The Liberal Party notes media reports that March 2023 was the wettest March in 40 years with a reported 191% of the average monthly rainfall.

Whilst the unprecedent deluge is welcome after a parched February, it only elevates the possibility of hosepipe bans and other restrictions if this precious resource can be retained and not lost through excessive leaks.

As such the party believes that the actions of the Environment Agency (EA) to challenge Thames Water over its latest water management plan and to emphasis the needs to reduce leakage and improve storage should be extended to all the UK privatised water companies.

As climate change increases uncertainty in rainfall and extreme weather the UK needs to ensure the protection of water resources both for human use and to prevent long-term damage to the environment from the depletion of the water table.

The Liberal Party is pleased to announce further candidates for local elections on the 4th May.

Lincolnshire

Charles Shaw has confirmed he is standing at City, district, and parish level, which is 3 nominations.

City of Lincoln, Carholme Ward

West Lyndsey District Councill, Bardney Ward

Ellithorpe Parish Council (North Kesteven, Lincolnshire

Northleach Town Council in Gloucestershire

Byron Hadley, who is seeking re-election to the town council

Egham Hythe, Runnymede Borough Council in Surrey

Roberto Buono

Norcot Ward, Reading Borough Council

Stephen Graham

Many thanks to all those nominated and to those who are supporting them at the polls.

Please reach out to help where possible, Liberal Party contacts are listed on the party website.

The party is pleased to announce the following list of candidates:

Anfield Ward,  Jimmy Richardson & Shelley Williams

Clubmoor East Ward Alan Oscroft

Old Swan East Ward Mick Coyne

Sandfield Park Ward James Buckley

Stoneycroft Ward Steve Radford

Tuebrook Breckside Park Ward Joe Dunne

Tuebrook Larkhill Ward Billy Lake

Wavertree Garden Suburb Ward Alan Tormey

West Derby Muirhead Ward David Maher

Many thanks to all those nominated and to those who are supporting them at the polls.

The Liberal Party Merseyside Association can be contacted via our party website.

In light of the recent budget by the Tory chancellor Jeremy Hunt, one cannot help but note the lack of any real radicalism in taxation policy on the part of the Tories.  Tories have a very good knack of tinkering round the edges in every consecutive budget and implementing certain 'good' taxation policies when it is politically convenient to do so, most notably recently in the budget, 'Full Expensing'. 
 
The Liberal Party has historically always taken a radical approach when it comes to implementing policy, especially, taxation. We as a party affirm the view that Fiscal Policy should always prioritise those on the lowest end of the income-spectrum first as well as the millions of SME's. 
 
Furthermore, with the public finances having seen a real strain in recent times with Tory austerity, coupled with the outbreak of the pandemic - now more than ever would be the right time to implement taxation policies which not only delivers in the public interest but also sets out a clear and concise agenda as to what direction we as a country want to be heading in. 
 
The party has a whole myriad of radical taxation policies, which would not only plug the gap in the public finances but also set the country on a more sustainable and equitable footing - everything from replacing Business Rates/Council Tax with a Land Value Tax, equalising Capital Gains and Dividends Tax with Income Tax, increasing the Personal Tax Threshold up to 20K and lastly, implementing a Carbon Tax at £250 per metric tonne. 
 
If you would like to see more of our radical taxation policies, then please check out our policies on the website.

The Liberal Party continues to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine and its people. We fully support the efforts of the international community to strengthen Ukraine in its resolve to stand up to the unlawful use of force by Russia.
 
We believe that the UK has a part to play in assisting Ukraine in its time of greatest need, both in terms of caring for displaced people and in offering assistance to the Ukrainian armed forces.
 
We believe that the use of nuclear weapons is wrong and can rarely, if ever, be justified owing to their disproportionate effect and the unnecessary suffering they cause.
 
We do however note that there is a significant difference between the use of nuclear warheads and depleted Uranium in armour piercing rounds. We condemn Russian attempts to deliberately spread misinformation, but we call upon the British Government to act with due caution and not provide Russia with further fuel to continue the spread.

The Liberal Party is aware of the continued debate on channel crossing’s by foreign nationals, and the strains they are putting on local services, particularly in Dover.

The party supports an immigration policy which gives preference to those who have a genuine claim for asylum, and a points-based entry system for those seeking to work in the country legally.

The lacks of an established and published asylum application process at UK embassies, whilst not a deterrent to illegal migration, does act as a visible declaration of our willingness to support legitimate applications.

For those awaiting the processing of asylum applications they should be allowed to seek employment and thus make an immediate contribution to society.

The greatest deterrent to illegal entry is the knowledge that arrivals will be detained, their application processed promptly and where it is refused, they are swiftly return to their country of origin.

The government has manifestly failed to do this, resulting in a backlog of applications and loss of visibility of those awaiting asylum decisions who have effectively disappeared from official view.

The Liberal Party notes with grave concern at the announcement by the Office of National Statistic(ONS) that the Covid-19 infection Survey(CIS) is to be effectively terminated at the end of March 2023.

A national survey which in the ONS’ own words “has shaped the response to the pandemic and made a great difference to our understanding of COVID-19” is officially being paused whilst “the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are reviewing their approach to COVID-19 surveillance” according to an e-mail to survey volunteers.

This decision will abruptly return the UK to the position it found itself in prior to the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 with no infectious disease surveillance, no assurance the Government has an updated contingency plan, and with an NHS now in deep crisis.

The party believes that the demands of public health and the ongoing presence of Covid-19 in the wider community make it imperative that a minimum of testing and public disclosure continues to be funded.

Cornish & West of England Liberal Party Regional Conference, Saturday the 10th June 2023

We are pleased to announce the date and venue for the Cornish & West of England regional conference on Saturday
the 10th June 2023.
 
The meeting will run from 10am till 5pm, and will be at the
 
Treloweth Community Hall
Moorfield Rd,
Pool,
Redruth
TR15 3QB
 
The venue is close to the Camborne and Redruth railway stations and there is potential overnight accommodation in the general area.
 
We are working with the Cornish Liberals to draw up a series of motions aligned with the region plus there will be an open NEC session with a Zoom video conference link.
 
Many thanks to Paul Holmes of the Cornish Liberal Party for acting as the local agent for this event.
 
For further details or to register an interest in attending please contact a member of the Liberal Party NEC.

Letter For Publication

I have campaigned all of my adult life for gay and lesbian equality. I seek a tolerant society where all are equal under the law, and no one is subject to discrimination and harassment.
 
I did not campaign for the discrimination and harassment of the gay and lesbian community to be replaced by discrimination and harassment of those with orthodox Christian views.
 
I disagree with Kate Forbes and campaigned for the right of each Church to determine if it wished to allow marriages for gay and lesbian couples in their Church.
 
With the provision of civic partnership, the protections for gay and lesbian couples were already facilitated. 
 
Can we all respect the rights of others to disagree with us, not to approve of our views or lifestyles but still defend the right to free speech and use conscience in public office.
 
Society and politics would be better place for a greater value on free speech, individual conscience, and genuine tolerance.
 
Cllr Steve Radford
Leader of The Liberal Party

Following the announcement of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as First Minister of Scotland, The Liberal Party thanks her
for her many years of dedicated public service.

Ms Sturgeon has been an articulate and passionate voice for Scotland, commanding the respect of many in the nation and across the world. Though we disagree with her primary political aim of taking Scotland out of the United Kingdom,
 we acknowledge that her dedication and service to the nation is beyond question.

As Liberals, we place great emphasis on freedom, but that can only exist when it is balanced with respect. We abhor the levels of abuse directed towards Ms Sturgeon and which exist in political discourse. We admire how Ms Sturgeon has risen above it and has carried on serving with focus and dignity. That is to her great personal credit, though it should not be necessary in a civilised society where all deserve to be treated with respect. We wish Ms Sturgeon well.

The Liberal Party reasserts that we are a Unionist party, but, as the party with well over a century’s support for Home Rule, we differ, as we believe in a federal United Kingdom, where all four constituent nations should be able to manage their internal affairs, while pulling together for the greater good where necessary for the best interests of all.

Allan Steele WS
Secretary
The Scottish Liberal Party