Brighton and Hove
Labour’s Budget Keeps the 2 Child Benefit Cap
Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats call for the two child limit on benefits to be scrapped as the Labour Government keeps it.
31 Oct 2024
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Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats and the National Stage
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Liberal Democrats fight to protect our Environment.
In the latest attempt by the Treasury to put its interests above those of the country, Liberal Democrats call for the release of cash from water polluting fines to be released to repair the damage inflicted on our rivers by the polluters.
Tim Farron our Environment Spokesperson said,
“We must have urgent clarity on where this funding is going.
“It took long enough to levy fines on the worst perpetrators of this pollution – water companies that contaminated our beautiful seas, rivers and waterways with dirty sewage.
“Now we learn that this government is trying to siphon off those hard-won penalties to go straight into the Treasury pot. Under the water restoration fund, that money was earmarked for good reason – the people who polluted our water should pay for it to be cleaned up.
“The government must publish their plans for the water restoration fund now, to reassure the public that polluters’ fines will be used to restore clean water to Britain – not to plug holes in the Treasury’s purse.”
More than 12% of the population vulnerable to reliance on food banks.
A report in the Guardian states that the Charity Trussell has claimed that more than 9 million people in the UK are vulnerable to reliance on food banks. They claim that the number has increased by more than 1 million in the last five years. A B & H Liberal Democrat spokesperson said that “Although this state of affairs can be laid well and truly at the door of the Tory governments over the last 14 years, Labour have contributed to the impact with their policies of the continued 2 child cap on the benefit limit and the scrapping of the winter fuel heating allowance for the elderly”. Trussells Chief Executive, Emma Revie went on to state that 1 in 5 children were now at risk of facing hunger and hardship.
Conservative Government Legacy continues to blight Local Councils
As the County Council Network (CCN) report recently published shows that local government faces a £54 billion funding crisis over the next 5 years our own Brighton & Hove City Council has just announced a review of staff cutbacks that it is proposing. B & H Liberal Democrats call on the Government to urgently step in and sort out the vast underfunding of local councils so that local services will not suffer further.
Labour sells out Pensioners
Labour condemns pensioners to cold choices as winter draws close.
With her withdrawal of the ‘Winter Fuel Allowance’ Labour’s Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has condemned many pensioners to the hard choice this winter on whether to eat or keep the heating on and stay warm. For many of the Just About Managing Pensioners (JAMPs) it could mean the difference between staying healthy or suffering from cold related illnesses.
With the withdrawal of the £200 (or £300 for those over 80) the mooted £400 pension rise will only result in a £200 (50%) net increase for those under 80 and even worse a net rise of only £100 (25%) for those over 80. By no stretch of the imagination can that be interpreted as protecting pensioners and is a direct failure to hold to their manifesto promise. It has taken less than two months for Labour to start to renege on their promises. What other manifesto promises are waiting to be ditched?
If the Fuel Price Cap increase of £149 due on 1 October is taken into account then this actually means that pensioners over the age of 80 are set to see their net income decrease by £49 from April next year whilst those under 80 will only see their income increase by £51. So for pensioners in the UK a Labour government is in reality cutting their living standards. Austerity for pensioners continues to rule except the Labour version is even harsher than the Tory version.
A frightening statistic published by the UK Centre for Better Ageing is that people in the 60-64 demographic have the highest poverty rate among adults of any age. So it looks as though there are plenty of adults about to retire who are only going to make the issue of eating versus heating worse.
Local Politics
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Local Government Reorganisation
Is local government really being devolved or is it in fact being centralised to hand more power to central government?
As the Labour Government releases more decisions and information on its proposed reforms Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats raise questions on what is really happening. With the new Mayoral Authority for Sussex receiving the go ahead from Central Government, B & H lib Dems ask how taking powers away from our local council can be described as devolution. The proposals to do away with local parish councils mean that authorities such as Rottingdean Parish Council will cease to exist and with it so will the powers of local people to have a say in the running of their local environment. Many of the powers currently held by our City Council will be transferred to the new Mayoral Authority which means that local people will have less say in the management of their city. None of this fits the bill of handing more power locally. In addition we question whether the proposed authorities will be as independent as we are led to believe. Common sense suggests that central government may well end up controlling the new authorities via their funding allocations and as such influence their policies.
Council Chamber Monitor
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The goings on in and of our City Council
City Hall Politics from a Liberal Democrat perspective.
- Labour council now seeking major change to how our city is run without first consulting the people it is responsible to, ‘The Voter’. Once again the Labour administration shows its contempt for the people of the city or the democratic process.
- As the Council faces the prospect of a £36 million shortfall in its budget next year it continues to waste money on the Valley Gardens project which it is estimated will cost £6.5 million. A project that no one voted for and which the transport providers have said will only make it more difficult for services around that area.
- With the proposal to introduce cabinet government to the city we ask how will the checks and balances be introduced and will they be enough to ensure good decision making?
- How will the people of the city have a say in the management of their city once their councillors are deprived of their voice as valuable committees disappear?
- Why has consultation not taken place properly? Were you asked about the proposal? There are lots of claims but no evidence that councils are better for introducing cabinet government.
- A Freedom of Information request has disclosed the cost of changing to a Cabinet form of administration for the City is expected to cost £80,000 and that is without any cabinet councillor allowance increases. As government cutbacks dig deeper into local authority finances all this Labour administration can do is seek further ways to waste more council tax payers' money.
- Despite overwhelming opposition to the Valley Gardens extension the council insists on going ahead with the £6.5 million project. One more example of how little Labour listens to the voice of those who live and work in the City.
Pothole in the city causing you a problem? Contact the council and tell them about it https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/travel-and-road-safety/roads-and-highways/pavement-and-road-repairs
Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats and You.
Come and enjoy yourself and meet other people with a passion for life and those around them.
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Monthly Coffee Mornings
Come and meet us. We get together each month for a coffee morning; Just choose which constituency you would like to get to know and turn up and treat yourself to a coffee or tea and a chat. For details for each constituency, Hove & Portslade, Kemptown & Peacehaven, or Pavilion go to our Events page for more details on the coffee morning you would like to attend.
Inn Politics
The latest Get Together of Inn Politics took place on 13 February 2025 at St. George's Inn, 33 Sudeley Street, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1HE, it started at 7:00 pm for the early birds and went on until 9.30 pm for the night birds. There was much talk about local politics and the changes taking place as people shared their experiences and discussed the general political scene as well as catching up on local happenings.
Details of next Inn Politics event will be published as soon as they become available.
All are welcome and it will be a great chance to find out more about what is happening for Lib Dems locally.
Politics & Prosecco
Join us in the fizzy discovery of matching food and wine with politics and socialising.
We find out just how good our local restaurants are at enticing our taste buds whilst we explore through discourse the latest gossip meandering through local politics, with the odd diversion into the world of Westminster.
Our next event is due to be held at Adelfia on 19 March, details will be published as they become available.
As places are usually limited booking is essential. For more information and how to book go to our events page.
--- Local Liberal Democrat News ---
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How does a 6 month prison sentence turn into 16 years?
IPP sentences introduced by the last Labour government have condemned minor criminals to a life without hope.
29 Oct 2024
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Councils face £54 billion shortfall
The County Councils Network forecast that councils across the country face a £54 billion shortfall over the next 5 years.
3 Oct 2024
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Lib Dems oppose Royal Mail Vale Avenue Development
Flooding and Water Pollution Dangers highlighted.
5 Sep 2024
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New City Council Cabinet announced
Labour leader Bella Sankey announced the proposed Cabinet yesterday, 30 April 2024
1 May 2024
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Lib Dems pledge access to same named GP for over 70s and the chronically sick
A study has found that people who keep the same GP over a period of 15 years had a 25% lower chance of dying than those who had a new GP within a year.
29 Apr 2024
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