Meet Your SCC Candidates – Catherine Houston for the Lib Dems

Published on: 13 Oct, 2025
Updated on: 13 Oct, 2025

Catherine Houston

The upcoming by-election for the Surrey County Council Guildford South-East division will be held later this week, Thursday October 16, following the resignation of Cllr Fiona Davidson of R4GV.

The Guildford Dragon asked the standing candidates about their policies and perspectives.

This is what Catherine Houston, the Liberal Democrat candidate, had to say.

Why should the voters of Guildford South East vote for you and your party?

“As a Liberal Democrat, I subscribe to my party’s values of fairness, tolerance, kindness and environmentalism, as well as opportunity and equality for all.

“If people vote for me, they will be choosing a proven hard-working councillor, who listens and who will do their best to make a difference.”

Should voters consider national issues in a county council by-election?

“My campaign in this county council by-election has been based on local county issues, and I have encouraged residents to focus on these in our doorstep conversations.

However, all councils rely on funding from national government, but with the Conservatives having gutted support for council-delivered local services to almost half over their fourteen years in government, sadly national politics does play a role in how councils operate.”

What are the three main issues in the Guildford South-East division?

“Road and pedestrian safety caused by speeding vehicles and unsafe pavements and roads; the ongoing problems with how the county council manage residents’ parking since taking it over from GBC; and protecting taxpayers from the Conservative debt crisis at County Hall.”

What qualities would you bring to the role of county councillor?

“Experience, energy, dedication and the ability to listen.”

What is your view of the local government reorganisation proposals? Do you think unitary authorities are preferable to the existing system and will truly save money?

“Decisions on unitaries are being made by the government regardless of what we think locally.

“My priority is holding the Conservatives to account for stealing our right to a democratic vote, through their requested cancellation of last May’s county elections (and the reason why we are seeing so many county by-elections throughout Surrey since May – there are three on Thursday), and making sure the reorganisation doesn’t leave residents and local services worse off.”

How important are environmental issues to Guildford?

“Through hundreds of doorstep conversations, I know that Guildford South East residents care very much about tackling both the climate emergency and the nature crisis.

“As portfolio holder for Climate Change at Guildford Borough Council, I am in complete agreement with them. Protecting our precious green spaces, including from the noxious weedkillers that Surrey County Council uses in Guildford, is important to me.”

Is there a single improvement Surrey Police could make to law enforcement locally?

“If the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner stopped increasing year-on-year the staffing (and costs) in her own office, then the money saved could be better spent on improving safety after dark and monitoring speeding on residential roads.”

Can you promise to put your constituents first, before any party loyalty?

“As a Liberal Democrat, I listen to all views, including the quieter voices. Residents are not a single homogeneous group and may hold differing opinions.

“If I disagree with my political group at council, I shall discuss it with my group leader to explain my position and will vote accordingly.”