Cllr Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party
Liverpool L13
 
Dear Editor

Liz Truss In suggesting Britain and NATO arm the army of Moldova.

She is actually endangering the security of one of the poorest countries in Europe and inviting an invasion by the Russian Federation.

Moldova has an army estimated of merely 5000- 7000 troops.

That represents 1 soldier for every 5 square km of territory and a country already facing a Russian Federation force of 1500 in the breakaway republic of Transnistria.

To be so out of touch with military and political considerations she should really resign.

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party

The Liberal Party notes with concern the announcement by the Foreign Secretary to put before parliament legislation to revise elements of the NI Protocol.
 
We believe that the threat of unilateral revision undermines the UK’s credibility when signing and abiding by international agreements and treaties.
 
The NI Protocol was implemented as part of the BREXIT agreement to ensure no hard boarder on the island of Ireland and to preserve the Good Friday Agreement. We believe that the stability of the province is enhanced by this historic agreement which has brought 30 years of peace.
 
Should unilateral revision be needed to the agreement we need to have first genuinely exhaust negotiations with our European trading partners, prioritising the need to minimise delays on the sea border in our discussions.
 
Under the UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Stormont Assembly has been granted a periodical vote to express its consent or otherwise to the protocols, beginning in December 2024 and this should be the legitimate mechanism for revision or repeal.

The Liberal Party notes with concern Government proposals to relax restrictions on the use of Section 60 of the criminal justice and public order act(The Guardian, 16th May) which allows officers to carry out stop and search actions.

Such proposals would extend their use to circumstances where a senior officer believe violent crime “may” rather than “will” occur and to extend their enforcement to 24 hours with a potential 48-hour extension.

Such restrictions were originally imposed in May 2014 as a response to concerns at racial discrimination through excessive stop and search of black and ethnic minority groups.

Whilst we accept that black and ethnic minority groups are more likely to be carrying bladed weapons, and searches recover more weapons, it is also magnifies  real and imaginary community grievances.

We believe the best way to reduce knife crime is to engage with local communities and effected groups, investment in local youth services and better community policing and intelligence gathering, all of which have suffered from excessive financial cuts.

We also believe that bladed weapon sales need to be more closely monitored to reduce their accessibility.

Cllr Steve Radford - Liberal Party Leader made an impassioned plea on Radio Merseyside for the Government to be more flexible with community vaccination programmes being able to offer the fourth vaccination to those under 75 who are high risk with respiratory illnesses or alike.
 
At the moment the protocols only allow the fourth jab be given to those with compromised immunity.
 
"having ran 3 community vaccination drops in events I saw first hand many people with recognised high risk illnesses being very upset at being turned away. If these people catch Covid they will be at far greater risk of serous illness or even fatality and the burden for treatment would fall on the NHS , so it makes no sense whatsoever to have them refused a fourth vaccination on compassionate or economic grounds. I have written to the Secretary of State for Health to ask him to review this policy and the protocol's"

The Liberal Party welcomes the commencement of the second covid booster program as it offers the country a way to further protect against Covid-19 after the latest wave of infections.

At present the government guidelines for the booster vaccination are to include the 75 years age group plus those with compromised immunity.

In light of the danger to health from a Covid infection and the cost of treatment required we urgently ask the government to review and extend this provision to those people under age 75 who are high risk due to raspatory illness and other high-risk medical conditions.

We believe that any vaccination campaign is most effective when the public are well informed of the safety and suitability of the chosen vaccines, and they are matched to age groups and any potential underlying medical conditions.

The national vaccine program has again proven the effectiveness of the NHS and we thank its staff and public health workers for their commitment and efforts.

The Liberal Party notes with grave concern the continued failure of the government and main opposition party to acknowledge the deepening energy and standards of living crisis in this country.

After a ten-year period of austerity, the Covid pandemic and now rising inflation many working families simply do not have the disposable income to meet the perfect storm of raising energy and food prices which politicians seem in deniable over.

We believe that the most sensible and effective solutions for the government is to provide tax breaks, grants, or direct assistance via the benefits and pension systems to the value of the expected energy price increase, which is in the region of £700.

Without such a financial backstop this country risks a multiple of social issues including poverty, debt, homelessness, and health disorders which could be avoided with prompt assistance to hard pressed families.

Congratulations to Cllr Joy Andrews for taking the Pickering Division of the North Yorkshire Council and commiserations to out other 2 candidates Alasdair Calrke and Clive Wass.

North Yorkshire Council
 
Pickering Division

ANDREWS, Joy The Liberal Party 804 (E)
Labour Party 248
The Conservative Party
Candidate 756
Yorkshire Party 50
Edward Green Party 187

Thank you to our candidates and their supports locally and nationally.

The Liberal Party notes the continued disruption caused by P&O Ferries decision to dismiss 800 of its staff as part of a restructuring plan.

A month after suspending services whilst it replaced long-serving staff with agency workers on lesser terms and conditions it has still not restored a full service with the resulting disruption to travel and trade.

Maritime safety is a priority, and the Liberal Party welcomes the intervention of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in preventing the sailing of P&O vessels where there is any question of the competency and training of replacement crews.

The party believes there should be a review of the legal duties of Directors and where they are found to knowingly and deliberately flout employment, or health and safety legislation, they should be banned from holding office.
 
We also believe that any loophole’s in maritime employment law which allow the dismissal of staff and their replacement with agency staff registered abroad should be reviewed to clarify the law.

The Liberal Party notes with grave concern the recent claims of misogynistic and chauvinistic behaviour by members of parliament, particularly towards women members of the house, party workers and officials.

Such behaviour is wholly unacceptable in our modern society and the public expects elected members to act and behave with basic levels of decency and where they cannot, they should be subject to sanction, and disciplinary measures as are appropriate.

We believe that the current parliamentary structure and male dominated culture is long overdue for reform and needs to be moved away from a confrontational form of debate and towards a more inclusive and co-operative environment which does not resemble a bearpit.

The Liberal Party has previously supported the relocation of the UK Parliament to a central location in Birmingham, with a modern debating chamber and a fresh culture, with revised working hours which would create more opportunities for an increase in women and minority members.

The next Liberal Party open NEC will be held at Cotton Court Business Centre, Church Street, Preston, PR1 3BY.


The meeting will run from midday to 4pm and details can be obtained from members of the NEC.