The Liberal Party notes with concern the impending cuts to the UK Defence budget, representing a half billion-pound cut to spending.

These cuts will include the early retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, a frigate,  two Royal Fleet Auxiliary  vessels and over 30 Chinnock and Puma helicopters.

Despite repeated warning from Defence chiefs that our Armed Forces are no longer adequate to fulfil our military commitments, this Labour Government is downsizing our national military assets at a time of heightened international tension.

The cuts signal a reluctance to meet our commitment to fund and invest 2.5% of GDP in defence at a time the USA has elected a President sceptical of other nation’s willingness to share the burden of global defence.

The Liberal Party wishes to be seen as the party for small business and is proud to be launching its Small Business Big Communities Policy Initiative.
 
Small and micro business, not for profit organisations and charities should be at the heart of our communities to create economic activity, prosperity and employment.
 
We would welcome feedback from small business owners, people in the charity sector and others within this sector to enhance our policy initiative.
 
This  includes a 4-point plan to support them to reach their full potential within our communities.
 
The full document can be accessed from the Liberal Library section of our party website.

The Liberal Party notes with considerable concern the deterioration of the UK economy just 5 months after the general election.

In just a matter of days we have seen stagnant economic growth in the third quarter, a widening month budget deficit and an unwelcome rise in inflation.

The uncertainty over the government’s tax and spending priorities prior to the Autumn Budget have stifled business confidence and they have then chosen to impose an unnecessary increase in employer NI contributions which will stifle employment.

Whilst the Labour Government has inherited a weak economy, the party believes the budget was a missed opportunity  to support small businesses, and reform the wider tax system more broadly including tax simplification and a review of rebates, allowances, and exemptions.

The Liberal Party notes the open-ended Israeli military campaign on Gaza.

After more than 12 months of military operations, Israel can no longer claim that it is acting simply  to safeguard its land and people from the hostile actions in the wake of the 7th October attack.

The open-ended military operations across Gaza are increasingly being seen as being directed solely towards creating depopulated buffer zones with no regard for international law.

The party believes that the international community has yet to show the resolve that is required to bring about a humanitarian ceasefire, restore humanitarian aid and deliver a lasting regional peace.

The Israeli proposals to annex 150 West Banks settlements put by their finance minister should be condemned robustly as undermining any framework for a lasting peace settlement.

Liberal Party leader Cllr Steve Radford recently visited both Old Swan and Breck Road Post Offices in Liverpool with his colleague Alan Tormey.
 
There was a nonstop flow of customers, and as so many bank branches are closing it is vital to save these facilities. The party also sees an opportunity to utilise local churches to deliver banking services as is done at All Hallows Centre in Allerton.

Please sign the 38 Degrees online petition, titled Protect our Post Offices! calling for the withdrawal of plans to close 115 Post Offices.

The Liberal Party notes the ongoing protracted crisis involving the long-term financial viability of the privatise water utility Thames Water.

The UK’s privatised industry has now extracted more than £85 billion in profits over the last 30 years, whilst leaving the industry with over £60 billion of debt, over £16 billion with Thames Water.

The Liberal Party maintains that all UK water companies should be brought back into public ownership, starting with Thames Water who’s predominantly foreign owners have effectivity written off their holdings and refused further financial support.

Any such return to public ownership should be at no costs to the UKs taxpayers and the current shareholders should be bailed into any scheme. All future profits would be re-invested in providing an efficient and environmentally responsible water industry and protection for the environment.

Commenting on the Labour party’s decision to increase university tuition fees, Liberal Party leader Cllr Steve Radford asserted:

“After condemning tuition fee increases as immoral and socially divisive, when in power they immediately increased them.

Is there any pledge or campaign they undertook worth a carrot?

To increase equality of opportunity and upskill the economy we Liberals have argued many of the exemptions from inheritance tax should be reduced to fund an education or business startup grant for young people.

We need an economy that goes for growth and expands opportunities for all”.

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party

The Liberal Party acknowledges the re-election of Donald J Trump as the 47th US President.

We congratulate the winner of the election and express the wishes that both candidates’ will be willing to work together in the interest of the people of the USA and for peace in the world.

The Liberal Party calls for the creation of a Cornish Assembly, recognising the region as a Celtic nation in its own right.

The region boasts a cultural and linguistic heritage which justify its elevation to the same level of devolved government as in Scotland, Wales, and NI.

Such a body would have administrative authority over the region, with the Duchy of Cornwall subservient to its authority on matters of local and economic development and management.

In light of the recent announcement by the Chancellor that the government will have to plug a £22 billion black hole and the subsequent budget on the 30th of October 2024, The Liberal Party notes with concern some of the announcements made by the Chancellor in the lead up to the budget.

The Liberal Party Economics Spokesperson Kayed Al-Haddad outlines an alternative 4 step approach to tackling the financial black hole and dealing with the state of the public finances.

The document is now available on the front page of our party website.