Category: News

The Liberal Party supported BREXIT in response to the referendum. Liberals believe that for the Northern Ireland question of the border, a camera system should be installed, similar to the London Congestion Charge system and using a trusted trader status run from DVLA. This would be supported by up to 85% of the people in Northern Ireland, according to the latest survey.

With regard to the present arrangements, there is a physical border, the police on both sides and technical borders consisting of VAT, Corporation Tax and personal tax, all working amicably. This is part of the free travel area since 1922. The major concern is smuggling, and the camera system above should help.

We in the Liberal Party have consistently called for the House of Lords to be abolished as it is and replaced by a predominately elected Senate.

We had a policy that at least 2/3 should be elected and that there should be provision for elected representation from our overseas territories such as the Channel Islands, Gibraltar and Falkland Islands.

Data compiled by the Electoral Reform Society found 455 lords claimed more than the average take-home pay in the UK during 2016/2017 despite the House of Lords sitting no more than 141 days in that year.

In 2016/17 the allowance and travel costs for the House of Lords came to over £19 million.

It is estimated 33 inactive peers collected £462,510 tax-free.

Of the current peers, 109 peers had not spoken in one year with claims exceeding £1m.

The most active peers numbering 300 accounted for 84% of votes cast in the House of Lords.

Liberal Party members meeting in Birmingham voted for the option proposed by the Electoral Reform Society for a 100% elected Senate of 300 members. Plus additional seats for overseas territories

We also voted that their income should be subject to income tax akin to any other UK resident.

The Liberal Party notes the temporary suspension of fracking operations by Cuadrilla at their Preston New Road site following recent subterranean tremors, the latest on the 27th October.

These seismic events have occurred less than 2 weeks after a final legal challenge to fracking was rejected, and the Government permitted operations to commence, despite widespread public opposition.

The current disturbances have occurred as water, sand and chemicals are pumped into the ground at high pressure, a recipe for subterranean disturbances.

Comments by Cuadrilla that the UK has set a lower threshold’s for seismic activity, 0.4 on the Richter scale as opposed to 2.5 in Europe or 4 in Canada is both insincere and selfish.

It also fails to acknowledge the simple fact that on the Richter scale each step up in the scale is a multiple of the previous one, not a simple increment, and Cuadrilla is effectively asking people to accept intrusive and potentially damaging levels of disturbance.

The Liberal Party yet again reiterates its opposition to fracking, sighting environmental factors and questions the economic justification and value of such operations.

Liberal News- Spring 2018

Local Government on the edge: Austerity from Westminister closes in on Town Halls across the country.
Thursday 3rd May 2018: Local Government Elections. We Need Your Help!
In Memoriam
Liberal Party News

The Liberal Party are the only national party to support ‘Lift the Ban’ – a campaign which would give people seeking asylum the right to work, and contribute to the economy whilst working with dignity.

Click here for more information.

Liberal News -Summer 2018

Community is at the heart of our Liberalism
Camborne Liberal Hall
Health and Well-Being in Silverton
Editorial, Liberals Assemble
133rd Annual Liberal Party Assembly: 20 October 2018

The Liberal Party notes with grave concern the latest developments in the ongoing financial crisis at Northamptonshire council.

Following the unprecedented issuing of a second section 114 notice on the 24th July, prohibiting further unbudgeted expenditure, a full council meeting held on the 9th August heard details of the precarious state of the council’s finances.

These cover a projected budget deficit of 60 to 70 million pounds over the next 9 months and perhaps 180 million over the next three years at current rates of expenditure.

The crisis affecting local councils originates in sustained cuts in funding from central government in the region of 50% since 2010 in the name of austerity.

The Liberal Party against calls for sustained funding and investment in local public services, services which provide a basic level of care and support, which underpins an inclusive society.

The Liberal Party wishes to acknowledge the 70th anniversary of the birth of the National Health Service (NHS) on the 5th July 2018.
The NHS is a vital public service, free at the point of delivery and a global model for a universal health care system.
The party fully acknowledges that the service nationally is under considerable financial and operational pressure and understands that it needs both adequate funding and leadership, both locally and nationally.
Whilst the party broadly supports the latest announcement for long-term funding for the NHS, it is imperative that such funding is delivered in a sustained manner as the NHS grapples with cost issues relating to an ageing population, medical and technological advances, in the 21st century.

The Liberal Party views with horror the catastrophic escalation in violence along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel on the day of the official opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

Media reports speak of dozen’s killed and hundred’s wounded as Israeli forces respond to mass demonstration and attempted breaches of the contested border.

Coming on the 70^th anniversary of the creation of the Israeli state and the simultaneous expulsion of Palestinian’s from the disrupted territories, the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem is both highly provocative and callous act.

The Liberal Party yet again calls for a negotiated settlement to the issues of the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem and calls upon all nations and international bodies to act to resolve the open ended suffering from the Palestinians in their struggle for statehood.