Category Archives: News

20-22 January 2023 – the weekend’s press releases (part 2)

By Mark Valladares | Mon 23rd January 2023 - 5:14 pm

Zahawi: There must be an independent investigation to get to the bottom of this
Cleverly: Dog ate my homework type excuses simply won’t wash with the public
Boris loan: He must come to Parliament to explain his murky finances
Jane Dodds Responds to Cancelation of Young People’s Village at the Royal Welsh Show

Zahawi: There must be an independent investigation to get to the bottom of this

Responding to the latest statement from Nadhim Zahawi on his tax affairs, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said:

Zahawi and his Conservative Cabinet colleagues are arrogantly trying to brush this under the carpet.

There are facts that still

…

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged alexander boris de pfeffel johnson, daisy cooper, jane dodds, nadhim zahawi, royal welsh show, tax avoidance, tory sleaze and wendy chamberlain | 4 Comments

20-22 January 2023 – the weekend’s press releases (part 1)

By Mark Valladares | Mon 23rd January 2023 - 2:49 pm

Sunak fine: From partygate to seatbelt gate, Conservative politicians are taking British people for fools
Research reveals squeezed middle facing biggest income tax hit in a decade
Alarm as Number of Homeless Children in Wales Rises by 59%

Sunak fine: From partygate to seatbelt gate, Conservative politicians are taking British people for fools

Responding to the news that Rishi Sunak has been given a Fixed Penalty Notice for not wearing his seatbelt during a Lancashire visit, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said:

Rishi Sunak has shown the same disregard for the rules as Boris Johnson, and now becomes the second ever Prime Minister to be fined by the police.

From partygate to seatbelt gate, these Conservative politicians are just taking the British people for fools.

Whilst they continue to behave as though it’s one rule for them and another for everyone else, this fine is a reminder that the Conservatives eventually get their comeuppance.

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged child poverty, cost of living crisis, daisy cooper, homelessness, jane dodds, lawbreaking, rishi sunak and sarah olney | 1 Comment

Record 350,000 patients waited over 12 hours at A&E last year

By The Voice | Mon 23rd January 2023 - 10:50 am

Figures reveal 1,000 patients left waiting 12 hours or more in A&E every day in 2022

Analysis shows shocking rise in long A&E delays since 2015, when just 1,300 people waited 12 hours or more

Lib Dems set out plan to tackle NHS crisis including recruiting more GPs and allowing pharmacists to prescribe more medicines

A record 350,000 patients, equivalent to the population of Leicester, waited more than 12 hours to be admitted to hospital from A&E in 2022.

The figures were uncovered in new analysis by the Liberal Democrats showing a staggering rise in 12 hour delays at A&E since 2015.

Liberal …

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged ed davey, NHS and nhs waiting times | 2 Comments

Welcome to my day: 23 January 2023 – clinging desperately to the wreckage…

By Mark Valladares | Mon 23rd January 2023 - 7:30 am

I’ve been away, which has come as something of a relief, it must be said. Admittedly, not much has changed since I went away – the people running our country still appear to have a restricted grasp of ethics and morality, the Opposition are still desperately attempting to avoid taking any firm position on very much, the lack of ideas for dealing with the huge challenges our country faces is still troubling.

And I’m weary. Weary of trying to serve a nation where those in charge barely pay lip service to the idea …

Tagged public sector pay | 2 Comments

Lib Dem Mathew Hulbert says Church of England giving in to its conservatives on same sex marriage

By The Voice | Sat 21st January 2023 - 2:30 pm

Lib Dem Councillor Mathew Hulbert has been taking to the airwaves to criticise the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury for giving into the Conservative side of the Anglican Communion. Yesterday, the Church announced that, while it would not allow same sex marriages in Church, they would allow blessings. However, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said that he personally would not conduct them. He said:

But because of my pastoral care and responsibility of being a focus of unity for the whole communion I will – while being extremely joyfully celebratory of these new resources – I will not personally use them in order to compromise that pastoral care

The Church is also apologising for not being inclusive to LGBT+ people in the past.

Yesterday, Mathew tweeted:

Utterly, utterly heartbreaking.
The truth is #LGBT+ Anglicans, even those of us who go to "inclusive" churches, can't help but feel we're being othered by those at the top.
I believe wholeheartedly that I am fearfully and wonderfully made; made in the image of God.
🏳️‍🌈 ✝️ https://t.co/LxsFzJa0M9

— Mathew Hulbert 🔶️ 🏳️‍🌈 (@MathewHulbert) January 21, 2023

This led to a few requests for interviews.

Here’s a brief clip from his Talk TV appearance.

Tagged archbishop of canterbury, church of england, LGBT and same sex marriage | 4 Comments

Survation: Majority of Conservative councillors dissatisfied with own party’s performance

By NewsHound | Fri 20th January 2023 - 3:25 pm

This week Survation reported the results of a survey undertaken in the last month. They polled 710 councillors of all parties across the UK. The results are interesting, if painfully predictable for the Tories.

Survation asked the councillors to assess the local performance of their party in 2022. Liberal Democrats came out with a net satisfaction rating of +92% (which is remarkably high); Labour councillors had a net satisfaction of +73%, but the Conservatives came in with a miserable +21%. Note that this is their assessment of their local performance for which they were responsible.

If you think that last figure is low, it gets far worse when councillors were asked about their party’s national performance. On that, the Conservative councillors net satisfaction is a staggering -53% (note the negative). In fact 72% of Tory councillors said they were somewhat or extremely dissatisfied with the performance of the Conservatives nationally, compared with only 19% who were somewhat or extremely satisfied.

Labour and Liberal Democrats managed net satisfaction ratings of their party’s national performance of +65% and +56% respectively.

The survey also explored the favourability rating of the various party leaders. You can read more detail in the report, but it is worth mentioning how the main party leaders were viewed by Lib Dem councillors: Not surprisingly Ed Davey had a net favourability of +80%, while Keir Starmer achieved +5%, and Rishi Sunak was on -76%.

Tagged conservatives, councillors, labour, liberal democrat councillors and survation | 1 Comment

19 January 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 19th January 2023 - 10:30 pm

Record ambulance delays reveal NHS “horror show”
Latest NHS figures on delayed discharges reveal “living nightmare”
Levelling up: Rural and coastal communities taken for granted

Record ambulance delays reveal NHS “horror show”

Ambulance response times in Wales have fallen to a record low in December with a staggering 60.5% of red calls (those deemed most life-threatening) being above the official target times. This figure is the highest on record and beats previous numbers in December 2021 and 2020, the latter of which was at the height of the pandemic.

Figures have also shown that a shocking 78% of amber calls, which include heart attacks and …

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged ambulance services, daisy cooper, helen morgan, jane dodds, levelling up and NHS | Leave a comment

18 January 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 18th January 2023 - 10:30 pm

Inflation pushing families to the brink and economy to breaking point
Hunt video: Mr Bean-esque from the same clueless party that crashed the economy
Retained EU Law Bill a “shameless power-grab”

Inflation pushing families to the brink and economy to breaking point

Responding to the news that inflation remains in double digits at 10.5%, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

For months and months Inflation has soared pushing families to the brink, bills out of control and the economy to breaking point.

People across the country work hard and just want a fair deal but under this Conservative Government, double-digit inflation is just business as usual.

Struggling families and pensioners deserve more support but the Government’s track record on the cost of living crisis has been nothing short of a failure, hurting millions.

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged cost of living crisis, inflation, jeremy hunt, retained legislation and sarah olney | 2 Comments

17 January 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 17th January 2023 - 10:30 pm

ONS pay figures: Chancellors have fanned the flames of this cost of living crisis
Billions in taxes lost as HMRC moves staff to Brexit and Covid fraud

ONS pay figures: Chancellors have fanned the flames of this cost of living crisis

Responding to this morning’s latest ONS earnings and unemployment figures, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said:

Successive Conservative Chancellors have fanned the flames of this cost of living crisis. Their deeply shameful tax hikes and failure to grow the economy has lead to Britain’s pay being squeezed despite unbearably high bills. It has been an economic clown show from this Conservative

…

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged cost of living crisis, hmrc, sarah olney and tax gap | 1 Comment

“Cynical” move to block Scotland’s Gender Recognition Bill

By News Meerkat | Tue 17th January 2023 - 8:28 am

The Guardian reports:

Rishi Sunak’s government has blocked legislation passed by the Scottish parliament that would make Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce a self-identification system for people who want to change gender.

The Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, announced that he would use section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 for the first time to halt the gender recognition bill after a review by UK government lawyers.

Tagged gender recognition reform bill and Scotland | 3 Comments

16 January 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 16th January 2023 - 11:40 pm

It’s Blue Wall Monday and families are paying the price
PC David Carrick: Lib Dems call for immediate investigation

It’s Blue Wall Monday and families are paying the price

Today marks Blue Monday when Brits are left counting up their Christmas bills.

For families in the Blue Wall, there is an additional hit to their finances: The Conservative Government.

New analysis by the Liberal Democrats reveals the typical family in the South East will be £760 worse off this January compared to last year – including paying an extra £620 more a month in mortgage …

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged blue wall, cost of living crisis, daisy cooper, ed davey and metropolitan police | 1 Comment

LibLink: Lib Dems plan ‘Labour squeeze’ in fight for suburban Tory seats

By NewsHound | Mon 16th January 2023 - 1:03 pm

The Guardian has today covered reports that the Liberal Democrats will be attempting to squeeze the Labour vote in key target seats. Now, whilst this may not come as a huge surprise to Liberal Democrat activists, the article does offer some useful quotes from the likes of Zoe Franklin, our PPC in Guildford, noting the issues that arise from younger voters moving out of London;

We’re really aware of this shift of people moving from London,” Franklin said. “They would normally vote for Labour, but now found themselves in Surrey, and one of the things we really need to get

…

Also posted in LibLink | Tagged blue wall, campaign strategy and zoe franklin | 15 Comments

15 January 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 15th January 2023 - 10:30 pm

Harper: Govt could have stopped strike misery months ago
Lib Dems call for Partygate conduct inquiry in ethics advisor’s ‘first test’ in post

Harper: Govt could have stopped strike misery months ago

Responding to Mark Harper on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg indicating he is hopeful for a deal to resolve the rail strikes, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said:

This Government has spent months dithering, delaying and refusing to get around the table to resolve strike action. Millions of people have suffered upheaval and still, the Government won’t set out a timetable for resolution.

All of these strikes are

…

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged christine jardine, partygate and public sector strikes | Leave a comment

Sarah Olney criticises “appalling” rush to pass anti Strike Bill

By NewsHound | Sat 14th January 2023 - 3:30 pm

Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney has criticised the “appalling” way the Government is trying to “sneak” through its new anti strike measures with the bare minimum of Parliamentary scrutiny. MPs will have two days to debate the measures.

Reported in the Standard, Sarah said:

It’s appalling for Conservative ministers to try and sneak this sweeping new law through with barely any scrutiny from MPs. It’s almost like they know their Bill would fall apart under even the lightest examination.

Tagged lib dem mps, Parliament, sarah olney and strikes | 1 Comment

ALDC by-election report: 12th January 2023

By Alan Good | Fri 13th January 2023 - 7:25 pm

Only two principal by-elections occurred this week, a double whammy in Plymouth City Council. Huge congrats to Mike Gillbard and Colin Mackenzie for standing in Plympton Chaddlewood and Moor View – especially as we didn’t stand a candidate in Plymptom Chaddlewood last time! The Conservatives lost both seats; one to the Greens, another to Labour.

Over in Wells City Council, we had a Parish Council by-election where the Liberal Democrats took a seat from the Wells Independents with over half the vote share! Amazing news for Georgie Robbins and the Wells Liberal Democrats!

Little by little, the blue wall is crumbling. Full results below:

St Cuthbert’s Ward, Wells City Council

Georgie Robbins (Liberal Democrats): 436 (52.8%)
Wells Independents: 214 (25.9%)
Conservative Party Candidate: 176 (21.3%)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Independent

Plympton Chaddlewood, Plymouth City Council

Green: 653 (44.9%, +1.6%)
Conservative: 425 (29.2%, -18.4%)
Independent: 182 (12.5%, +12.5%)
Labour: 147 (10.1%, +0.9%)
Liberal Democrat (Mike Gillbard): 33 (2.3%, +2.3%)
TUSC: 15 (1.0%, +1.0%)

Green GAIN from Conservative

Moor View, Plymouth City Council

Labour: 1415 (53.2%, +23.9)
Conservative: 877 (33.0%, -30.5)
Independent: 184 (6.9%, +6.9)
Green: 87 (3.3%, -1.1)
Liberal Democrat (Colin Alexander Mackenzie): 77 (2.9%, +0.6)
TUSC: 18 (0.7%, +0.2)

Labour GAIN from Conservative

Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 8 Comments

WATCH: Floella Benjamin press Government on Windrush leaks

By The Voice | Thu 12th January 2023 - 8:55 pm

On Tuesday we reported that Baroness Floella Benjamin had written to the Prime Minister to ask for an assurance that the Government will not renege on its pledge to implement the recommendations of Wendy Williams in her Lessons Learned Review of the Windrush Scandal.

Today, Floella sought the same commitment in a Lords question:

Today @FloellaBenjamin challenged the Conservative Government to honour their commitment to implement all the recommendations of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.

Find out more: https://t.co/ZNz4DRS3SQ pic.twitter.com/zL31SBfuri

— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) January 12, 2023

The reply was not exactly a robust commitment:

Tagged brian paddick, floella benjamin, lib dem lords and windrush scandal | Leave a comment

WATCH: Wera Hobhouse asks PM to support her bill to tackle workplace sexual harassment

By The Voice | Thu 12th January 2023 - 7:25 pm

Yesterday, Wera Hobhouse asked the Prime Minister to ensure her bill aimed at tackling workplace sexual harassment has a safe passage through Parliament. The Government has already agreed to support it, but it needs to free up the parliamentary time for it to complete its stages before the end of the session in the Spring.

Watch her here:

Half of British women and a fifth of men have been sexually harassed at work or a place of study.@Wera_Hobhouse's Bill will bring about a culture change to protect workers from harassment and sexual harassment. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/oYnUhLszLw

— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) January 11, 2023

In response, the Prime Minister’s words were warm but he didn’t actually give a specific commitment:

Tagged PMQs, sexual harassment and wera hobhouse | 4 Comments

Baroness Floella Benjamin writes to Rishi Sunak about Windrush fears

By The Voice | Tue 10th January 2023 - 5:40 pm

Floella Benjamin is Chair of the UK government’s Windrush Commemoration Committee. She has written to Rishi Sunak over concerns that the government is planning to renege on pledges made after the Windrush scandal.

This is the letter I have sent to the Prime Minister with regard to rumours of the #Windrush Scandal recommendations being reneged on. I do hope it is not true @RishiSunak @LibDems @LibDemLords ⁦@ukhomeoffice⁩ #Windrush75 pic.twitter.com/Se1IDxFpXl

— Floella Benjamin (@FloellaBenjamin) January 9, 2023

Tagged floella benjamin and windrush | Leave a comment

“A wholly preventable NHS crisis”

By The Voice | Sun 8th January 2023 - 12:23 pm

Embed from Getty Images

For weeks now, our Health spokesperson, Daisy Cooper, has been energetically raising the issue of the crisis in the NHS on a daily basis. She has been calling for the Prime Minister to declare a major incident and to recall Parliament.

With the NHS in crisis, this afternoon Rishi Sunak should be setting out all the things he could do to help – I made @LibDems suggestions to @BBCNews today. It looks like he'll keep closing his eyes, covering his ears & hoping the #NHSCrisis goes away – but it won't. pic.twitter.com/TQnEOcfF5j

— Daisy Cooper MP 🔶 (@libdemdaisy) January 4, 2023

Here is today’s tweet.

The PM can’t even accept the basic truth that the NHS is in crisis. #NHSCrisis https://t.co/yivmHR063a

— Daisy Cooper MP 🔶 (@libdemdaisy) January 8, 2023

In a press release she has outlined the Liberal Democrat’s Winter Plan for Ambulances.

Tagged featured | 24 Comments

BBC acknowledges Clarkson omission

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 7th January 2023 - 10:55 am

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that Laura Kuenssberg should have questioned the editor of The Sun, Victoria Newton, over the paper’s publication of a horribly misogynistic column about the Duchess of Sussex.

But what really annoys me is that Laura Kuenssberg had the editor of the Sun sitting right there in front of her on her show this morning and she didn’t challenge her on why she had allowed such a piece of violent misogyny to be published. And nor did any of the other panellists. No wonder the right wing press get away with so much when they know that they will not come under any scrutiny.

Instead, Kuenssberg chose to ask the editor of The Sun whether Harry’s claims about the collusion between the royals and the media were true. She took the obvious denial at face value but didn’t take it any further. It was a valid question, but she should have followed up with something on this article.

Harry and Meghan says that the racist and misogynist attacks on Meghan in the British press, and the failure of the Royal Family to protect her, led to them basically fleeing the country. Clarkson’s article, published by one media outlet unscrutinised by others, makes their point for them.

Since then, the Sun has removed the article and apologised.

At the time, I complained to the BBC in a bit of a triumph of hope over experience. I have complained many times over the years (usually about under-representation of Lib Dems) without getting a satisfactory outcome.

However, this week, I was surprised that their reply acknowledged the omission:

Tagged jeremy clarkson, laura kuenssberg, media and the sun | 4 Comments

Reminder: Conference motions deadlines on 11th January

By The Voice | Sat 7th January 2023 - 8:30 am

One great thing about being a member of the Liberal Democrats is that you can submit motions to be considered for debate at our two Conferences.

Scottish Spring Conference takes place in Dundee from 10-11 March and Federal Spring Conference is in York the weekend after. Both motions deadlines are this coming Wednesday, 11th January.

For Scottish Conference, all the info you need on how to submit motions is here. You need 10 members, or a party body, or local party to support you.

For Federal Conference, the motion submission form is here.

Tagged conference, conference deadlines and featured | 6 Comments

ALDC by-election report, 6th January 2023

By Alan Good | Fri 6th January 2023 - 12:02 pm

A bite-sized start to by-elections in 2023, with just two taking place. In Uttlesford, Essex, the Conservatives took victory over localist Residents for Uttlesford, beating them 375 to 238. Lorraine Flawn of the Lib Dems achieved 88 votes, where no Lib Dem stood last time! Excellent news, and congrats to Lorraine and the Uttlesford Lib Dems.

Over in Cannock Chase, Labour edged the Conservatives by the cursed 52-48 margin, a testament to the binary systems of British politics. Labour and the Conservatives were helped – or were they hindered? – by a lack of third parties, with Greens, Independents and the Lib Dems choosing not to field candidates. Once a Lib Dem stronghold, we know not how we would have fared in disrupting the two-party system. Full results below:

Great Dunmow South & Barnston, Uttlesford DC

Conservative: 375 (46.0%, +16.7%)
Residents for Uttlesford: 238 (29.2%, -27.2%)
Labour: 115 (14.1%, +2.0%)
Liberal Democrat (Lorraine Flawn): 88 (10.8%, +10.%)

Conservative GAIN from Residents for Uttlesford

Etching Hill and The Heath, Cannock Chase DC

Labour: 422 (52.3%, +17.0%)
Conservative: 385 (47.7%, -0.3%)

No IND (-9.9%) or GRN (-6.8%) as previous.

No Lib Dem candidate.

Labour GAIN from Conservative

Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 13 Comments

Lib Dem councillor on The Apprentice

By Mary Reid | Fri 6th January 2023 - 8:28 am

One of the contestants in the new series of The Apprentice, Gregory Ebbs, is a Lib Dem councillor on Whitchurch Town Council in Shropshire.

According to his profile on the BBC he “owns an online antiques business and has previously worked as a professional cannon-firer”. I’d love to know more about his time spent in Malta firing cannons. What we do know is that he is a dab hand with aphorisms.

um, what he said 👀#TheApprentice #iPlayer pic.twitter.com/zmnrBFHwF9

— The Apprentice (@bbcapprentice) January 5, 2023

In the first episode last night, which took the contestants to Antigua, Greg was praised by both Lord Sugar and Karren Brady. So good luck to him for the rest of the series!

Tagged Gregory Ebbs and The Appentice | Leave a comment

Davey: Sunak asleep at the wheel

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 4th January 2023 - 9:56 pm

Listening to Rishi Sunak speak today, you wouldn’t think that the country is in the grip of economic turmoil and crisis in the NHS. You don’t have to go far to read of NHS trusts and boards calling major incidents, or London Ambulance saying they will only wait 45 minutes before leaving patients in hospital corridors. Everywhere there are accounts of traumatised, stressed nurses, doctors and patients in A and E departments up and down the country.

It is all very grim.

Sunak’s five priorities would fail the SMART objective test on any work training day.

He could claim he had done them without alleviating much suffering. I mean what does “NHS waiting lists will fall” actually mean for someone who has been told that they can have an appointment for their hernia in mid 2024? What does “the economy will grow” mean? A tiny decimal point which makes no measurable difference? Reduce national debt – to what, how and what will that mean for public services? And a piece of red meat for the xenophobic right about getting rid of asylum seekers. The one specific pledge, to halve inflation, seems to be going to happen anyway according to the Bank of England forecasts.

It’s all very cynical.

Ed Davey was unimpressed, saying:

Tagged asylum, economy, ed davey, inflation, national debt and NHS | 14 Comments

Popcorn at 5pm – Will the House of Representatives elect a Speaker today, and at what cost?

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 4th January 2023 - 3:48 pm

If you thought that 2023 might be a less wild political year, you would have been proved wrong just 3 days in – at least on the other side of the Atlantic.

The first act of any new session of Congress is for the House of Representatives to elect a new Speaker. Usually this is straightforward, with the leader of the party which holds the majority getting the job. Not this time. For the first time in a century, Republican Kevin McCarthy failed to achieve the required 218 votes. Which is a bit of a worry for him, seeing as he …

Tagged house of representatives, kevin mccarthy, republicans and US politics | 1 Comment

London ambulances to stop waiting: Major incident must be declared

By News Meerkat | Tue 3rd January 2023 - 2:48 pm

Embed from Getty Images
Responding to a leaked email revealing London Ambulance Service crews will now only wait 45 minutes at hospitals before handing over patients due to the current NHS crisis, the Liberal Democrats have called for a major incident to be declared across London.

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

“This move shows the shocking reality of the NHS crisis and is yet further proof that a major incident must now be declared across London.

1 Comment

LibDems highlight people turning to DIY healthcare in NHS crisis

By News Meerkat | Tue 3rd January 2023 - 1:18 pm

Embed from Getty Images

The LibDems have received widespread media coverage, including in the Guardian and Times, after highlighting that people are turning to DIY medicine because they can’t get a GP appointment.

The Guardian report says:

Almost one in four people have bought medicine online or at a pharmacy to treat their illness after failing to see a GP face to face, according to a UK survey underlining the rise of do-it-yourself treatment.

7 Comments

MBE for James Kempton, former leader of Islington Borough Council

By The Voice | Tue 3rd January 2023 - 11:18 am

Embed from Getty Images

Many congratulations to James Kempton, who has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.

James was the first out LGBTQ+ Leader of Islington Council (2006-09) and Islington’s first LGBTQ+ LibDem councillor. He is an education and leadership consultant. The Islington Humap site says about him:

2 Comments

Lib Dems call for government to declare NHS “major incident”

By NewsHound | Mon 2nd January 2023 - 5:42 pm

Over the New Year, Lib Dem MPs have been attacking the government’s record on our crisis ridden NHS. Government ministers are conspicuous by their absence and have not yet responded, leaving any comment to civil servants.

Today’s Times, Guardian the Independent and other media report that people are resorting to DIY medical treatments after failing to get face-to-face appointments with GPs. Some go to A&E instead. But up to 500 people a week are dying due to A&E delays according to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Several NHS trusts have declared critical incidents. Ambulance staff in some trusts have been urged to conserve oxygen supplies due to a surge in demand.

The British Medical Association said:

The current situation in the NHS is intolerable and unsustainable, both for our patients and the hardworking staff desperately trying to keep up with incredibly high levels of demand.

The BMA has repeatedly invited the government to sit down and talk about the pressures on our health service, but their silence is deafening. It is disingenuous for the prime minister to talk about ‘backing the NHS’ in his new year message, when his own health secretary is failing to discuss how this crisis can be fixed.”

Daisy Cooper, Lib Dem health spokesperson said:

This is a life or death situation for huge numbers of patients. The NHS is collapsing in front of our eyes whilst the Prime Minister and Health Secretary are nowhere to be seen. This is a national crisis and the country will never forgive the Government if they refuse to recall Parliament whilst hundreds of people die in parked ambulances or hospital corridors.

Nobody should lose a loved one because the Government was asleep on the job.

Tagged featured and nhs crisis | 14 Comments

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Category Archives: News

St Cuthbert’s Ward, Wells City Council

Plympton Chaddlewood, Plymouth City Council

Moor View, Plymouth City Council

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