Local Liberal Democrats are today praising the huge contribution of party leader Ross Laird, who is stepping down from the leadership of the Lib Dem group on Haringey Council, and will shortly resign his Council seat. Ross Laird and his young family are to move to Edinburgh, as both his and his wife’s jobs are moving to Scotland. Cllr Neil Williams (Highgate ward) has been elected new Lib Dem leader on the Council.

Ross Laird was elected a councillor for Muswell Hill four years ago in January 2000, in a notable local by-election win.

He was re-elected in the local elections in 2002, and in November 2002 he became leader of the 15-strong Lib Dem Group after their dramatic election gains in May of that year.

Ross Laird comments:

“I have hugely enjoyed my time as Lib Dem Leader and as Muswell Hill councillor, and after all the immense help and encouragement from local people I will be very sad to leave. Both my own job and that of my wife are moving to Edinburgh and the move will also allow us to be much nearer to my elderly parents. This hasn’t been an easy decision for us to make.”

“I hope that along with my council colleagues Lynne Featherstone and Jonathan Bloch, I have been able to make a noticeable difference to the area. Certainly, the last few weeks have brought good news for Muswell Hill on a range of issues we’ve been working on.

“Sir John Stevens has confirmed that it should be quick and easy to find the funding to reopen Muswell Hill’s police station to the public. The trial for a new bus route linking Muswell Hill with Hampstead and Swiss Cottage is starting this very day. I will be writing to all local residents to thank them for their help in all these campaigns.”

Fellow Muswell Hill councillor, Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Ross has been a great friend and colleague over the past four years, and he will be greatly missed, both as leader of the Lib Dem group on the Council and as my own colleague in Muswell Hill ward. I wish Ross and his family every success and happiness in their move to Scotland.”

Highgate councillor Neil Williams has been elected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrat group. Cllr Neil Williams, comments:

“We will all miss Ross very much in the group, and he did a superb job in bringing a whole new team of councillors together on the Council. Ross has built the foundations that will ensure we will continue to make progress. We have a by-election in a couple of weeks in Stroud Green where we have an excellent opportunity to make another gain from Labour on the Council, and I am sure we will finish the job of ending over 30 years of Labour rule in Haringey. We are all looking forward to the challenges ahead.”