Simon Foster

Another close shave?

By Simon Foster | Sat 7th September 2024 - 11:00 am

So, it’s that time of year where it will be conference shortly, and once again there will be Glee Club.

This year I’m asking for a hand, because as I did back in 2015 I’m having my hair shaved off for charity.

In 2016 I came within 10 hours of losing my right foot to a horrific infection.  The team at the Nuffield Hospital in Oxford did a brilliant job and saved it with 3 operations, 36 stitches and grams (yes grams) of antibiotics.

So now I’m returning the favour, raising money for the Nuffield Hospitals Trust.  The target is £1,000, and if I hit that before Glee Club at the end of conference, I’ll get my hair shaved off on stage once again.  I’m almost halfway there already.

The link if you can donate is https://tinyurl.com/safshave

Any hairdressers reading this with a pair of shears coming to conference?  Do get in touch through the comments below!

Thanks in advance.

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Tom Arms

Observations of an Expat: Kamala’s Foreign Policy

By Tom Arms | Sat 7th September 2024 - 8:23 am

Foreign policy analysts are sifting through documents and speeches and even casting a few runes and studying used tea leaves to determine what foreign policy directions a Kamala White House may take.

It is still a bit murky. Constructive ambiguity, is one of the buzz soundbites of 21st century diplomacy and is heard often in the Harris camp. But outlines are appearing, especially in contrast to a Trump foreign policy.

The transactional diplomacy favoured by the former president is out. Gone – and hopefully forgotten – will be days when American support was tendered only when Washington could point to easily quantifiable successes negotiated along narrow obvious channels of self-interest. Aka transactional diplomacy.

Instead, expect a move towards consensus building and closer work with allies. This implicitly means closer relations with America’s oldest allies – NATO – who since 2016 have lived in constant dread of an American pull out. A Harris Administration would be pro-NATO which in turn means very pro-Ukraine. Perhaps more so than Biden

The Asian Pivot, however, is still very much on the cards. But it is expected to be based more on alliance-building than military ship building, specifically with Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines and India. America cannot afford a two-front war and will need to shift some of its regional military responsibilities onto local shoulders. The Biden Administration has already started the ball rolling. Harris is expected to push it further down the road.

At the same time, a Harris Administration, will also want to continue to attract more businesses from China and the Asian tigers to American shores. Harris is opposed to the Trans Pacific Partnership and wants to continue tariffs ranging from 25% to 100% on $18 billion of Chinese exports. Trump, on the other hand, proposes a 60 percent blanket tariff on $551 billion of Chinese goods. Economists fear that a Trump Administration would push up inflation in America and create deflation in China.

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Mark Corner

The case for restoring your railways

By Mark Corner | Fri 6th September 2024 - 7:04 pm

On September 4th The Independent ran a story on the problems that have beset the HS2 railway project to connect ‘major cities’ in England. It reported that the figure for total cost of the project, was something like 67 billion pounds, one new station at Birmingham alone costing half a billion, an extraordinary figure even if one accepts that it is spread over 15 years.

But now let’s take another figure, another one of half a billion, the Restoring your Railways Fund which for the same amount as that new station at Birmingham would help to breathe new life into several new railway lines and dozens of new stations. The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has decided to scrap it. She won’t save 500 million – probably something more of the order of 100 million – but this money was designed to restore several small lines that were closed during the Beeching cuts sixty years ago. Compared to the cost of HS2, the savings are minimal, and it’s hard not to think that Reeves has just done it in order to demonstrate that she’s not going to repeat the over-spending of the previous government.

These railway lines were designed to connect not major cities but small towns across the country. Yet their importance should not be under-stated. I would recommend anyone who doesn’t feel that such lines can be important to look at the website of one that because it’s nearly finished has escaped the Reeves cuts, the Northumberland Line. Look at the stories of the construction work, the extra roads, bridges and pathways built, the meetings with local communities, schools and civic associations, the enthusiasm of local businesses for the opportunities provided and the sheer excitement at what is effectively only restoring a line still used for freight to passenger use, and you get a sense of how far communities have been invigorated by a sum of money which in the case of HS2 would do no more than pay to modify the platforms to fit the height of the new trains.

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The Voice

Maiden speech: Angus MacDonald, MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

By The Voice | Fri 6th September 2024 - 4:52 pm

Next in our series of maiden speeches is the one given by Angus Macdonald on Thursday, in the debate on the Great British Energy Bill.

This is what he said:

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Mary Reid

Jim Wallace and Wendy Chamberlain honoured in Holyrood Political Awards

By Mary Reid | Fri 6th September 2024 - 1:42 pm

Lib Dem peer Jim Wallace (Lord Wallace of Tankerness – not to be confused with our regular contributor from the Lords, William Wallace) has been presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Holyrood Garden Party & Political Awards.

Jim served as the MP and also as the MSP for Orkney and Shetland. He was the Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1992 – 2005 during which time he was also Deputy First Minister, and Acting First Minister for two periods. He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2007 and served for 4 years as the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords.  On top of that, Jim recently spent a year as the Moderator of the Church of Scotland.

Huge congratulations for this well-deserved honour.

Congratulations are also due to Wendy Chamberlain who scooped the award for the Best Scot in Westminster! Wendy has been the MP for North East Fife since 2019, when she beat the incumbent SNP candidate by just over 1000 votes. In July she increased that majority to over 13,000.

In Westminster Wendy is the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip and spokesperson for Work and Pensions. In Scotland she is the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Well done to both of you!

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The Voice

Maiden speech: Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon

By The Voice | Fri 6th September 2024 - 9:55 am

Continuing our series highlighting the maiden speeches of our new MPs, here is Caroline Voaden, speaking in the debate on Technology in Public Services on Monday. 

Here is her speech in full:

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The Voice

Maiden speech: Mike Martin, MP for Tunbridge Wells

By The Voice | Thu 5th September 2024 - 2:12 pm

Our new MP for Tonbridge Wells, Mike Martin, also made his maiden speech, which he titled An Ode to Tunbridge Wells, in the debate on Technology in Public Life on Monday.

Here is the full text:

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The Voice

Maiden speech: Alex Brewer MP for North East Hampshire

By The Voice | Thu 5th September 2024 - 10:25 am

We’re back on the maiden speeches of our new Lib Dem MPs now. Alex Brewer, our MP for N E Hampshire made hers on Monday in a debate on technology in public services. 

The full text is below:

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The Voice

Maiden speech: Chris Coghlan MP for Dorking and Horley

By The Voice | Wed 4th September 2024 - 11:55 am

Our maiden speech of the day comes from Chris Coghlan, our new MP for Dorking and Horley, in the technology in public services debate. He talked about the lack of support for those with special educational needs in Surrey and highlighted the harrowing murder of his constituent’s autistic son who had not been able to get the support he needed. 

The text is below:

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Caron Lindsay

Lib Dems hold off Reform in Kent by-election

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 4th September 2024 - 8:57 am

Lib Dem Alex Eyre  held off a huge challenge from Reform to hold the Priory Ward in Swale in one of those rare Tuesday by-elections. The by-election came about after Cllr and former Mayor  Mike Henderson died. 

Our Cllr Hannah paid tribute to Mike at the time:

Mike was a dedicated public servant who has worked hard for the people of Faversham, and especially those in the Priory ward.

We have lost a huge part of our local Lib Dem team and doing local politics won’t be quite the same without him, his sage advice, quick wit, kindness and the occasional summoning to Bridge House to be set straight by him about something.

We will all miss him dearly as I’m sure his residents will too.

At this difficult time, our thoughts are especially with his family whom he absolutely adored and was so proud of.

Andrew Teale’s Britain Elects preview of the by-election tells us about the recent voting history of the ward:

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The Voice

SNP mess it up every single time – Cole-Hamilton

By The Voice | Wed 4th September 2024 - 7:52 am

It’s the new parliamentary term at Holyrood as well and today the troubled  SNP Government unveils its Programme for Government.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said, ahead of the debate this afternoon:

The SNP’s offer is about as inspiring as the ferries they’ve botched and the rail fares they’ve hiked.

Despite having had so many chances to get things right, the SNP have managed to mess it up every single time. They are taking everyone for granted.

People want to see an end to long waits for NHS treatment and a competent plan to fix social care, getting people the care they need and delivering for staff.

…

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Abrial Jerram

The riots were serious. Lib Dems must step up

By Abrial Jerram | Tue 3rd September 2024 - 4:30 pm

I won’t forget the 2024 election in a hurry.

Not only were there the expected wins of PPCs I had been excitedly anticipating sitting in the House of Commons for years, but there were a steady stream of wins in places where most people, or at least me, thought our chances of victory were somewhere between pretty low and non-existent.

It was the day we finally didn’t have a Tory government anymore.

Also, at a deeper level, it was the day when what Lib Dems say or do started to matter again. How much it matters is up for debate, but when the exit poll showed us back as the third party with record gains, it was clear that what we say or do is of far greater consequence than it had been a few short weeks before.  In terms West Wing watchers will be familiar with,  it felt like we were closer to the ideal of never doubting that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens could change the world.

Since then, the biggest crisis in Britain has been the riots. I struggle to imagine anything that could be more diametrically opposed to the values of community and care that ran through the whole of our election campaign.

So how did we respond then? In summary, and I did some quick google searching to check I hadn’t missed anything obvious, our response was to appoint a government advisor and adopt the relevant APPG’s definition of Islamophobia. Now, of course the government should have an independent advisor on Islamophobia and a legal definition of Islamophobia would help public bodies in taking against it, but I doubt that anyone seriously thinks that the lack of either of these things was a significant cause of the riots.

Surely the end goal of our policy must be that riots of this sort (and any other sort) are never seen again in Britain.

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Caron Lindsay

Lib Dems try to force vote on Winter Fuel Allowance cuts

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 3rd September 2024 - 10:38 am

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper has been talking about the Lib Dems’ efforts to halt the Government’s plans to cut Winter Fuel Allowance for all but the very poorest pensioners.

While the party has no objection to some restrictions being made for wealthier pensioners who don’t need it, we feel that the cut-off, at Pension Credit level, is too harsh and will lead to vulnerable pensioners suffering this Winter.

Daisy told LBC:

 

Daisy Cooper has also written to Lucy Powell MP, the Leader of the House of Commons, demanding that MPs be given a vote this week on the Government’s proposal.

In her letter, Daisy warns that failing to hold a debate and vote on the issue would risk “damaging public trust in politics” especially given the policy wasn’t included in the Labour manifesto at the election and is now set to go through with “minimal parliamentary scrutiny.”

The letter adds that there are just two weeks to go to protect pensioners from the cut before it comes into force on 16th September.

We tabled a motion backed by all 72 of our MPs to block the government’s proposals through a debate and vote in Parliament.

Daisy said:

Over the past few weeks we have heard from countless pensioners worried about whether they’ll be able to heat their homes this winter.

To push these cuts through without any other measures to mitigate the impact on millions of poorer pensioners, and with minimal parliamentary scrutiny, risks damaging the public’s trust in politics and putting the most vulnerable at risk.

We all appreciate the damage that the Conservative Party did to the public finances and the size of the challenges in front of us, but this is a step in the wrong direction and the proposed cuts must be scrutinised properly.

The government must give MPs the chance to debate better solutions, vote on their cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance and prevent millions of the most vulnerable in our society from losing out.

Here is Daisy’s letter in full:

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The Voice

Lib Dems welcome suspension of some arms sales to Israel

By The Voice | Tue 3rd September 2024 - 9:24 am

Yesterday foreign secretary David Lammy announced a partial suspension of arms sales to Israel.

Our foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran welcomed the move but said it was overdue:

This action should have been taken long ago by the previous government, who failed to take any leadership on the matter. Liberal Democrats welcome this announcement as a step forward from the government.

Liberal Democrat MPs will now carefully scrutinise the details of the Foreign Secretary’s announcement, including those export licences which the Government has not suspended. We are concerned that the decision is made solely on risk of use in Gaza and not the West Bank.

Every day seems to bring new dreadful scenes from the region, and the UK must be doing everything that it can to ensure that an immediate bilateral ceasefire is secured – to put an end to the humanitarian devastation in Gaza, ensure the hostages are brought home, and open the door to a two-state solution.

Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael also welcomed David Lammy ‘s announcement but said that the Government needs to go further to drive peace talks to end the violence in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Alistair said:

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Caron Lindsay

Rt Hon Jennie has a new official Twitter account AND she’s been on Sky News

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 3rd September 2024 - 8:13 am

Photo shows off duty guide dog Jennie having a cuddle with our editor at last year’s Social Liberal Forum dinner.

Parliament is back and we will be bringing you news of what our 72 Lib Dem MPs are getting up to. Seventeen of our new intake made their maiden speeches in the few days the House of Commons was sitting before recess started at the end of July so that means we have forty to go.

We will also be covering the activities of the most lovable member of our Parliamentary team, Jennie. The golden retriever is the guide dog of our new MP for Torbay, Steve Darling.

Just after the election, someone set up a Twitter account in her name which quickly amassed over 18,000 followers.

Now Jennie’s adoring team has set up an official account which will be updated on a regular basis.

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Lord William Wallace

We should be setting the agenda, not following it

By Lord William Wallace | Mon 2nd September 2024 - 1:45 pm

After such a successful national election campaign, led by a coherent leadership team, I hesitate to disagree with Mark Pack’s August Report (LibDem Voice August 20th) on ‘the New Political Landscape’. But I don’t agree that in the first year after a decisive election our party’s campaign themes should be driven primarily by what the polls tell us about public priorities and what voters want to hear. Political parties should aim to set the agenda when they can, not simply respond to existing public anxieties.

A political party has to appeal to three different audiences: to the wider public, directly on the doorstep, through leaflets and postings, and indirectly through the access we hope to gain via the respect of professionals in the media; to the small proportion of UK citizens actively interested in political issues, who we hope will be persuaded to join us and contribute actively (and financially) to our campaigns; and to the even smaller group of commentators on politics in written, broadcast and social media, who summarise and interpret partisan politics to the wider public.

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Mark Valladares

31 August & 1 September 2024 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 1st September 2024 - 10:30 pm
  • Lib Dems call for vote on Winter Fuel Allowance cut this week to avoid ‘damaging public trust’
  • DIY A&E: Scots treat their wounds and make slings over fear of hospital waits
  • Sharp rise in 999 callers making their own way to hospital
  • Cole-Hamilton responds to Swinney conference speech

Lib Dems call for vote on Winter Fuel Allowance cut this week to avoid ‘damaging public trust’

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper has written to Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, the Leader of the House of Commons, demanding that MPs be given a vote this week on the government’s proposed cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance for millions of pensioners.

In her letter, Daisy Cooper warns that failing to hold a debate and vote on the issue would risk “damaging public trust in politics” especially given the policy wasn’t included in the Labour manifesto at the election and is now set to go through with “minimal parliamentary scrutiny.”

The letter adds that there are just two weeks to go to protect pensioners from the cut before it comes into force on 16th September.

The Liberal Democrats will tomorrow table a motion backed by all 72 of its MPs to block the government’s proposals through a debate and vote in Parliament.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP said:

Over the past few weeks we have heard from countless pensioners worried about whether they’ll be able to heat their homes this winter.

To push these cuts through without any other measures to mitigate the impact on millions of poorer pensioners, and with minimal parliamentary scrutiny, risks damaging the public’s trust in politics and putting the most vulnerable at risk.

We all appreciate the damage that the Conservative Party did to the public finances and the size of the challenges in front of us, but this is a step in the wrong direction and the proposed cuts must be scrutinised properly.

The government must give MPs the chance to debate better solutions, vote on their cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance and prevent millions of the most vulnerable in our society from losing out.

DIY A&E: Scots treat their wounds and make slings over fear of hospital waits

A new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that people are suffering in pain or treating themselves rather than go to A&E out of fear of waiting times.

The poll reveals the lengths to which people across the UK went if they needed to use A&E in the past two years, but decided not to, over fears of waiting times.

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Mark Valladares

30 August 2024 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Fri 30th August 2024 - 10:30 pm

Cole-Hamilton comments on day one of SNP conference

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

In the morning Stephen Flynn is on the radio trying to sound contrite but by the afternoon depute leader Keith Brown is already bellowing about how the answer to everything is breaking up the UK.

The SNP don’t really seem to have learned anything from the defeat voters handed them in the election.

When I am out knocking on doors, no one is interested in wasting more time on constitutional clashes. They want to see action on long NHS waits, rising violence in schools and our disappointing economic

…

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Mary Reid

Are girls smarter than boys?

By Mary Reid | Fri 30th August 2024 - 11:33 am

We have now seen this year’s GCSE and A level results, and they inevitably led to comparisons between girls and boys.  (Sorry – I am not linking to the Daily Mail, but you know what I mean.)

Over the last few years concerns have been expressed about the underperformance of boys. In April the Parliamentary Education Committee launched an inquiry, asking: Why do boys lag behind girls at all ages of education? This conclusion was based on the previous year’s results:

In 2022/23 the attainment gap at GCSE level between girls and boys tightened to its smallest difference for 14 years. But with 24.9% of girls achieving grade 7 or A compared with 19.1% of boys, there was still a significant variation of nearly 6%.

…

At A-Level and 16-18, girls do better than boys across all level-3 cohorts, however, the gender gap has decreased in comparison to previous years. This has also meant that men are less likely to progress to higher education – in 2021/22, 54% of women were in higher education by 19, compared to only 40% of men. Men are also more likely to drop out of university courses.

Research by Cambridge University backed this up, although it also showed that girls’ achievements were not carried forward into employment.

Three years ago The Guardian asked the burning question: Are girls smarter than boys?  The answers given tended to provide some nuance, suggesting that the notion of a gendered brain was false and that social factors are at play.

All this gave me a strong sense of deja-vu.  Throughout my life the achievements of girls have been downplayed or simply hidden, while any supposed underachievement of boys has been seen as a problem looking for a solution.

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Mark Valladares

29 August 2024 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 29th August 2024 - 11:45 pm
  • Lib Dem MPs back motion to block Winter Fuel Payments cut
  • Swinney should launch new term by ending support for Heathrow expansion
  • Cole-Hamilton speaks ahead of SNP conference

Lib Dem MPs back motion to block Winter Fuel Payments cut

  • Ed Davey announces plan to force vote on government’s cut to Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners
  • Analysis reveals pensioners facing a £670 hit this winter from rising energy bills and slashing of support
  • Liberal Democrats call for a “rethink” so that poorer and vulnerable pensioners continue to get the support they need

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has announced his party is tabling a motion to block the government’s proposed cut to Winter Fuel Payments as soon as Parliament returns from recess next week.

All 72 Liberal Democrat MPs have backed the party’s ‘prayer motion’ to block the cut to Winter Fuel Payments and ensure MPs are given a vote on the changes before they come into force on 16th September.

It comes as analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows that pensioners are expected to take a £670 hit this winter due to the rise in the energy price cap, the end to the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, and the government’s cuts to the winter fuel allowance coming into effect.

The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to “think again” about the proposed cut to Winter Fuel Payments which will impact 10 million pensioners. Of these, the charity Age UK has said two million will find paying their energy bills a real stretch and will be seriously hit by this cut.

According to the government’s own figures, 800,000 of the lowest-income pensioners are eligible for Pension Credit but do not get it, meaning they will lose their Winter Fuel Payments.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

We have heard from countless pensioners worried about how they will afford their energy bills this winter. Stripping support from many of the poorest pensioners, just when energy bills are set to rise again this winter, is the wrong thing to do.

That is why the Liberal Democrats are tabling a motion to reject these plans as soon as Parliament returns, and give MPs a chance to vote on this issue on behalf of their constituents.

We recognise that the government faces difficult choices given the appalling mess left by the Conservative Party. But a rethink is urgently needed so that poorer and vulnerable pensioners continue to get the support they need.

Swinney should launch new term by ending support for Heathrow expansion

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on John Swinney to launch the new parliamentary term by ending the SNP government’s support for expanding Heathrow Airport, as he stated that the expansion is incompatible with tackling the climate emergency.

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Geoffrey Payne

SLF pre-conference dinner – A New Era for the Liberal Democrats

By Geoffrey Payne | Thu 29th August 2024 - 3:24 pm

The Lib Dem conference starts in Brighton on the Saturday 14th September.

Not in the conference programme – because conference hasn’t started yet – is the Social Liberal Forum (SLF) pre-conference dinner on the Friday evening, 13th September. Details are on our website: Pre-conference dinner 2024 – Social Liberal Forum.

If you have decided to arrive in Brighton on the Friday so that you can attend conference when it opens on Saturday at 9am, then you might want to consider going along. But you need to book around now (the early bird rate expires on the 1st September). You can’t turn up on the day without pre-booking. Already over 50 people have booked – this is a great way to start making new friends before conference starts.

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Doreen Huddart

Opposing pharmacy closures in Newcastle

By Doreen Huddart | Thu 29th August 2024 - 12:05 pm

Despite the lack of publicity and opportunity for discussion, toward the end of 2023 we became aware of possible closure of pharmacies in Newcastle.

First, Lloyds announced their closure of several branches including a busy one inside a large Sainsbury’s, which was popular with wheelchair users due to flat access.

Then Boots announced closure of five local branch pharmacies, affecting several neighbourhoods. I and dozens of my Ward residents would be personally affected by at least one of these closures and, as word spread about them, residents began voicing their concerns via local social media. They were not happy at being directed to other venues either a twenty-five minute walk or a bus ride away, and, even more difficult for those pushing a pram or using mobility aids.

In Kenton, the Boots pharmacy backed onto the local Health Centre, so was the first choice for residents. The nearest alternate was a mile away, dreadful news for the many elderly and disabled users. In this Ward, we fortunately had a keen young member, so decided to mount a petition and, despite the bitter winter weather, Rob stood outside collecting signatures and listening to the concerns of residents. Those of us who braved the elements to help, also stood round, gave advice and picked up casework. Soon the numbers were building up, and we opted to submit the petition to the next full Council meeting.

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Mary Reid

Women must not speak in public

By Mary Reid | Thu 29th August 2024 - 9:48 am

I really thought that the Afghanistan Taliban couldn’t do more harm than they have already done. But earlier this week I was shocked to the core to read their latest rulings. They have now banned women from speaking in public places. Yes, you read that correctly – women are not allowed to speak when out and about. It’s not about public speaking, which they were already banned from doing, but rather the simple act of using their voices.

It was already horrendous for our sisters in that country. They are forced to wear a burqa when out of the home – an uncomfortable thick garment that effectively renders them invisible. Most feel intimidated into having a male guardian with them when out. They are banned from secondary education and from employment. I can’t imagine what life must be like for them, especially as many of them had already been to University and taken up professional roles.

Now, according to the new laws their voices, literally, must not be heard in public.

Whenever an adult woman leaves her home out of necessity, she is obliged to conceal her voice, face, and body.

According to The Guardian:

Women’s voices are also deemed to be potential instruments of vice and so will not be allowed to be heard in public under the new restrictions. Women must also not be heard singing or reading aloud, even from inside their houses.

How on earth can women be expected to do any task outside the home – shopping, attending a medical appointment, visiting a friend – if they can’t speak? Presumably they will have to have a male guardian with them to speak for them.

The consequences of breaking these rules can be horrific, since the Taliban has now introduced flogging and stoning as punishments.

The rationale for these rules, under the twisted Taliban logic, is that women’s bodies and voices tempt men into vice. This is, of course, the ultimate form of victim blaming.

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Mark Valladares

28 August 2024 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 28th August 2024 - 10:50 pm

Back from three weeks away, time to pick up the party’s press releases again…

  • Water bills: High time Ofwat were replaced
  • UK-Germany treaty: A positive step forward
  • Erasmus: Disappointing that Govt will not rejoin scheme
  • 170+ artists slam SNP culture cuts
  • Scot Lib Dems comment as FM and Chancellor meet

Water bills: High time Ofwat were replaced

Responding to comments from water firms that despite rising bills for consumers, companies claim this isn’t enough to stop sewage spills, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

It’s an absolute outrage that British families face sky high bills that continue to rise, whilst water firm CEOs pocket millions of pounds in bonuses, and all the while filthy sewage continues to destroy our seas and rivers.

It’s clear to see that the current regulator Ofwat is not fit for purpose, and it’s high time they were replaced. That is why the Liberal Democrats have been calling for a new regulator to crack down on water companies and hold them accountable to end this sewage scandal once and for all.

UK-Germany treaty: A positive step forward

Responding to UK-Germany treaty talks, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:

This is a positive step forward after years of the Conservatives trashing the UK’s relationship with Europe.

But the new Government needs to be more ambitious about rebuilding stronger ties with our European allies.

That should start with agreeing a Youth Mobility Scheme giving young people the opportunity to easily live and work across the continent.

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Caron Lindsay

Ed Davey on Starmer speech: What about health and social care?

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 28th August 2024 - 8:42 am

So many people across the UK are struggling because of a lack of decent social care.  Millions are stuck in pain on NHS waiting lists.

In the past few days alone, I’ve heard some heartbreaking accounts of people having to wait for months for both cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The crisis in social care causes immense suffering for elderly and disabled people and those who care for them.

So you would think, given that health and social care are consistently near the top of people’s priorities, that Keir Starmer might have had something to say in his speech yesterday.

But, no.

Ed Davey called him out for it:

Only the out-of-touch Conservative Party will deny the scale of the challenges facing the new Government and the new Parliament. From the millions stuck on NHS waiting lists to the millions struggling to make ends meet, the last Conservative government has left a toxic legacy.

We need bold and ambitious action from the Government to fix this mess. Liberal Democrats will work tirelessly to put our positive ideas forward and hold the new Government to account if they fail to rise to the challenges facing the country.

Above all, people want urgent, ambitious action to fix the health and care crisis. Only by getting people off NHS waiting lists can we get the economy growing strongly again and ensure more funding for our public services in the long term.

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Tim Clement-Jones

Stronger provisions of the Online Safety Act needed according to Lib Dem tech spokesperson

By Tim Clement-Jones | Tue 27th August 2024 - 3:00 pm

With the new government’s expansion of the scope and size of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, there is a real opportunity to accelerate the digital transformation of public services.

Bringing together officials from the Government Digital Service, the Incubator for AI, and the Central Digital Data Office under one Departmental roof ensures that it will be much better equipped to enable digital transformation in key areas, including justice, education and healthcare. The appointment of Lord Vallance as Science Minister is a real coup which testifies to the willingness of the new government to use external expertise.

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Katharine Pindar

We stand for the people

By Katharine Pindar | Tue 27th August 2024 - 1:30 pm

It’s already clear again, the old divide in Britain. Labour stands for the workers. The Tories stand for the rich. Everybody already knew that. 

They didn’t know that we stood for the people. But they felt it when they voted in their thousands to elect local Liberal Democrat councillors, and then to choose 72 Liberal Democrat MPs.

Ed Davey knew it when he went round the country in 2020 just talking to people, asking what they want. Now comes another time to prove it. 

The cost of living. It’s going up again with the energy price rise this Autumn. The NHS needs money poured into it. Local services need propping up. People on benefits need that £20 a week more than ever. The carers and the cared for, they desperately need our backing.

We should say to this new government of ours: “Don’t deprive old people of their extra heating allowance this winter. Don’t talk about getting rid of food banks but ignore our policy which can do just that.  Don’t refuse to tax the wealthiest most. Help the poorest first.”

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Posted in Op-eds | 104 Comments
Judy Abel

Mobile phones – one person’s freedom can be another person’s lack of it

By Judy Abel | Tue 27th August 2024 - 11:00 am

Individually, we have almost all benefitted from the wonders of mobile phones – communicating with family and friends in ways only dreamt of before, booking tickets for trains or exhibitions at the last minute, being told how to get from A to B and booking GP appointments (which, yes, does digitally exclude some people too).

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 5 Comments
News Meerkat

Lee Dillon MP talks about his priorities

By News Meerkat | Tue 27th August 2024 - 9:30 am

Last Thursday, Newbury’s MP Lee Dillon (above) was interviewed at his local community radio station. He spoke at length about his priorities and answered listeners’ questions.

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Posted in Interviews | Tagged | 1 Comment
Nick Baird

Leading the way – back to hope

By Nick Baird | Mon 26th August 2024 - 1:32 pm

I’ve never liked the term “progressive parties”, lumping us together with Labour and the Greens despite some significant differences in policies and priorities. It often serves as lazy shorthand for “not Tory”, but it’s accurate in one respect – the Conservatives have spent the last few years slowly strangling any expectation of progress. Their legacy is a cost of living crisis, exponential growth in hospital waiting lists, unaffordable housing, falling living standards and the virtual abandonment of attempts to tackle the climate crisis and protect the environment.

You will have seen that the new Labour Government has recently awarded “inflation busting” pay rises to public sector workers, triggering howls of anguish from the right-wing press. In reality, these pay rises simply go some way towards restoring real terms pay and living standards to a segment of the workforce that has been squeezed by austerity and hammered by inflation, yet even the sensible financial press has framed 5.5% as a problem because it is “inflationary”. It seems the burden of tackling inflation must mostly be borne by the lower paid and the middle classes, while the new boss of Thames Water (a company on the verge of bankruptcy) is given a £2.3m pay package and bankers have seen their bonus caps abolished (which Labour has no plans to restore).

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Posted in Op-eds | 58 Comments
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Recent Comments

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