I noted the arrival of members of the traveller community on Kings Meadow on Thursday the 16th Sept.

Such unannounced incursions are a perpetual issue which will continue until our local authority address some very basic issues.

The first is the on-going failure of Reading Borough Council to provide the transit spaces they most recently mentioned in April during the local elections. This would allow the council to manage the arrival’s and to ensure no conflict with the local community.

Such a provision however has no public support at a time of cuts to public services without the occupants of the transit site paying an appropriate overnight fee.

Once a transit site has been designated the occupants will have no excuse or reason to intrude into the local community and if they do so the local authority and police force should have the determination to challenge this behaviour with the appropriate sanction.

I fully accept that it is a small minority of the UK traveller community causing a public nuisance, but until the council takes the first steps to manage the issue, the unannounced arrivals will continue indefinitely to the detriment of Reading council tax paying residents.

The Liberal Party notes the increasing disruption caused to commercial goods deliveries, most publicly fuel due to a national shortage of HGV drivers.
 
This situation is the combination of Covid related delays to driver training and testing, and long-term issues improving working pay and conditions to retain experienced staff.
 
Noting the real anguish expressed by both the agricultural sector and the Road Haulier's Association we urge the UK Government to take immediate steps to allow work visa entry for both seasonal agricultural workers and HGV drivers.
 
The Liberal Party supported Brexit so we could have control over key issues affecting our society and political economy, we did not pursue the policy with an obsessive negative view to the role of none UK citizens coming to work in the UK.
 
We also need a more flexible approach for those working in the nursing and social care.
 
Over and above this fuel supplies should be supported by Armed Forces Drivers and driving instructors to assist this critical industry.
 
We also see merit in a review to merge C and D class drivers into one category (eg Bus and rigid lorry drivers) to provide more flexibility in the work place.
 
Not to respond to such immediate needs will aggravate cost led inflation with a detrimental impact on the UK economy.
 
Whilst these are immediate steps to deal with an immediate problem in the longer term, we will continue to campaign for a system of Industrial Training Boards to be re-established to look at the skills needed for each industry and support training plans and facilities required across their respective industries.
 
Cllr Steve Radford - President of The Liberal Party

The Liberal Party notes with concern the recent news that 2 further independent energy companies have fallen into administration, namely Utility Point and People’s Energy.

The failure of new entrants to the UK energy market is a perpetual issue with the latest taking the total to 7 this year, affecting 2 million consumers.

The UK regulator Ofgem continues to ignore the uneven market condition which inhibit new entrants, limiting consumer choice and reducing market pressure on prices whilst the UK energy market continues to be dominated by the big six companies who remain insulated from competition.

 At the same time an energy price cap may offer a short-term solution to hard pressed consumers, it prevents smaller suppliers passing on increases in wholesale prices threatening their long-term viability.

 The Liberal Party believes Ofgem (and indeed other UK regulatory bodies) should be given a new mandate to promote innovation and competition in their respective sectors.

"The Liberal Party stand against Government introducing additional powers, restrictions or further lockdowns regarding the Covid-19 pandemic without demonstrating 'evidence based' good cause.

The Vaccine rollout has been successful allowing UK citizens to opt for a vaccine to protect themselves and their communities, whilst allowing independent choice to opt out.

We still believe that being vaccinated is the best form of protection against Covid-19 and encourage others to accept offers to be vaccinated.

We also adamantly believe that Vaccination is a personal choice, therefore there should not be any mandatory vaccinations as this would violate their individual rights.

We believe those that choose not to be vaccinated should have their wish respected, but they must also be helped to understand the risk to themselves and others of their stance.

We should now pass the responsibilities and consequences of such decisions to those who take them, but not deny them the chance to vaccinate themselves, should they choose to do so in the future.

The Liberal Party has always stood on a platform supporting individual rights and personal responsibility.

For clarity, The Liberal Party would accept future lockdown or reintroduction of Covid prevention procedures, in the circumstance that a strain of covid becomes prevalent to a point that vaccination efforts are reversed. This would be evidenced by hospital admissions and deaths, not simply number of cases.”

The Assembly pack with the motions for debate on the 2nd October is now available from the front page of the party website.

It includes draft party emblems for discussion at the meeting as party of our disucssion on rebranding.

Whilst the evacuation of families and dependents from Afghanistan has now been curtailed, the Liberal Party recognises that there is now a pressing need to welcome and support those who have arrived in our nation.
 
Local communities and councils have rallied around to support many of those who have recently arrived with little in the way of possessions having been forced to flee their country. 
 
Whilst we welcome the efforts made by government the settlement program requires sustained financial support from central government to ensure proper settlement and integration. Many councils are already facing serious financial pressure in the delivery of public services.
 
Many arrivals will have pressing health and emotional issues as well as the need for education and assimilation into communities and engaging into the employment market.
 
The need for emergency housing gives the opportunity to promote a successfully deployed Liberal practice of conversion of unoccupied properties and business premises to accommodation.

There could be approximately 10,000 Afghans held within Taliban controlled areas who helped UK and related agencies or were immediate family members of those who did and are currently being hunted down by the Taliban and their allies in Al-Qaeda.

The UK must develop a response to airlift these people out and the first step must be an air bridge to the Panjshir Valley.

We need a repeat of the Berlin Airlift to defend and assist this bastion of democratic values in a sea of sectarian religious autocratic brutality.

The Taliban's pretence of inclusive governance and not providing a haven for international terrorists is exposed as a shame with Al-Qaeda forces working with them on the current assaults on the Panjshir Valley.

The Taliban pledges to the USA are as misleading and illusionary as Hitler's pledges to Neville Chamberlain.

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party

The Liberal Party expresses huge concern in regard to the withdrawal of U.S. and Allied troops and support staff from Afghanistan.

Once the Taliban had breached the terms of the U.S. led agreement for withdrawal, an immediate revoking of the withdrawal agreement should have been undertaken.

Allied forces had little option but to withdraw their troops to safety when US Air cover was withdrawn. The primary focus now had to become an evacuation effort.

The UK government was right to press the U.S. to delay their withdrawal to afford both them and allied forces more time to undertake a safe withdrawal including vulnerable staff and families who have worked with NATO forces.

Allied force governments also need to work with pro-democratic forces such as those in the Panjshir Valley, to establish alternative evacuation routes.

At home, we must welcome the returning troops who have been withdrawn in the most unwelcome circumstances. We must also hold out a hand of friendship to Afghani refugees, who have been forced to leave their homes in fear, for their part in supporting British efforts.

The Liberal Party believes the U.S. and allied forces were wrong to go into Afghanistan because regime change is not a permitted reason for invasion under international law. However, having gone in, an early departure following the defeat of Al Qaeda would have been appropriate.

The International community should concentrate its efforts on rescuing those who are vulnerable to reprisals by the Taliban regime.

Party President Steve Radford

In September 2011, the Palestinian Authority applied for membership of the United Nations. Since then the threat of
further illegal settlements and now annexation of their lands has continued unabated.

We call upon the United Kingdom government to send a clear message against illegal settlements, forced evictions
and failure by Israel to give genuine recognition of Palestinian rights and interests, by supporting the Palestinian
Application to the United Nations. Also, in a clear gesture of support to extend an invitation for Palestine to
join the Commonwealth, should they wish to do so.

We should not remain silent and timid in the face of brutal evictions and annexation in the West Bank.

The annual Assembly will discuss changes to the Liberal Party constitution and the adoption of a new party emblem but will also be open to the submission of motions for debate from the membership.

Copies of the amended constitution and proposed emblem designs can be obtain prior to the meeting by e-mailing a member of the NEC.

Many thanks