15 Most Recent Stories From British Liberal Democrat News

Thu 28th Aug 2008:

Scott joins crowds to cheer Olympic heroes.

Tavish Scott MSP, the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, joined the crowds on the Royal Mile to congratulate Scotland’s Olympic heroes.

Titan prisons will leave prisoners rootless and unskilled - Lord Thomas.

Commenting on today’s [Thursday] Prison Reform Trust report which criticises Titan prisons, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, Lord (Martin) Thomas said: "It is inevitable that prisoners in huge jails far from home will lose touch with their families and friends and end up leaving prison rootless and unskilled. "The more prisoners there are, the more ex-convicts you will end up managing. This country’s very high reconviction rate shows that prisons are currently failing to rehabilitate convicts, while often destroying families and jobs."

Welfare system under strain as workless households rise - Willott.

Commenting on today’s ONS statistics which reveal the number of working households has dropped while the number of out of work single parents has risen in the last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott said:"These figures paint a sobering picture of the mounting unemployment problem that will put extreme pressure on our welfare system. "The number of working households has slumped for the first time under this Government and the number where at least one adult is out of work is at a ten year high. "We need a simple, fair and effective welfare system that provides tailored support to help people get back into work. But the Government’s new welfare reform proposals could stifle the innovation and flexibility needed to achieve this."What’s more, these proposals do little to reduce complexities of the benefit and tax credit systems which leave millions missing out on the support they are entitled to."

Stamp duty indecision has caused worst of all possible worlds - Cable.

Commenting on today’s moveme.com survey which shows that 80% of homebuyers are putting back their moving date in case the Government introduces a stamp duty holiday, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "The Government has created the worst of all possible worlds. "Not only is a stamp duty holiday a ridiculous policy, amounting to little more than a bribe to push first time buyers into a falling market, but the uncertainty created is causing the already slowing housing market to grind to a complete halt. "In these difficult times we need a Government which will provide strong leadership. Instead all we get is hopeless indecision. "Ministers should concentrate on helping the many thousands of families on the brink of repossession, rather than pursuing expensive crackpot schemes to prop up the housing market."

NHS racks up surpluses while key services are starved of cash - Lamb.

Commenting on this year’s predicted £1.75bn NHS surplus, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: "This forecast surplus begs the question whether taxpayers’ money is being used effectively. "What evidence is there that trusts are using their surpluses to prepare for fluctuations in demand and investment in new services? Is this the NHS preparing for a period of slower growth in funding? Or is this individual trusts building up a surplus so that they can survive in a more competitive environment? "While the NHS is racking up a billion pound surplus, many areas of patient care are being starved of cash. Public health, alcohol treatment services and mental health are simply not getting the money they need. "Several reports have shown that the current funding system risks damaging quality in the NHS but has done nothing to improve efficiency. Ministers should focus on sorting this out rather than patting themselves on the back for allowing the NHS to bank more and more cash."

Disappointing SATs results show progress has stalled - Laws.

Commenting on today’s publication of the Key Stage One SATs results, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary, David Laws said: "It is shameful that more than one in five boys still don’t have a good grasp of the most basic reading and writing skills at the age of seven. "Progress in tackling the problem of poor literacy and numeracy amongst our youngest children has stalled. "Children who don’t master basic skills at an early age risk falling even further behind in primary and secondary school. "There must be a much greater focus on early identification of these problems and more one-to-one support for children with basic literacy and numeracy problems. "Last year’s figures show that that the link between poverty and under achievement is already evident at this early age. They confirm the need for the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium to target extra money at disadvantaged pupils."

Network rail cost-cutting turning journeys into marathons - Baker.

Commenting on today’s Office of Rail Regulation report, which calls for Network Rail to dramatically reduce disruption for passengers, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "This damning report shows that Network Rail’s attempts at cost-cutting have turned a fifth of all weekend journeys into a marathon of cancelled trains, delays and rail replacement buses for many passengers. "Whatever happened to the 24-hour railway promised by ministers? Network Rail must get its priorities straight and ensure that, where possible, routes are kept open while repairs and improvements are being made. "If people are to be persuaded out of their cars and onto the railways, Network Rail must put passengers first."

Labour has failed to tackle shocking health inequality - Lamb.

Commenting on today’s World Health Organisation (WHO) report that reveals the shocking health inequalities across the UK, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: "The stark truth is that after 11 years in government, Labour has failed to tackle the deep disadvantage that scars much of our country and results in growing inequalities in health. "The WHO makes it clear that while healthcare has improved, it is the rich who are reaping the benefits. "It is shocking and disgraceful that this contrast can exist in modern Britain. "For the past decade, this Government has achieved little more than broken promises on reducing health inequality. Too much vital investment has been wasted on top-down bureaucracy. "Widening health inequalities will be Labour’s most shameful NHS legacy."

Nationwide figures highlight seriousness of housing crash - Cable.

Commenting on today's Nationwide figures showing that house prices have fallen by 10.5% since last August, the first double-digit fall since 1990, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "House prices are no longer simply falling, they are crashing. "Compared with other forecasters, Nationwide is usually conservative in its predictions of house price falls. So when it tells us there is a big fall, we know something very serious is happening. "All the signs are that we are at the beginning, and not the end, of a very painful process. "With this big drop in house prices, it is likely that around 300,000 people are already in negative equity. If this continues over the next year this number will quadruple. "Negative equity is a particular problem for the growing number of families who find themselves in serious danger of repossession because they are no longer able to make ends meet. "Rather than dithering over crackpot schemes to prop up the housing market, the Government must act to help the many thousands in danger of losing their homes. "The Liberal Democrats have set out plans to rebuild Britain’s seriously depleted stock of social housing and stop a flood of repossessions by helping families in arrears stay in their homes."

Rise in superbug deaths horrifying - Lamb.

Commenting on today’s ONS statistics that reveal the number of deaths involving the superbug C diff in England and Wales rose by 28% between 2006-7, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: "These are horrifying statistics. "The truth is that these could be avoidable deaths. Many hospitals are winning the battle against superbugs, but the Government’s action on this is too little too late in the face of the dreadful death toll. "There must be zero tolerance of low hygiene standards in hospitals. Poor performance can be a matter of life and death for patients, and sorting this out should be ministers’ top priority."

Government must encourage participation in all sports - Brake.

Commenting ahead of the Government’s announcement on the funding of school sports tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Olympic Spokesperson, Tom Brake said: "An even bigger medal tally in London 2012 and a healthier nation will only be achieved by increasing participation in all sports. "The Government must boost links between sports clubs and schools to increase the range of sports on offer and reduce the drop-out rate. "Ministers should consider cutting the cost of junior membership of sports clubs through gift aid and plug the loopholes which still allow the sale of playing fields."

Child database should be scrapped not delayed - Laws.

The Liberal Democrats today repeated their call for the Government database containing details on every child in the UK to be scrapped. This follows the news that the ContactPoint database will delayed because of technical issues. Information about every child including their names, addresses, details of their parents or guardians and each government service they use, are to be added to the ContactPoint database. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary, David Laws said: "Instead of delaying the launch of the database, this intrusive project must be scrapped altogether. "A recent independent review has already undermined all of the Government’s assurances that the database will be secure. The discovery of further technical issues does not bode well for the future. "The Government has proven itself untrustworthy with large databases containing sensitive data. Parents have every right to demand that their children’s personal details are not put at risk."

Ministers must address Army's recruitment and retention crisis - Harvey.

Commenting on the MoD’s latest manning figures published today, which show a decline of 1000 in the total strength of trained and untrained UK regulars serving in the Army over the last quarter, as well as a 5000-person deficit compared to requirements, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said: "These figures further illustrate the terrible strain on our soldiers caused by fighting simultaneously on two fronts. "Instead of trying to spin the strength of our armed services, the MoD should be taking real action to address the hardships faced by our troops. "We are facing a recruitment and retention crisis in the regular Army. For too long the Army has been struggling with a 5000-person deficit. Ministers must act to address equipment shortages abroad and substandard accommodation at home. "Our troops also need the certainty that a timetable for phased withdrawal from Iraq will bring them. Any other course of action risks jeopardising the vital work they are doing in Afghanistan."

Walking becoming a minority pursuit - Baker.

Commenting on DfT statistics that show car ownership is increasing while fewer people are walking long distances, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "With services being taken away from villages and town centres and local public transport often poor and unreliable, the car is becoming a necessity rather than a choice in many rural areas. "Unless our streets and town centres are designed for the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, rather than motorists, walking to the shops, work or school may become a minority pursuit. "Ministers need to discourage those car journeys where there is a viable alternative, while not penalising those with no other option. "This is why the Liberal Democrats have advocated investing in public transport and introducing revenue neutral motorway and trunk road pricing. This will save rural drivers money but cost more for people who drive on long inter-city routes where there is a decent rail alternative."

Wed 27th Aug 2008:

Scottish Lib Dems elect Scott.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have elected Tavish Scott as their new leader.

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