Reporting Back: Health Scrutiny

Councillor Steve Wright represented the Liberal Democrats at last weeks meeting of Bury’s Health Scrutiny Committee.

Fairfield Hospital Update
Senior management from Fairfield Hospital gave a presentation on the ‘Improvement Journey’ Fairfield Hospital in the last couple of years.  The hospital was rated by the Care Quality Commission as  ‘Requires Improvement’ and now it is ‘Good’. This was hard to achieve because only half the set criteria were checked. According to management the main reason for the change is due to a high level of engagement with staff ‘on the ground’ and lot of the ideas and resolution to issues has come from them.

The full presentation is here.

Children and Young People Autism Waiting Times.
Burt Clinical Commissioning Group came to give a presentation on what they are doing to improve the length of time it is taking for children and young people to be able assessed for a diagnosis of autism.

– The number of Children under 9 requiring review has increased from 75 2012/13 to 144 in 2017/18.
– Referral to First Assessment wait time – average wait is 8-9 weeks (though this has been significant improvement seen since July 2017)
– Referral to Diagnosis Outcome waits – some children waiting up to 18 months for consideration at the SCDDG.

A number of improvements to services have already been put in place, with more planned. A full summary is in the presentation here.

Shameful Tory MP Blocks Upskirting Bill

Despite widespread support for the anti-upskirting Bill, it was single-handedly blocked by Tory MP Christopher Chope.

We were so close.

Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse has been fighting to make ‘upskirting’ (taking photographs up a woman’s skirt without their consent) a specific criminal offence.

Last week it looked likely that this vile practice would be outlawed after it received backing from the Ministry of Justice, Number 10 and numerous MPs across the house.

However, last Friday in Parliament, the Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope used an antiquated piece of Commons procedure to block the Bill from proceeding, amid cries of “shame” from outraged MPs. His actions meant that the Bill could not even be debated.

We’re disappointed, and angry on behalf of all the women for whom this meant so much…but completely unsurprised this happened.

Arch-Brexiteer Chope has repeatedly been on the wrong side of history. He has voted for the minimum wage to be abolished, against same-sex marriage, and in favour of fox hunting. This is not the first private members bill he has blocked – in 2014 he blocked a Lib Dem Bill which would have banned revenge evictions by private landlords, and in 2015 he blocked a Bill to restrict hospital parking chargers imposed on carers.

The Upskirting Bill will come back to Parliament in June, but there would be nothing to prevent Chope or other out of touch Tory MPs from pulling the same stunt again.

We need to make sure this bill passes.

In order to do so we need to make everybody aware of what Chope did today, and show him exactly how the public feels about his shameful actions.

We are exposing Chope’s actions to thousands more through social media ads. You can donate to our campaign here: libdems.org.uk/upskirting-donate

MP’s Victory in ‘Up-Skirting’ Law

Liberal Democrat MP Were Hobhouse, who was previously a LiB Dem Councillor in Rochdale, has declared victory her bid to make ‘upskirting’ a specific criminal offence.

Ms Hobhouse had brought a Private Members’ Bill to make the practice a specific officen, but the Bill was blocked by a Conservative MP Christpher Chope (he also blocked a bill to make injur police dogs and horses on the same day…).

The Government’s Justice Minister has met with Ms Hobhouse and, on behalf of the Government, agreed to take her Bill through Parliament.

Wera (second from left above) said:

“I’m very happy that the law is changing, this is a huge victory for women across the country. I hope this can go through on Friday 6th July with my Bill, but my main concern now is that the law is changed as soon as possible and therefore I also welcome the Government Bill.

It seems unfair that just one person was able to block a Bill that we had spent so long building cross party consensus behind, but reform for Private Members’ Bills is for another day.”

Vince Cable speech: Capitalism in Crisis

In a speech entitled ‘Capitalism in Crisis’, Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable explains how a modern, liberal approach can help capitalism save itself.

He explores some of the serious problems facing capitalism today, and how these issues have provoked reactions from the extremes of the political spectrum. Common sense reform is necessary to curb the worst excesses of capitalism.

“Scarcely a day goes by without a scandal erupting around greedy or bullying bosses, pilfered pension funds, business tax dodging, chaotic private train operators, rewards for failure, bankers’ bonuses, price gouging or exploitation of gig workers, zero hours contract employees or modern slaves.

The public appears to want more nationalisation, more regulation and higher taxes on business.

Populist politicians on the left, like Jeremy Corbyn or Bernie Sanders in the USA, get a respectful hearing at business conferences. Leading business spokespeople and gurus preach contrition, restraint and self-flagellation.

There is a palpable sense of capitalism being in crisis or, at least, facing a crisis of confidence.

Although it does not explain everything, the financial crisis of a decade ago played an important part in puncturing the confidence generated by the collapse of Communism two decades earlier confidence that the capitalist model, the liberalisation of markets and the ‘animal spirits’ of entrepreneurs, could be relied upon to generate an ongoing, inexorable rise in living standards.

This view was epitomised by Francis Fukuyama’s “End of History” thesis now the subject of universal mockery but taken very seriously at the time that liberal democracy and the market economy had conclusively and for all time settled the ideological debate.

Instead, financial markets proved to be highly unstable and prone to excess.

Lib Dem Call for new money to fund teachers pay rises

Leading Liberal Democrats have written to the Chancellor calling for new, dedicated money from the Treasury to fund teachers’ future pay rises and are seeking cross-party support.

The call comes amid fears that the Government will accept a pay rise for teachers, but won’t provide schools extra money to fund for it.

The Liberal Democrats MPs argue that schools are “under huge financial pressures” and it is the responsibility of the Chancellor to “save them and their pupils from the inevitable consequences of a further erosion in the funding.”

The School Teachers Pay Review body has been looking into the issue of teachers pay and has made recommendations to the Government, which Education Ministers are due to respond to in the near future.

The party’s Education Spokesperson Layla Moran has written to MPs seeking cross-party support for the campaign.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said:

“We have seen school spending slashed, resulting in a narrowing curriculum and dedicated, hardworking teachers being forced out of the profession they love. Up and down the country, parents are already fundraising to pay for resources for schools. This shows the scale of the problem.

“Our hardworking teachers deserve a pay rise, but quite simply schools will not be able to cope if they have to fund pay increases from existing budgets.

“Despite raising this issue several times in Parliament, Education Ministers are refusing to say if they will give schools the money they need to pay for any increases in pay.

“Cross-party support is building. The Government must commit to new funding to ensure teachers get a decent pay rise without placing extra pressure on school budgets.”

Public Meeting: Democracy Needs You!

Bury Liberal Democrats have organised a public meeting on the theme: “Democracy needs you: why you should get involved in politics today”.

“Democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted” former USA President Barack Obama says. We will look at how democracy works, why sometimes it doesn’t and how you can be part of fixing it. Remember – decisions are made by those who show up!

Wednesday 27 June, 18-30 -20.30, St Margaret’s Church Hall, St Margaret’s Road, Prestwich. 

Our speaker is Councillor Lisa Smart, Deputy Leader of the Opposition on Stockport Council, and the Liberal Democrat Target Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove constituency.

The event is free and open to the public. We ask everyone to register for a free ‘ticket’ in advance so that we can manage number.

18.30 to 19.00 Doors and Light Refreshments
19.00 to 19.45 Speaker
19.45 to 20.30 Q&A

Event details can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/events/170488923669159/

Metrolink New Fare Zones – Public Consultation

A new zonal fares system is being proposed for Metrolink. The proposal would replace the existing ‘station to station’ fare system with a zonal system – similar to London’s travel network.

You have the opportunity to share your feedback ahead of any final decision being made about the proposed change with a survey before 17 June. Take the survey here.

According to T4GM, the proposal would make using Metrolink simpler, more convenient and better value for money.

The proposal for Metrolink would introduce four ringed zones on the network.

Regular tram users will notice that the proposals put many fares up! For example Prestwich to Manchester is put up 20p (single) and 40p (return).

In our view Metrolink is horrifically expensive compared to other modes of transport. An annual season ticket from Marple to Manchester Piccadilly (18 miles) is £1,030. Heaton Park to Manchester is 4 miles and £930.

Last year investigations from the Lib Dems revealed that 12% of Metrolink journeys are not paid for, so honest passengers are paying for the 1 in 8 journeys that are not.

This is our opportunity to have a say on the new fares proposals – you can do so here.

Reporting Back: Full Council

Last Wednesday was Bury’s ‘Annual Meeting’, the yearly meeting which follows the local elections in May.

The meeting is in two parts, a ‘business’ Annual Meeting, and a largely ceremonial ‘Mayor Making’ second part.

Because there was only a slight change in the composition of the Council this year the Annual Meeting didn’t many significant changes:
– Labour will be running the Council, with a Labour Leader and Cabinet with no changes.
– Council confirmed the appointment of Geoff Little as Chief Executive, although the recruitment had been done by an interview panel, the appointment must be ratified by full Council.
– Appointments were made to the Council’s committees and working groups. This year the Liberal Democrat group have been asked to chair the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which will be undertaken by Councillor Mary D’Albert.
– Councillor Tim Pickstone has been re-elected as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Steve Wright will serve as Deputy Group Leader.
– Tim Pickstone has also been re-appointed to one of the Greater Manchester Scrutiny Committees which looks at the work of the Mayor and Combined Authority. Steve Wright has been appointed to the Board of Six Town Housing.
– In the second part of the meeting Councillor Jane Black (Labour) was appointed as Mayor for 2018-19. The previous Mayor, Councillor Dorothy Gunther (Conservative) will serve as Deputy Mayor.

Lib Dem Lords inflict more defeats on Tory government

Our Peers are fighting back against the Tory government’s hard Brexit.

Last week Theresa May suffered yet another series of damning defeats in the Lords, exposing the ever-increasing anger at her administration’s undemocratic, destructive approach to Brexit.

So far the government has been defeated a total of 14 times, with the Lords rejecting the Brexit deadline and exit date, securing a meaningful vote in the Commons, and quashing attempts to hand ministers ‘blank cheque’ powers.

Both Tory and Labour Peers have voted with their conscience, defying their parties’ whips.

24 Tory peers voted against their own government, forcing them to report back on UK-EU Customs Union negotiations: there have been a staggering 168 Tory votes against the government.

Just yesterday more than 80 Labour peers ignored party policy and voted with the Lib Dems to maintain membership of the European Economic Area.

There have been a total of 4,092 votes against the government during the report stage, showing definitive support for the Lib Dem campaign against Brexit.

The Lib Dem Lords are leading the charge and will continue to hold the government to account, fighting for the ultimate form of accountability: handing the final say on Brexit back to the people.

Campaign to exempt overseas NHS Staff from Charges

Local Lib Dems are backing the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in its campaign to persuade the Government to exempt overseas nurses working in the NHS to stop being charged to receive care for themselves and their families.

Under a system introduced in 2015, non-EEA nationals must pay a £200 overseas health surcharge per family member for every year on the main sponsor’s work permit. It’s resulted in some overseas nurses receiving requests for more than £3,000 to cover possible use of the NHS.

In February, the Government confirmed it will double the cost from £200 to £400 later this year and has so far refused to rule out extending the fees to EU migrants after Brexit.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Mary D’Albert said: “We have a chronic shortage of nurses in this country, and at the moment we have 25,000 nurses from outside the EU working in the NHS. All of them pay income tax and National Insurance as well as providing a key public service.

These people keep the NHS running; they are the very last people who should ever be sent up-front invoices for health care.”

There are also 21,000 EU nurses working in the NHS, who will be fearing what the system will be post Brexit.