

Cllr David Neighbour
Hart

Local Partnerships 

Cllr Howard Sykes
Oldham

Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

Cllr Paul Smith
Colchester

Council of European Municipalities and Regions

Cllr Flo Clucas
Cheltenham