Lib Dems Respond to Tory MP Stephen Phillips' Resignation.
Commenting on the resignation of Stephen Phillips, the Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, the Liberal Democrat Party President Sal Brinton said:
13 Nov 2016
News
Liberal Democrat News
Good Result for Liberal Democrats from Snap By Election in Hertfordshire.
Although it was expected that the Conservatives would hold this seat for Haldens Ward on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council the Liberal Democrats got a very good result. Haldens was an area which we had never worked before and the party had only four weeks notice of the election which had been called due to ill-health.
18 Nov 2016
Investment in Railfreight Will Help the Economy, the Environment and the Roads
Proposals to devolve control of local passenger rail services, plus more independence for Network Rail in planning routes could be a problem for the future development of UK's railfreight industry. This is because most rail freight services travel cross-country and planning for this needs a centralised system.
21 Nov 2016
Mental Health Service Provision – Lib Dems Say This is More Important Than Ever!
It may well be true that mental illness causes a greater amount of disruption and misery than physical illness. Not only are the unfortunate patients deeply unhappy - to the extent that some are driven to suicide - but so are their family and friends. Then there can often be wider effects affecting society, particularly if substance abuse is involved. All too often patients can fall prey to criminals who exploit and profit from their predicament. . Sadly, society never seems to realise that more resources are needed to treat mental illness. Most obviously we should seek to relieve the sufferings of the patients themselves, but also we should understand that better treatment facilities will not only reduce unhappiness, social problems and crime. In the long run it will help patients become happier and more productive, give them better lives and save us all money. . Here in Hertfordshire we participated in an awareness-raising campaign - a hangover from the initiatives of Coalition Government - and the Hertford
23 Nov 2016
Liberal Democrats Fight to Save Single Homeless Persons’ Funding
The Cabinet of Hertfordshire's County Council has decided to end its contracts for the provision of Housing Related Support in schemes established to help single homeless persons. . HCC's funding will cease at the end of March 2017 unless the providers of housing for the single homeless accept a 15% cut in support payments . The providers affected are Hightown, Aldwyck, Kilcullen and Nightingale and their schemes mainly cater for mentally ill persons. However HCC has decided that support for the single homeless is not a core activity. . Hemel Hempstead Liberal Democrat Councillor, Ron Tindall, tabled a motion to Council calling for the decision on these cuts to be reversed. . Sadly the majority Conservative Group voted for the cuts to proceed, so Ron's motion was lost and the cuts will now be put into effect. . At a time when we should be increasing support for the mentally ill, HCC has decided to cut support instead.
24 Nov 2016
A Busy Week for Council By Elections, Encouragement for Lib Dems and Marked Absence of UKIP and Greens.
There were 9 council by elections this week, but only one change - a Conservative gain from Labour in Pendle's Reedley Ward high in the Pennines near Nelson. With Labour and the Conservatives fairly evenly matched it only needed a small swing for the seat to change hands. The election was hard fought with a high turnout and with UKIP failing to stand once again it was not surprising that the Conservatives got the modest boost they needed.
25 Nov 2016