Mayor Peter Taylor Delivers Keynote Speech on National Stage at Liberal Democrat Spring Conference

16 Mar 2026

Peter Taylor, Elected Mayor of Watford, delivered a keynote at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in York this weekend, highlighting the town’s record of delivery and outlining the party’s vision for the future.

In his keynote address, Mayor Taylor reflected on the progress made since his election in 2022, noting that over 95% of his manifesto commitments have been delivered. He highlighted the council’s record in delivering practical improvements for residents, including:

Reducing rough sleeping through a Winter Night Shelter and outreach support
Investing in 17 award-winning Green Flag parks and two outstanding leisure centres
Planting 20,000 trees
Expanding the Beryl Bike share scheme with over 650,000 journeys by residents,
Refurbishing and reopening the Watford Colosseum
Supporting a wide range of community events.
Freezing Watford’s share of council tax this year to ease the burden on local residents during the cost-of-living crisis

Addressing residents’ concerns about national politics, Mayor Peter Taylor emphasised that many feel let down by the Labour Government, particularly following delays to the rebuilding of Watford General Hospital, now not expected to be completed until 2038.

He warned against the divisive politics of Reform UK and stressed the importance of bringing communities together, delivering practical improvements, and restoring trust in local and national leadership.

In his speech, Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Since I was elected in 2022, we have delivered 95% of the commitments we made to Watford residents.

“The elections in May offer residents in Watford and across the county a clear choice. If you feel let down by Labour – so do we.

“If you want to stop Reform UK from dividing our communities – vote Liberal Democrat.

“We will work tirelessly to bring people together and get things done - making life better for everyone.”

Mayor Taylor’s speech showcased the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to ensuring tangible improvements in local communities, maintaining strong services, and providing a trusted party residents can count on.