Millie Earl

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.

Millie was born in Poole and grew up on Ashley Road.^[1]

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 2023, Earl was awarded the Belinda Eyre-Brook Award at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth.^[9]

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.^[10] When the council reconvened she was elected.^[11] As council leader she has been responsible in negotiations surrounding the future of the Bournemouth Air Festival.^[12] 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".^[13]

As council leader she launched a consultation on new parish and town councils.^[14] In April 2025, she cut the ribbon at the new soft play facility at Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre in Boscombe.^[15] In June 2025, Earl called for the cancellation of a planned concert in Bournemouth by the American musician Marilyn Manson for his One Assassination Under God Tour.^[16] This was due to the allegations made by actress Evan Rachel Wood.^[17] On 24 June 2025, BCP Council was won Senior Leadership Team of the Year at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Local Government Achievement Awards.^[18] Earl said "this award is real recognition for the remarkable work BCP Council does despite facing significant and unique challenges".^[19]

In July 2025, she warned that BCP Council was under "imminent financial threat" over increased demand for SEND services.^[20] The council has taken on debt to pay for those demands.^[21] Earl wrote a letter to Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Angela Rayner asking for further SEND support.^[22]

Earl supported the use of "hybrid and online participation" for council meetings.^[23] During the COVID-19 pandemic Earl helped organise a community festival in Parkstone.^[24] Earl presented a petition on measures to prevent anti-social behaviour in her ward.^[25] The petition entitled "Make Ashley Road Safe" was drawn up following a number of incidents in the area.^[26]

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".^[27] Earl opposes the English Devolution Bill which proposes a devolution deal and metro mayor for the region.^[28] 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".^[29][30]