A STANDSTILL BUDGET THAT IGNORES CLIMATE CHANGE

“A standstill non-event” – Vince Cable

“This was all very modest stuff, with more in it for potholes than schools and the police. A standstill non-event.

If we are to see an end to austerity, then we need a proper injection of cash

“With growth remaining stubbornly low and Brexit weighing down our economy, it is clear the big problems are still to be tackled. It was a sticking plaster Budget, when major surgery lies ahead.

“If we are to see an end to austerity, then we need a proper injection of cash – at least £19bn according to the IFS – in our public services. The Chancellor said he could end austerity without raising taxes, but that is highly unlikely in practice.

“The Chancellor dined out on the borrowing improvements the OBR has given him, but these are overshadowed by the damaging impact Brexit will have on the UK’s public finances. These costs, which could reach £80bn a year in the event of ‘no deal’, risk turning today’s Budget into a sideshow.”


Chancellor ignores rising violence and worsening prison crisis – Ed Davey

It’s almost unbelievable that the Chancellor’s Budget contained not a single penny to tackle these problems

“Given the sharp rise of serious violence on our streets and the worsening crisis in our prisons, it’s almost unbelievable that the Chancellor’s Budget contained not a single penny to tackle these problems.

“Merely promising to ‘review police spending power’ isn’t nearly good enough.

Liberal Democrats demand better. We are calling for an extra £300 million a year to boost community policing and urgent investment to recruit more prison officers.”


Government mental health funding falls well short – Norman Lamb

For all the spin, this £2 billion falls well short of the amount experts say is needed

“While extra funding for mental health is sorely needed, the Chancellor is investing the bare minimum. For all the Government’s spin, this £2 billion falls well short of the amount experts say is needed to deliver vital improvements to services and achieve real equality between mental and physical health.

“Today’s announcement also recycles commitments set out in the Coalition Government’s blueprint for children’s mental health, which pledged a named mental health lead in schools as well as a dedicated professional in specialist NHS services.

“The Conservatives have failed to drive these changes through nearly five years on. Why should we expect things will be any different this time around?

Liberal Democrats demand better. The Government has failed to ensure that money from previous spending commitments gets through to where it is needed. It is vital that the new funding is used properly to invest in community-based care as well as early years support.”


Budget clouded by Brexit disarray and uncertainty – Tom Brake

Brexit must not be allowed to make the UK poorer

May and Hammond can’t agree what a no-deal Brexit will mean for the Budget. Hammond thinks it will require a whole new, emergency budget while May has attempted to save face and insist the Budget will stand regardless. What a mess.

“This fingers-crossed Budget is predicated on the Tories’ hopes that despite the mess they are making of Brexit the economy won’t suffer too severely. In reality, the Tories’ infighting has them gambling with the UK’s finances.

Liberal Democrats demand better. Brexit must not be allowed to make the UK poorer, that is why we need a final vote on the Brexit deal with an option to remain in the EU.”


Gamblers face another year of being held captive to FOBTs – Lord Foster

The Chancellor announced today that the £2 maximum stake for Fixed-Odds-Betting-Terminals will not be implemented until October 2019.

“We know with absolute certainty that this delay will see yet more lives ruined by these highly addictive machines.

“Communities up and down the country see the damage that can be done when hundreds of pounds can be lost in minutes if not seconds, day after day.

“Families will be despairing tonight that a problem gambler that they care about faces another full year of living captive to these machines until the Government step-in and do the right thing.”


Conservative Government throwing in the towel on halting climate change – Ed Davey

This budget is grossly disappointing for those who care about fighting climate change

“This budget is grossly disappointing for those, like me, who care about fighting climate change and protecting the environment. The Chancellor has simply thrown in the towel.

“The Tories have frozen fuel duty, slashed electric car subsides, committed £30bn to new road building and promise to continue at the same level subsidises to the oil and gas industry, while offering a measly £60 million to planting new trees, as if that will negate the damage they’re doing.

Liberal Democrats demand better. We would deliver a green budget, which promises more investment in renewable energy, not fossil fuels, borrowing to invest in infrastructure like rail, buses and electric vehicle charging points.”


Infrastructure plans lack future proofing – Baroness Randerson

“While it is welcome news that the Government will finally set aside much needed investment for our roads, their infrastructure plan lacks any future proofing.

With climate change an ever greater threat, Liberal Democrats demand better.Ministers should be focusing on a model shift away from car use to public transport. That means investment in rail, low emission buses and electric charging points.”


‘Hot air’ Tories abandon commitment to latte levy – Alistair Carmichael

Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a ban on all single-use plastic

“It is bitterly disappointing that the Chancellor has abandoned the Government’s commitment to introduce a levy on plastic cups.

It proves the Tories are full of hot air and no credible action. It also proves what I have said all along, that headlines are more important to them than the environment.

Our Environment deserves better. Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a ban on all single-use plastic within three years, the introduction of a levy on all producers and retailers that produce or use single-use plastics and the introduction of a latte levy.”


Chancellor’s UC spending barely recovers half the cuts of his predecessor – Stephen Lloyd

The pain caused by the roll-out of UC is not over yet.

“After stubbornly resisting for far too long, the Government has finally responded to pressure from the Liberal Democrats and put back some of the money into the Universal Credit Work Allowance, which they stupidly cut the moment we were no longer around to stop them.

“However, the £1.7 billion per year the Chancellor committed to still does not make up for the £3 billion pa his predecessor George Osborne slashed from the benefit in 2015. We also heard nothing on ending the gratuitous benefits freeze early, or on making UC fairer for the self-employed.

UC’s serious design flaws were also not addressed, from long waiting times that are pushing people into indebtedness, to problems in how landlords are paid housing benefit. The pain caused by the roll-out of UC is not over yet.

 

GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS LACK FUTURE PROOFING. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE 28th OCTOBER

Government infrastructure plans lack future proofing

Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Jenny Randerson has urged the Government to invest in “rail, low emission buses and electric charging points” as reports indicate the Government is set to announce new investment for roads in the Budget.

Jenny Randerson said:

While it is welcome news that the Government will finally set aside much needed investment for our roads, their infrastructure plan lacks any future proofing.

With climate change an ever greater threat, Liberal Democrats demand better. Ministers should be focusing on a model shift away from car use to public transport. That means investment in rail, low emission buses and electric charging points.

CHANCELLOR SHOULD WORK WITH EU ON TAXING TECH GIANTS. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE 28th OCTOBER

Chancellor should work with EU on taxing tech giants

Responding to reports that the Chancellor is considering a tax on tech giants, Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable said:

Tech giants have got away without paying their fair share for too long. That is why I have urged the Chancellor on numerous occasions to introduce a new tax, and he has accepted the argument.

The Chancellor will know the EU has already indicated a new EU-wide agreement is doable. Instead of working in isolation, the Chancellor should be willing to work with our European allies and others around the world. Now is the time to deliver.

CHANCELLOR CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO IGNOR BREXIT CONCERNS. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE 28th OCTOBER

Chancellor cannot be allowed to ignore Brexit concerns

Responding to the Chancellor’s refusal on The Andrew Marr show to answer whether the Chequers plan would leave people worse or better off, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said:

Either the Chancellor doesn’t know the answer, which makes him incompetent, or he does and he is choosing to mislead the public. He cannot be allowed to ignore Brexit concerns.

The reality, as spelled out by the OBR, is that Brexit uncertainty is already weakening public finances by £15 billion annually. No matter the Brexit, any Brexit will be a disaster. The Budget has no hope of making a difference.

No-one voted to be poorer. That is why the people must have the final say on Brexit, including the option to remain in the EU.

BROKEN BUSINESS RATES SYSTEM SHOULD BE ABOLISHED. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE 27th OCTOBER

Cable: Broken business rates system should be abolished

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable has warned the Chancellor’s business rates relief is nothing more than “hand-to-mouth support” and has called for the broken business rates system to be abolished.

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said:

The UK high street is suffering the worst year on record, with in-store sales falling and hundreds of thousands of jobs lost.

While I welcome any relief, hand-to-mouth support for businesses simply isn’t sustainable. Liberal Democrats demand better. There needs to be a fundamental change to the system.

We must create a level playing field between the high street and online retailers. That means scrapping the broken business rates system and replacing it with a tax on land values that would boost investment and cut taxes for businesses in nine out of ten English local authorities.

The Liberal Democrats want to abolish business rates and replace it with a tax on land values, the Commercial Landowner Levy (CLL). The levy would remove buildings and machinery from calculations and tax only the land value of commercial sites, boosting investment and cutting taxes for businesses in nine out of ten English local authorities.

Liberal Democrat plans, passed at their Autumn conference, include:

Business rates should be abolished and replaced by a Commercial Landowner Levy based on the value of commercial land only
The levy should be paid by owners rather than tenants
Non-residential stamp duty should be scrapped to improve the efficiency of the commercial property market
Commercial land should be taxed regardless of whether the buildings above it are occupied; the tax should also apply to unused and derelict commercial land.

ANSWER FOR SECRET FRACKING MEETING. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE. 26TH OCTOBER

Minister must answer for ‘secret’ fracking meeting

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron has today called for the Climate Change Minister, Claire Perry, to make a statement to Parliament to explain why she held an unrecorded meeting with fracking companies.

The Liberal Democrat MP also wants the Climate Change Minister to explain her proposed plan to relax rules designed to halt fracking operations given Cuadrilla has been forced to suspend fracking at their Lancashire site after a 0.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded.

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said:

The public will expect questions to be asked about the Climate Change Minister and her ‘secret’ meeting with fracking companies. We need to know who Minsters are being lobbied by and what they discussed, otherwise there can be no confidence in the Government.

Given the Climate Change Minister has also proposed a plan to relax rules designed to halt fracking, the public have a right to know why. Lib Dems put those measures in place to safeguard communities, as has been the case in Lancashire.

The Liberal Democrats demand better. The Climate Change Minister must give a statement to Parliament and be held to account by MPs.

ALLOW MPs TO VOTE ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE BILL FOR NORTHERN ISLAND. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE. 26th OCTOBER

PM must “do the right thing” on same-sex marriage as Bill is blocked

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has called on the Government to “do the right thing” and allow MPs a vote on allowing same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland following two Tory MPs blocking the Same-Sex Marriage (Northern Ireland) Bill from progressing in the House of Commons today.

Liberal Democrat MP, and co-sponsor of the Same-Sex Marriage (Northern Ireland) Bill, Layla Moran said:

It is shocking that one of the Tory Government’s own MPs has blocked this Bill going forward. It flies in the face of a large majority of the Northern Irish public and politicians who support same-sex marriage.

Liberal Democrats demand better. Every couple in all parts of the United Kingdom, no matter where they live or who they love, deserve the right to get married.

Following the successful campaign to change guidelines to make sure human rights in Northern Ireland are respected by the Government, Ministers must act. They must stand up to the DUP, do the right thing and allow MPs a vote on allowing same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

GOVERNMENT IGNORING CLIMATE CHANGE THREAT TO HOMES. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE 26th OCTOBER

Government ignoring climate change threat to homes

Responding to the Committee on Climate Change report ‘Managing the coast in a changing climate’, former Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said:

This alarming report shows how climate change can and is already affecting the lives of millions – with huge numbers of homes at risk of flooding.

The costs of climate change damage will only get greater if we don’t act faster. Yet the Government is now on a “go slow” path to tackling climate change – when Liberal Democrats had put us in the fast lane.

Just last week the Government asked the Committee on Climate Change for advice on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, moving towards net-zero emissions. But they told the Committee not to offer any advice on the existing targets for ten years.

This is deeply worrying. They’re trying to kick the can down the road not realising that climate change is here now. Liberal Democrats demand better.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT IS CAUSING UNACCEPTABLE HARDSHIP. LIB DEM PRESS RELEASE 26th OCTOBER

Universal Credit causing unacceptable hardship

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has slammed the Conservative Government for refusing to listen to problems experienced by those on Universal Credit as the Public Accounts Committee urges Ministers to make fundamental changes to the scheme.

The Public Accounts Committee has today (26th October) published its report into the implementation of Universal Credit. The committee concludes that:

  • The DWP’s dismissive attitude to real-world experience is failing claimants
  • The recent announcement of delayed roll-out is not a solution
  • The Government must work with third-party organisations to shape programme

Liberal Democrat MP and Public Accounts Committee member, Layla Moran said:

Day in and day out I hear stories of payment delays, penalties and technical failures leading to hardship and mental health problems. But instead of listening to constructive criticism, the Conservatives attempt to force through Universal Credit without reform is creating a new poll tax.

This damming report proves what many of us suspected, and the Liberal Democrats demand better. The billions of pounds of funding that were cut from Universal Credit in 2015 must urgently be restored so that people get the support they need.

BENEFITS OF EU MEMBERSHIP

BENIFITS OF EU MEMBERSHIP

THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO THE UK FROM ITS MEMBERSHIP OF THE EU, THESE INCLUDE

IT GIVES YOU THE FREEDOM TO LIVE, WORK OR RETIRE ANYWHERE IN EUROPE

The only requirement is that you register in the host country, have enough money to sustain yourself and have comprehensive health insurance.

UK nationals can retire anywhere in Europe and still receive their UK pension, providing they are registered there.

 

IT SUSTAINS MILLIONS OF JOBS

3.5 Million British jobs are linked to exports to the EU

EU subsidies support British agriculture

 

YOUR HOLIDAY IS MUCH EASIER AND SAFER

You are entitled to free healthcare anywhere in the EU

Your plane from the UK can fly anywhere in the EU without restriction

Your journey is protected by EU wide consumer rights

Outside the EU you are entitled to consular protection from any EU Embassy

 

IT MEANS YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET RIPPED OFF

You have equal consumer rights on any purchase in Europe

EU consumer protection is far stricter than most countries, in particular the USA

Cost of Roaming charges restricted

 

IT OFFERS GREATER PROTECTION FROM TERRORISTS, PAEDOPHILES,

PEOPLE TRAFFICKERS AND CYBER CRIME.

Cross country co-operation in the fight against crime

Crime knows no country boundaries, nor must the policing

 

OUR BUSINESSES DEPEND ON IT

We are part of the worlds biggest economy, 45% of all exports and 53% of imports are with the EU.

Manufacturing companies’ source parts from all over the EU, with an uninterrupted supply line.

City of London is a major financial centre for the EU.

Many industries, e.g. car, medical supplies, nuclear, are dependent on joint working across the EU

We have ease of access to high skilled workers, e.g. NHS, and low skill, e.g. fruit picking.

 

WE HAVE GREATER INFLUENCE

A mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

That means remaining in the EU

IT IMPROVES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Global warming knows no boundaries, and it is essential we work closely with our neighbours.

NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE DEAL DEPENDS ON EU FREE MOVEMENT

The NI Peace Accord was negotiated under EU rules, and assumes free movement across the border

 

 

SUPPORT THE PEOPLES VOTE – EXIT FROM BREXIT