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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - Winter 2023 Flu and Respiratory Illness Vaccination Cam
Posted by: ReadingLib - 09-09-2023, 11:08 AM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party notes the announcement to bring forward by a month this winter’s flu vaccinations for eligible groups, beginning on the 11th of September.

The party is concerned that the age limit for such vaccinations has been set at 65 for those not covered by plans to vaccinate care home residents and the immune compromised.

There were an estimated 560000 people who have a weakened immune system as of March 2022, many from chemotherapy treatment for cancer, whilst at its peak 1.5 million people were shielding to avoid Covid-19 for similar reasons.

As such the party believes that a comprehensive voluntary vaccination campaign for flu and Covid-19 should continue to protect the most vulnerable after a period when natural immunity has waned due to the previously low levels of respiratory illness in circulation.

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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - The rise of Influencers and Young People’s Mental Healt
Posted by: ReadingLib - 08-20-2023, 04:45 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party, with growing concern, notes the rise of social media influencers such as the Tate Brothers and their negative impact on young men as well as the growing concern in wider society of the mental health of all but in this instance of our young people.

Many social media influencers create a false impression of their lives and the potential lives their follows could lead through a variety of different techniques. Often the lies or misperceptions caused by social media influencers causes many to try to obtain or reach unobtainable standards. Often the failure to reach these standards despite following the advice of the influencers causes a long-term negative impact on mental health and reinforces negative thinking. In the case of the Tate brothers, their influence is similar to those of gangster rappers, using the exposure of their lavish lifestyles to encourage people to join their Hustlers University, monetising misguided and impressionable young people and the struggles they face.
 
Both Andrew and Tristan Tate have millions of followers across social media with their influence consequently influencing large swathes of people from all backgrounds. Counter extremism workers have commented on the rapid rise of schools referring cases based on the concern over the Tate’s brothers influence. A rise of overtly misogynist behaviour has also been noted with this being attributed to social media influencers as a whole. The Chief Executive of Rape Crisis also named Andrew Tate individually as spreading a dangerous ideology.

On 20th June 2023, the Tate brothers both were charged with rape and human trafficking offenses, as well as operating a criminal gang according to newspaper sources, meaning they will face trial for these allegations. The Liberal Party believes it is unsuitable to have people facing such charges as the main source of influence on young people. However, the Liberal Party does not believe such people should be censored or de-platformed instead, believing that promoting positive messages and role models is the best way forward.
 

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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - Bank Account Closures for Politically Exposed People (P
Posted by: ReadingLib - 08-20-2023, 04:43 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party has noted recent events in which people labelled under the PEP bracket have had bank account closures, from Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson to members of the Labour Party and the prominent leaders of the Church community among others. All these figures have a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and positions within the public sphere. Despite their different viewpoints however, it is unjust for such people to lose such a critical part of modern day life and an essential part to life in the modern day. The Liberal Party believes it is unjust and echo the words of Jacob Rees-Mogg in Parliament that everyone deserves access to a bank account.

Many of the bank account closures and the struggle to gain new accounts has been linked directly to the political opinions of the people involved. In regards to a Senior Labour politician it was made clear in a Subject Data Access Request that political opinion and viewpoint was the main cause of the closure. Nigel Farage when speaking on his account closures discussed how Brexit was referenced over 30 times in a small portion of a 97 page document his legal team had received. For Reverend Richard Fothergill his stance on the trans-community was referenced as the cause for closure of his bank account. The historian Dominic Lawson saw his daughter denied two bank accounts due to her family ties (Her grandfather was a Conservative Chancellor – Nigel Lawson). Yorkshire Building Society even released a statement saying they are shutting down accounts of people who are rude and/or “discriminate”. This raises a further issue of what are “discriminate” and the potential gray areas that may emerge. Regardless however, people’s right to freedom of speech must be protected within reasonable bounds.

The Liberal Party therefore believes a review into the position of PEPs and those in Public life in regards to their rights to financial services must be conducted in order to protect their human rights and their ability to live freely. To remove someone’s ability to financial services almost renders them a “non-person” and shows an extremely dangerous precedent for censorship and limiting freedoms, something which is strongly against the core principles and values of Liberalism.

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  Liberal Party 2023 Assembly Saturday 7th October, Pickering, North Yorkshire
Posted by: ReadingLib - 08-06-2023, 01:26 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The 2023 Liberal Party Assembly will be held on the 7th October at the Pickering Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 8AA between 9am and 4:30pm.

The party welcomes motions for debate at this annual event where party policy is debated and developed and we look forward to seeing our fellow Liberal in the region.

A Zoom video conference link will be available for those unable to attend the event in person.

Please contact the Secretary to the NEC for more details.

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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - London ULEZ extension
Posted by: ReadingLib - 07-26-2023, 07:21 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party notes the imminent extension of the London Ultra Low Emissions Scheme and the debate over its influence on the outcome of the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election.

Whilst we welcome efforts to lower air pollution in the capital, we believe that any such scheme will only work with the consent of the public and when not persevered as being imposed from above.

Its acceptance and success in the capital requires increased and accessible public transport as an alternative to car travel and must make provision for commercial vehicle deliveries to school and businesses within the coverage zone.

Whilst the daily congestion charge will only affect 10% of the vehicles within the zone, the oldest cars are likely to be retained by those families least able to afford a newer vehicle at this time and is an unwelcome addition to household budgets at a time of a cost-of-living crisis

The party believes that taxpayer’s money should not be spent subsidising vehicle purchases via the proposed scrappage scheme and the budget should be directed towards improved public transport and green transport scheme such as supporting cycling initiatives.

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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - The Chinses Government pursuit of exiled Hong Kong oppo
Posted by: ReadingLib - 07-20-2023, 06:42 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party has read with great concern the issuing of arrest warrants and bounties by the Chinese authorities for 8 exiled Hong Kong opposition leaders and activist.

We believe that the use of Interpol’s "red notice" arrest warrant system to target legitimate oversea opposition is a breach of the process and should be roundly condemned.

Since the transfer of the territory in 1997, the Chinese authorities have progressively rejected the terms of the negotiated Sino-British Joint Declaration. They have then set out to aggressively erase the freedoms of speech and representation previously enjoyed by its residents under the guise of a National Security Laws.

The Chinese Government cannot expect to be regarded as a reliable partner in any international sphere if it cannot be trusted to abide by agreed treaties or misuse these to their own benefit and we welcome the suspension of extradition treaties by a number of countries including the UK in response to this.

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  Liberal NEC Party Statement - The Regulation of the UK Water Industry by OFWAT
Posted by: ReadingLib - 07-13-2023, 07:23 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party has watched the further revelations on the UK water industry and in particular Thames Water, with growing concern.

In all of this it is becoming increasing obvious that the water regular OFWAT has been singular negligent in its monitoring and enforcement of the privatised water industry.

In the first instance is appears to have failed to ensure water companies debt does not exceed a debt  gearing of 60%. Thames Waters gearing is reported to be more than 77%, with an industry average of 68%, and only 3 companies out of 10 compliant with this rule.

The use of debt has allowed water companies to pay out undeserved dividends whilst repayment obligations have affected their ability to invest in water security and environmental protection.

OFWAT must also contend with the continued investigation by the environment agency into what is called non-compliance in the management of wastewater works which may result in criminal proceeding against the industry over the excessive discharge of untreated sewage.

The party believes government intervention to ensure the regulator meets it statutory duties is inevitable if public trust is to be restored in OFWAT.

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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - UK High Court Ruling on Rwanda Resettlement Plan
Posted by: ReadingLib - 07-11-2023, 07:04 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party notes the recent ruling by the Count of Appeal in London that the plan for resettling failed asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful, highlighting concerns over their long-term safety after their removal.

Economic research has shown that economic migrants make informed decision on their destination based on such factors as the degree of boarder enforcement, and the existence of an unregulated labour market.

It could also be argued the in the UKs  case the lack of a robust and timely asylum processing system allows applicants to quietly disappear into the unregulated economy as their application languishes unprocessed.

We believe that those asylum seekers who application has merit on initials assessment should be allowed to work in this country whilst their application is progressed

This will allow them to contribute to society in advance of a positive outcome without being a burden on the state.

Those who do not meet the criteria for asylum need to be returned to their country of origin swiftly and in as humanitarian a manner as possible to discourage further arrivals.

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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - The NHS on its 75th Anniversary
Posted by: ReadingLib - 07-06-2023, 07:58 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party would like to congratulate the NHS on its 75th Anniversary held on the 5th July 2023 and we applaud the hard working and dedicated staff of this organisation from the doctors and nurses, to the auxiliary staff, cleaners and porters.

The party believes that the NHS should remain free at the point of delivery but fully recognises the colossal challenges it faces with increase waiting lists, staff shortages, and extended ambulance waiting times amongst others.

Whilst we believe short term increased funding to reduce waiting times and to reward staff who have faced the challenges of COVID and now the cost-of-living crisis are justified, we believe that the long-term strategy should be to address the personal health issues which turn chronic conditions into acute ones.

As such we would again advance our Health and Wellbeing Policy document first promoted at our Special Assembly in London  on the 7th of February 2015 and available on our party website, Liberal.org.uk.

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  Liberal Party NEC Statement - The Financial future of Thames Water
Posted by: ReadingLib - 07-01-2023, 06:55 PM - Forum: NEC Press Releases - No Replies

The Liberal Party notes with increase concern media reports that Thames Water, the nation’s largest privatised water company is seeking over £1 billion pound of immediate funding to advert potential administration.

Thames Waters reported £12 billion of debt is just a part of over £60 billion held by the industry which has helped funded unrealisable dividends to shareholders, and bonus to directors whilst blighting communities with frequent untreated sewage discharges.

As re-iterated at the Liberal Party Regional Assembly in Cornwall in June, we believe that privatised utilities operate a natural monopoly and have failed to protect the environment nor ensured security of supply for consumers.

The party believes the industry should be nationalised and brough back under government control with a reformed regulatory framework and a great emphasis on the basics of water supply such as leak prevention and enhanced water storage.

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