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 15th Aug 2008:

Chris Sims right to criticise centralised police targets - Huhne.

Commenting on criticisms by the Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, Chris Sims, of centralised targets, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "The Chief Constable is spot on about the ludicrous results of national targets, that fail to take account of local needs and priorities. "It is local people who should hold police to account for delivering local priorities."

New website further evidence of slumping police morale - Huhne.

Commenting on the news that a website has been set up to help police officers get second jobs, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "This is another example of the unintended results and slumping morale caused by ministers’ foolhardy refusal to honour the independent pay award. "Police have particular constraints on what they can do compared with the rest of us as they are not allowed to strike, and have to get permission before undertaking another job in their spare time. In exchange, ministers should keep their promises."

ETS must not receive a penny for marking fiasco - Brooke.

Commenting on the announcement that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has ended its contract with ETS to mark future SATs papers, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, Annette Brooke said: "ETS demonstrated pure incompetence when it came to marking this year’s SATs. "Many children are still waiting for their results, which are now nearly six weeks late. "Ministers must confirm that ETS will not receive a penny for this year’s fiasco. "I hope that instead of finding another company to mark future Key Stage 3 papers, the Government will now scrap these expensive and unnecessary tests altogether."

Alarming drugs figures reveal wasted generation - Gidley.

Commenting on figures revealed today showing the number of under-16s admitted to hospital due to illegal drugs has risen by almost half in a decade, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley said: "These alarming figures reveal a wasted generation. How many more lives will be lost before the Government takes effective action? "As a society we can’t go on seeing so many young lives wasted. We need better education and more powers to tackle the dealers who profit from this human misery. "It is also important that those who want to turn around their lives should receive help in a timely fashion. The current system is tinkering around the edges of the problem."

Britain heading for repossession crisis - Cable.

Commenting on the 24% rise in repossession orders in the past year announced today by the Government, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "These figures confirm the very worrying trend on actual repossessions which were published last week. "The level of growth of repossession orders suggests that we are on track for a repossession crisis very similar to the early 1990s. "It is absolutely vital that the Government should intervene and require a proper code of conduct to be implemented by mortgage lenders. This should not just apply to the big banks but to the large number of secondary lenders who are using court action to pursue their debts in a very aggressive way. "The Council for Mortgage Lenders code of conduct should be put on a statutory footing for all repossession actions."

Iraq troops need decisions not hints - Davey.

Commenting on claims by senior defence sources that that the majority of British troops will be withdrawn from Iraq next year, which come as the outgoing British commander in Basra hints at large reductions in troops, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "British troops and their families must be fed up of the series of nods and winks on withdrawal which often turn out to have no substance. "Our forces’ lives are on the line, and it is about time that the Government gave them some definite decisions, rather than vague hopes. "Even if this latest hint turns out to be true, the timescale seems far too slow. Our troops should be home from Iraq by Christmas at the very latest. "It must be immensely frustrating for our service men and women on the ground in Iraq to know they are there more as political cover for the Brown-Bush relationship than to provide any real help to the Iraqi people."

Thu 14th Aug 2008:

Eurozone figures increase likelihood of British recession - Cable.

Commenting on the news that the Eurozone experienced negative growth in the second quarter, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "These figures increase the likelihood that Britain’s slow growth will turn into recession, since the Eurozone is our biggest trading partner. "With the US, Britain and Europe all in deep economic trouble, the danger is that they start to drag each other down. "The only positive is that the slowdown in the western world is taking pressure off oil prices, which will make recovery easier if it is sustained."

Ministers must tackle educational divide - Brooke.

Commenting on today’s A-Level results, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, Annette Brooke said: "These young people have clearly worked hard and we should celebrate their success. "But with one in four candidates now achieving an A Grade, we need to be sure that the most talented students are being properly stretched. "The new regulator must now act by reviewing these top grades so that we can be fully confident that the apparent improvements are real. "There is now a clear divide at the heart of our education system. The rate of improvement in the A Grade pass rate in the south is nearly three times greater than in the north. "Ministers must work to find the reasons for this inequality and ensure that any improvements in our schools and colleges benefit all students."

Beijing ticket errors must not be repeated in 2012 - Foster.

Commenting on the IOC’s warnings over potential ticketing problems during the London Olympics and Gerry Sutcliffe’s promise that London will get it right, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "It would be terrible if the London Games saw a repeat of the ticket problems witnessed in Beijing. "Stories of supporters unable to get tickets jeopardise the spirit of the Games. We must do all we can to prevent this happening when it’s our turn. "While ideas to recycle unwanted tickets and offer ground passes are welcome initiatives, it is crucial that tickets are sold in as fair way as possible in the first place. "The Government made the right decision to make ticket touting illegal for the 2012 Games. However, ministers must ensure this is properly enforced."

Strong EU cooperation way forward in Georgia - Davey.

Commenting on today’s agreement by EU foreign ministers to expand their role in Georgia, which includes the possible use of European peace monitors in the region, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "This is a welcome development, with Europe standing united against Russian aggression. "Strong European cooperation must be the way forward. "We now need much firmer British leadership in response to this conflict, to back up the efforts of President Sarkozy."

Wed 13th Aug 2008:

Julian Critchley right to reopen drugs debate - Huhne.

Responding to former Government drugs adviser Julian Critchley’s comments that current drug policy is the equivalent of ‘shifting the deckchairs around on the Titanic’, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "Julian Critchley is right to reopen the debate about the Government’s failed policies to tackle drugs. "Offenders who are addicts need medical care or they will merely go out to steal again to feed their habit."

Government's crass police pay decision compromising public safety - Huhne.

Commenting on today’s Police Federation announcement that frontline police officers are to launch a ‘work to rule’ after the breakdown of talks over pay, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "This is what happens when the Government refuses to honour pay negotiations for a workforce that cannot strike. "Ministers have not only shattered police morale, but their crass decision is now compromising public safety. "This is the first Government that has failed to honour a Police Arbitration Tribunal decision. Its breach of faith is foolish, short-sighted and dangerous."

Ministers complacent over rising unemployment - Cable.

Commenting on the increase in unemployment announced today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "As the British economy slows down, perhaps heading towards recession, there is bound to be a serious impact on jobs. "Ministers have been totally complacent in insisting they have found a permanent solution to the problem of boom and bust in the economy. "Until now, low unemployment has helped sustain the belief that there might be a soft landing in the housing market without large scale repossessions. "But it is now clear that a prolonged slowdown is going to reproduce many of the bad conditions of the early 1990s. "The Government needs to move quickly to make sure people who lose their jobs don’t face the double disaster of losing their homes as well."

Complex benefit system even baffles those working in it - Willott.

The Department of Work and Pensions today had its accounts qualified by the National Audit Office for the 19th consecutive year with figures showing official error outweighing customer error and fraud. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jenny Willott said: "These figures are extremely worrying. "The Liberal Democrats have been telling the Government for some time now that the system is too complicated. "The fact that for the first time official error has cost more than customer error and fraud shows that the system is now so complex that even those working in it are baffled by it. "The Government must simplify the system now."

Ministers must implement recommendations on the treatment of older prisoners - Howarth.

Commenting on today’s Chief Inspector of Prisons review of the treatment and conditions of older prisoners, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, David Howarth said: "This is yet another example of ministers not thinking through the long term consequences of their short term political fixes. "The Government must implement Ann Owers’ recommendations in full."

Stamp duty clumsiness has hit market at worst time - Cable.

Commenting on today’s Government figures showing a drop in house prices, and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ announcement that the number of people moving house in July fell to a record low, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "The inevitable consequence of a lack of buyers is that prices come down. "These figures confirm that the market is falling sharply and may still have quite some way to go. "Given how fragile confidence is, the one thing we should expect of ministers is that they behave carefully. "Yet the clumsy mishandling of stamp duty has hit the market at the worst possible time, and is probably responsible for house prices being lower than they otherwise would be."

Tue 12th Aug 2008:

Tories' plan would be snoopers' charter - Huhne.

Commenting on Conservative plans to give the police greater powers to conduct surveillance operations against people suspected of non-terrorist offences, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "The Conservatives’ dalliance with liberalism is as dead as a dodo. "In the last few weeks, senior Tories have promised tougher bail conditions, automatic jail for knife carriers and more prisons. Now they want automatic police use of covert video and listening devices, regardless of the seriousness of the suspected crime. "This would turn into as much of a snoopers’ charter as local councils’ surveillance powers for dog mess. We need to roll back the surveillance state, not give it new powers. "We should cut paperwork, but not cut checks and balances on state power being used proportionately."

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