20 Most Recent Stories From Liberal Democrats : All News Feed

Tue 29th Jul 2008:

Video: Nick Clegg's summer message.

Nick Clegg has recorded a summer message for Liberal Democrat members and supporters. In it he talks about the problems facing Labour, how the Liberal Democrats would help families with the rising cost of living, and the party's plans for the autumn. You can watch a subtitled version of the video on Overstream. 

Thu 17th Jul 2008:

Nick Clegg launches 'Make It Happen'.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today launched the party’s Make it Happen document, which is a statement of the party’s vision and values. ‘Make it Happen’ sets out in clear language the party’s position on important issues such as the economy, taxation and the health service.You can read Make it Happen here.

Thu 7th Aug 2008:

Liberal Democrats outline youth crime proposals.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne, today accused both Labour and the Conservatives of ‘falling over each other to be tough on crime’ as he promoted his party’s new plans for stopping young people from committing crimes.The ideas outlined in the document A Life Away From Crime also highlight how to stop children who have been found guilty of minor offences from committing more serious crimes.The main proposals include: Making young people pay back the damage caused to communities without involving the criminal justice system The formation of a Youth Volunteer Force to engage young people in activities that benefit local people Running nationwide restorative justice programmes, with a particular emphasis on early intervention in schools and care homes Creating a dedicated PCSO youth officer in every area to work with teenagers most at risk of offending Targeting guns and knives through intelligence-led stop and search, hot-spot policing and action in schools Chris Huhne said:"If we want to tackle the problem of youth crime, we need to take action early to stop kids from embarking on a life of crime before it’s too late. "The old parties are falling over each other trying to be tough on crime, but nothing is being done do stop young people getting sucked in to a cycle of crime."Ministers know that programmes to divert kids away from crime work, and are even happy to promote such projects. However, they have failed to fund them properly in favour of punitive policies that grab headlines but achieve little."It is time for a new approach to youth justice which both prevents crime and confronts young people with their actions if they do break the law." To read the paper click here.

Wed 20th Aug 2008:

Road pricing scheme could leave motorists paying twice over - Baker.

Commenting on Government proposals to introduce trial road pricing schemes, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "There is a real danger that motorists will end up paying their road tax twice over if road pricing is introduced without scrapping Vehicle Excise Duty. "Motorway and trunk road pricing is the way forward but only if it replaces other taxes. Otherwise it will become another green tax that the Government has given a bad name to. Green taxes must not be stealth taxes. "Given the fiasco caused by ministers’ decision to hike up car tax retrospectively, motorists will have no confidence that the Government is trying to do anything other than squeeze more money out of them."

Absurd to financially penalise schools for poor results - Laws.

Commenting on reports that specialist schools failing to reach the Government’s GCSE pass rate benchmark could be stripped of additional funding, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary, David Laws said: "It would be absurd for the Government to financially penalise schools with lower results. These schools are often the ones in the most challenging catchment areas. "There is a strong case for funding all schools at the specialist status level and then providing additional top-ups on the basis of deprivation."

Tory silence over harassment campaign unacceptable - Davey.

The Liberal Democrats today condemned David Cameron’s failure to probe the Watford Conservative Party following the local parliamentary candidate’s sustained campaign of harassment and criminal damage against his Liberal Democrat rivals. Liberal Democrat Chair of Campaigns and Communications, Edward Davey wrote to Mr Cameron to demand action following Ian Oakley’s guilty pleas on August 5, but the Tory leader has done nothing. In a second letter to Mr Cameron today, Edward Davey said: "I deeply regret that a fortnight later you have failed to act in this matter or to apologise for the severe distress that this disgraceful campaign has caused. "It is simply unacceptable for the Conservative Party to fail to address the very serious matters that have been raised as a result of this case. "I trust that you will now act to rectify this shameful situation with a due sense of urgency."

BAA should be forced to sell two London airports - Leech.

Commenting ahead of tomorrow’s Competition Commission preliminary report, which is expected to recommend a break-up of BAA’s near monopoly on London airports, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, John Leech said: "Passengers who experienced the Terminal 5 chaos will understand why Heathrow has been called a ‘national embarrassment’. "The Competition Commission has an opportunity to end this near monopoly and create a better experience for passengers. "BAA should be forced to sell two of its London airports. Passenger interests are too often being pushed aside for profits and high retail rents. The current situation is helping no-one."

Government must help those facing repossession - Cable.

Commenting on warnings from the British Chambers of Commerce that the UK could face recession in the next six to nine months, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "Last week we had official statistics confirming that unemployment was rising. This week we have confirmation from the BCC that the reality is one of serious economic difficulties, with growing evidence of rising unemployment. "Rising unemployment is not just a disaster in itself. Since the mid 1990s, claimants have been unable to get help with mortgage payments until they’ve been unable to work for nine months. This means many of those out of work will face the threat of repossession. "The Government must intervene to stop mortgage lenders moving quickly through the courts to force people out of their homes. "The spectre of two million unemployed is worrying enough, but there is a hidden army of people who want to work but are not officially unemployed. Many have retired prematurely, are looking after children or acting as carers and are finding it increasingly difficult to get work."

NATO split between neo-Conservatives and realists - Davey.

Commenting on the outcome of talks between NATO foreign ministers on the crisis in Georgia, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "It’s clear that NATO ministers couldn’t agree, and that’s why their communiqu is so vague. "Britain seems, as always, to be following Washington’s line, but other countries seem more realistic about what is achievable. "There is a real danger that NATO becomes split between neo-conservative-inclined nations like Britain and the US, and more pragmatic countries like France and Germany. "The best way to stare down Russia is for NATO and the EU to remain united on everything from defence through to energy and trade. It’s a great shame that in this critical debate Britain’s voice is discounted as just a mere echo of Washington’s."

Cameron's posturing on Georgia simply not credible - Davey.

Commenting on reports that Conservative Leader David Cameron is travelling to Georgia following his calls for NATO to speed up it’s application for membership, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: “David Cameron is right to criticise Russia but wrong to promise Georgia early NATO membership. “It is simply not credible for Britain and NATO to make confetti commitments to protect every nation with the lives of our service men and women.  When David Cameron matches his tough talk on expanding NATO more quickly with a pledge to double defence spending or introduce military conscription perhaps then we could take him seriously. “Posturing and photo opportunities are one thing, serious statesmanship when Britain’s armed forces are already overstretched is quite another.”  

Emergency loans rise highlights poverty crisis - Willott.

Crisis loans, which are reserved for the poorest families to meet their expenses in an emergency, have risen by 82% in some regions since 2007 figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats have shown. The figures, revealed in a Parliamentary Answer show that there has been an overall increase of 44% across England in the number of loans paid out to families across the country. However, despite demand being higher than ever, the Social Fund is besieged by administrative problems; high incidence of staff error, massive delays in processing applications and staff cuts at a time when they have to deal with increasing demand. The research revealed that: · The number of people receiving Crisis Loans from the Social Fund has risen by 44% to 1.2m · In the same period, the number of staff working on processing applications has been cut by 10% · Jobcentre Plus officials made the wrong decision on 57% of cases reviewed by social fund inspectors last year, affecting over 5000 families A regional breakdown is attached. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott said: "It is getting harder and harder for families to make ends meet. It is disgraceful that they have to rely on crisis loans to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. "It beggars belief that ministers are cutting staff while applications soar. Bad decisions by overworked officials could be the difference between eating and not eating for some families. "When times are as tough as they are, the Government should cut taxes for poor families and tighten the safety net to make sure that people are not waiting weeks for desperately needed cash."

Two thirds of hospitals missed MRSA targets - Lamb.

Almost two thirds of hospital trusts failed to meet the target to halve the number of MRSA cases, despite Government claims to have tackled the problem, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. Although the Government claimed to have virtually halved the rate of MRSA in hospitals by April 2008, figures show that its targets to fight the superbug were not met in 64% of hospital trusts. In addition, MRSA rates have actually increased in one in seven hospitals. Analysis of Government figures shows that out of 170 NHS trusts: · 64% (109 trusts) did not meet the target of halving the number of MRSA cases compared to 2003-04 · 11% (18 trusts) saw the number of cases rise in the past four years · 14% (23 trusts) saw their rate of MRSA cases rise Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: "Now the deadline for its own MRSA target has passed, the Government might think the pressure is off. But it’s not off for the NHS. "These figures show that ministers’ claims of success in the fight against superbugs were premature. "In recent years the NHS has become so used to having commands shouted down to it from Ministers that there is a risk that the sudden lack of interest leads to a let up in the fight against MRSA. This must not happen. "The vast majority of NHS trusts have achieved real improvements in infection rates over the last few years and they deserve praise for that. However, this only highlights the fact that ministers have failed to implement best practice, and makes it all the more unacceptable when poor management or poor practices result in high infection rates."

Musharraf's resignation fresh opportunity for democracy - Davey.

Commenting on the resignation of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "Musharraf’s resignation provides a fresh opportunity for the Government to ramp up efforts to tackle Pakistan’s massive economic and security challenges. "Whether it’s curbing inflation or ensuring the army and security forces are properly accountable, tough decisions must not be ducked. "Musharraf’s rule set back democratic progress in Pakistan. Its properly elected politicians must now be given the space, free from interference from the military, to restore good governance in the country."

Fri 15th Aug 2008:

Chris Sims right to criticise centralised police targets - Huhne.

Commenting on criticisms by the Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, Chris Sims, of centralised targets, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "The Chief Constable is spot on about the ludicrous results of national targets, that fail to take account of local needs and priorities. "It is local people who should hold police to account for delivering local priorities."

New website further evidence of slumping police morale - Huhne.

Commenting on the news that a website has been set up to help police officers get second jobs, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "This is another example of the unintended results and slumping morale caused by ministers’ foolhardy refusal to honour the independent pay award. "Police have particular constraints on what they can do compared with the rest of us as they are not allowed to strike, and have to get permission before undertaking another job in their spare time. In exchange, ministers should keep their promises."

ETS must not receive a penny for marking fiasco - Brooke.

Commenting on the announcement that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has ended its contract with ETS to mark future SATs papers, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, Annette Brooke said: "ETS demonstrated pure incompetence when it came to marking this year’s SATs. "Many children are still waiting for their results, which are now nearly six weeks late. "Ministers must confirm that ETS will not receive a penny for this year’s fiasco. "I hope that instead of finding another company to mark future Key Stage 3 papers, the Government will now scrap these expensive and unnecessary tests altogether."

Alarming drugs figures reveal wasted generation - Gidley.

Commenting on figures revealed today showing the number of under-16s admitted to hospital due to illegal drugs has risen by almost half in a decade, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley said: "These alarming figures reveal a wasted generation. How many more lives will be lost before the Government takes effective action? "As a society we can’t go on seeing so many young lives wasted. We need better education and more powers to tackle the dealers who profit from this human misery. "It is also important that those who want to turn around their lives should receive help in a timely fashion. The current system is tinkering around the edges of the problem."

Britain heading for repossession crisis - Cable.

Commenting on the 24% rise in repossession orders in the past year announced today by the Government, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "These figures confirm the very worrying trend on actual repossessions which were published last week. "The level of growth of repossession orders suggests that we are on track for a repossession crisis very similar to the early 1990s. "It is absolutely vital that the Government should intervene and require a proper code of conduct to be implemented by mortgage lenders. This should not just apply to the big banks but to the large number of secondary lenders who are using court action to pursue their debts in a very aggressive way. "The Council for Mortgage Lenders code of conduct should be put on a statutory footing for all repossession actions."

Iraq troops need decisions not hints - Davey.

Commenting on claims by senior defence sources that that the majority of British troops will be withdrawn from Iraq next year, which come as the outgoing British commander in Basra hints at large reductions in troops, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "British troops and their families must be fed up of the series of nods and winks on withdrawal which often turn out to have no substance. "Our forces’ lives are on the line, and it is about time that the Government gave them some definite decisions, rather than vague hopes. "Even if this latest hint turns out to be true, the timescale seems far too slow. Our troops should be home from Iraq by Christmas at the very latest. "It must be immensely frustrating for our service men and women on the ground in Iraq to know they are there more as political cover for the Brown-Bush relationship than to provide any real help to the Iraqi people."

Thu 14th Aug 2008:

Eurozone figures increase likelihood of British recession - Cable.

Commenting on the news that the Eurozone experienced negative growth in the second quarter, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "These figures increase the likelihood that Britain’s slow growth will turn into recession, since the Eurozone is our biggest trading partner. "With the US, Britain and Europe all in deep economic trouble, the danger is that they start to drag each other down. "The only positive is that the slowdown in the western world is taking pressure off oil prices, which will make recovery easier if it is sustained."

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