At the launch of the new Draft Bill on energy, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, writes:
Over the next decade, around a fifth of existing power plants are due to close, against a background of increased energy demand and increasing prices. We need new investment simply to keep the lights on.
But more than that, we need a clean energy revolution to meet our ambitious climate change goals and make this the greenest government ever.
That’s why I am bringing forward a new Energy Bill today.
You can read more about our clean energy revolution here.
We also need to transform our energy market to reduce the risk and cost of low carbon technologies.
That’s what our Bill does.
The UK is fast becoming a world leader in renewable energy, especially in off shore wind. I want us to lead the world in Carbon Capture and Storage too.
And we are also tackling rising energy bills. Without reforming the energy market bills will rise by around £200 in the coming years. Our reforms will mean bills are around 4% lower than they otherwise would have been.
Going green is good for the economy, good for Britain and good for you.
For me, nothing better illustrates the Liberal Democrat mission to make Britain a fairer place than our Pupil Premium: extra money for the most disadvantaged children in our schools.
We are letting schools decide the best way to spend this money. I want to strike a deal with our schools and teachers: we’ll give you the cash, the freedom, and we’ll reward and celebrate your success. But in return, we want you to redouble your efforts to close the gap between your poorer pupils and everyone else. We won’t be telling you what to do; but we will be watching what you achieve.
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It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.
The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto. And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.
This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.
One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.
With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!
Commenting on the result in the Wimbledon Park by-election on 3 May, Liberal Democrat candidate Dave Busby said:
“I want to congratulate Conservative candidate Linda Taylor on her result, and wish her the best of luck representing all of Wimbledon Park and working hard for residents over the next few years. The local Lib Dem team will continue to stand up for residents – the vast majority of the people we spoke to backed our campaign to get the Weir Road recycling centre opened again, and we hope that both the Council and the Conservative opposition will now take this on board. Thank you to everyone who voted for me in this by-election.”
Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Merton and Wandsworth constituency on the London Assembly added:
I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for the warm welcome I’ve had whilst speaking to people about the council by-election this coming Thursday.
On the doorstep there has been one issue that people have raised time-and-time again: the inexplicable closure of the Weir Road recycling centre. Having vigorously campaigned against the closure, if you elect me as your councillor I will continue the fight until its eventual re-opening.
In April the Liberal Democrats delivered another £630 increase in the personal allowance – the amount of money you can earn that you don’t pay any tax on – benefiting 25 million working people now. And it will lift an extra 250,000 people out of income tax altogether.
April 30th, 2012 by Wimbledon Park Lib Dems Comment?
As well as the Wimbledon Park council by-election, there are also elections for the Mayor and the London Assembly on Thursday 3 May. The Mayor and the London Assembly make decisions that affect our everyday lives in London, including on transport, policing, housing and the environment.
Official reports have confirmed that no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has increased council tax for their residents. This is unlike both other major parties, many of which are increasing council tax by up to 3.5% this year.
Commenting on Labour and Conservative councils’ record on Council Tax, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:
“While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it’s clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax.
“Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing the burden.
“The choice in next month’s elections is clear: vote Liberal Democrat for financially responsible councils that create jobs. Vote Labour and the Tories for waste, mismanagement and tax rises.”
As well as freezing council tax across the country, Liberal Democrat councils are protecting front-line services, fighting to keep libraries and Sure Start centres open. This is in addition to the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government, which after the Budget include a £130 income tax cut for all working families, the largest-ever rise in the basic state pension, an increase in child tax credits for the poorest families, and an increase in the Lib Dem Pupil Premium to £600 for every pupil receiving Free School Meals.
At every level of government, the Liberal Democrats are cutting taxes for low- and middle-earners and better targeting help to those that need it the most. It is a record of financial responsibility of which we can be proud.
A first look at part of this week’s Liberal Democrat Local Election Broadcast. This clip looks at our key pledge to cut taxes for working families, and celebrates the fact that Liberal Democrats in government have achieved:
The biggest-ever single uplift in the tax-free personal allowance
A £3.5 billion tax cut for working men and women
840,000 of the lowest earners in the country lifted completely out of paying Income Tax
Next year, the allowance increases again (to £9,205) – within touching distance of our manifesto promise to increase the Income Tax threshold to £10,000.
These are all significant achievements that are already making a difference for millions of hard-working men and women across Britain. Real change for real families in tough times – promised and delivered by the Liberal Democrats.
March 26th, 2012 by Wimbledon Park Lib Dems Comment?
Following the news that one of Wimbledon Park’s Conservative councillors has resigned from Merton Council, local Liberal Democrats have backed Durnsford Road resident Dave Busby as their candidate. The by-election will take place on May 3rd – the same day as voters across London go to the polls to elect a new mayor and London Assembly members.
At the last elections here in 2010, the election was a two horse race between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
Dave is an experienced local campaigner, having been at the forefront of the campaign to retain a direct Thameslink rail service between Wimbledon and the City and central London and the fight against the closure of the Weir Road recycling centre.
After the announcement, Dave said:
“I’m delighted that Liberal Democrats have backed me for this by-election in Wimbledon Park. Having lived here for a number of years, I know the issues that really matter to local people.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to champion these issues during the campaign and continuing to get out and listen to people on the doorstep so that I can act as an independent voice for residents”.
Leader of the Lib Dems on Merton Council Iain Dysart said:
“It is great news that Dave will be standing once again for the Lib Dems in Wimbledon Park. David has been campaigning on Lib Dem issues for years and knows the area like the back of his hand.
“During these difficult times, when the Labour-run Council are cutting back many important services and trying to make cuts which will be bad for local business – like removing 20-minutes free parking – it is clear that we need another strong Liberal Democrat voice on the Council”.
