Carlisle Liberal Democrats

Labour: from the wrong place to all over the place

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Nearly two years ago, Liberal Democrats chose to do the right thing in the national interest at a time of crisis. We put tribalism aside and the good of the country first. We didn’t come into politics to make cuts, but with the economy on the verge of collapse we knew we had to take the difficult decisions necessary to get the deficit under control and the country back on track. And how did the Labour Party react? They attacked us viciously. They refused to apologise or take responsibility for the mess they created. They opposed every cut and they indulged in cynical scaremongering. In Sheffield, David Blunkett warned of \\\'post-Soviet\\\' meltdown with people fending for themselves. It was the politics of fear and it was a disgrace. But now, after nearly two years of opposing every cut, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls say they won’t reverse a single one. Yet they still say they oppose them. Confused? They have gone from being in the wrong place to being all over the place. From denial to disarray. Many of our excellent councillors lost their seats last May because of the vicious attacks of their Labour opponents. We must not let them get away with it again. Liberal Democrats approach this May\\\'s elections with a track record of proud, progressive achievements in Government:

Lifting a million of the poorest workers out of tax and cutting taxes, not for the rich but for 23m basic rate taxpayers;
Making the well off pay their share by raising Capital Gains Tax, a new £10bn bank levy and keeping the 50p top rate of tax;
The most generous rise in the state pension for a generation;
A revolution in the way we support the children who need help the most when it matters the most, in the crucial early years and throughout their school lives;
More apprenticeships than Britain has ever had before;
And from this April, the Youth Contract, an ambitious £1bn programme to make sure every 18 to 24-year-old has the opportunity to earn or learn.

Clearing up Labour’s mess is not easy, but right. Let’s take the fight to them as May approaches.

Birmingham Conference

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Over the last week Liberal Democrats have been meeting in Birmingham at our Autumn Conference. Unlike the other main party conferences, our conference is fully democratic and sets the party\'s policy and long-term strategy. With the party in government, this is a huge strength. At our last Conference in Sheffield we called for changes to NHS reforms in order to safeguard a vital British institution and which we all depend. Armed with this demand, our ministers were able to secure the NHS Future Forum, a substantial consultation exercise which saw sweeping changes to the proposed reforms. At this Conference, our wide-ranging policy debates included calling for necessary reforms to Employment Support Allowance and Work Capability Assessments in order to address some very real issues with the system which are causing significant distress to vulnerable people. We also called for a review of drug policy. The present system of prohibition has been unable to prevent a huge increase in drug use, and so we are calling for an expert panel to review whether alternative strategies - in particular, treating addiction as a medical, rather than criminal, problem - might in fact do more to protect people. A huge range of other issues were discussed, both in the Conference Hall and in open meetings outside the Hall. We also heard inspiring speeches from Liberal Democrat ministers and from Cumbrian MP Tim Farron, who is our elected Party President. Conference concluded with a very strong and moving speech from Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister. He reflected on a tough year for the Liberal Democrats, and noted the determination and optimism which we very clear to everyone at Conference. Being in government as the smaller party in a coalition is not easy, especially at a time when the economic situation requires significant reductions in government spending. As Nick Clegg said, \"The easy thing would have been to sit on the opposition benches throwing rocks at the Government as it tried to get control of the public finances. It might even, in the short run, have been more popular, but it would not have been right. At that moment, Britain needed a strong government.\"

Sheffield Conference

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Liberal Democrats held our Spring Conference in Sheffield this weekend to develop our policy and to hold our ministers to account. Topics discussed by delegates included NHS reforms and updated proposals on youth justice. The impact of a motion passed by Conference can be very significant: it can immediately catapult an issue onto a ministerial desk or, if necessary, encourage them to take another look at a policy. This is what has happened with NHS reforms, though the final effect will not be known for a while. Conference concluded with a keynote speech from Nick Clegg. The Deputy Prime Minister vowed that the NHS will not be privatised by any government involving him. He stressed above all that Liberal Democrats will never lose our soul or our distinctive identity: \"Our opponents try to divide us with their outdated labels of left and right. But we are not on the left and we are not on the right. We have our own label: Liberal. We are liberals and we own the freehold to the centre ground of British politics. Governing from the middle, for the middle. In government. On your side.\"

Pupil Premium

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The government has announced that it plans to spend an extra £430 next year on every school pupil who receives free school meals as part of the Liberal Democrats\' pupil premium. It is estimated that this will mean at least £729,710 extra for schools in Carlisle next year alone. The extra support is set to rise each year towards an expected 2015 level of £2.5bn. Headteachers will be free to spend this money on whatever is most needed to help disadvantaged pupils in each school. This may be smaller class sizes, catch-up classes or new after-school clubs. Commenting, Lib Dem minister Sarah Teather said, \"The Pupil Premium was one of four key front page manifesto commitments on which we fought the last General Election. Making it a reality will help improve the social mobility and life chances of hundreds of thousands of children from less privileged backgrounds over the coming years. \"That is the real difference our party is making in government.\"

Delivering for Britain: Report

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday saw the close of the final session of the Liberal Democrats\' Autumn Federal Conference, with a speech delivered by the Part President, Baroness Ros Scott in which she reflected on the party\'s long history and the key role which it now plays in government. Conference warmly received keynote speeches from many Liberal Democrat government ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Party Leader, Nick Clegg. Liberal Democrat achievements in government were welcomed, including key manifesto commitments such as significant extra funding targeted at disadvantaged pupils in schools and taking low earners out of income tax by raising the tax-free allowance. Liberal Democrats in government are working on tough action to prevent a repeat of the banking crisis of recent years and are also drawing up plans for wide-ranging political reform, including the right to sack corrupt MPs and removing unelected peers from Parliament and replacing them with members chosen by the people instead of political parties. As usual, Conference debated various policy motions. Wednesday\'s motion calling for the Trident nuclear weapons system to be included in the Strategic Defence Review attracted media attention because with Liberal Democrats in government there is every possibility of real progress on this issue. A motion summarising the concerns the party has about Free Schools and Academies also attracted significant media attention. It was widely reported as a defeat for the leadership, since under the coalition agreement the party\'s ministerial team was required to defend the government\'s education policy. However, the significance of this is overstated: the tone both of this debate and others made it quite clear that the vote was in no way indicative of widespread opposition to the coalition - merely concern about this particularly policy. Conference also discussed reform of the Press Complaints Commission, the Award of a UK National Defence Medal to Service Veterans, human rights abuses committed in the name of fighting terrorism, and topics as varied as the potential impact of spending cuts, green taxation, and extending both marriage and civil partnerships to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. Activists deliberately avoided excessive triumphalism about our long-overdue return to government: we are determined to tackle the problems facing Britain, and tackle them fairly. We want to change Britain for the better: we will celebrate when, at the end of this Parliament in 2015, Liberal Democrats can confidently point at our achievements in government and enter the election knowing that we have made Britain a better place for all.

Delivering for Britain: Nick Clegg Addresses Conference

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Nick Clegg today asked Liberal Democrat voters and activists to continue to support the coalition. In his address to party activists gathered in Liverpool, he recognised people\'s concerns but stressed the importance of the government\'s project. He said, \"Britain in 2010 is anxious, unsure about the future, but Britain in 2015 will be a different country. Strong, fair, free and full of hope again. A country we can be proud to hand on to our children. That is the goal we must keep firmly fixed in our minds. That is the prize. \"The years ahead will not be easy but they will make the difference our country needs. Stick with us while we rebuild the economy. Stick with us while we restore our civil liberties, protect our environment, nurture our children and repair our broken politics. Stick with us and together we will change Britain for good.\" Earlier in his speech, he stressed that even after the inevitable cuts take effect, the government will still be spending the same proportion of national income as it did in 2006: Britain is not returning to the dark days of the 1930s or 1980s. The Deputy Prime Minister and Part Leader\'s words were well received by activists, the vast majority of whom remain convinced that the party made the right decision - and indeed the only viable decision - when it chose to enter government in May. Despite predictions and reports to the contrary in some sections of the media, party unity clearly remains strong as the party enjoys the opportunity to see its values articulated at the heart of government, while Liberal Democrat policies are powerfully promoted by our government ministers.

Fairer Votes: Conference Rally

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Liberal Democrat activists gathered yesterday for the Conference Rally, held in association with the Electoral Reform Society. Together, we launched our campaign for a Yes vote in next year\'s referendum on the Alternative Vote (AV) for electing MPs. Voters will finally have the chance to scrap our outdated and unfair voting system in favour of a new one that will put people, not politicians, in the driving seat. We heard how AV forces all MPs to work hard for people\'s votes. It will reduce the safe seats which encouraged some MPs to claim inappropriately on expenses in the past, knowing they\'d probably still win even if it came out. It\'s not enough to punish wrongdoers: we need to ensure it never happens again. AV is part of the package of reforms we need. Our array of speakers, including well-known Cumbrian Lib Dem MP Tim Farron, reminded us of the scandal of this year\'s election: by far the majority of votes cast nationwide were wasted, and many more were cast tactically rather than for the party voters actually preferred. By letting voters rank candidates, AV let\'s people vote with their hearts without fear of unintentionally helping a party they actively dislike. Liberal Democrats are meeting in Liverpool this week: further details will be available here in the coming days, as well as directly on the national party\'s website.

Visit of Tim Farron MP

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

At a meeting on Monday 23 August, Carlisle Liberal Democrats had the pleasure of the company of the Westmorland & Lonsdale MP Tim Farron. He very kindly gave up his evening to come to address us on a number of issues, from the headline items on the economy to equally important concerns over the future of social and private rented housing in Carlisle and elsewhere. There was a very good question and answer session at the end of the Tim’s informative and entertaining address. Tim was very honest in his appraisal of the first 100 days of the coalition and members were reassured when he explained that the newspapers are in many cases reporting in an inaccurate or biased manner in the hope of creating unnecessary anxiety and tensions. The evening ended in a highly convivial manner and we all enjoyed the buffet provided by Club 35.

Local Council By-Election Successes Across the Country

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Liberal Democrats are celebrating another tremendous week of local by-election successes around the country. In nine seats, we saw five gains (taking seats from the Conservatives, Labour and Independents) and no losses. Carlisle Liberal Democrats extend our congratulations to everyone who contributed to these excellent results.

Focus on Carlisle

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:29:00 +0000

A new Focus leaflet has been delivered to residents in Carlisle

Focus on Carlisle

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A new Focus leaflet has been delivered to residents in Carlisle

David MacMillan

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:05 +0000

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of David Macmillan on Saturday. David was only 53 years old but had been in ill health for some time. As a Councillor David was elected to serve the Morton ward in May 1999. He was enormously proud of this privilege and worked to make life better for those he represented. He stood again for re-election in 2000 and was, once again, successful. He worked with his fellow Liberal Democrat Councillors in Morton to have the bridge over Wigton Road removed and pedestrian controlled lights installed instead, thus making it safer for the children to cross the road at break and home times from the school. He helped Ralph Aldersey and Peter Farmer, his fellow councillors, to instigate a programme of providing porches to the pensioners’ bungalows. Unfortunately, this ended with Large Scale Voluntary Stock Transfer in December 2002 to Riverside Housing Association. David was popular and had a great big smile for everyone. His health began to trouble him and he became more involved with working for his church St Paul’s and decided in 2004 to stand down from the council to devote himself more fully to the church work. David will be missed by all who knew him and the sympathies of the Liberal Democrat Group and the Liberal Democrat Association go out to his family at his sad time.

Evidence released shows Labour neglected Armed Forces - Farron

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Documents released by the Iraq Inquiry shows that Labour neglected Britain\'s Armed Forces, according to a prominent Cumbrian Liberal Democrat. The documents show that Labour ministers were formally warned that the military needed an alternative to the Snatch Land Rover in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lib Dem MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale Tim Farron said: \"This is yet another damning sign that the Labour Government ignored advice from its top military officials on their equipment needs. \"As we long suspected, generals told ministers that they needed better equipment to protect their troops and to prevent more casualties. For years the Army had to make to with adding extra protection to their existing, unsuitable vehicles. \"This is unacceptable in any situation and led to unnecessary casualties. I look forward to working with my Coalition colleagues to put these kind of indefensible practices behind us by making sure our brave soldiers are properly equipped.\"

Lib Dems Tackle Inequality in Education

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The government this week announced its plans to implement a pupil premium, the central plank of the Liberal Democrats\' education manifesto. This will provide extra funding for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Children\'s Minister Sarah Teather said, \"For too long social background has been a deciding factor in a child\'s achievement and future prospects. In a fair society, it\'s the Government\'s responsibility to close the gulf in achievement, where the poorest children are almost three times less likely to leave school with five good GCSEs than their richer classmates.\" Headteachers will be free to spend the extra money on whatever will be most helpful for their pupils. This could mean smaller class sizes or more one-on-one tuition and catch-up classes. The pupil premium is expected to be in place next year.

Upcoming MP Visit

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Carlisle Lib Dems are delighted to confirm that Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale, will be speaking at our regular local party meeting at Club 35 on 23rd August. All members are welcome to attend. A light buffet is planned so it would be helpful if members planning to attend could get in touch, either by contacting the Chair directly or by emailing info@carlislelibdems.org.uk.