Jo Swinson’s message for Pride 2017: Love Happens Here

Jo Swinson’s message for Pride 2017: Love Happens Here

Pride is a colourful, energetic celebration of freedom, love and acceptance. Each year I am amazed as thousands of people of all sexualities take to the streets in the name of freedom and equality.

I am proud to stand with the LGBT community in the continuous fight for a more open, tolerant and united society.

This year’s theme “Love Happens Here”, reminds us that we ought to celebrate love wherever we find it and defiantly oppose the forces of bigotry, hate and division.

This is an historic year, as it marks 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK and I’m thrilled that in that time we have managed to secure more LGBT rights – such as the introduction of same-sex marriage, championed by Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone.

Let us celebrate our triumphs and remind the word of the courage, strength and vibrancy of this incredible community.

Thank you to everyone that has made this year’s celebrations possible.

Prestwich and Bury Walk-In Centres to stay open till March 2018

Our two local NHS walk-in centres will remain open for at least eight more months. NHS Bury CCG has confirmed that the centres, at Prestwich and within Moorgate Primary Care Centre in Bury, will remain operational until at least March 31 2018.

The CCG says that: “The CCG remains committed to the redesign of urgent care services in Bury in order to ensure the best possible care for the GP registered population of Bury. We will communicate further updates on the next steps in this process following the release of further national and Greater Manchester guidance.”

The public consultation on the future of urgent care services in Bury was paused in March to allow for the release of further national guidance. Since then it has been confirmed that the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership is also considering the composition of urgent care services across Greater Manchester. Current indications are that it is likely to be September 2017 at the earliest before this further guidance is released.

The consultation will remain paused until the further guidance is received.

Earlier this year the Liberal Democrats collected a significant number of petition signatures, handed into the CCG before it considered the closure. Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign – this was the only petition received by the CCG.

Our view is that it is great that the centres get a reprive for another 8 months, but the fight to keep them open is far from over.

Full story Bury Times.

Standing Up for Public Sector Pay

Liberal Democrats MPs have supported plans to end the public sector pay cap in amendments on the Queens Speech being considered by Parliament. This follows a clear Manifesto Commitment to end the 1% pay cap by the Party.

After the Conservatives were elected as a majority government in 2015, then chancellor George Osborne said that he would continue with the 1% limit until 2020 as part of the government’s deficit reduction plan. Representatives of civil service employees have said that there was now “an emerging consensus that the 1% pay cap is damaging the capacity of our public services to respond to the challenges facing the UK – public services have seen their living standards cut by 15% or more since 2010 with further cuts still to come under current government plans”

Around a quarter of people in Bury work in the public sector (stats from 2011). Figures were announced this week that more midwives and nurses are leaving the profession in the UK than joining for the first time on record, with the number departing having risen by 51% in just four years. The figures, which will add to concerns about NHS staff shortages, show that 20% more people left the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register than joined it in 2016/17.

Vince Cable MP, who is hoping to be the Party’s next Leader said that “public sector workers faced a double blow under the Conservative government, with years of “pitiful” increases to pay combined with higher inflation”.

“Our NHS and schools are already struggling to recruit the staff they need. A better future is available. We will stand up for our schools and hospitals and give hard-working nurses, teachers and police the pay rise they deserve.”

 

Reporting Back: 10 Libraries to Close

Bury Council’s Cabinet met last week to consider the future of Bury’s 14 Libraries. The meeting was the end of a nearly year-long process to review the library provision across Bury.

The outcome is that TEN libraries will close. Ainsworth, Brandlesholme, Castle Leisure, Coronation Road, Dumers Lane, Moorside, Topping Fold, Tottington, Unsworth and Whitefield.

FOUR Libraries will stay open: Bury central library, Ramsbottom, Radcliffe and Prestwich. Radcliffe had been threatened with possible closure, but the conclusion of the review is that this should stay open.

Opposition Leaders are no longer allowed to vote on the Cabinet (we had our votes taken off us in May), but if we had been able to vote we would have voted against as we have at previous stages in the process.

We would be the first to agree that libraries are not for everyone. Changes in society have meant that the function libraries provided 40 years ago can be met in other ways for many people. But, for some other people, those needs are still there. Crucially libraries are also community spaces and we have precious few of these left. Age UK research shows at 1.6 million older people in the UK are chronically lonely (e.g. no contact at all with friends, neighbours or family in an average week). The outcome of Bury Council’s conclusion is that whole areas of Bury (e.g. Whitefield, Unsworth and Tottington) will have no library at all in their community.

Secondly, we believe Bury hasn’t done enough to see whether there are other ways of keeping places open using community groups and/or volunteers. Other places in the country haven’t closed a single library, by using volunteers and community groups to keep smaller libraries open (the books and the systems are already in place for the bigger libraries). Although the Council says that it is open to community groups coming forward to take on the 10 libraries that are open BUT we believe that the timescale now makes this highly unlikely in almost all cases (the 10 libraries will shut their doors in less than 3 months now).

Thirdly, we believe that the Council’s consultation process didn’t provide a real chance for people to say what they wanted for their local libraries. The first stage of the Library consultation asked people what they through of a number of ‘principles’ for libraries – it was difficult to disagree with any of them and not many people did! The second stage asked people whether then wanted to CLOSE 10 libraries, or close 11 libraries. Hardly much of a choice!

Lib Dems table amendment on Single Market to Queen’s Speech

Britain must stay in the Single Market to protect jobs

The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Queen’s Speech calling for Britain to stay the single market and customs union.

The party is now calling on both Labour and Conservative MPs to support the amendment and inflict a historic defeat on the government, forcing Theresa May to soften her extreme approach to Brexit.

An amendment to the Queen’s speech last year was accepted by the government after it received cross-party support.

Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake commented:

“We’ve already seen living standards fall and prices rise since last year’s Brexit vote.

“But this is nothing compared to the pain that would be caused by Theresa May’s extreme version of Brexit.

“Tearing up Britain’s membership of the world’s largest market would mean fewer jobs, higher prices in the shops and a long-term blow to our prosperity.

“We will not give up the fight to protect our economy by staying in the Single Market and Customs Union.

“I am urging all like-minded Labour and Conservative MPs to be on the right side of history and back this amendment.”

Success for Campaign to ban Letting Fees

Letting agents fees look set to be banned in this year Queen’s Speech following pressure from the Liberal Democrats.

The fees cost on average £223 per tenancy but under the new plans they will be banned and tenants will be given the opportunity to recover illegal fees imposed upon them.

Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, Olly Grender, who has led a campaign against the fees, said:

“I am absolutely delighted that the ban on letting fees set out in my Private Members’ Bill is now being proposed as law. It’s time we made them a much greater priority, including by introducing a public register of rogue landlords.

Government Drops Plans to Scrap Free School Lunches

Theresa May is expected to have dropped plans to scrap free school lunches for infant pupils from today’s Queen’s Speech.

It comes after the Liberal Democrats strongly criticised the Conservatives during the election campaign over the plans which would have deprived 1.7 million children of free school lunches, including 700,000 living in poverty.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Layla Moran said:

“I’m glad Theresa May has bowed to pressure and agreed not to scrap free school lunches.

“This is a victory for families across the country. Thousands of children living in poverty will now continue to receive a free nutritious meal a day.

“I am proud of the role the Liberal Democrats played in first introducing free school lunches and then protecting them from Theresa May.

“We will now fight to ensure the Conservatives rein back on their plans to extend grammars and reduce school funding.”

Liberal Democrats announce Shadow Cabinet

Tim Farron appoints new Shadow Cabinet team

After a hectic General Election, the Liberal Democrats nationally and here in Bury are ready to begin work as the opposition.

Liberal Democrats have announced a new Shadow Cabinet. The party which gained seats in the election now have 12 MPs in the House of Commons.

Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron said: “I am delighted to announce our new shadow cabinet team, which brings together a wealth of experience. The party has people with a range of skills from within government, business and the charity sector.

“Together we will provide the strong opposition Britain needs to stand up to this Conservative government.”

Leader – Tim Farron MP
President – Baroness Sal Brinton
Deputy Leader – Jo Swinson MP
Exiting the European Union; International Trade; First Secretary of State – Tom Brake MP
Chancellor – Vince Cable MP
Foreign Secretary – TBD
Home Secretary – Ed Davey MP
Health Secretary – Norman Lamb MP
Education Secretary; Young People – Layla Moran MP
Communities and Local Government; Refugees – Wera Hobhouse MP
Culture, Media and Sport – Christine Jardine MP
Work and Pensions – Stephen Lloyd MP
Scotland – Jamie Stone MP
Chief Whip; Northern Ireland – Alistair Carmichael MP
Exiting the European Union (Lords) – Baroness Sarah Ludford
Energy and Climate Change – Baroness Lynne Featherstone
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Baroness Kate Parminter
Business and Industrial Strategy – Lord Chris Fox
Defence – Baroness Judith Jolly
Transport – Baroness Jenny Randerson
International Development – Baroness Shas Sheehan
Equalities – Baroness Lorely Burt
Justice – Jonathan Marks
Wales – Baroness Christine Humphreys
Europe/ALDE Liaison – Catherine Bearder MEP
London – Caroline Pidgeon AM
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats – Kirsty Williams AM
Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats – Willie Rennie MSP
Leader in the House of Lords – Lord Dick Newby
Chief Whip in the House of Lords – Lord Ben Stoneham

Support for Carers Week 2017

This wee (12-18 June 2017) is Carers Week – an annual annual campaign week to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to organise activities and events throughout the UK, drawing attention to just how important caring is.

This year the campaign is focusing on Building Carer Friendly Communities. Communities which support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own.

The Liberal Democrats in Bury signed the pledge to support Carer Friendly Communities supporting carers to have the recognition and support that they need and deserve.

More information about Carers Week events here.

Download a research report to find out why Carers UK are calling for and how we can all help build Carer Friendly Communities.

More information about services for Carers in the Bury area here.

Taking lunches from 6,255 Primary School Children in Bury

Up to 907 children living in poverty across Bury will have their lunches taken away under Theresa May’s plans to abolish universal free school lunches for infants, Liberal Democrat research has revealed. In total 6,255 children in Bury are set to lose out under the plans.

Those families losing out are expected to have to pay around £440 per child per year for their school lunches.

The Liberal Democrats have also calculated that under Conservative costings of just under 7p per child’s breakfast.

Commenting on the figures, Bury South Parliamentary Candidate Andrew Page said:

“This will mean greater inequality and struggling families having to pay hundreds of pounds on lunches a year.

“The Conservatives’ promise of a free breakfast is cynical and clearly not designed to reach all children. They have set aside a meagre 7p per breakfast per child, the price of half a boiled egg or just one slice of bread with 12 baked beans.

“The Liberal Democrats will stand up against this mean-spirited vision of Britain and extend free school lunches to all primary school children.”

During the Coalition, the Liberal Democrats introduced universal infant free school meals for all pupils in reception, year one and year two. Prior to that, when free lunches were means-tested, the Children’s Society estimated that half of all school aged children living in poverty – 1.2 million – were not accessing free school meals In total, more than 1.7 million children will lose out on a free lunch under the Conservatives’ plans.

Aisling Kirwan, founder of the Grub Club, claims that a nutritious breakfast costs at least 25p per pupil on average, though this only provides porridge with milk. A more filling portion costs 85p.