Opinion: Is the Death of the Collaborative ‘Compass’ Group at Waverley the End of an Era?

Published on: 23 Nov, 2025
Updated on: 25 Nov, 2025

Cllr Jane Austin

By Jane Austin

leader of Waverley Council’s Conservative Group

A quiet but significant shift has taken place in our local political landscape.

Green councillor Steve William’s recent resignation from Waverley’s Executive Committee, combined with two Executive councillors jumping ship to join the Liberal Democrats, has transformed Waverley’s Executive into a body consisting almost entirely of Liberal Democrats. Now there is just one remaining Farnham Resident councillor as an Executive member.

Cllr Steve Williams

This change marks the end of a long-standing political pact that has shaped local decision-making for years, of which most people probably have no awareness.

Since 2015, Waverley has been subject to the influence of “Compass”;  a national cross-party arrangement, with a local South West Surrey branch, designed to maximise electoral success by coordinating who stands in which seat.

Its purpose is simple: to avoid splitting the so-called “progressive” (ie left-wing) vote.

An extract from a national Compass Group website, explaining its purpose.

This means The Greens have, for instance, routinely stood aside for Liberal Democrats, Independents have supported Lib Dems, and vice versa. By limiting voters’ choices on the ballot paper and funnelling votes to one Compass-backed candidate, it increased the odds of their success.

Cllr Paul Follows – does he feel he no longer needs Compass collaboration.

This cooperation even extended to General Elections, with Green candidate Steve Williams twice stepping aside at the last minute and asking Greens to support Liberal Democrat candidate Paul Follows.

This practice only came undone at the 2024 General Election when the national Green Party intervened and fielded a second candidate in anticipation of Williams standing down.

Cllr Williams’ dedication to the Compass cause was such that he has been expelled twice for this practice – first from Labour in 2017 and then the Green Party in 2024, though he was later re-instated.

See also: Green Party Reinstate Waverley Councillor Who Withdrew from General Election

But, as the Liberal Democrats’ hold on power has grown, it appears their leader Paul Follows is now more than happy to disregard those who sacrificed and helped him on the way up.

Let’s turn to the Farnham Residents who have been in coalition with Compass for some time (some I understand are members). This agreement worked for a while – the Liberal Democrats have not stood in the majority of Farnham seats for years, clearing the path for Farnham Resident wins.

Waverley Council Email reporting party group changes

But a heavy price has been paid inside Waverley’s council chamber. The political alliance has manifested itself in voting patterns, with Farnham Residents (crucially those on the Executive) voting consistently in line with the Lib Dems – even when the vote has been to the detriment of Farnham.

Notable among these was their decision to vote for car parking charge increases of 30 per cent over two years (and introduce new evening charges) – right before the beginning of the
Farnham Infrastructure Programme disruption.

To some, this alliance represented “progressive cooperation” but to others, it was managed electoral manipulation.”

There can be no doubt the Compass strategy has been effective, with the Conservative vote significantly diminished for a period. To some, this alliance represented “progressive cooperation” but to others, it was managed electoral manipulation.

Recent developments suggest that the Compass arrangement has unravelled completely. I understand all bets are off between the political groups in Farnham and recent local by-elections have seen none of the magnanimous stepping aside from parties that characterised the Compass era.

Rumours have been flying about the split – suggestions that councillors felt sidelined, with decisions increasingly determined by the Liberal Democrat leadership alone. Cllr Williams may wish to set out his own reasons, but the pattern is becoming harder to ignore.

As the Conservative group, this moment comes as no surprise. We have been concerned about the Lib Dem leadership pushing through parking increases, vanity projects like 69 High Street in Godalming (the “£5.4 million money pit”), and the blocking of a proposed independent review of Waverley’s Community Infrastructure Levy processes, despite serious concerns raised by residents.

For my part, I believe that residents have the right to vote for the party that best represents their values – without artificial constraints imposed by backroom political deals.

The collapse of the Compass arrangement is a chance to return to straightforward, honest democracy. Our new Unitary Council will deserve councillors who are in the room for who they are and what they do, rather than because voters felt they had little other option.

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