Millie Earl
{{Short description|British Liberal Democrat politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = Councillor
| name = Millie Earl
| office = Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
| term_start = 14 July 2024
| party = Liberal Democrats
| termstart2 = 2 May 2019
| office2 = Councillor for Newtown and Heatherlands
| birth_date = 1990 or 1991 (aged 33 or 34)
| birth_place = Poole, Dorset, England
| predecessor = Vikki Slade
}}
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
Millie was born in Poole and grew up on Ashley Road.{{Cite web |title=Poole Team 2024 - Poole Liberal Democrats |url=https://www.poole-libdems.org.uk/poole-team-2024 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=www.poole-libdems.org.uk}}
Career
Earl is a veteran campaigner working with charities like Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Bournemouth Foodbank.{{Cite web |title=Millie Earl {{!}} Dorset LEP |url=https://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/profile/millie-earl |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=www.dorsetlep.co.uk}} In the 2015 Poole Borough Council election, she was a Liberal Democrat candidate in Creekmoor ward but was not elected.{{cite web |title=Election 2015 Results |url=http://archive.poole.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/elections/past-elections/local-elections-2015/local-elections-2015-results/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524222517/http://archive.poole.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/elections/past-elections/local-elections-2015/local-elections-2015-results/ |archive-date=2018-05-24 |access-date=2018-05-24 |website=poole.gov.uk |publisher=Poole Borough Council}}
In the 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election, she was elected in Newtown and Heatherlands.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-03 |title=Local elections 2019: results for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at a glance |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/17618103.local-elections-2019-results-bournemouth-christchurch-poole-glance/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} In the 2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election, she was re-elected in her ward topping the poll with 1,966 votes.{{Cite web |date=4 May 2023 |title=Newtown and Heatherlands (2023) |url=https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/past-election-and-referendum-results/newtown-and-heatherlands-2023 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BCP Council |language=en}} In the election the Liberal Democrats became the largest party and took control of the council holding the most seats.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-06 |title='Blown away': Liberal Democrats storm into largest BCP Council party after election |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23504636.bcp-council-election-liberal-democrats-become-largest-party/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} The Liberal Democrats formed a coalition with Christchurch Independents, Poole People Party and the Bournemouth Independent Group.{{Cite news |date=2023-05-24 |title=BCP council to be run by coalition led by Lib Dem Vikki Slade |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-65693032 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Earl was appointed Deputy Council Leader with the portfolio of "Connected Communities".{{Cite web |title=Vikki Slade elected as leader of BCP Council |url=https://www.middorsetlibdems.org.uk/news/article/vikki-slade-elected-as-leader-of-bcp-council |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=www.middorsetlibdems.org.uk |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-09 |title=Dorset MP Vikki Slade steps down as leader of BCP Council |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjm93wwl9lxo |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} When the council reconvened she was elected.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=BCP Council appoints leader to replace newly elected MP |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72073k75plo |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} As council leader she has been responsible in negotiations surrounding the future of the Bournemouth Air Festival.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-10 |title=Bournemouth Air Festival: Talks begin on events future |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyge42j4jzo |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} 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".{{Cite web |date=2024-09-12 |title=Government no longer concerned with BCP Council |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9lmg21e7ko.amp |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}
As council leader she launched a consultation on new parish and town councils.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=BCP Council launches consultation on new town and parish councils |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25053425.bcp-council-launches-consultation-new-town-councils/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} In April 2025, she cut the ribbon at the new soft play facility at Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre in Boscombe.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=New soft play centre for children and families opens in Bournemouth |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25067833.new-soft-play-centre-opens-bournemouth/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}
Political views
Earl supported the use of "hybrid and online participation" for council meetings.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-10 |title=BCP Council to debate virtual meetings and remote voting |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj0r4rmz6rpo |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} During the COVID-19 pandemic Earl helped organise a community festival in Parkstone.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-04 |title=Community festival draws crowds to sunny Poole high street over bank holiday |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19558828.ashley-roads-festival-come-outside-dubbed-huge-success/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} Earl presented a petition on measures to prevent anti-social behaviour in her ward.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-20 |title=More changes coming to tackle high street's anti-social behaviour issues |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19795366.work-tackle-ashley-road-anti-social-behaviour-progressing/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} The petition entitled "Make Ashley Road Safe" was drawn up following a number of incidents in the area.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-26 |title='Make Ashley Road Safe': plea after rise in anti-social behaviour and drug use |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19188359.poole-liberal-democrats-launch-make-ashley-road-safe-petition/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}
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".{{Cite news |date=2020-08-28 |title=Dorset homeless people face fines for sleeping in doorways |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-53948699 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Earl opposes the English Devolution Bill which proposes a devolution deal and metro mayor for the region.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-08 |title=BCP Council hits out at Labour's approach to devolution |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24839031.bcp-council-hits-labours-approach-devolution/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} Following a council vote, it was decided that the unitary authority would join the Heart of Wessex Combined Authority instead of Hampshire and Solent, in which Earl described as the "best option".{{Cite web |date=2025-01-16 |title=Heart of Wessex debate was 'democracy at its best' |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24862390.heart-wessex-debate-democracy-best/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-16 |title=Devolution deal: BCP Council opts to join Heart of Wessex |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn93gy8lz0jo |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Politicians from Poole
Category:Councillors in Dorset
Category:Women councillors in England
Category:21st-century English politicians
Category:21st-century English women politicians
Category:21st-century British women politicians
Category:Leaders of local authorities of England