News

15Apr 2021 by Morgan Leggett No Comments

Carmichael pays touching tribute to late friend Baroness Williams

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Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael today paid a fond tribute to Baroness Shirley Williams, who passed away on Monday. The Orkney and Shetland MP took the opportunity during Business Questions this morning to eulogise a woman the Liberal Democrat Party Leader Ed Davey had called a “Liberal lion and true trailblazer”. Addressing the House of Commons, Alistair Carmichael said: "Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker. Can I say to the Leader of the House I hope members from all parties may be allowed to pay some tribute to my late colleague and friend Baroness Williams of Crosby. "She was somebody who blazed a trail for women in politics for over five decades of public life in this country. She was blessed with a magic combination of both a fine political mind…

15Apr 2021 by Morgan Leggett No Comments

Mortgage prisoners: Lords offer vital relief

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The House of Lords has today passed a Lib Dem amendment that would allow individuals trapped in unaffordable mortgages, known as ‘mortgage prisoners’, to access mortgages with much fairer rates. Mortgage prisoners had their mortgages nationalised after the financial crash and then sold on by the Treasury to vulture funds or inactive lenders, and therefore have been stuck paying what MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has called “obscene interestrates”. The amendment, tabled by Lib Dem Peer John Sharkey, would require the introduction of a cap on the rates charged to mortgage prisoners and, under specified circumstances, ensure their access to fixed rate interest deals. Lib Dem Lords Treasury spokesperson Susan Kramer said: “So many stories from mortgage prisoners have been shared with me over the past few weeks, many of them quite frankly heartbreaking.“The overwhelming…

29Mar 2021 by Morgan Leggett No Comments

PCC Candidate’s View Policing in NW Derbyshire and New Mills

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The Liberal Democrat candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for Derby and Derbyshire, Stan Heptinstall, is delighted to hear that a “green light” has now been given to building a Police Response Hub somewhere in the High Peak area. Stan says: “This is exactly what is needed – a substantive police presence in North West Derbyshire. It is to be hoped that the plans can be approved, the funding put in place, and that real progress will be made as soon as is possible”. However, Stan has been contacted by people in New Mills about lack of progress in creating a full police presence in their town following closure of their police station back in 2017. Apparently, the current provision is less than adequate. Stan has promised to make restoring…

28Mar 2021 by Morgan Leggett No Comments

PCC Candidate’s View on Fox Hunting

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The Liberal Democrat candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for Derby and Derbyshire, Stan Heptinstall, responded to a request for his views on fox hunting. He said that he was totally opposed to this cruel “sport”. Since then, it has been reported that the Conservative PCC candidate has refused to offer her opinion on this matter and there are worrying reports on social media of the hunting fraternity referring to the Conservative candidate as “our candidate”. Stan says: “I cannot believe that a candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner could support barbaric and cruel acts that are illegal” and has called on the Conservative candidate to state her position.

26Mar 2021 by David Hancock No Comments

Introducing Stan Heptinstall: Lib Dem PCC Candidate for Derbyshire

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The Liberal Democrat candidate for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire is Stan Heptinstall. Stan served the whole of his working life as a senior academic in the Medical School at the University of Nottingham and is now an Emeritus Professor of the same university. Alongside his professional career he has always had a huge interest in his local community. He served for many years as a local councillor, attaining the position of Mayor. He was acclaimed for his representational role through the award of an MBE by the Queen and his appointment as an Honorary Alderman by those who appreciated his long service to local government. Stan describes himself as a “people person” and has always worked hard for others and especially those in any difficulty.…

14Mar 2021 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Lib Dems announce ‘outward looking’ and ‘Inclusive’ Derbyshire County Council manifesto

2021 Manifesto

Derbyshire Liberal Democrats have released their manifesto in the run-up to the County Council elections on 6th May 2021. 7 Key policies: Oppose Tory plans to replace local authorities with larger “super” unitary authorities.Develop new sources of revenue, such as traded services and green energy, develop more efficient ways of delivering services and prioritise resources to protect the most vulnerable in society.Protect and enhance high quality early years learningSupport traffic calming and 20 mph zones where they can be cost-effective in achieving this aim.Review the current road maintenance systems to both speed up and improve the quality of repairs to potholes.Work closely with Derbyshire residents to rapidly implement a Climate Action Plan which drastically cuts emissions over the next 10 years.Reverse Tory cuts to community transport and bus routes Liberal Democrat County Councillor, Sue Burfoot…

16Feb 2021 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Lib Dems call on Chancellor to give 118,345 carers in Derbyshire a break

Welfare

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to “give carers a break”, by giving councils immediate emergency funding so they can provide the support services unpaid carers need to take a weekly break. More than 118,000 people in Derbyshire (including Derby City) are looking after elderly, disabled or vulnerable people during the Covid pandemic. In a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, Ed Davey highlights research from Carers UK showing that nationally: 64% of carers have not been able to take any breaks from their caring role during the pandemic,74% feel exhausted and worn out as a result of caring during Covid, and44% say they are reaching breaking point. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to provide local authorities with emergency funding in his Budget on 3rd March…

07Jan 2021 by Ross Shipman No Comments

‘Parents should be able to access children’s TV programming during lockdown without the fear of being prosecuted’ say Lib Dems

Education

BBC TV is to help children keep up with their studies during the latest lockdown, by broadcasting lessons on BBC Two and CBBC, as well as online. Schools have been closed to most children across the UK as part of tougher measures announce by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday, in an attempt to control Covid-19. The BBC will show curriculum-based programmes on TV from Monday, 11th January 2021. They will include three hours of primary school programming every weekday on CBBC from 9am, and at least two hours for secondary pupils on BBC Two. During the first lockdown in the spring, lessons were available on iPlayer, red button and online, but not on regular TV channels. The move comes amid concerns that low-income families may struggle to afford data packages for…

03Jan 2021 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Primary schools must move to temporary remote learning to create time for a new, safe plan

Education

The Liberal Democrats are backing calls for all primary schools to move to remote learning until 18 January and urged Ministers to use that time to “get ahead of the virus” and publish a clear plan to open schools safely While the Party wants schools to remain open for vulnerable children and those of key-workers, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper has warned the Tories have “squandered every opportunity to get ahead of the virus” ” and are “wreaking havoc on people’s lives”. The intervention comes amidst growing concern for safety in schools, including headteachers launching legal action to force ministers to reveal data behind the decision for some schools to reopen. The Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to review testing strategies in schools and publish…

19Aug 2020 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Lib Dems call on PM to sack Gavin Williamson for “slow-motion car crash” on exams

Education, Young People

The Liberal Democrats have called on Boris Johnson to sack Gavin Williamson, criticising attempts to pass the buck onto Ofqual for the exams grading fiasco.In a letter to Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran has called on the Prime Minister to personally apologise to students and warned that the Government’s failure to take responsibility risks further eroding public trust in the exams system.She accuses the Education Secretary of presiding over a “slow-motion car crash,” listing a number of catastrophic errors including failing to issue guidance for universities and ignoring warnings that a calculated grades system risked bias against disadvantaged groups.Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said:“The Government’s botched handling of this crisis has caused untold distress and anguish to students, with many at risk of losing out on…