20 Most Recent Stories From Liberal Democrats : All News Feed

Tue 29th Jul 2008:

Video: Nick Clegg's summer message.

Nick Clegg has recorded a summer message for Liberal Democrat members and supporters. In it he talks about the problems facing Labour, how the Liberal Democrats would help families with the rising cost of living, and the party's plans for the autumn. You can watch a subtitled version of the video on Overstream. 

Thu 17th Jul 2008:

Nick Clegg launches 'Make It Happen'.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today launched the party’s Make it Happen document, which is a statement of the party’s vision and values. ‘Make it Happen’ sets out in clear language the party’s position on important issues such as the economy, taxation and the health service.You can read Make it Happen here.

Thu 7th Aug 2008:

Liberal Democrats outline youth crime proposals.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne, today accused both Labour and the Conservatives of ‘falling over each other to be tough on crime’ as he promoted his party’s new plans for stopping young people from committing crimes.The ideas outlined in the document A Life Away From Crime also highlight how to stop children who have been found guilty of minor offences from committing more serious crimes.The main proposals include: Making young people pay back the damage caused to communities without involving the criminal justice system The formation of a Youth Volunteer Force to engage young people in activities that benefit local people Running nationwide restorative justice programmes, with a particular emphasis on early intervention in schools and care homes Creating a dedicated PCSO youth officer in every area to work with teenagers most at risk of offending Targeting guns and knives through intelligence-led stop and search, hot-spot policing and action in schools Chris Huhne said:"If we want to tackle the problem of youth crime, we need to take action early to stop kids from embarking on a life of crime before it’s too late. "The old parties are falling over each other trying to be tough on crime, but nothing is being done do stop young people getting sucked in to a cycle of crime."Ministers know that programmes to divert kids away from crime work, and are even happy to promote such projects. However, they have failed to fund them properly in favour of punitive policies that grab headlines but achieve little."It is time for a new approach to youth justice which both prevents crime and confronts young people with their actions if they do break the law." To read the paper click here.

Fri 8th Aug 2008:

Treatment of disabled fans shameful - Foster.

18 out of 20 Premiership football clubs are failing to provide enough space for disabled fans, while also increasing the price of disabled season tickets, according to research by the Liberal Democrats. The research shows that:· Only two Premiership clubs out of 20 meet government guidelines for the provision of disabled spaces in stadiums.· One third of Premiership clubs have less than half of the recommended number of spaces· Premiership clubs have added only 19 new spaces in total this summer, despite a shortfall of almost 1,500· Season ticket prices for disabled fans have increased by over £25 on average compared to last season· Labour promised to deal with this issue 13 years ago, but has recently ministers admitted they don’t even hold information on facilities for disabled supporters Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "It’s shameful that so many Premiership clubs can’t be bothered to provide enough space for disabled fans. Football clubs are taking disabled fans for granted. "I’m staggered that, despite the huge demand for disabled spaces, many clubs aren’t making any effort to encourage disabled fans into their grounds. "Even for those lucky enough to get a space, ticket prices are rocketing. "The Government promised to take action on this issue, but now ministers seem happy to ignore football clubs who are refusing to tow the line."

Europe must confront globalisation of crime - Davey.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey today called for greater European cooperation to catch the criminals who operate across borders in the 27-nation European Union. Launching the Liberal Democrat policy paper Shaping Our World Through a Strong Europe, he called for an emphasis on effective and pragmatic EU policies to tackle the challenges posed by greater economic competition, freedom of movement and the communications revolution. Liberal Democrat proposals for better co-operation on crime include:· Greater cooperation between European police forces to build on the success of initiatives such as Operation Koala, which led to the arrest of 93 paedophiles, some of whom were based in the UK.· A presumption that the UK will opt-in to EU measures to tackle cross-border crimes such as paedophile networks, cyber-crime, human trafficking, money laundering, drug smuggling and gun-running.· Support for initiatives such as a Europe-wide missing child alert system, based on that in operation in the US (‘Amber Alert’) and France.· More effective measures on tackling terrorism, such as the European Arrest Warrant, which was crucial in bringing failed 21/7 bomber Osman Hussain to justice.· Urgent action to tackle the disturbing growth in drug trafficking across Europe. EU Statistics published last month show that drug-trafficking is on the rise across Europe, and has risen by up to a third in eastern and central European states: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-08-019/EN/KS-SF-08-019-EN.PDF· Better protection for British citizens arrested abroad such as guaranteed access to legal aid and an interpreter. Edward Davey said: "The EU has a vital role to play in beating the international criminal gangs which blight our continent. "We must work with our neighbours to take stronger, more effective measures against terrorists, gun-runners, people-traffickers and paedophile rings. "Now is the time for Britain to take the lead in ensuring our police and security services work better together across Europe’s borders. To stop international criminals hurting British citizens here or elsewhere in Europe, the EU must co-operate more closely against crime. "Equally, the EU is critical in helping Britain and the world tackle climate change. In this paper we set out ideas for tougher, more ambitious EU targets for reducing carbon emissions. "Europe needs to act more effectively to confront all the problems of globalisation - whether it’s international crime, climate change, economic insecurity or terrorism. "Britain is safer, stronger and more effective in the EU, and Liberal Democrat proposals in this paper would reinvigorate EU policies for those global challenges." Shaping Our World Through a Strong Europe also calls for:· More action at EU level to tackle climate change and ensure reliable energy supplies including: increasing the EU’s target for reducing carbon emissions to 30% by 2020.· Vigorous support for the Agenda for Economic Reform, and for the completion of the Single Market.· More accountability in budget-setting within the EU, including fines for member states with poor financial management of funds.· British leadership for improved EU defence co-operation, calling for greater financial burden-sharing and more effective pan-European procurement.· More effective use of the subsidiarity principle in policy-making. · Reform agricultural and fisheries policy within the EU by transferring 30% of agricultural expenditure into rural development.

Thu 7th Aug 2008:

Government must protect families facing homelessness - Cable.

Commenting on new Halifax figures which show that house prices are now falling at their fastest rate since 1992, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "The collapse in house prices is concrete evidence of the strain British families are under. "People are now feeling the painful effects of a triple whammy of massive debts, high fuel costs and rising food prices. "With falling house prices and rising mortgage costs there is a real danger that many people could find themselves in negative equity and under serious threat of repossession. "It is critical that families facing homelessness and unaffordable debts are protected. The Government must ensure repossession is only ever an extreme last resort. "If action is not taken now the housing market may well suffer the same massive crash that we saw under the last Tory Government."

Ministers petrified to admit serious test result doubts - Laws.

Commenting on Ed Balls’ announcement that the publication of Key Stage 3 results at local authority level is to be delayed, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary, David Laws said: "Ed Balls’ announcement on Key Stage 3 results is a complete dog’s breakfast. It inspires no confidence at all in the quality of the results. "If the results are not now accurate enough to publish at a local authority level, they should have been held back at a national level too. "This announcement gives every impression of a Government which understands that there are serious doubts about the Key Stage 3 test results. But ministers are clearly too petrified to admit this. "It is getting clearer by the day that we need a radical overhaul of national testing, including the abolition of Key Stage 3 tests."

Home auction sale price has plunged by one fifth - Oakeshott.

The average price of homes sold at auction has fallen by almost one fifth since 2007, the Liberal Democrats warned today. Calculations by Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, Lord (Matthew) Oakeshott found that the average price of residential properties sold at auction in the second quarter of 2008 was down 18.7% from the same quarter of 2007. This is an average fall of £32,000 (from £170,757 to £138,857). Commenting, Lord Oakeshott said: "Auctions are the real deal with real buyers who have to exchange contracts and pay their deposit when the hammer falls. The published house price indices are well behind the market drop. "Deferring or suspending stamp duty with house prices in free fall would be like throwing a bucket of water at the Great Fire of London and risks sucking vulnerable first time buyers into negative equity. "Stamp duty needs serious long-term reform, not a quick fix to save Gordon Brown’s skin."

Patients have a right to pest-free hospitals - Gidley.

Commenting on figures released today that reveal there have been 20,000 incidents of pest infestation in NHS hospitals in the past two years, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley said: "People will be revolted by this news and need to know that vermin control is stopping the spread of disease. "Patients have a right to expect our hospitals are made pest free. "The public needs reassurance that these incidents are not large scale, not reaching clinical areas and are not endangering lives."

Prison overcrowding reveals Government's bankrupt policy - Howarth.

Commenting on today’s report by the UK Prison Reform Trust which reveals the twenty most overcrowded jails in Britain, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "These figures are truly shocking and show the bankruptcy of the Government’s penal policy. "The answer is not to build more prisons as they would soon themselves fill up. "We need a break with the past and a new approach that restricts prison sentences to those who really have to be there and uses more effective measures such as restorative justice and mental health treatment for those who do not."

Wed 6th Aug 2008:

Fresh food inflation more bad news for struggling families - Cable.

Commenting on a new survey from the British Retail Consortium which shows that fresh food inflation has hit double figures, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "This is more bad news for families who are already struggling to make ends meet. "Soaring food and fuel prices are already having a major impact on growth and this new makes it all the more likely that we are heading for a recession. "Gordon Brown allowed the British economy to get hopelessly out of control and we are no in fit state to weather the storm of higher food and fuel prices. "What Britain needs is real leadership to pull the economy through this downturn."

Patients have a right to pest-free hospitals - Gidley.

Commenting on figures released today that reveal there have been 20,000 incidents of pest infestation in NHS hospitals in the past two years, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley said: "People will be revolted by this news and need to know that vermin control is stopping the spread of disease. "Patients have a right to expect our hospitals are made pest free. "The public needs reassurance that these incidents are not large scale, not reaching clinical areas and are not endangering lives."

Government must ensure China treats UK protesters fairly - Davey.

Commenting on reports that two Britons have been arrested for displaying Free Tibet banners in Beijing, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "Considering this was a peaceful protest, it is essential that these people are immediately provided with consular access and legal advice. Then they must be either charged or released as soon as possible. "The Foreign Office must put pressure on the Chinese authorities to ensure that these protesters are treated fairly and with dignity. "The Chinese Government should not be using heavy-handed and repressive tactics to deal with peaceful protests."

Tue 5th Aug 2008:

Suspending stamp duty will worsen budget deficit - Cable.

Commenting on reports that the Government may temporarily suspend Stamp Duty, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "The Government shouldn’t be trying to bribe people into buying houses in a falling market. "With the economy grinding to a halt, we are already likely to see a shortfall in taxation. Suspending stamp duty, even on a temporary basis, will only make this situation worse. "The falls we are seeing in the housing market are painful, but necessary, if homes are to become affordable once more for those not on the property ladder. "Ministers allowed house prices to get hopelessly out of control. They must not now artificially prop up the market for political expediency. "The stamp duty is system is deeply unfair, as the slab structure creates massive distortions in the market, but this needs to be dealt with in a methodical way, not through panic decisions."

Economy on the brink of recession - Cable.

Commenting on today’s ONS announcement that the British economy may grow by only 0.1% in the second quarter, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "The British economy is now teetering on the brink of recession. "As people tighten their belts in the face of high food, fuel and debt costs, it is inevitable that growth will fall. "We are now facing the consequences of an economy which has been driven on the back of an unsustainable level of debt for several years. "As the credit binge ends, we are now feeling the hangover. "After years of ignoring the instabilities in the economy, Gordon Brown must act now to stop a slowdown becoming a recession."

Cameron must investigate vile campaign of criminal damage - Liberal Democrats.

Following the arrest of Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Watford, Ian Oakley, and his guilty plea today on five charges of criminal damage and two charges of harassment, Liberal Democrat Chair of Campaigns and Communications, Edward Davey has written to David Cameron demanding that he holds an urgent inquiry into the procedures and activities of Watford Conservative Party. Mr Oakley has also asked that 68 similar offences be taken into account. Liberal Democrats in Watford endured a sustained campaign of intimidation which was conducted over a period of three years and involved over 150 incidences of criminal damage and harassment against their Parliamentary Candidate Sal Brinton, councillors, candidates and ordinary members of the public who supported the Liberal Democrats. Edward Davey said: "This was a disgraceful and criminal campaign aimed at intimidating candidates and voters and subverting the democratic process. It is vital that David Cameron takes action to determine why Watford Conservatives failed to investigate the matter properly and to ensure that such an appalling course of events is never repeated." Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Watford said: "I am relieved that Ian Oakley has pleaded guilty and that the nightmare of the last three years may finally be coming to an end. This has been a traumatic period for all those who have suffered from his vile campaign to defame, intimidate and terrorise people, simply for expressing support for a political party."

Darling misled Parliament on Northern Rock loan - Cable.

Commenting on the announcement that the Government is converting £3.4bn of its loan to Northern Rock into ordinary shares, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "Alistair Darling assured Parliament that taxpayer loans to Northern Rock would be fully secured on mortgage assets. This is clearly not true. "£3.4bn of the Government’s loan to Northern Rock is now being converted into ordinary shares, which rank right at the bottom for repayment. Continuing losses at the bank put this money at great risk. "Other banks have taken the cream of Northern Rock’s mortgages, leaving the rest to curdle. "The scale of the problems at the bank underlines the extreme negligence and irresponsibility of Northern Rock’s previous management, and highlights the scale of the failure of regulation by the FSA. "The Government should now go after the former directors who have managed to shift the bank’s losses on to the taxpayer. Ministers must also go after the auditors who failed to spot glaring problems and mounting bad debt. "The Chancellor and the Government were totally irresponsible for failing to heed my warnings from last October that the bank should be stopped from giving out 125% ‘together mortgages’. These shocking figures show Northern Rock has £6.3bn in unsecured loans. It was clear even then that they could never be repaid in a falling housing market."

SATs shambles a disgrace - Brooke.

Commenting on today’s Key Stage 2 SATs results, Liberal Democrat Children Spokesperson, Annette Brooke said: "The shambles surrounding the marking of this year’s tests are a disgrace. 460 schools still do not have results for all of their pupils. "The Government must now waive the re-marking costs to schools for this year’s exams. It would be totally wrong for schools to pay the price for the Government’s and ETS’ incompetence. "Yet again, ministers have failed to meet their own targets. Too many children will be starting secondary school without having a good grasp of the core subjects.

Reckless lending has led to Northern Rock losses- Cable.

Commenting on the news that Northern Rock will tomorrow be announcing losses of half a billion pounds since nationalisation, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable said: "These figures confirm the suspicion, held by many of us, that the Government and the regulators were badly deceived by Northern Rock’s former managers when they agreed to bail it out on the basis that it was a good bank with a good loan portfolio. "Some of us suspected at the time, and it is now clear, that reckless lending by the managers, in some cases to well in excess of the value of the property, was going to lead to large numbers of borrowers being unable to sustain their mortgage payments in difficult times. "I am encountering cases of people being repossessed as a result of deeply foolish loans and the bank and the taxpayer who now own Northern Rock are having to absorb the resulting losses. The one redeeming feature of the current situation is that when markets recover, the Government will be able to retrieve some value from the sale of the bank which would not have been the case had they underwritten the losses of a privately run bank, as was their original plan."

42-day proposal nothing to do with fighting terrorism - Howarth.

Commenting on today’s House of Lords Constitution Committee report on the Government’s proposals to extend the maximum detention of terrorist suspects to 42-days, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "The 42-day proposal has everything to do with politics and nothing at all to do with the struggle against terrorism. It should be dropped immediately. "The Government’s insistence that Parliament will not have to decide individual cases is incredible. I’m glad this committee has helped to expose ministers’ misleading claims."

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