20 Most Recent Stories From Liberal Democrats : All News Feed

Wed 9th Jul 2008:

Cameron must apologise to the people of Glasgow East - Clegg

Visiting Glasgow East today, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has called on David Cameron to apologise for his claims that the problems of the constituency’s people are their own fault. Speaking to the voters of Glasgow East, Nick Clegg said: "This by-election is about who can deliver hope to the East End of Glasgow, an area that has been taken for granted by Labour for many years. "The Labour party has let this community down for the last 11 years and does not deserve another chance. The SNP simply want to use you as pawns in their Holyrood political games. "David Cameron claimed here on Monday that you were the example of everything that is wrong with this country and that your problems are all your own fault. "He should apologise for that disgraceful slur on the real people who struggle hard every day to make a good life for their family in a place that has been brutally neglected by Labour and Conservative politicians for decades. "I have been lucky enough to have had opportunities in my life. But I believe there is no place in politics for those who have been lucky or privileged to show such contempt for the poor and the forgotten. "There is a simple choice in this by-election. Labour offer the politics of neglect. The SNP offer the politics of opportunism. The Conservatives offer the politics of contempt. Only the Liberal Democrats offer the politics of hope."

Convicted sex offenders allowed to work as driving instructors - Rennie

Learner drivers are still at risk from driving instructors convicted of sexual offences, the Liberal Democrats have revealed. Despite alerting the Department for Transport two years ago to a legal loophole which allows driving instructors to continue to work after being convicted of sexual offences, legislation has still not been introduced to allow for their suspension. The issue was first raised in Parliament two years ago by Liberal Democrat MP, Willie Rennie after one of his constituents was sexually assaulted by her driving instructor. Commenting, Willie Rennie said: "The inability of the Driving Standards Agency to remove sexual offenders from their register leaves the public at risk. "I am aware of at least two driving instructors in that time who have been convicted of sexual assault and will not have been immediately suspended from the register. "When I raised the issue two years ago, the Government admitted there was a problem. It is staggering that two years have passed and still no legislation has been introduced to allow for immediate suspension. "This was urgent two years ago - I cannot believe it has not been dealt with."

Value of homes sold at auction plummeting - Oakeshott

The average value of houses sold at auction between March and May 2008 was 17% lower than during the same period last year, according to research by Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, Lord (Matthew) Oakeshott. The figures, based on the sale price of 4,748 properties from around the country showed a fall from an average of £169,200 to £140,500. The annual price fall accelerated to 18.5% in May. Between March and May, 57% of all properties offered at auction were sold, raising £667 million, against a sale rate of 74% the year before (source: Essential Information Group). Commenting, Lord Oakeshott said: "Auctions are the sharp end of the housing market where real deals show the prices paid by real buyers. The published house price indices are well behind the game. "Unlike Caroline Flint and the other amateurs in Whitehall talking about 5% to 10% falls, property professionals are pricing in a 16.5% fall in the Halifax House Price Index over the next year and 26.5% over the next three years. "Ministers must wake up now and let housing associations and councils buy empty homes for social housing to rent. "The feeble Government response to the housing crash so far has been like throwing pennies down a drain."

Tagging not taken seriously by offenders - Huhne

Commenting on Government figures showing a huge rise in the number of tagged suspects breaching their curfews, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "This enormous rise in breaches shows that electronic tags are not taken seriously by a large number of the people who wear them. "If the Government is serious about using tags as a viable alternative to remand, then it must examine how durable and effective they are. "Electronic tagging can be effective in dealing with low-level offenders but only if the system is well-organised and well-policed." Commenting on the further revelation that more than 5,000 prisoners freed early had previously been assessed as too much of a risk to be released wearing electronic tags, Chris Huhne said: "These figures expose the massive flaws in both the Government’s tagging and early release policies. "When criminals deemed too dangerous to be released with tags on their ankles are then considered fit to be freed early, it makes a mockery of the whole criminal justice system."

British public sick of the erosion of freedoms - Huhne

Commenting on today’s Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust survey which finds that 60% of people believe the upper limit for detaining terrorist suspects should be 28 days or fewer, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "When defending illiberal measures like detention for 42 days and the DNA database, ministers often cite the support of public opinion. "These figures demonstrate that the British public have listened to the debate and are a lot more liberal than Labour give them credit for. "This shows just how out of touch ministers are with the views of the British people. It is clear they are becoming sick and tired with the continual erosion of the freedoms that this country was once famous for."

Tue 8th Jul 2008:

Police wrong to target drugs not knives - Huhne

Commenting on stop and search figures contained in the Statistics on race and the criminal justice system in 2006-7 report released today by the Government, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "The police have got their priorities wrong when there were four times as many stop and searches for drugs as for offensive weapons like knives. "In the current climate, more stop and search must be targeted at those who are carrying the knives and guns which are blighting our streets. "The figures show that 42% of searches were for drugs, 22% for stolen property, 10% for offensive weapons and just 1% for firearms. "The sheer amount of paperwork required shows just how crucial it is that proposals to streamline stop and search forms are introduced without delay." Commenting on figures showing the rise in reported racially motivated crime is substantially lower than the British Crime Survey’s figures, Chris Huhne said: "It is appalling that racially-motivated incidents have risen so sharply and that victims feel that it is not worth reporting them to the police. "The contrast between reported racial incidents and the survey evidence is a wake-up call for the police in their relations with minority communities."

Government emissions target wrong - Webb

Commenting on the growing Labour rebellion over the Climate Change Bill, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said: "Climate change is bigger than any one political party, so support for the Liberal Democrat campaign for an 80% cut by 2050 is welcomed wherever it comes from. "The Government has got the emissions target wrong and once again it looks like its own backbench MPs will have to rebel to get ministers to do the right thing. "Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron must come off the fence on this issue. By allowing his Tories to constantly abstain David Cameron is showing how hollow his green credentials really are. "The Climate Change Bill is too important to be watered down. The Liberal Democrats will be tabling an amendment today to make sure there will be a vote on the 80% target."

Further house price falls bring more pain to homeowners - Cable

Commenting on government figures showing house prices dropped by 0.3% in May to hit a 26-month low, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "The continuing fall in house prices comes as no surprise, but will bring more pain to homeowners. "Since the start of the decade house prices have soared out of control, unchecked by the Government and fuelled by irresponsible lending. "With living costs spiralling and borrowing becoming ever more unaffordable a housing market crash is inevitable. "As hard pressed families struggle to make ends meet it is critical that the Government helps people who are facing repossession. "Councils should be allowed to buy up empty homes to meet much needed demand in social housing. "Ministers must act now to avoid a repeat of the half million repossessions we saw during the Tory recession of the 1990s."

Heathrow delay could be chink of light - Baker

Commenting on Ruth Kelly’s announcement that a decision on Heathrow’s expansion has been delayed, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "Today’s delay could be a chink of light for those fighting against Heathrow’s expansion. "It looks like the Government has realised quite how unpopular its policy is and is now looking for a way out. "Alternatively it could be that BAA is away on holiday and Ruth Kelly is simply awaiting further instructions from the aviation industry."

Urban derelict land should be transformed for the community - Clegg

Derelict land in urban areas should be transformed to meet the need for more quality public spaces that foster community bonds and reduce anti-social behaviour, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg will say today in an event hosted by the think-tank Demos. Speaking at the Southwark Lido, a project that transformed a piece of undeveloped land for use by the local community, Nick Clegg will speak about the importance of changing the settings in which politics is conducted to make it more engaging and responsive. Nick Clegg will say: "Shared space is vital in fostering the bonds that create happy communities. "But when there’s no clear ownership, the danger is that these spaces become dominated by anti-social behaviour. And people retreat into their private space instead. "Public spaces that are open to all - like parks and shopping areas - need careful design. "Our focus should not just be on grand public spaces with beautiful public art - valuable though they can be. "Design also has the potential to bring together small groups of people to create definable, cohesive communities. Through shared gardens, shared play areas, or even just a shared alleyway. Calling for communities to be more involved in transforming public spaces through participatory planning, Nick Clegg will say: "It’s because our physical experience of the world is so shaped by the built environment that people get so passionate about new development, even if that passion is often directed to opposing the granting of planning permission. "But consultation exercises are not enough. Especially if they are ignored. "There is nothing more destructive to people’s faith in politics than to have their views sought, and then overruled. That’s why I’m so excited about the development of participatory planning. "Not just coming up with an idea and asking communities if they like it. But actually engaging them at an early stage in developing the whole concept of what is to be built, and how it will work. "People have lost faith that they can influence the world around them. Giving them the tools not only to influence but to shape the physical space around them is the perfect antidote to this loss of power. "A physical reminder, encountered every day, that you as an individual can change, and have changed, the world. In the same way that an unwelcome new development would be a constant physical reminder that you as an individual have been ignored. "Participatory planning shouldn’t be a special process, rolled out for flagship developments alone. It should be part and parcel of the basic structure of our planning system."

Language problems must be identified early - Laws

Commenting on today’s Government-commissioned review that says all children should be assessed for language problems when they start school, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary, David Laws said: "There needs to be far more investment in the early identification and intervention on language problems, rather than the current concentration on national testing after problems have already emerged. "Young children should be assessed when they begin school so that teachers are aware of their specific needs. "National testing needs to be reformed so that that it aids personalised learning as well as holding schools to account. "We know that early intervention can do much to help children with communication difficulties. Ministers must focus on driving up the quality of pre-school education so all young children get the best start in life."

BBC bosses should cut their massive pay - Foster

Commenting on the BBC’s annual report which showed that BBC trustees and executives’ pay had increased by £1 million since last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "While Auntie remains a much loved institution, it’s quite clear that like many of us, she needs to lose a bit of weight. "As pay restraint is being forced on the public sector across the board, people will have little sympathy with BBC executives on high wages giving themselves massive pay increases. "The best way for the BBC to increase public confidence that it doesn’t waste money is to let the National Audit Office scrutinise its accounts. "However, we should all welcome the fact the BBC keeps on producing top quality content and remains the leading light in world broadcasting."

Treatment of Zimbabwean refugees more befits Mugabe's regime than British Government

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne and Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary Edward Davey today wrote to Jacqui Smith and David Miliband calling for the immediate suspension of deportations to Zimbabwe. The letter also calls for Zimbabwean refugees who are being held in secure accommodation to be released and allowed to work until the current desperate situation in Zimbabwe can be improved. Chris Huhne said: "I am concerned by the discrepancy that seems to exist between the Government’s criticism of Mugabe’s brutal regime and the treatment of Zimbabweans in this country. "Opponents of Mugabe’s regime are at serious risk of being tortured or killed if they are sent back to Zimbabwe. I am dismayed that the Home Office seems intent on pushing ahead with deportations at the earliest opportunity." Edward Davey said: "It is unacceptable for Zimbabweans to be held in immigration detention centres if, as the courts have ruled, they cannot be deported. Some are reported to have been held for 23 months. "This is a violation of human rights more befitting of Mugabe’s regime than a British government."

Government leaves biofuels questions unanswered - Baker

Responding to the Gallagher report into biofuels, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "Today’s statement from the Government is welcome, but it doesn’t go far enough. It has done nothing to close the loopholes which support unsustainable and inefficient US corn-based ethanol. "It also leaves many questions unanswered. Most importantly, the Government needs to explain how carbon emissions in the transport sector will be cut further now that the biofuels target has been watered down. "Tory policy, as far as it can be established, is even worse. They want to abandon science and throw the biofuel baby out with the bathwater."

Government will be defeated on 42 days - Thomas

The Government’s plans to hold suspects for 42 days without charge will be defeated in the House of Lords, the Liberal Democrats have pledged. Commenting ahead of the Second Reading of the Counter-Terrorism Bill in the House of Lords, Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General Lord (Martin) Thomas said, "Holding someone without charge for 42 days adds nothing of value to the investigation, prosecution or conviction of terrorists. "The Government’s proposals do not have serious support amongst senior police officers,  ex-government law officers, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the legal profession or indeed, anyone who knows anything about the criminal justice process.  "Gordon Brown’s clinging to the shreds of his discredited policy in the hope that he can pass off this ineffective and unprincipled stance as somehow 'tough' on terror.  "This draconian proposal will be defeated in the House of Lords."

Passenger satisfaction skidding off the tracks - Baker

Commenting on today’s National Passenger Survey by Passenger Focus, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "The fact that passengers are so dissatisfied with long distance rail travel shows how little this Government has done to make the railways a viable alternative to roads and airports. "Ministers have failed to invest in the future of the railways and so are forcing long distance operators to pack more and more passengers into smaller spaces. "Passenger satisfaction is skidding off the tracks, and until train travel is reliable, comfortable and offers value for money travellers will continue to choose other options."

Conservative tough talk no substitute for catching criminals - Huhne

Commenting on David Cameron’s proposals that knife-carrying should lead to an automatic prison sentence, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "Threatening prison is good for tabloid headlines but it means nothing if teenagers think they will not be caught. "Shockingly the detection rate for violent crime in the Metropolitan Police area is the lowest in the country, at just 30 per cent. "We need a visible police presence in high risk areas, intelligence-led stop and search, metal-detecting arches and a much better understanding in schools of what is at stake. "We should be showing video interviews with some of the remorseful young murderers who are only now realising the full enormity of what they have done."

Situation desperate for mentally ill prisoners - Howarth

Commenting on today’s Policy Exchange report Out of Sight, Out of Mind which reveals that mental health care in prisons is widely overlooked, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "This report highlights the desperate situation faced by prisoners with mental health problems. "The lack of funding for mental health treatment in prisons condemns vast numbers of mentally ill prisoners to a cycle of re-offending and a revolving door of short-term custodial sentences. "Overcrowding would be eased, re-offending reduced and more offenders would be successfully rehabilitated if people with serious mental health issues were treated in appropriate settings. Instead they are being given short-term prison sentences, during which very little can be achieved."

Government twiddles its thumbs as flawed system costs millions - Willott

Commenting on today’s Public Accounts Committee report on benefit fraud, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott said: "The benefits system is fundamentally flawed. Mistakes by officials are costing taxpayers millions while the Government twiddles its thumbs. "The benefits system has grown so complex that even officials can’t understand it. "Despite admitting the complexity of the system is largely to blame, ministers have failed to simplify it. They must act now before more taxpayer money is wasted."

Mon 7th Jul 2008:

Schools must help to tackle homophobic bullying - Clegg

Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg will today call on schools to be more effective in tackling homophobia in a speech to campaign group Stonewall. He will say: "How do we shape a society in which the bigotry and intolerance that fuel homophobia are isolated and driven out? Part of the solution is leadership. "So I urge Stonewall and those who share its values to keep pressing decision-makers and those in positions of authority to hear the voices of gay people. "And to speak for those gay people who feel inhibited from making their own voices heard, but whose rights are being abused." Commenting on the role schools can play in tackling homophobia, he will say: "I want to examine the unique role that schools can play in tackling homophobia and its consequences. They are a fundamental part of the daily life of millions of young people. "Parents rightly expect that teachers will not just educate their children in reading, writing and science. "But that they will care for pupils and protect their interests, so that they have the security and the confidence to make the best of their educational opportunities. "Two thirds of young gay people have experienced homophobic bullying at school. And almost one third say that an adult in the school environment is responsible for homophobic incidents. "Of course there are many teachers who do a great job in tackling discrimination against young gay people. And there are others who want to, but who feel conflicted about their role in doing so. That is the shameful legacy of the Conservatives’ Section 28." Commenting on how homophobia can be tackled better in the future, he will say: "I want better monitoring of homophobic incidents in schools. The Government should be made to face up to the true extent of homophobia in schools. "Schools’ performance in recognising and tackling homophobia should be an assessed criterion in OFSTED school inspections. We need to turn the spotlight on every school, and expose prejudice where it exists. "Having supportive, trained teachers to turn to should not be a matter of the luck of the draw for gay pupils. It should be available to every one of them. "If we can ensure that the teaching environment meets homophobic bullying with the same degree of outrage as it does racist bullying, and if we can ensure that teachers are confident to give proper recognition and support to gay people. We can reshape our schools into more accepting, open, and supportive environments."

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