Lib Dems call for fair funding for Mental Health Services

The Lib Dem’s shadow Health Spokesperson has called for fair funding for mental health services following research that showed that mental health trusts continue to be under significant pressure, including a rise in the number of unexpected deaths and suicide.

Norman Lamb MP

The figures from NHS England were unearthed after an FOI request from the Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Norman Lamb, and cover serious incidents reported between 2012-2013 and 2014-2015.

Health spokesperson Norman Lamb said:

“The Clinical Commissioning groups should be equally focussed on mental health as well as physical health.

“At the moment whenever they feel under pressure to cut budgets, it’s the unprotected mental health services that get sliced.

“Year after year the problem occurs, and year after year the problem gets worse.

“This cannot continue any longer. People are literally dying as a result of the horrific under funding. People are losing their lives as a consequence of the institutional discrimination of mental health.

“The way that funding gets allocated to mental health always means that it loses out.”

Lib Dems say: Stop the ‘Love Tax’

Liberal Democrats are rallying to stop plans aimed at penalising up to one million single parents who move in with a new partner.

The party has said changes to Universal Credit – dubbed the ‘Love Tax’ – could affect up to a million low income working single parents.

It comes weeks after the Conservative government was dashed in its attempts to cut tax credits for families.

The IFS has said latest planned cuts would mean a single parent could be lose out by around £1,000 a year.

Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords have launched a bid, due be debated on Wednesday, to scrap the cuts to Universal Credit.

LONDON - MARCH 05: Liberal Democrat MP for West Morland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron looks on whilst posing for media on March 5, 2008 in London, England. A number of Liberal Democrat Leaders are preparing to defy the order to abstain in the vote on whether there should be a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

 (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

The party’s leader Tim Farron said:  “The Conservatives claim they want to support two parent families, yet their pillaging of Universal Credit will mean that people single parents who find a new partner will actually be penalised.

“It is tantamount to a Love Tax. Imagine being a single parent, working on a low income, then finally finding happiness with someone and realising you’re going to lose over £1,000-a-year as a result.

“We stopped the original attack on tax credits and we will stop this. The Government should not use this as an excuse to cut their support.

“That is why they must rethink these brutal cuts to Universal Credit.”