The local Lib Dems are hoding their annual summer BBQ this Sunday (21 August 2106), kindly hosted this year by Cllr Mary, and Vic D’Albert. 2.00pm onwards.
The guest speaker is Baroness Pinnock of Cleckheaton, Lib Dem Lords Spokesperson on Children and Families. Friends, supporters, members all welcome to this informal and friendly event.
The BBQ is £10 per person (£4 children) which includes all food. Tickets available here.
The Liberal Democrats in Bury have chosen candidates in case Prime Minister Teresa May call’s an early general election.
Lib Dem Group Leader in Bury Cllr Tim Pickstone said:
“Under normal circumstances the next General Election will be in 2020, but given the very significant changes following the EU Referendum, and the chaos in some other political parties, there is always a chance that the PM will seek a fresh mandate.
Other parties like Labour and Ukip are distracted with their own leadership elections and providing no real opposition to the Government. We are determined to be ready should an early General Election happen.”
In Bury North, former Councillor Richard Baum has been chosen as our candidate. Richard, who works for the NHS, was a Councillor representing St Mary’s Ward from 2007 to 2011 and contested Bury North in 2015
In Bury South, our candidate will be Andrew Page, a photographer working across the North West who has previously worked in the NHS for 16 years and has been particularly involved in campaigning on health issues.
Candidates will remain in place until next spring. If the General Election is taking place as normal in 2020 then we will be selecting candidates again nearer the time.
Plastic bag use has plummeted in England since the introduction of a 5p charge last year, under the previous coalition government.
The number of single-use plastic bags used by shoppers in England has fallen by more than 85%. More than 7bn bags were handed out by seven main supermarkets in the year before the charge but this has been reduced to just over 500m in the first six months after the charge has been introduced.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:
We always said the test of this policy would be by the amounts of bags that are cut from public consumption and the funds raised for charities – on both these tests this policy has passed.
I want to pay tribute to (Baroness) Kate Parminter who fought tirelessly for this policy and today’s figures are a testament to her. It is down to Liberal Democrats in Government that this policy happened – we announced it at our 2013 conference and we are now seeing what a huge impact it has had.
The facts are simple; single use bags blight our towns and countryside, they trap and suffocate wildlife, and plastic bags take hundreds of years to degrade. These figures show that this policy is starting to stop that.
In Bury the Liberal Democrats worked hard to get the Council to be more proactive in ensuring that the money raised by the sales of 5p bags would end up in local charities such as this scheme which distributes the money raised at Tesco from bag sales.
Earlier in the month was the regular meeting of Bury’s ‘Full Council’. This is the full meeting of all 51 councillors which meets five or six times a year. The meeting was a very busy agenda with important debates on Fracking, the EU Referendum and on Hate Crime.
Fracking
The Government last year released ‘licenses’ to private shale gas companies for potential exploration for future fracking sites. These licenses cover much of Bury.
As a planning authority, Bury Council cannot ‘pre-judge’ any future planning applications for fracking, so it would be impossible for councillors to vote against any fracking in Bury. What we did do is take a firm stance on the issue by saying that the Council would not allow fracking on any Council owned land in the borough.
Liberal Democrats are opposed to fracking. We don’t believe its proven as safe, we don’t believe it is what we want to happen to our countryside and we don’t believe it is a sensible future source of energy needs (i.e. it is not renewable). We voted to support the proposal which was then agreed.
EU Referendum
The Council debated the outcome of the EU referendum, and its potential impact on Bury residents. Obviously at this stage it is not clear what the full impact of the referendum vote will be, but some very early impacts have been on the currency, on the job market and investment – all of which will have an impact on local people.
As Liberal Democrats we were very clear that our Party campaigned for a ‘Remain’ vote, and we haven’t changed our opinion since and continue to believe that the country would be better off in the EU. We do obviously respect everyone’s vote in the referendum, whichever way they voted, and want to support local people through whatever changes happen now.
Hate Crime
The Liberal Democrat group’s motion at the Council was on hate crime. As a country we have seen a very worrying increase in the reports of hate crime – for example this terrible incident in Prestwich only a few weeks ago – since the EU referendum campaign. We are particularly concerned of some of the language and racism used in the campaign by some people and the impact this has clearly had.
Our view is that we must take a firm stand against all hate crime, and the Council must do all it can to ensure that this sort of activity is not acceptable. Our motion was supported by all parties and is now the Council’s policy.
If you really want to you can even watch the debates online here.
Our contribution on the EU is at 2 hours 53 minutes, and on hate crime at 3 hours 13 minutes.
Questions
The Lib Dem group always ask our full quote of questions (nine in total), some of which we will be reporting on separately.
Tim Pickstone asked about the impact on the Government’s proposal to encourage all schools to be academies, and what leadership role the Council was taking to keep Bury’s schools as a close knit ‘family of schools’.
Steve Wright asked about whether there is going to be sufficient provision in the borough to deliver the Government’s commitment to 30 hours free childcare.
Mary D’Albert asked about the way that Metrolink communicates with passengers when there are significant delays on the network, particularly when the system is operating at maximum (or well over) capacity when there are major events on.
All the papers for the Council meeting are here. Any questions please let us know.
Prestwich Lib Dem Councillor Mary D’Albert has asked Bury Council to consider whether a permanent memorial to the late Victoria Wood would be appropriate in the Borough.
The much loved comedian, singer, writer, actor and director sadly died in April this year. She was born in Prestwich, brought up in Bury and was schooled at Fairfield County Primary and Bury Grammar School for Girls.
Mary D’Albert said: “Victoria Wood brought joy and laughter to so many people over so many years. I’m not sure if anyone one place can ‘claim’ Victoria’, but here in Prestwich and Bury we were particularly proud of her.”
“We have asked the Council to speak with Ms Wood’s family, to see whether some sort of permanent memorial might be appropriate. This might be name something in the local area, or an actual physical memorial or some sort. I am sure if needed the community would be happy to fundraise.”
“Obviously I’m biased to Prestwich, but we would need to speak with the family”
The Council Leader’s response was that he would be very happy to take on board the Councillor’s suggestion and ask the Chief Executive to report back to Members. Apparently early discussions have already taken place with the Arts and Culture officer to look at the possibilities for progressing this. This could include sponsorship or crowdfunding opportunities to enable her many fans to make a contribution.
Monday, 18 July 2016, will be the 10th anniversary of saving Prestwich Arts College (and Broad Oak High in Bury) from closure.
The proposals came from (the then Labour-run) Bury Council which had reviewed secondary school provision in the Borough and decided to reduce the number of schools. It was actually to reduce by three schools, as Coney Green and Radcliffe High merged to become Radcliffe Riverside at the same time.
In Prestwich there was a huge amount of opposition to the proposals. Prestwich Arts College (‘Prestwich High’ to many) was a school which was full, and one which was particularly good about getting extra forward progress for pupils across a wide range of ability. Prestwich residents were rightly concerned that there would be insufficient places for Prestwich children to attend a high school in Prestwich.
There was a great campaign to save the school, led by parents, governors, teachers and the whole school. The team of Lib Dem councillors in Prestwich were very proud to support the campaign and help as much as we could on the Council.
It is great that the school has gone on to prosper and achieve in the last 10 years, and continue to be a good school at the heart of Prestwich.
Liberal Democrats in Bury are giving a very clear message that there is no place for hate crime in our local community.
Regrettably, there has been a significant increase in hate crime reported to the police since the European Referendum result. Whatever our views on the referendum, we would hope all local people would join us in condemning violence and intimidation against people – for example people who are not from this country.
We are supporting Amnesty International campaign against hate and have submitted a motion for consideration by Council. We are hoping for all-Party Support and that this will become the policy of the Council:
Hate Crime and Tolerance
– This Council notes with concern the increase in hate crime (57% increase by 27 June 2016) following the outcome of the EU Referendum.
– Council restates that we are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country.
– Council condemns racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable.
– Council reassures all people living in Bury that they are valued members of our community.
– Council resolves to work to ensure local bodies and programmes as needed to fight and prevent racism and xenophobia.
Liberal Democrat Party Leader Tim Faron said:
“We must send the message that racist thugs cannot get away with intimidating any of the diverse communities of the UK. One of Britain’s great strengths is its mix of cultures, and despite the referendum result we must ensure that all citizens are made to feel safe.”
Report it!
If you do encounter or experience Hate Crime, it is very important that this is reported to the police (except in an emergency call 111). It is important that we know the true figure of crime so that the police can take action appropriately.
Last week Britain voted, by 52% to 48%, to leave the European Union. We are lucky enough to live in a democracy, and it is important to respect everyone’s votes, whichever way they were cast.
Naturally we respect the result of the referendum, but this does not mean that Liberal Democrats will stop believing in a future for Britain at the heart of Europe.
Leaving the EU will hit livelihoods, homes and jobs.
Sadly, we are already seeing that many of the things that were predicted by experts are coming true: the value of our currency has collapsed, the value of our pensions is decreasing, Scotland wanting to leave the UK, companies moving jobs from the UK.
Many people are upset that the ‘leave’ campaign is renouncing their promises on things like the NHS and immigration before the slogans have even been peeled off their battle bus. We feel that the British people were told lie after lie.
Lib Dems have always believed our economy and place in the world is stronger in Europe and it is only right that we offer that as a choice to people at the next general election – whenever that might be.
We are the only Party which is committed to Britain at the heart of Europe. Since the Referendum people have been joining the Liberal Democrats at the rate of 1 a minute – if you want to be one of them join us today.
In Thursday’s EU referendum everyone will have their own vote, and make their own decision. We wanted to share with you why the whole Lib Dem team across Prestwich and Bury are voting to Remain on Thursday.
Firstly, we’re voting with our heads.
Everyday realities like jobs, prices and pensions make a massive difference to all of our lives. Across the world economic prosperity can be a fragile thing, as this country has known through recessions, banking crisis and more.
But at the moment we’re lucky enough to be a core part of the word’s most successful trading club. As a result our businesses trade freely with our neighbours. Global companies choose Britain for their European factories, offices and headquarters.
We’re not all economists, but we should listen when the people who do know what they’re talking about (Bank of England, World Bank, International Monetary Fund) when they tell us very clearly that our economy will suffer massively if we leave the EU.
Last week, tens of £billions was wiped off the value of the UK stock market. Most of us don’t have stocks and shares, but most of us do have pensions – all our pensions (private, company, local authority) are invested in that same stock market and lost billions in value last week. That was just the fear of a leave vote, imagine how bad it would be if it actually happened.
Secondly, we’re voting with our hearts
Last year the country remembered the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war. A war where 60 million people were killed across the world. After that war a devastated Europe came together, working through new institutions like the EU to rebuild our countries and make sure that that never happened again.
It’s not been perfect, but it has worked. Western Europe has seen 70 years of peace and prosperity. After the fall of the Berlin Wall we were able to extend that peace and prosperity to our neighbours in central Europe.
We live in an increasingly dangerous world: terrorism, extremism, global warming and a massively growing global population.
When the history of the 21st century is written we want Britain to be in chapter 1, as a world leader at the heart of working together to solve these challenges, not a country that turns its back and ignores others.
With our heads and our hearts, we’re voting Remain on Thursday.
If you want to have your say at the EU Referendum, you must be registered to vote.The final deadline is 7 June 2016.
You can register to vote online anytime at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Anyone who was already registered to vote (or recently registered) before the 18 April deadline for the elections taking place across the UK on 5 May will also be registered to vote at the EU Referendum and will be able to cast their vote. You do not need to re-register.
If your circumstances change, for example you move home between now and the EU Referendum registration deadline on 7 June, then you will need to re-register at your new property.
If you’re going to be away, or just want to vote by post, the deadline to apply is 8 June 2016. Apply here.