Millie Earl
Millie Earl | |
|---|---|
| Leader of BCP Council | |
| Assumed office 14 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Vikki Slade |
| Councillor for Newtown and Heatherlands | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1990 or 1991 (aged 33 or 34) Poole, Dorset, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
Millie Clementine Earl (born 1990 or 1991) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council since 2024.
Early life
[edit]Millie was born in Poole and grew up on Ashley Road.[1]
Career
[edit]Earl is a veteran campaigner working with charities like Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Bournemouth Foodbank.[2] In the 2015 Poole Borough Council election, she was a Liberal Democrat candidate in Creekmoor ward but was not elected.[3]
In the 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election, she was elected in Newtown and Heatherlands.[4] In the 2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election, she was re-elected in her ward topping the poll with 1,966 votes.[5] In the election the Liberal Democrats became the largest party and took control of the council holding the most seats.[6] The Liberal Democrats formed a coalition with Christchurch Independents, Poole People Party and the Bournemouth Independent Group.[7] Earl was appointed Deputy Council Leader with the portfolio of "Connected Communities".[8]
In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, council leader Vikki Slade was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Dorset and North Poole, so Earl took over as interim council leader.[9] When the council reconvened she was elected.[10] As council leader she has been responsible in negotiations surrounding the future of the Bournemouth Air Festival.[11] In September 2024, the "Best Value Notice" the Government put on BCP Council was lifted with Earl saying the council was in a "much healthier place".[12]
Political views
[edit]Earl supported the use of "hybrid and online participation" for council meetings.[13] During the COVID-19 pandemic Earl helped organise a community festival in Parkstone.[14] Earl presented a petition on measures to prevent anti-social behaviour in her ward.[15] The petition entitled "Make Ashley Road Safe" was drawn up following a number of incidents in the area.[16]
Earl opposed Conservative proposals to enforce Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) which included fining homeless people in the local authority, calling the policy "very cruel".[17] Earl opposes the English Devolution Bill which proposes a devolution deal and metro mayor for the region.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "Poole Team 2024 - Poole Liberal Democrats". www.poole-libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Millie Earl | Dorset LEP". www.dorsetlep.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Election 2015 Results". poole.gov.uk. Poole Borough Council. Archived from the original on 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ^ "Local elections 2019: results for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at a glance". Bournemouth Echo. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Newtown and Heatherlands (2023)". BCP Council. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "'Blown away': Liberal Democrats storm into largest BCP Council party after election". Bournemouth Echo. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "BCP council to be run by coalition led by Lib Dem Vikki Slade". BBC News. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Vikki Slade elected as leader of BCP Council". www.middorsetlibdems.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Dorset MP Vikki Slade steps down as leader of BCP Council". BBC News. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "BCP Council appoints leader to replace newly elected MP". BBC News. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Bournemouth Air Festival: Talks begin on events future". BBC News. 2024-09-10. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Government no longer concerned with BCP Council". BBC News. 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "BCP Council to debate virtual meetings and remote voting". BBC News. 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Community festival draws crowds to sunny Poole high street over bank holiday". Bournemouth Echo. 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "More changes coming to tackle high street's anti-social behaviour issues". Bournemouth Echo. 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "'Make Ashley Road Safe': plea after rise in anti-social behaviour and drug use". Bournemouth Echo. 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Dorset homeless people face fines for sleeping in doorways". BBC News. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "BCP Council hits out at Labour's approach to devolution". Bournemouth Echo. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.