Category: News

They call themselves Liberal Democrats, they are neither Liberal nor Democratic in their stance for the EU election.

They seek to marginalise UK internationalism in an increasingly federal and protectionist EU, whilst plotting to overthrow the democratic decision of the people under the guise of a ‘People’s Vote’.

The key messages in their leaflet are:

A more prosperous Britain with Britain at the heart of a modernised EU. We have seen no modernisation in the 3 years since we voted to Leave, what delusion suggests that EU willingness to modernise might be possible? 

Tackling the Climate Emergency. Not only an EU issue. However, to have 28 countries of the EU, some who would use the power of veto to frustrate progress, would probably take longer and result in a more compromised set of solutions, than might be the case if defined and implemented by a UK government.  Also, EU Policy of product centralisation and subsidies, leads to massive and wasteful over production. Chemical treatments, storage, plastic packaging, preservation treatments and transportation of products from farm to consumer tables all over Europe, causes a huge amount of climate damage.

Protecting our Public Services. They can’t be serious? They kept the Conservative Government in power for 5 long years and supported the austerity cuts that resulted in the savaging of our public services! 

This group of charlatans has no rights of claim to Liberalism and their resurgence on the back of a divisive election campaign must be resisted. Their actions are set to divide our communities for years to come as they seek to profit politically by backing the narrowly losing side in the democratic EU referendum.

Make no mistake their intent is not honourable, it’s not to promote a confirmatory ‘People’s Vote’, it’s to Stop Brexit. It is the duty of every fair minded voter, who believes the LibDem approach is wrong, to reject their wicked and undemocratic intentions, which if successful will drive huge division between our population for years to come.Without adherence to the rules of democracy, we leave space for anarchy and extreme action.

Dear Fellow Liberals

Can I express a personal view

It is vital as a Liberal Party we make everyone welcome irrespective of whether they voted remain or leave

The Liberal Party and the Country needs to move  to over  beyond the debate over the EU

Any deal was never going to be perfect but the public voted to Leave and that ballot should be respected

My personal view was always an initial deal would itself not be a final stage but the first stage in a process to disengage from the EU

We at our assembly debated pragmatic ways to deal with the Northern Ireland border

At Liberal assemblies we have tried focus on some serious issues like leasehold reform, steps to save the environment , reform of the House of Lords to an elected Senate, help for small businesses and community charities

Let us all focus on issues of social justice strengthening small businesses , strengthening local and public  services, fighting crime but community policing and proactive youth services and wealth inequality

I pray and hope that a pragmatic balanced deal with the EU comes forward

Can I make it clear we have local elections where our distinctive commitment to building and strengthening communities must be at the forefront of our dialogue

Please support your nearest local government candidates

Warmest Regards

Steve

The Liberal Party notes with concern this announcement that Brilliant Energy has now entered administration.

The company will be the 10th small energy provider to have done so in the last 12 months, which included Spark Energy Supply Limited in November 2018 amongst others.

Although the regulator Ofgem will ensure no customer is left without a supplier, customers risk finding themselves matched to an energy provider at short notice with no opportunity to find an optimum tariff.

The failure of so many suppliers illustrates the difficulties new entrants have in the domestic and business energy markets and the difficulty of breaking the stranglehold of the 6 largest providers.

The Liberal Party believes that only the expansion of choice within the UK  energy market will lead to better price competition to the benefit of consumers.

The Liberal Party welcomes the news that the Parliament’s Treasury committee will investigate the issue of Business Rates in this country.

Bricks-and-mortar retailers in this country face a perfect storm of rising business rates, unrelenting competition from online retailers and declining footfall.

The party welcomes the government previous undertaking of business rates relief for half a million small retailers, whose business premises have a rateable value of £51,000 or less, but this fails to assist larger retailers and chains.

These face a multiplier on their rates equivalent to a 50 percent tax on their properties in the next financial year.

Lloyd Knight was elected to Cullompton Town Council in a tightly fought by-election in November 2017.

Lloyd is the Town Council Deputy Mayor and their representative on the Devon Association of Local Councils. He is committed to giving a voice to the people of Cullompton at both the Town and District level.

We are delighted Lloyd will be contesting Town and District seats for Southward Cullompton this May if you can help please email him on lloyd.knight@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 01884 563 462.

The Liberal Party welcomes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report’ Global Warming of 1.5°C, which gives stark warnings about the impact we are having on the earth’s climate and the consequences for human and other life systems if we fail to take radical and immediate actions to cut risk of extreme heat, drought, floods and poverty.

With the IPCC report in focus, the Liberal Party calls upon government to implement an immediate ban on all expenditure which supports new fossil fuel initiatives, both at home or overseas. To report and publish all funding already committed to support fossil fuel initiatives both at home and overseas and to review if those projects are consistent with our climate commitments.

Further we call on government to establish an All-Party Working Group, with assigned expert advisers from each potentially viable source, to define alternative non fossil based energy strategies, solutions and funding requirements to meet 100% of UK energy needs by 2030.

In-line with our demand for non-fossil fuel energy solutions, we call for an immediate ban on all Shale Gas exploration and the full restoration of land already impacted by the industry.

As Liberals we believe in fairness and protection for people living in leasehold and those in shared ownership properties.

We attach a copy of a motion which was unanimously agreed by Liverpool City Council at the November 2018 council meeting and we encourage members serving on other authorities to move and seek approval of a similar motion.

Fair Deal for Leaseholders.

This Council expresses its severe dissatisfaction with this Government’s failure to adequately regulate the sale of leasehold properties within the UK and tackle the onerous terms of existing leases.

It notes its concern for the financial burdens suffered by homeowners, due to unregulated developer practices, and the unacceptable terms of leases.

It notes concern for residents, who find themselves unable to sell their homes, except for a considerable discount, following the public’s increasing awareness of the struggles affecting leasehold homeowners.

It welcomes pledges to address the matter; however, expresses frustration regarding the extent of this Government’s plans, and its commitment to support those already affected by unfair practices, and charges.

This Council resolves that this Government takes urgent action to address: –

1. The soaring ground rent charges that existing leaseholders are obliged to pay to developers, or the companies to which the freehold has been sold;
2. The disturbing practice of freeholders selling the freehold to third parties, without the knowledge of the existing leaseholders, and without first offering the leaseholder the option of purchasing the freehold;
3. Increasingly unaffordable estate maintenance charges levied against the leaseholders, and spiralling costs;
4. The unclear, and in many cases, excessive cost of the purchase of freeholds by leaseholders;
5. The unfair systems of administration charges imposed via the lease, to the hindrance of (for example) leaseholders who wish to make alterations to the property;
6. The actions of freeholders who continue to claim administration fees, following transfer, through the wrongful practice of including restrictive covenants in transfer deeds, to in an attempt to replicate these shameful terms of the lease.
7. The requirement of existing leaseholders to have owned the lease for a minimum period, before being eligible to purchase the freehold;
8. The lack of advice and adequate compensation schemes available to leaseholders who believe they have been mis-sold, and/or their lease contains onerous conditions.

The Council requests that (the authorised person,) writes to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to express its concern regarding the above issues, and request further, pressing action is taken not only to restrict the development of further leasehold homes, but to provide appropriate support and means of redress for existing leaseholders and those in shared ownership schemes.

We also ask all Liberal Party Councillors ensure that when councils sell land, they use their influence to ensure that land sold for houses is predominately freehold.