Category Archives: Press releases

23 March 2023 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Thu 23rd March 2023 - 11:40 pm

Interest rates rise: Sunak’s pledge to halve inflation in tatters

Responding to the Bank of England raising interest rates, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Sarah Olney MP said:

This news will come as a hammer blow to countless hardworking families.

People seeing their mortgage bills go up by hundreds of pounds a month have been left high and dry by this Government, which sent interest rates soaring with their catastrophic mini budget.

Rishi Sunak’s pledge to halve inflation is in tatters.

The Government could be cutting household energy bills and extending energy support for businesses to help keep prices down. Instead,

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Soaring teaching vacancies show Conservatives failing children

By The Voice | Thu 23rd March 2023 - 7:45 am

Responding to a new report by the National Foundation for Educational Research showing that the number of teaching vacancies has risen by 93% since 2019, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said:

The soaring number of unfilled teaching posts is yet more proof that the Conservatives are failing our children badly.

Millions of children are being taught by someone who isn’t an expert in their subject, all because the Conservatives are missing their own recruitment targets and driving thousands of teachers out of the profession. It’s just not good enough.

Investing in schools and teachers is vital for giving every child the

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22 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 22nd March 2023 - 11:45 pm

Inflation rises: Proof the Chancellor should have cut energy bills in the budget
Windsor Framework: Conservative MPs are mutinous pirates who no longer care what their captain says

Inflation rises: Proof the Chancellor should have cut energy bills in the budget

Responding to this morning’s inflation figures, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said:

This rise is just more proof why the Chancellor should have cut energy bills in the budget. Instead he sat on his hands and we are left with rising inflation once more.

People across the country are struggling and the Government has failed totemically to support hardworking families and pensioners.

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Also posted in News | Tagged inflation, layla moran, northern ireland, sarah olney and windsor framework | 1 Comment

21 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 21st March 2023 - 10:30 pm

High borrowing: Govt blew a hole in our public finances

Responding to the latest ONS statistics which show public sector net borrowing at the highest February total since records began, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

This Conservative Government blew a hole in our public finances and made hard-working families pay for it through unfair tax rises, higher mortgage bills and soaring inflation.

The Chancellor could have taken action in last week’s Budget to put our economy on the right track, but instead we saw a total lack of ambition and no economic plan.

Instead of

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Also posted in News | Tagged alexander boris de pfeffel johnson, daisy cooper, government borrowing, sarah olney and tory sleaze | 5 Comments

Casey Report: This must be a precipice moment

By The Voice | Tue 21st March 2023 - 7:23 am

Responding to the Casey Report, Liberal Democrat MP and Former Police Officer Wendy Chamberlain said:

This report is an important step towards justice for the Everard, Smallman and all of the other families of women and other victims who have suffered because of the failings evident throughout the Met.

It’s clear that despite repeated reviews and reports that the force’s toxic culture has never been properly addressed. This time, it has to be.

Leadership in the Met and the Home Office must view this as a precipice moment. The Home Secretary must take personal responsibility for this and draw up an urgent plan,

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Also posted in News | Tagged metropolitan police, police and wendy chamberlain | 5 Comments

20 March 2023 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 20th March 2023 - 10:45 pm

Revealed: Over 100 Met officers still working while under investigation for sexual abuse

Over 100 Met police officers are still working on the frontline while under investigation for allegations of sexual or domestic abuse, a Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

A total of 548 Met police officers are currently under investigation for claims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or a combination of both.

144 of the officers under investigation for these offences are still working and carrying out their normal duties, the response from the Metropolitan Police reveals. Of these, 111 are under investigation for sexual abuse. 28 …

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17-19 March 2023 – the Conference weekend press releases (part 2)

By Mark Valladares | Mon 20th March 2023 - 5:55 pm

Lib Dems call for emergency action to end dental deserts
Banks’ £17.8 billion tax cut could have funded pay rise for 150,000 carers
Lib Dems call for long-term strategy to end energy crisis

Lib Dems call for emergency action to end dental deserts

The Liberal Democrats have blasted the Government for the spread of ‘dental deserts’ across the UK.

Vast areas of the country are without access to NHS dental appointments, often in rural or deprived areas.

The Party passed a motion at its Spring Conference today which called for urgent reform to the NHS dental contract to ensure everyone can get the care they need and isn’t forced to go private.

The plans also call for an emergency scheme to ensure children, pregnant women and young mothers have access to their free check ups on time.

This comes as Healthwatch England found that 41% of people are struggling to get an NHS dental appointment, with one in five unable to access all the treatments they needed.

Under the proposals, there would be an increase to the number of dentist training places in the UK and continued recognition of EU trained dentists’ qualifications.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling for the removal of VAT on children’s toothbrushes and children’s toothpaste.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Daisy Cooper MP said:

Our NHS dental system is completely broken. NHS appointments are scarce at best and in some places don’t exist at all. People are being forced to spend hundreds if not thousands of pounds on private dental care with some even resorting to their own at-home DIY dentistry.

This Conservative Government has done next to nothing to tackle this crisis.

Rishi Sunak would rather engage in divisive culture wars to cover up his government’s appalling record on the NHS, which is leaving dental patients in pain and distress.

The Liberal Democrats believe that everyone should be able to access a dentist when they need one.

Also posted in News | Tagged 2023 spring conference, bank surcharge, daisy cooper, energy policy, NHS dentistry, sarah olney, taxation policy and wera hobhouse | Leave a comment

17-19 March 2023 – the Conference weekend press releases (part 1)

By Mark Valladares | Mon 20th March 2023 - 1:20 pm

Steve Brine must step down from Health Select Committee
‘Show Sunak the door’ – Lib Dems update by-election door as victory props take centre stage in blue wall rally
Welsh Conservative MPs should “hang their heads in shame” over rail funding

Steve Brine must step down from Health Select Committee

Responding to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner launching an investigation into Steve Brine over allegations of inproper lobbying of the NHS, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

Steve Brine should immediately step down from the Health Select Committee whilst this investigation takes places. It is absurd for an MP who may have wrongly

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Also posted in News | Tagged daisy cooper, ed davey, HS2, jane dodds, Sarah Dyke, tory sleaze and Wales | 2 Comments

Four in ten NHS hospitals using outdated medical equipment including 37-year old X-ray machines

By The Voice | Mon 20th March 2023 - 10:50 am

541 pieces of medical equipment over a decade old with some X-ray machines up to 37 years old

Four in ten hospital trusts have outdated medical equipment at least a decade-old, despite NHS England advice

Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey calls for urgent investment in medical equipment at his party’s Spring Conference

NHS hospitals are using hundreds of outdated x-ray machines, CT scanners and radiotherapy machines, the Liberal Democrats have revealed, with some dating back to the 1980s.

541 X-ray machines, CT and MRI scanners and radiotherapy treatment machines are over a decade old, the figures show. It comes despite advice from NHS England …

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey and NHS | 1 Comment

14 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 14th March 2023 - 10:30 pm

ONS economy stats: Tomorrow is judgement day for Jeremy Hunt
Braverman must apologise to women and girls for police dropping complaints
Conservative MPs must back amendments to ban child detention
Budget is “judgement day” for Chancellor on cost of living crisis
Jane Dodds responds to Health Minister statement on Dental Reform

ONS economy stats: Tomorrow is judgement day for Jeremy Hunt

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

Tomorrow is judgement day for Jeremy Hunt. He must finally end the cost of living crisis and the endless pay squeeze which is crippling families across the country.

The revolving door of Conservative Chancellors in recent years have all failed at keeping prices down. Jeremy Hunt can take action tomorrow and cut energy bills by £500, by introducing a proper windfall tax on the bumper profits of oil and gas firms. They are raking in billions off the back of higher energy bills and the public won’t stomach it any longer.

Braverman must apologise to women and girls for police dropping complaints

Responding to the figures that show police forces drop most complaints of officer violence against women, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip and former Police Officer, Wendy Chamberlain MP said:

These statistics tell us what millions of women and girls already know. Across the country, they look to the police to protect them and ultimately the buck stops with the Home Office to fix this crisis.

Violence against women and girls has no place in our society, not least in the police forces that are meant to keep us all safe.

We need swift action from Suella Braverman, including a promise to tighten vetting and investigation regulations. But first, she needs to apologise for the Government and police forces letting women and girls across the country down.

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, budget 2023, child detention, dentistry, jane dodds, sarah olney, violence against women and girls, Wales and wendy chamberlain | 2 Comments

13 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 13th March 2023 - 11:40 pm

Lineker is back, Sharp must go
Liberal Democrats urge Conservative MPs to ‘examine their conscience’ ahead of Small Boats Bill vote

Lineker is back, Sharp must go

Responding to the news that Gary Lineker and the BBC have come to an agreement, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said:

Everyone will be pleased to see Gary Lineker and the football and sports coverage back to normal on the BBC next weekend.

However, given his ties to Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party, and the scandal surrounding his appointment, the public simply cannot trust Richard Sharp to restore the BBC’s credibility.

Rishi Sunak must sack him

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Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, asylum seekers, bbc independence, ed davey and gary lineker | Leave a comment

Two million patient admissions at NHS hospitals with crumbling roofs last year

By NewsHound | Mon 13th March 2023 - 7:30 am

Lib Dems demand this week’s Budget includes emergency funding to fix dangerous hospital roofs

18 trusts have buildings fitted with roofs which NHS chiefs warn could collapse at any moment

Almost 6,000 patient admissions a day last year at hospital trusts with crumbling roofs

There were a staggering two million patient admissions at hospitals with crumbling roofs at risk of collapse last year, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found.

The Liberal Democrats are demanding emergency funding in this week’s Budget to replace the crumbling roofs at every affected hospital and prevent patients’ safety being put at risk.

18 NHS hospital trusts around the …

Also posted in News | Tagged daisy cooper, health and safety and nhs crisis | 2 Comments

11-12 March 2023 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 12th March 2023 - 10:30 pm

Davey: Richard Sharp must resign
Hunt’s budget set to be “more hot air and no real or urgent help”

Davey: Richard Sharp must resign

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has called on Richard Sharp to resign.

Davey has said that Richard Sharp’s position is “untenable” and blamed the Conservative Government for “systematically attacking the independence of the BBC”.

Richard Sharp has spent recent months wrapped in controversy around his role in an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson. The Chairman of the BBC is head of the BBC Board and responsible for maintaining the independence of the BBC.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader …

Also posted in News | Tagged bbc, budget 2023, ed davey, richard sharp and sarah olney | Leave a comment

10 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 10th March 2023 - 10:30 pm

ONS: Economy still suffering consequences of Conservatives
BP boss pay doubles: Sunak must bring in bonus tax now
Lineker: Today is a reminder that we need a properly independent BBC
Lee Waters must apologise to Welsh nurses

ONS: Economy still suffering consequences of Conservatives

Responding to the latest ONS GDP figures from January 2023, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

These disappointing figures are yet another reminder that our economy is suffering under this Conservative Government, and people are feeling this under-performance in their own pockets.

The Conservative party has broken this country’s economy with record energy bills, rising food prices and soaring mortgage costs. Yet they are completely out of touch with people’s worries.

The Chancellor needs to take action in next week’s Budget by cutting people’s energy bills by £500, and putting in place a proper plan to get our economy growing fairly and sustainably.

BP boss pay doubles: Sunak must bring in bonus tax now

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the government bring in a tax on the bonuses of oil and gas company bosses, following the news that the chief executive of BP’s pay doubled to £10m.

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey, freedom of expression, gary lineker, jamie stone, jane dodds, nurses, sarah olney, uk economy, Wales and windfall tax | 1 Comment

9 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 9th March 2023 - 10:50 pm

Davey: Shell boss £10m pay packet shows need for “bonanza bonus” tax
HS2 Delay Must Trigger Barnett Consequential Funding for Wales

Davey: Shell boss £10m pay packet shows need for “bonanza bonus” tax

The Liberal Democrats have reiterated their calls for a tax on the bonuses of oil and gas company bosses, following the news that the former chief executive of Shell’s pay rose more than 50% to nearly £10m in 2022.

Shell announced today that former chief executive Ben van Beurden received a bonus of £2.6m in 2022, up from £2.2m the previous year. Under Liberal Democrat plans, this would be taxed at …

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey, jane dodds, oil and gas profits, tax, transport and Wales | 17 Comments

Coram Childcare Survey: Time to invest properly in our children’s future

By Mark Valladares | Thu 9th March 2023 - 7:15 am

In response to the Coram Family and Childcare annual survey which showed an increase of 5.6% in part-time childcare costs and 7% fewer local areas reporting sufficient childcare places for children under two, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson said:

The huge increase in costs of childcare is hitting cash-strapped young families who are already facing a cost of living crisis.

The UK already has some of the highest childcare costs in the world. Parents up and down the country are struggling to afford their nursery fees, while for others the crippling costs of childcare mean they simply can’t afford to

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Also posted in News | Tagged childcare and munira wilson | 2 Comments

8 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 8th March 2023 - 10:30 pm

Braverman’s dangerous rhetoric trashes Britain’s proud legacy
Ed Davey raises deadly ambulance delays at PMQs
Suella Braverman: Lib Dems demand inquiry into potential breach of ministerial code
Steve Brine must stand down from Health Select Committee amid sleaze scandal

Braverman’s dangerous rhetoric trashes Britain’s proud legacy

Responding to comments made by the Home Secretary this morning on the government’s small boats proposals, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:

Suella Braverman can’t even answer basic questions about her flawed, callous and inhumane policy.

To suggest that those who oppose these divisive plans are somehow betraying Britain is stooping to a new low. It is

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Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, ambulance services, asylum seekers, christine jardine, daisy cooper, ed davey, ministerial code, suella braverman and tory sleaze | 3 Comments

Ed Davey: International Women’s Day is a chance to reflect

By NewsHound | Wed 8th March 2023 - 7:00 am

Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate women, honour their achievements, and reflect on where we still need to go.

Our country has taken many important steps towards achieving gender equality and I’m proud of the role the Liberal Democrats have played in delivering that progress.

This year, I will be celebrating so many incredible women – who have brought us this far; who work tirelessly for equality; and who will take us even further in the years to come.

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey and international women's day 2023 | 2 Comments

7 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 7th March 2023 - 10:55 pm

Sunak should rule out ever restoring Hancock’s Conservative whip
Small boats ‘vanity project’ bill trashes UK’s reputation

Sunak should rule out ever restoring Hancock’s Conservative whip

The Liberal Democrats are calling on Rishi Sunak to rule out ever restoring Matt Hancock’s Conservative Whip after the latest set of leaked WhatsApp messages. The messages show Hancock threatening to block a disability centre in a Conservative MP’s seat in an attempt to force him to vote for the new Covid tier system.

This is yet another shocking revelation from the Lockdown Files which raises even more concerns about Matt Hancock’s integrity and …

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, asylum seekers, daisy cooper, matt hancock, small boats and tory sleaze | 19 Comments

6 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 6th March 2023 - 10:30 pm

Sunak must veto Johnson honours list
97% of NHS trusts are missing cancer treatment targets in “shocking gap in care”

Sunak must veto Johnson honours list

Responding to reports in The Times that Boris Johnson has nominated his father for a Knighthood in his Resignation Honours list, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said:

The Conservative party is rewarding Boris Johnson’s failure, lies and corruption. If future Honours Lists are to have any shred of credibility, Sunak must step in and veto this list.

Honours should be reserved for those who’ve gone above and beyond to contribute to our country. Boris Johnson’s attempt to bestow that recognition on his father makes a mockery of the whole thing.

This nepotism from the former Prime Minister isn’t new, he successfully secured a position in the House of Lords for his brother, now he’s trying to get similar VIP treatment for his father.

A Prime Minister who was found guilty of breaking the law while holding office doesn’t deserve an honours list with one name, let alone with over 100.

97% of NHS trusts are missing cancer treatment targets in “shocking gap in care”

Only 3% of NHS trusts met a crucial cancer treatment target last year, down from one in two in 2015, distressing new research from the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The House of Commons Library data analysis looks at the number of trusts meeting a key target for 85% of patients to receive their first cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral.

Also posted in News | Tagged alexander boris de pfeffel johnson, cancer targets, daisy cooper, honours list, resignation honours and wendy chamberlain | 7 Comments

4-5 March 2023 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 5th March 2023 - 10:30 pm

Rail fare rise: Betrayal of commuters and families
Lockdown files: Matt Hancock’s attempt to fire SAGE scientist ‘shocking’
Small boat ban will punish victims of human trafficking

Rail fare rise: Betrayal of commuters and families

Responding to a rail fare increase of 5.9% due on Sunday, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said:

Liberal Democrats are fighting for a fair deal for commuters and families who will be left forking out even more for train journeys in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

Ministers cannot keep turning a blind eye to these problems, especially given people are paying more for

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Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, asylum seekers, covid, daisy cooper, matt hancock, rail fares, small boats and wera hobhouse | 3 Comments

3 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 3rd March 2023 - 10:35 pm

Elderly fraud victims in Wales losing £35,000 a day to “tidal wave” of scams
Government’s refusal to confirm further energy support payments leaves people “living in limbo”
Partygate: Prime Minister must back Committee’s findings

Elderly fraud victims in Wales losing £35,000 a day to “tidal wave” of scams

Elderly fraud victims are facing a “tidal wave of scams” with losses of over £35,000 million a day, shocking new figures uncovered by the Welsh Liberal Democrats have revealed.

The party accused the Conservatives of being “asleep at the wheel” in the fight against fraud, and called for an urgent strategy to protect victims including the vulnerable and elderly from online scams.

The figures were revealed through a Freedom of Information request by the Welsh Liberal Democrats to Action Fraud, covering all fraud cases where the victim was 65 or older over the past four years. They show a staggering £51.2 million has been lost in total, meaning over-65s across Wales are losing £35,087 to fraud each day.

The analysis shows that elderly fraud is on the rise, jumping from 1,847 recorded cases in 2019 up to 3,366 cases in 2022. Financial losses were also at a new high in 2022 – with pensioners losing nearly £16.5 million, up from £6.8 million in 2021.

Since the beginning of 2019, more than 12,000 cases of fraud against pensioners have been logged in Wales.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have criticised the Conservative Government for shirking its responsibility to tackle fraud. The Home Office has failed to publish the Fraud Strategy it promised in March 2022, which replaced 2021 plans for a national Fraud Action Plan that never materialised.

The party is demanding that the Government urgently publish its Fraud Strategy after months of delays. They are also calling for the creation of an Online Crime Agency that would coordinate work across the country on tackling online fraud.

Commenting on the shocking figures, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:

Also posted in News | Tagged alexander boris de pfeffel johnson, daisy cooper, fraud, fuel poverty, jane dodds, online crime, partygate, sarah olney and Wales | Leave a comment

2 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 2nd March 2023 - 10:30 pm

Ed Davey opens first Lib Dem office in Esher and Walton in bid to oust Dominic Raab
Surrey oil court case: A victory for local people against the Government and oil barons
The Government laughed at us while everyone else followed the rules

Ed Davey opens first Lib Dem office in Esher and Walton in bid to oust Dominic Raab

Today, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey opened the party’s first ever office in Dominic Raab’s ultra-marginal Surrey constituency.

The Liberal Democrats are under 3,000 votes away from ousting the Conservative Deputy Prime Minister at the next election.

Since the last General Election, the Liberal Democrats have been on a winning streak; gaining a host of council seats in Esher and Walton as well as achieving three historic parliamentary by-election victories in Chesham & Amersham, North Shropshire and Tiverton & Honiton.

The new office in Esher & Walton marks the party’s campaign ramping up in Surrey ahead of this May’s crucial local elections. The Liberal Democrats have re-selected Monica Harding as their General Election candidate, who came a close second in Esher & Walton in 2019, achieving a massive swing from the Conservative party.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

At the next election in Esher and Walton, it will be a two horse race between four more years of Conservative party chaos, or a hardworking local Liberal Democrat MP.

I am delighted to open the first ever Lib Dem office in the constituency, which is a landmark moment in our bid to oust Dominic Raab at the next election.

Every time I visit Esher and Walton, which neighbours my own constituency, I hear from local people who are fed up with being taken for granted by the Conservative party. There is outrage here at local health services starved of funding, sewage being dumped in rivers and taxes being hiked on hardworking families.

The Blue Wall is crumbling after years of Conservative party chaos in Westminster. The Liberal Democrats will be the challengers to Conservative MPs across vast swatches of the South East, especially here in Surrey.

Also posted in News | Tagged covid, daisy cooper, ed davey, monica harding and oil drilling | Leave a comment

1 March 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 1st March 2023 - 11:45 pm

PAC NHS report: Targets simply aren’t worth the paper they’re written on
Lockdown files: Rees-Mogg got Covid test couriered to own home
St. David’s Day – Welsh Liberal Democrats Call on Other Parties to Back Bill to Make St. David’s Day a public holiday
Hancock messages “lay bare the chaos at the heart of the Govt”
PMQs: Sunak refuses to cut energy bills
Hancock messages: How many more ministers received priority tests?
Williamson’s text solidifies his place as one of the worst Ministers to grace Government

PAC NHS report: Targets simply aren’t worth the paper they’re written on

Responding to the embargoed Public Accounts Committee report which finds the first year of NHS England’s three-year recovery programme is already falling short of expectations, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

It‘s broken promise after broken promise when it comes to this government and the NHS.

The public has lost all faith in the Conservative government and can now see that its targets simply aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.

Lockdown files: Rees-Mogg got Covid test couriered to own home

Responding to reports in the Telegraph that Jacob Rees-Mogg had a Covid test couriered to his home by health officials during a national shortage, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

This is yet more evidence that it’s one rule for Conservative ministers and another for everyone else.

The Covid inquiry must look into reports Conservative ministers were able to get priority access to tests at a time of national shortage. Rishi Sunak must also confirm what he knew about this scandal. The public deserves to know the truth.

St. David’s Day – Welsh Liberal Democrats Call on Other Parties to Back Bill to Make St. David’s Day a public holiday

This St David’s Day, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their calls for the day to become a public holiday in Wales urging other political parties to back a Bill they have put to parliament that would allow the Senedd to designate the day as such.

St David’s Day is currently only a patron saint day and does not have any legal standing. Meanwhile, in Scotland and Ireland St Andrew’s Day and St Patrick’s Day respectively are already public holidays.

Also posted in News | Tagged christine humphreys, christine jardine, covid, daisy cooper, energy costs, gavin williamson, jacob rees-mogg, jane dodds, munira wilson, nhs waiting times, public holiday, st david's day and Wales | 2 Comments

28 February 2023 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 28th February 2023 - 11:15 pm

Fuel poverty figures reveal over 7 million household struggling with energy bills
Sewage: Govt Minister refuses to protect clean water regulations

Fuel poverty figures reveal over 7 million household struggling with energy bills

New fuel poverty statistics have revealed millions of households are struggling to afford their energy bills.

The government’s annual Fuel Poverty Report showed there were an estimated 3.26 million households (13.4%) in fuel poverty in England in 2022, which is expected to rise to 3.5 million in 2023. A staggering 7.39 million (30.3%) of households in England had to spend more than 10% of income on energy costs in 2022, up from 4.93 million (20.5%) in 2021.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to scrap its plans to increase average energy bills by £500 in April, and instead cut bills funded through a proper windfall tax.

Responding to the news, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

These stark figures show milions of families and pensioners are struggling to afford sky-high energy bills.

It beggars belief that the Conservatives are plannng to worsen this cost of living catastrophe by hiking people’s energy bills by another £500 in April.

People in fuel poverty need support without delay. We need to cut energy bills and expand support for the most vulnerable, funded through a proper windfall tax on oil and gas giants making record profits.

Sewage: Govt Minister refuses to protect clean water regulations

Today, the Liberal Democrats held up proceedings in the Committee Stage of the Retained EU Law Bill to save regulations that protect both swimmers and wildlife from sewage and other water pollution.

The Bathing Water Regulations and Water Framework Directive are both at risk of being scrapped under the Government’s new Retained EU Law Bill, which aims to remove hundreds of pieces of legislation from UK law.

Also posted in News | Tagged cathy bakewell, ed davey, fuel poverty, sewage and water pollution | Leave a comment

17-19 February – the weekend’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 20th February 2023 - 1:16 pm

Hundreds of sewage leaks in England’s hospitals over the last year

Shocking reports of patients slipping over on sewage, staff becoming ill and urine & faeces leaking into offices and wards

Sewage flows in A&E departments, cancer wards and maternity centres amongst other critical hospital buildings

Liberal Democrat Leader demands urgent funds to fix hospitals before more patients and staff suffer from disgusting conditions

Freedom of Information Requests by the Liberal Democrats to NHS Trusts has revealed in the past twelve months there has been a staggering 456 sewage leaks in England’s hospitals. 55 NHS Trusts provided responses which reveal the shocking state of …

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey and nhs crisis | Leave a comment

15-16 February 2023 – two day’s worth of press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 16th February 2023 - 11:10 pm

Welsh Lib Dems Respond to Welsh Dental Report
Inflation Stats: Hard-working people are paying the price for Conservative incompetence
British Gas profits: A betrayal for customers across the country

Welsh Lib Dems Respond to Welsh Dental Report

Responding to the publication of the Health and Social Care Committee report on dentistry in Wales, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:

I welcome the publication of this report and its recommendations. Since being elected I have made securing access to NHS dentistry one of my top priorities and the issue regularly fills my inbox.

NHS dental provision in Wales is not good enough, and this report raises really important questions about the reasons why Labour has allowed a two-tier dental system in Wales to develop, where the rich can go private and everyone else is left languishing on waiting lists.

I am also disappointed to hear that relations between Welsh Government and the dental profession are at a low point when, to deal with both the effects of the pandemic and the longer-term structural problems in NHS dentistry, we need Government and dentists to work together.

Ultimately we need to ensure the resources are in place to fix this problem, including raising spend on dentistry per head to similar levels as Scotland or Northern Ireland as I argued for in the most recent Welsh Government budget debate. By failing to address this issue now Labour is potentially creating a longer-term problem.

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey, inflation, jane dodds, NHS dentistry, oil and gas profits, sarah olney and Wales | 2 Comments

14 February – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 14th February 2023 - 10:30 pm

ONS figures: Families see pay squeezed by Conservative incompetence
Two-week cancer diagnosis target missed by half of NHS trusts in every month last year
Welsh Lib Dems Comment on Welsh Government Road Review

ONS figures: Families see pay squeezed by Conservative incompetence

Responding to the latest ONS figures showing a 3.1% real-terms fall in pay in October to December 2022, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

This Conservative government has hammered families with soaring mortgages, rising energy bills and huge unfair tax hikes.

Hard-working people are having their pay squeezed thanks to the incompetence of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt.

A long list

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Also posted in News | Tagged cancer targets, daisy cooper, jane dodds, nhs waiting times, pay, roads, sarah olney and Wales | 2 Comments

13 February 2023 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 14th February 2023 - 4:44 pm

A technology glitch means that I’m a little further behind than expected. Normal service will resume shortly…

Revealed: 12-hour A&E waits quadrupled in most areas of England last year
Sewage: Lib Dems bid to block bill which removes clean water regulation
Revealed: GP postcode lottery as number of registered patients soars

Revealed: 12-hour A&E waits quadrupled in most areas of England last year

Four in five areas in England saw the number of 12-hour waits at A&E quadruple last year, shocking new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The figures reveal a devastating rise in long delays to be admitted to hospital from A&E right across the country.

In the worst-hit areas, almost one in four patients waited 12 hours or more to be admitted to hospital from A&E.

Previous research has highlighted how long waits to be admitted to hospital at A&E can have devastating consequences including the risks of a patient dying or becoming seriously unwell.

A shocking 91 of 113 NHS hospital trusts in England saw the number of patients waiting over 12 hours more than quadruple in 2022 compared to the previous year. Only four of the trusts saw the number of 12-hour waits fall. The figures are based on data on A&E waiting times from NHS England, which were compiled by the House of Commons Library.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Trust was the worst in the country with over 24% of patients waiting at least 12 hours at A&E to be admitted to hospital in 2022. This was followed by North Middlesex where 23% faced waits of 12 hours or more, up ninefold on the previous year. Other hospital trusts with the highest number of patients waiting 12 hours or more include Royal Cornwall (21%), East Cheshire (21%) and Croydon (21%).

Overall, 36 trusts saw at least 10% of patients waiting over 12 hours to be admitted to hospital from A&E in 2022. This compares to not a single trust seeing more than 10% of patients waiting that long the previous year.

The Lib Dems have slammed the government for allowing the “devastating delays”, and called for an urgent plan to tackle staff shortages. The party is calling for a ‘Carer’s Minimum Wage,’ £2 above the minimum wage, to tackle shortages in the social care sector that are contributing to overcrowded hospitals and record delays at A&E.

Also posted in News | Tagged cathy bakewell, daisy cooper, GP shortage, nhs waiting times and sewage dumping | 2 Comments

11-12 February 2023 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 14th February 2023 - 11:12 am

Childcare: Conservatives have turned their backs on families
Sharpe report: Boris Johnson must now also face the music to answer questions

Childcare: Conservatives have turned their backs on families

Responding to reports that the Treasury is considering expanding its free childcare offer, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson said:

Parents should never be forced out of work by a lack of affordable childcare. If the Treasury wants to help more parents back to work, it should simply implement the Liberal Democrat plan for childcare that is flexible, affordable and fair.

Crucially, that must include raising the rates paid to providers match the actual

…

Also posted in News | Tagged alexander boris de pfeffel johnson, childcare, daisy cooper, munira wilson and tory sleaze | 1 Comment

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