Members update: Summer Barbecue, Members Meeting, PPCs Selection and Congratulations!

Bury Liberal Democrats Annual Summer Barbecue

Our Annual Summer Barbecue is this Sunday (31 August) at Donal and Joanne O’Hanlon’s home, 15 Lowther Close, Prestwich M25 9LN from 4.00-7.00pm.

Come and join us on in a friendly and informal barbecue and catch up with friends old and new. All welcome – friends, family etc! Tickets for the food are £5 per person (children free). Any donations of drink or raffle prizes welcome. If you can let Donal know that you are coming that would be helpful so we know how much to put on the grill! donal@burylibdems.net or 07897 360130

Parliamentary candidates selection and Members meeting

Just a quick reminder as well that the selection of Parliamentary Candidates for Bury North and Bury South is on Monday 29 September 2014 at 7.00pm Venue TBC (details nearer the time). Our next members meeting is an important meeting as we will be selecting our Parliamentary Candidates for the 2015 General Election for both Bury North and Bury South constituencies. The meeting will also be an opportunity to update members on our current campaigns and strategy for the elections in 2015. The meeting is only open to members of the Liberal Democrats – but if you’re not a member and would like to be then you can join for as little as £1 a month (50p a month for people on benefits and £1 a year for young people/students). Join online at libdems.org.uk or on the night.

Congratulations to Richard and Tamsin!
Just to let everyone know that our former Councillor Richard Baum and his wife Tamsin have just had a second baby daughter. Bonnie Abigail Thomson born on 21 August 2014. Congratulations to Richard and Tam from all of us in Bury!

Protecting the NHS budget

Liberal Democrats will protect the National Health Service budget in the next Parliament.

Under plans announced in the party’s manifesto, NHS spending will rise by at least the rate of inflation over the next Parliament.

As well as protecting the NHS budget, Liberal Democrats will also pool health and social care budgets. This would help make care more tailored towards individual patients and reduce inefficiencies.

This follows the announcement of a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment to establish a mental health research fund worth £50m per year by 2020.

Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb said:

“The NHS was a Liberal idea and we are proud to be committed to protecting funding over the next Parliament.

“In this parliament the Government has had to make difficult decisions to cut the deficit and build a stronger economy. We have protected the NHS and Liberal Democrats will continue to protect the NHS budget from cuts in the next parliament.

“We are clear that a crucial part of building a fairer society, where there is opportunity for everyone, is ensuring that once the deficit is eliminated public services are protected.

“Labour have said that this is irresponsible, and in Wales they have cut the NHS budget by 8%. They are wrong and will be judged on this record.”

Tripling the early years pupil premium

Liberal Democrats will more than triple the early years pupil premium to £1000 per child under manifesto plans announced today by Schools Minister David Laws.

The early years pupil premium was introduced in March 2014 and is currently worth £300 for every disadvantaged child.

Liberal Democrats want to extend this to £1000, helping to ensure that every child has got a fair start in life and is ready to learn when they start school.

This increase will benefit more than 170,000 disadvantaged children from 2015-16.

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws said:

“Liberal Democrats have delivered huge amounts for the early years in our time in Government. We have given extra free hours of early years education to all three year olds, and introduced free early years education to two year olds from the most hard pressed homes. We have introduced new Early Years Teachers, and we vetoed Tory plans that would have meant adults looking after up to six two year olds at the same time.

“By committing this extra money to help the youngest disadvantaged children in society, we will ensure that they get the best possible start in life and have an opportunity to get on.

“Investing in early years is one of the best ways to build the fairer society that Liberal Democrats want to see and we are ambitious about delivering for future generations. This extra investment will mean a huge amount of support for the people who need it most and demonstrates our strong commitment to education.”