Author Archives: Shaffaq Mohammed

Shaffaq Mohammed

Opinion: Tough Choices – Yes, but local politicians must grasp opportunities as well as challenges

By Shaffaq Mohammed | Tue 6th November 2012 - 11:49 am

Sheffield Town HallI doubt that there are many councillors who are unaware of the scale of the country’s financial difficulties. Yet whatever your prescription for resuscitating the British economy, politicians of all parties agree that reducing the deficit is a crucial piece in the puzzle.

Regardless of your views on the Government’s strategy, it is clear that reductions in council budgets are a reality. The challenge for councillors is to best adjust to the new climate and mitigate the impact on the services that people care about most.

I do not believe that the way forward is to abandon all council services, leaving local government as a sole provider of social care. Rather, local government should be taking the lead in innovative ways of thinking – taking bold steps to cut waste, not just services.

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Posted in Local government and Op-eds | Tagged , , and | 4 Comments
Shaffaq Mohammed

Shaffaq Mohammed writes: From a boy in Kashmir – to Leader of Sheffield Lib Dems

By Shaffaq Mohammed | Thu 26th May 2011 - 3:20 pm

On election night in Sheffield, we had a painful evening, losing hard-working local councillors and good friends. They were defeated by a protest vote against the tough decisions forced upon the Government by the financial mess they inherited from Labour.

When we entered the general election, we understood the seriousness of the financial crisis the country faced. We knew that whoever entered Government after the election faced a difficult first few years. Yet, as Liberal Democrats we took a brave decision to enter a coalition in the national interest and we must stick to our five year commitment. One thing the people of Sheffield do not want is a return to the 1980s.

I know first hand what it was like to grow up in Sheffield in the 1980s. My father, a steelworker, was made redundant by the actions of the Thatcher Government.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 3 Comments



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  • User AvatarCaracatus 18th Jun - 9:31pm
    Either put up the minimum wage or reform the tax system to reintroduce a 10p rate (20p incluidng National Insurance) but please don't fart about...
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    It's not pessimism but realism to point out that Clegg is less popular than Jeremy Thorpe at the height of the rinkagate revelations. The party...
  • User AvatarTim13 18th Jun - 9:14pm
    Sorry, Simon McGrath, Liberal Left is quite comfortable working with others than Labour. It would, I am sure have trouble with some of the more...
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    Which party is Mr. Laws from?
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    @Peter Chivall. WFA may have been for everyone over 60 but no more ever since the rise in women's state retirement age to which, along...
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    @ Cllr Colin Strong Yes, those are ideas for infrastructure spending, but they don't in themselves amount to (and weren't intended as) a fiscal stimulus....
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