11 October 2024 – today’s press releases

  • WFP People’s Health Trust: every day we hear more about just how difficult it will be for millions of pensioners
  • GDP: Last govt left our economy on life support
  • 100 days since GE: Govt should act “bolder and faster” to tackle the issues the country is facing
  • Rennie: Reckless behaviour of education secretary undermines Scottish education
  • Perth & Kinross Lib Dem secures Dunkeld housing deal

WFP People’s Health Trust: every day we hear more about just how difficult it will be for millions of pensioners

Responding to the People’s Health Trust report that says vulnerable pensioners face ‘impossible choices’ around heating and eating this winter as a result of the government’s cuts to Winter Fuel Payments, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said:

It seems everyday we hear more and more about just how difficult it is going to be for vulnerable pensioners this winter as a result of the government’s cuts.

Pressing ahead with these cuts simply cannot be allowed to happen.

The government must reverse their decision and ensure that the millions potentially at risk of choosing between heating and eating this winter get the support they need.

GDP: Last govt left our economy on life support

Responding to the news the UK economy grew by 0.2% in August, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

The last Conservative government left our economy on life support, and now it needs urgent investment in our public services and infrastructure to bring it back to life.

The economy won’t recover until the government fixes our NHS and care services so people can get back to work.

100 days since GE: Govt should act “bolder and faster” to tackle the issues the country is facing

On the hundredth day since the General Election, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on the Government to act “bolder and faster” to tackle the issues the country is facing.

Since the General Election, the Liberal Democrats have called on the Labour Government to cancel their cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, introduce a new “Winterproof NHS Taskforce” and clamp down on the sewage scandal by ending water bosses bonuses.

In Parliament the Liberal Democrats have:

  • Led the charge to oppose the cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance including tabling a parliamentary motion (known as a “prayer”) to block the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 from becoming law.
  • Tabled an amendment to the Water Bill to outlaw these bonuses until sewage spills end and leaks are fixed.
  • Called on the Government to set up a new “Winterproof NHS Taskforce” to put an end to the annual winter crises in the health service.
  • Asked the Prime Minister to start cross-party talks on social care.

On July 4th the Liberal Democrats had their best ever General Election result electing 72 Members of Parliament. The Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey has said “It’s the Liberal Democrats who will be the constructive opposition to this new Labour government.”

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

At the last General Election, millions of people put their faith in the Liberal Democrats to be local champions for their local communities.

100 days in, our MPs are working tirelessly for local people, and the Conservatives’ legacy is tainted by their dreadful government, it’s the Liberal Democrats who will be the constructive opposition to this new Labour government.

From holding the new Government to account for fixing our NHS to opposing Ministers’ ill-judged winter fuel payment cut, it’s only Liberal Democrat MPs who are fighting for a fair deal for the British people.

Our country was left in dire straits by the Conservative Party. Now they’re out of office we need to see this Government acting bolder and faster. Liberal Democrats will fight tirelessly for plans to fix the health and care crisis, end the sewage scandal and tackle the cost of living head-on.

Rennie: Reckless behaviour of education secretary undermines Scottish education

Responding to the decision by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth to withhold £145.5m in funding to councils because of a row over teacher numbers, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie said:

For the SNP Education Secretary to believe that the response to the shortage of council funds should be to cut deeper is a perverse and cavalier logic. This high-handed, Edinburgh-knows-best attitude will just not wash. This will further damage education in Scotland as councils will need to hunt for further cuts.

In the run up to the budget this adds to the huge doubts about the ability of the SNP Government to manage its finances.

Scottish education has suffered enough. It does not need this.

Perth & Kinross Lib Dem secures Dunkeld housing deal

Scottish Liberal Democrat agriculture spokesperson and Councillor for the Strathtay ward of Perth & Kinross council, Claire McLaren has today joined Council leader Grant Laing & National Trust for Scotland regional director Stuart Maxwell to mark the acquisition of 20 homes in Dunkeld owned by the National Trust by the council.

The conservation charity stepped in to save the buildings from the threat of demolition in the 1950s. They will now be transferred into the ownership of Perth and Kinross Council’s Housing Revenue Account.

Cllr McLaren said:

I am very proud to see a deal that I helped to bring to the table come to fruition.

I’d like to thank my fellow councillors, council officials and the National Trust for Scotland for their work in getting this deal done.

I am confident that it will be a win-win, securing housing units for the future and giving tenants a rent reduction on completion of deal in an area of recognised housing need.

This is the service that communities can expect from Liberal Democrat local representatives. We will fight to ensure that you and your family have access to a warm, affordable and secure place to live.

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This entry was posted in News, Press releases and Scotland.
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One Comment

  • Mary Fulton 12th Oct '24 - 9:59am

    Sadly, I think this is the first time I have disagreed with one of Willie Rennie’s statements. As I understand it, the Scottish Government awarded money to Scotland’s Councils that was ring-fenced to maintain teacher numbers – SNP controlled Glasgow City Council decided to cut teacher numbers and the Government has therefore withdrawn the money from Glasgow that it has decided not to use for the sole purpose for which it was allocated. I think the Government had little choice but to do this or other Councils would then think that they too could cut teacher numbers and yet keep money that they received for the sole reason of maintaining teacher numbers. Liberal Democrats need to be fighting to ensure our kids’ futures are not damaged by cuts to the teaching workforce.

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