Lib Dem News
Social care commitment needed from Labour and Tories says Lamb
Commenting following today’s cross party Age UK, at which the health spokespeople of the three main parties met to discuss the reform of social care, Norman Lamb said:
“It’s clear from today’s social care summit that voters want politicians to come together and solve one of the biggest social challenges facing our country.
“We need long-term solutions to this problem so that older people are treated with the respect they deserve. We cannot continue with the current system where people have to sell their homes to pay for care and the quality of care on offer is not up to scratch.
“There was broad agreement that solving the crisis in social care is going to require a partnership between the state and individuals and if the other parties are willing then there is no reason why the current differences in opinion should be insurmountable.
“Liberal Democrats want to put an end to the political bickering. We are willing to work with the other parties to solve this problem once and for all. There should be no preconditions and we are open to all ideas that seek a solution that will be fair, affordable and sustainable.
“Rather than shouting at each other let’s have a commitment from all three parties to start finding a solution now.”
We must rebalance our foreign policy that is over-reliant on the US
Nick Clegg said:
“Gordon Brown and David Cameron want to pretend that foreign policy is not an issue at the General Election. Gordon Brown doesn’t want to remind voters of the disastrous decision to go to war in Iraq. David Cameron doesn’t want to remind voters that he is friendless in Europe.
“The real truth is that the future of British foreign policy is as much in the balance as the future of our economy, or the future of our political system.
“This election is an opportunity to turn the page on the Labour-Conservative consensus on foreign policy which has been in place since the Suez crisis: one of following what the White House wants rather than leadership in Europe and the world.
“Of course our relationship with the US is of immense importance, but that should not mean that Britain unquestionably does what America wants when it is not in our interests to do so. On Iraq, on Russia, on the Middle East, on the interrogation of torture suspects and many other issues our strategic interests have differed.
“Baroness Manningham-Buller’s admission that the US kept our security forces in the dark about unacceptable interrogation techniques only confirms the impression of an unbalanced and unequal relationship.
“That is why, in the same way we must rebalance an economy that is over-reliant on bankers, we must rebalance foreign policy that is over-reliant on the White House. It is time to repatriate British foreign policy by standing tall in our European backyard and pursuing a policy of partnership – not followership – with our friends in the US.
“At this General Election only the Liberal Democrats realise what is at stake and are prepared to spell out what a different foreign policy would look like.”
Liberal Democrats launch policy for young people
Launching the paper at The Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey, the policy outlined how the Liberal Democrats will ensure that all young people have better access to after-school facilities, comprehensive support and training for those entering the workplace and legislation in place to stamp out homophobic bullying.
The paper includes proposals to:
- Introduce a new ‘Paid Internship’ scheme allowing 800,000 young people to receive a ‘Training Allowance’ of £55 a week for up to 3 months
- Support schools, colleges and apprenticeship schemes to promote opportunities for disabled children and young people
- Immediately remove young people under 16 from the National DNA Database unless they have committed a sexual or violent offence
- Ensure that all schools include ways to tackle homophobic bullying and at least one teacher in every school has sufficient training to do so
- Cut back on bureaucracy and red tape so youth organisations are free to be creative and flexible
“It is clear that Labour will continue to fail our young people and the Conservatives will ignore them completely.
“While youth organisations are left to do their vital work on a shoestring, greedy bankers are bailed out by the taxpayer and flaunt their bonuses while we watch every penny.
“Our young people will inherit an economy where it is tougher then ever to enter the work place.
“It is high time that realistic measures are put in place to support the future workforce from mass unemployment and crippling debt.
“Only the Liberal Democrats will give young people and those who work with them the chance for a real future.”
Brown is leading with a weak hand says Cable
Responding to the Prime Minister’s economic speech this morning and the announcement of the Budget date, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:
“Gordon Brown’s speech shows he is leading with a weak hand.
“It’s very difficult to see how the man who claimed to have abolished boom and bust can campaign on his stewardship of the economy after the greatest bust for decades.
“The only reason he is, of course, is because the Conservatives are even worse. The only consistent thing about their economic policy is that they have been consistently wrong.
“The Budget must clearly spell out where Labour intend to make spending cuts in order to tackle the budget deficit. All we have seen from the Prime Minister today is more waffle.
“Gordon Brown admits that there are bumps in the road ahead. The public know that and expect all parties to follow the Liberal Democrat lead and tell them where the bumps are and how we will be navigating our way over and around them.”
Half of schools not good enough says Laws
Commenting on today’s Ofsted figures, which show that half the schools they inspected last term were considered to be no better than ‘satisfactory’, David Laws said:
“Labour has had 13 years to get a grip on education, but thousands of children still attend schools which are not considered to be providing good standards.
“In spite of the controversy about whether these figures can be compared with earlier years, the bottom line is that half of schools inspected were not good enough.
“We need more well-led and properly funded schools if we are to address the disadvantages faced by so many young people in Britain.”
Cameron in complete disarray over NI deal says Carmichael
Commenting after a vote at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alistair Carmichael said:
“It’s time for David Cameron to come clean about the position of his new alliance on policing and justice.
“With the UUP saying one thing, and the Tories saying the complete opposite, voters will struggle to understand what exactly joint Tory/UUP candidates stand for.
“What we’re seeing is the Tories in complete disarray. When it takes George Bush to step in as the voice of reason, it’s clear that David Cameron has dug himself a very big hole.
“This raises serious questions about David Cameron’s judgement. If he can’t manage to steer a straight course in opposition, how on earth would he cope as Prime Minister?”
Lord Taverne requests House of Lords investigate Ashcroft
The Honours Scrutiny Committee withdrew its objections to Lord Ashcroft becoming a peer on the basis of his clear undertaking that he would “take up permanent residence in the United Kingdom again before the end of the calendar year”.
Commenting, Lord Taverne said:
“If Lord Ashcroft’s undertaking was broken, or significantly changed without the House of Lords being informed, that would be a serious breach of the Code of Conduct.
“Lord Ashcroft does not appear to have been straight with the Lords. This directly contravenes the principles of standards in public life and therefore raises the question of his suitability for public office.
“Transparency and honour are vital to maintain the standing and good name of the House of Lords. The opaque and secretive nature of Lord Ashcroft’s behaviour risks bringing the House of Lords into disrepute.”
Export figures are deeply alarming says Cable
Commenting on the news that UK exports took their biggest plunge in more than three years during January, Vince Cable said:
“These are deeply alarming figures which suggest that British exporters simply haven’t been able to take advantage of the big devaluation which occurred in the last year.
“They suggest that the long term decline and neglect of British manufacturing has taken its toll and that an awful lot more needs to be done to rebalance the economy to make it more competitive.
“It is wrong to suggest that the British economy can escape from this recession by just relying on exports. It just isn’t happening.
“Exports are one modest part of the national economy. We need an economy that is strong and secure across the board – and the Liberal Democrats are committed to delivering that.”
Tory social care ‘poll tax’ will only help the wealthy says Lamb
The figures, released ahead of tomorrow’s cross-party social care conference, undermine Conservative claims that their plans would enable older people to pass their homes on to their children as two thirds of pensioner households would have to sell or release equity from their homes to pay for the private insurance scheme.
The figures reveal that:
- 63% of pensioner couple households (1.4m) do not have non-housing assets of £16,000 (cost of insurance to cover both pensioners)
- 71% of single female pensioner households (1.6m) do not have non-housing assets of £8,000
- 64% of single male pensioner households (600,000) do not have non-housing assets of £8,000
“The reality is that Conservative social care plans are unworkable, unfair and unaffordable for the majority of pensioners in this country and do nothing to pay for the costs of care at home.
“This is basically a ‘poll tax’ and many people on modest means will be wondering how the Tories could think it’s fair that they should pay the same amount for care as multi-millionaires.
“David Cameron needs to start being honest with older voters. Most couples don’t have a spare £16,000 to cover an insurance premium and it’s incredibly dishonest to say this will stop people from having to sell their homes to pay for care.
“The Tories need to explain how they’re going to get the numbers to add up on this plan especially as the private insurance market has failed to get people interested. Perhaps this is yet another example where the Tories need a little help when it comes to using a calculator.
“Whoever wins the next election cannot avoid the fact that we’re facing a crisis in funding for care. What we need is a long-term solution which is both fair and affordable in the long-term.”
Police must be able to monitor sex offenders on social network sites
In a letter to the Home Secretary, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne called for both the failures of conventional monitoring and the inadequacy of internet monitoring to be put right.
Commenting, Chris Huhne said:
“Our procedures are still lagging behind the development of the internet, since we do not even require the registration of IP and email addresses of sex offenders, which has now become typical in the United States. This would allow police to monitor social networking activity.
“It is also disappointing that Facebook, which was used by Peter Chapman to make contact with Ashleigh Hall, is the only big social networking site not to install the button that allows users to get advice on, and to report, suspicious on-line activity from so-called friends.
“If Bebo and MSN can install the button from the Child Exploitation and On-line Protection Centre, then so can Facebook.
“Until Facebook acts on this, its protestations that it cares passionately about the safety of people who use its site will look like empty words. Facebook urgently needs to take this clear, simple and practical step.”
Mop cupboards no place to treat patients says Lamb
Commenting on today’s Nursing Times survey which revealed nurses are being asked to treat patients in mop cupboards, Norman Lamb said:
“It is absolutely unacceptable that patient care is being compromised in this way.
“Labour’s failure to put patient care above its obsession with targets has meant that nurses are being forced to treat people in completely inappropriate places.
“Labour seems to have lost sight of the basic importance of dignity and care.
“A mop cupboard is no place to treat a patient.”
Vince Cable delivers speech to Reform Scotland
Extracts from the speech are below:
We need to rethink our approach to banking. Successive Labour and Conservative Governments have left Britain vulnerable to an over-inflated financial services sector, where institutions became too big to fail.
On a UK level – where British banks are 4.5 times bigger in terms of their liabilities than the country’s economy – this is bad enough. But in Scotland, this has been still more pronounced. At the time they got into trouble, RBS’ and HBOS’ liabilities were 25 times the size of Scotland’s economy.
We have to break up the banks, in particular the vast Lloyds group, and bring the Bank of Scotland home. This would not only help protect us from the threat of banks that are too big to fail – it would also increase diversity in Scotland’s financial sector and competition on the high street.
Until the banks are split up, the Liberal Democrats believe that they should pay for the guarantees they receive which is why we would introduce a 10% levy on banks’ supplementary profits.
The publicly-owned banks have an important role to play in ensuring credit is available to the sound and solvent small and medium sized businesses who are the drivers of our economic recovery.
Worryingly, the FSB estimates that around 1/5 of small businesses in Scotland are reliant on credit cards to finance their business. This suggests RBS and Lloyds are not living up to their obligations - obligations which Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are meant to enforce.
The Government needs to get a grip on these banks, which after all are publicly owned, and ensure they provide credit to sound small and medium sized businesses so that they can survive and expand. This will protect jobs and ensure that growth isn’t damaged. This is where RBS’ money should be being spent, rather than being thrown away on extortionate bonuses.
What has to emerge from the current crisis is a sustained recovery not an ephemeral or unstable one; not another bubble; not a boom which depends on the fickle fortunes of the banking sector.
And that is why the Liberal Democrats want to underpin stable, sustainable growth by maintaining the operational independence of the Bank of England, investing in education and by supporting private institutional investment in Britain’s infrastructure through the creation of an Infrastructure Bank.
We do not approach any difficult spending decisions with relish. We realise that we are dealing with staff who have a real sense of public service and with services which are valued.
What is needed is a calm and rational plan, a proactive rather than reactive approach, identifying the priority steps which need to be taken to reduce government spending.
There are fundamental changes that need to be made to how the British state operates- axing much of the command and control system overseeing local government and NHS administration, scrapping expensive Home Office projects like ID cards and some substantial reductions in defence procurement such as Trident.
I have to tell you that I have had the pleasure of receiving not one but two letters from Alex Salmond regarding the Scottish Government’s spending plans for 2010-11.
As is the case in all elections, we will be laying out plans for tax and spending for each year of the next Parliament in our manifesto and have assured Mr Salmond that Liberal Democrat plans would not reduce the Scottish budget but in fact increase it.
Mr Salmond acknowledged in his correspondence that from 2011-12, the public sector will face several years of fiscal austerity in Scotland, as well as the rest of the UK.
The Liberal Democrats have led the way on coming up with a credible and rational plan to deal with the deficit - its time that other parties displayed the same openness and honesty with the British people. To that end, I have asked Mr Salmond if he will follow our lead and set out how the Scottish government intends to meet higher budget controls in the coming years.
Miliband and Brown trying to rewrite history says Davey
Commenting on David Miliband’s appearance before the Chilcot Inquiry, Edward Davey said:
“David Miliband and Gordon Brown are on a PR offensive to rewrite the history of the Iraq War.
“The idea that the UK upheld international law by invading Iraq is pure Labour doublespeak.
“Iraq diminished our standing in the Middle East and the wider world and divided us from our natural allies.
“Nobody will listen to Labour when it comes to restoring Britain’s reputation abroad.”
Labour has neglected carers says Lamb
Commenting on the report by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers which reveals that only 23% of the money allocated to help carers was used in this way, Norman Lamb said:
“The Government has completely neglected the vital work that carers do and this report is further evidence of the scale of the problem.
“Labour’s cuts are already biting across the NHS and their failure to cut back on waste means that it is the most vulnerable who are losing out.
“This report highlights the need for a guarantee to respite care which only the Liberal Democrats are committed to.”
Nick Clegg accuses Conservatives of ‘a crude form of blackmail’
Speaking to party workers, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg accused the Conservatives of ‘a crude form of blackmail’ by encouraging fears of a fall in the stock market.
Nick Clegg said:
“The Conservatives are so desperate that they have resorted to a crude form of blackmail.
“David Cameron and George Osborne are stoking up fears in the markets, actively trying to destabilise the pound and reduce the Government’s ability to borrow.
“It’s like a protection racket: vote for us or our friends in the City will lay waste to your economy, your savings and your job.
“There is nothing positive in the Conservatives’ election strategy. It’s built entirely on the hatred of Gordon Brown, stoking up fears of a broken society and now threatening economic meltdown.
“It’s a strategy that is completely negative and without hope, and it’s becoming increasingly obvious that people aren’t going to fall for it.”
Launch of the Campaign for Body Confidence
A panel of experts including fashion writer and broadcaster Caryn Franklin and author of Fat is a Feminist Issue, Susie Orbach, will debate measures to tackle the harm caused by pressure to conform to unrealistic and unhealthy body image ideals. Other attendees include Girlguides, Linda Papadopoulous and the world’s leading body image experts.
The event will mark the launch of the Campaign for Body Confidence.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, Lynne Featherstone said:
“Since the Liberal Democrats launched the Real Women campaign last year, we have been inundated with messages of support from people who are fed up of the constant pressure to live up to totally unrealistic ideals of beauty.
“Unrealistic and unhealthy ideas of what’s beautiful mean people suffer with anything from low self-esteem to serious eating disorders, which is why we are launching the Campaign for Body Confidence.
“Politicians, media figures, modelling agencies, mental health experts and ordinary people will be asked to pledge to campaign against this dangerous trend.”
Commenting, Susie Orbach said:
“I welcome this debate. The body image pressure on girls and women constitutes a public health emergency. I hope that the Government will take urgent measures to prevent the commercial world preying on young girls.”
Commenting, Caryn Franklin said:
“There is a responsibility in creating fashion imagery in a digital age. All Walks Beyond the Catwalk, launched in September 2009, has introduced the process of working with a range of models in size and age at London Fashion Week with the goal of offering more realistic fashion imagery to women who feel ill-served by what is currently in existence.”
Liberal Democrats celebrate International Women's Day
"I am pleased to add my support to International Women's Day. It is crucial that people are able to come together to celebrate the achievements of women around the world. However this is not a time to just be reflective but also a time to look forwards and work together to stamp out all signs of inequality that threatens to undermine our society."
"As the first woman from the Turkish community to be elected as councillor, I am a strong supporter of International Women's Day, and campaigner for more women in public life. We must join forces and speak out against the continuing evil of so-called 'honour killings', most recently the terrible death of a young Turkish woman, Tulay Goren. Woman across the world continue to suffer. We have a duty to be the voice and the change that will make a difference to their lives."
"I'm delighted to support International Women's Day because I think it's
important we remember the struggle of women both past and present to
win the right to vote and to stand for election. As a new Mum running
for Parliament I still get asked - Why isn't your partner standing
instead? How can you do it with a baby? You're not going to breastfeed
here are you? We need to keep on working for equality so that little
girls born today enjoy even greater opportunities and are supported in
their dreams."
"The fight for women's equality is not finished. And as lucky as I am to work for a party where equality and fairness runs through our very bones, some women do not have the same luxury. As a second generation Ghanaian, I am aware of the shocking poverty women and girls in Africa face on a daily basis. Though I shake my head in despair and give a sum of money each month to a charity, the visceral pain some women still face shakes me to my very core. We must not forget and we must not get complacent. We still have a fight, so lets win it together."
"Taking this day to pause and remember the struggles of women throughout history to seek equal opportunity remains as vital as it always has been. Clara Zetkin's original ideals of pressing for female equality resound as true now as they did nearly one hundred years ago. International Women's Day marks the triumphs of women and girls around the globe and on this day we stand together, looking forward, to improving education, increasing representation and eradicating inequality.”
"I support International Women's Day because I feel that women are still
the unsung hero's of modern British society. While things have
progressed since my mother's generation - for example there are many
more women in work - the pressure on women has also grown
exponentially. Women can now be a mum, partner and career woman all at
the same time but are often less paid. We should celebrate our
achievements but realise there is still a long way to go before true
equality. Just take Parliament as an example: 51% of the population
represented by 20% of MPs! Shocking. Come on ladies, let's make this
election count!"
"I’m delighted to be one of millions of women celebrating International
Women’s Day today. Across the world, women boast extraordinary
achievements. Despite poverty, we raise families. Despite
discrimination, we excel and prosper. Despite pressures to fulfil roles
that are defined for us, we can be strong, confident and secure in
ourselves. To all young girls, I say one thing - become the woman you
want to be."
"I'm supporting International Women's Day because women are the answer to many of the world's problems and investing in women's education, empowerment, and entrepreneurship will change the world."
“How wonderful to have a global day celebrating women, the roles we
play in the home and our achievements in society. May I wish all women
the courage of their convictions, and the ability to greet each
challenge with a smile!”
"I support International Women's Day to recognise the role of women in society throughout the world and it is essential that their determination be celebrated across the world."
CBI submission highlights Government’s dangerous position says Cable
Responding to the CBI’s submission to the Chancellor urging him to use his last Budget before the election to set out more details of spending plans for government departments in order to boost confidence in the UK’s public finances and provide economic stability, Vince Cable said:
“This submission highlights how dangerous the Government’s position is.
“The country can’t afford to have political parties playing politics with the public finances.
“The British people and the markets have the right to know how and when each political party will tackle the deficit.
“The Liberal Democrats have made it clear that the point at which we cut spending will be based on economics and not political dogma.
“While Labour buries its head in the sand and the Tories mire themselves in confusion, only the Liberal Democrats have produced a credible and coherent plan for dealing with the deficit.”
Schools expected to raise their game in exchange for funding and freedom
Nick Clegg will argue that in return for the investment of an additional £2.5bn in schools, teachers will be put under pressure to ‘raise their game’ to reinvent the curriculum, increase the number of children achieving good results and close the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their wealthier classmates.
He will also attack the Conservatives for pledging to help poorer pupils without allocating any funding to pay for it and accuse the Government of ‘not funding, but buying’ schools
To give every child a fair start in life, the Liberal Democrats will spend an extra £2.5bn on schools, guaranteeing them the money they need to support children who are struggling.
Nick Clegg will say:
“Today, I ask our schools and colleges to sign up to a deal with the Liberal Democrats: We will give you everything we can. We will find you extra funding, even while elsewhere there are cuts. We will give a level of freedom you haven’t known for decades. But, in return, we will place the greatest expectations on you any government ever has.
“One - we will expect you to transform the curriculum, so that it is rich, relevant, and stretches the brightest pupils while elevating those who struggle. Two - we will be much more ambitious about the number of young men and women leaving school with good results. Three – we will expect you to close the gap between poorer children and their wealthier classmates. A gap which entrenches inequality in Britain today.
“That deal is a new settlement for schools and government. Once it is in place we will get on with governing, you will get on with teaching, and children will benefit most of all. Let’s take our side of the bargain first. We are proposing an extra investment of £2.5bn for our schools. Around an extra £2,500 will be allocated for each pupil in receipt of free school meals. Raising the amount allocated for the poorest children to levels spent per pupil in fee-paying schools.
“The budgets of schools with similar catchments, but in different parts of the country, can vary wildly. Our Pupil Premium ensures every school taking a child from a disadvantaged background, no matter where it is, gets extra money to provide extra support.
“Money you can spend as you see fit – perhaps to cut class sizes, provide extra one-to-one tuition, evening or weekend classes. It would be up to you.
“Unlike the Conservatives, who have promised money to help poorer pupils without actually allocating a single penny to pay for it, we want to give schools certainty about the resources they can expect.
“So, to be absolutely clear: our Pupil Premium is new money. As the IFS pointed out earlier this week, unless a Pupil Premium is funded with extra cash, many schools – particularly secondaries – will suffer significant budget cuts.
“Labour didn’t fund schools, they bought schools. The price of unprecedented investment was untrammelled control.
“So, more freedom, more funding, that is our side of the bargain. What about yours? We will give you money, we will cut the reins, but our expectations on you will be high. We will expect you to reinvent the curriculum so it is broad and relevant. We will expect you to increase the number of children achieving good results. We will expect you to close the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their wealthier peers.
“I am tired of the buck passing that dominates the debate over education in this country. When pupils do badly, government blames schools, schools blame government, and parents are left watching endless finger-pointing that does nothing to help their children.
“We want to make Britain a place where it is no longer possible, on a pupil’s first day of school, to predict how well they’ll do simply by asking them how much their parents earn.
“So, a deal between government and schools: Money and freedom in return for high expectations and more ambition.”
Brown’s Iraq admission shows he cannot be trusted says Clegg
Commenting on Gordon Brown’s appearance at the Iraq inquiry, Nick Clegg said:
“This was the day Gordon Brown finally had to come clean and admit that he believes the Iraq war was right.
“We now know we were betrayed by Gordon Brown and we were betrayed by the Labour Party.
“How can we trust a man who still believes that this illegal war and all the horror it has caused was right?
“When the Liberal Democrats were the only party to oppose this immoral invasion we didn’t just speak for us, we spoke for the nation.”
