The Merseyside Liberal Association notes with grave concern the potential closure of the Liverpool Tourist Information Centre and the redundancy of its staff.
 
The tourism industry is vital to the Liverpool region, in 2019 Liverpool was the 5th most visited city in the UK for international visitors and 4th in England for domestic visitors.
 
Visitors to the region bring in over £3.5 billion in revenue, whilst directly and indirectly employing over 38000 people(Source Tourism Data Summary June 2022 NorthWest Research & Strategy).
 
Whilst the party understands that Liverpool City Council is facing a budget deficit of over £70 million, cuts to a service which generates employment and income is both short sighted and counter productive if the council is to grow revenues and income.
 
A cost analysis would show the positive contribution to the region of a service which assist directly and indirectly over 41 million visits in the period 2021/22, but now risks being lost along with their local knowledge and warm welcome to visitors to the region.

On 14th March 2023 Liverpool City Council will vote on a motion endorsing the global call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. If passed, the council would join a growing global coalition of councils, organisations and high profile individuals calling for a planned phase out of fossil fuels.
 
The motion would mean that the council formally endorses the goals and vision of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty which are: 
 

• Non-proliferation: Preventing the proliferation of coal, oil and gas by ending all new exploration and production. 
  
• Global Disarmament: Phasing-out existing stockpiles and production of fossil fuels in line with the 1.5C global climate goal, and 
  
• Peaceful transition: Fast-tracking real solutions and a just transition for every worker, community and country.
  

The early autumns rains, although welcome after the summer heatwave, resulted in the excess runoff triggering widespread wastewater discharges the length and breadth of the UK coastline.
 
Much of this discharge has contained untreated sewage as local storm overflows were overwhelmed. The resulting discharges have then rendered rivers and coastal waters inaccessible to the public and for recreational pursuits.
 
The party believes It is unacceptable at the start of the 21st century that a £7.3 billion industry is incapable of managing its legal obligation to manage such events and for the water regulator, OFWAT, to allow the practise to continue unchallenged.
 
The Liberal Party believes that the privatised water industry is a natural monopoly and as such should be brought back under public ownership, as agreed at the Special Assembly held in February 2017.
 
This would allow funds to be directed to proper environmental management and protection as well as securing the UK’s water supply in the face of climate change.

The Liberal Party notes the Election Commissioners current media campaign to inform voters of the need to provide photo ID at the polling station in future elections.
 
The requirement is described as a way of preventing voter impersonation at the polls, although this represents a fraction of voting irregulates and is far outweighed by instances of fraudulent postal votes for example.
 
The fear remains that requiring a form of photo id, be it a driving license, passport or a photo bus pass will discourage or disadvantage some potential voters such as students, the elderly and minority groups who may lack access to such documents.
 
We again reiterate that the issues of voting irregularities are most effectively enforced by local election services and the police, rather than putting the onus on the electorate to prove their identify at the polling station.

The Liberal Party notes with disappointment the government’s decision to bring forward legislation to ensure minimum levels of services during industrial action, reversing legislation made by the Liberal Party Government Trade Union Disputes Act 1906.
 
Whilst strikes are disruptive to many, the Liberal Party fundamentally supports the rights of works to withhold their labour when carried out in a legal and responsible manner.
 
The party see’s this proposed legislation as simply a way to curb industrial action, rather than acknowledge that it has only come about due to the governments unwillingness to seek a resolution to the underlying causes or shown any empathy
 
Professional from many public sectors have gone on strike only because of the dire situation many find themselves in, faced with unprecedented energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis.
 
Unions such as those representing nurses and ambulance crews have made every provision to ensure a minimum service is provided, without the need for such overbearing legislation.

The Liberal Party has witnessed the current NHS crisis with heat breaking delays to A&E admissions, ambulance responses, an acute shortage of beds and staff shortages.
 
An entirely predictable combination of Covid, Flu, and a broken care system has left our national health service on the verge of meltdown.
 
Whilst we believe urgent short-term funding is needed to fund immediate care and reduce the record backlog of operations, we also appreciate that money on its own will not resolve the lack of staff, resources and long-term planning afflicted the organisation.
 
This would include investing in specialist accommodation for older people to stay in the community such as sheltered housing.
 
As a first step the Liberal Party adopted a Health and Wellbeing Policy at a Special Assembly held on 7th February 2015 which lays out a roadmap for community-based health initiatives to improve local health outcomes.
 
The document can be accessed from the Liberal Library section of our party website.

 
The Liberal Party notes with disappointment that the government has delayed an update on energy relief for business until mid-January with media reports that support could be halved but extended for a further 12 months period.
 
This lack of clarity leaves businesses with no guidance into the new year period when many would be looking to complete their financial planning for the year ahead.
 
The government has failed to acknowledge the crisis facing businesses, charities and public services including the NHS and school’s which are seeing increasing energy bills, threatening jobs and businesses as well as the delivery of essential public services.
 
We believe it is the governments first responsibility to mitigate the effects of higher energy prices and to preserve employment and livelihoods, be it through continuation of the energy bill relief scheme, a business energy prices cap or even rebates on bills as with domestic customers.

The Liberal Party notes with concern the renewed drive by the SNP to push for another Scottish Independence Referendum.

After 15 years at the helm of the Scottish Government, The SNP's failure on a number of key domestic fronts including Education, NHS and Policing to name but a few, has left many asking what credible mandate the SNP have to push for another independence referendum.

In the light of the domestic failures by the SNP coupled with the parties' strong federalist aspirations, The Liberal Party unequivocally reject the idea of another Independence Referendum and thus calls for a new model of governance to be implemented in the UK, namely, Federalism - whereby each of the devolved nations would have full responsibility over Taxation etc.

In addition, the party believes that devolving further power away from Westminster and subsequently to the devolved nations, would not only enhance our degree of governance but also bring about a strong element of accountability to each of the respective governments of the devolved nations. 

Kayed Al-Haddad, Scottish Liberals and Cllr Steve Radford, Leader of the Liberal Party

“Following the annual profile of pest control call outs in the Liverpool Echo , I called on Radio Merseyside this morning(3rd Jan 2023) to urge an extension of the offer of communal bins for potential areas like Townsend Lane and the Month Roads.

Where communal bins have been offered and supported by resident's, pest control call outs have dropped by 70% and recycling rates improved by 28%.

Obviously, a consultation would be needed, and we respect if neighbours determined either way.
Communal bins will not solve every problem but have been proven to make significant improvements and be a long-term cost saving in a council shackled by financial stress.

May i add regular preventative rat baiting has proven to be cost effective and we continue to support this work with a contribution from our neighbourhood funds”

Cllr Steve Radford, leader of the Liberal Party

The next Liberal Party NEC will be held at the Christ Church, Buckingham Road, Tuebrook, Liverpool L13 8AY on Saturday the 25th february 2023.

The meeting will commence at midday and anybody wishing to attend should contact myself to obtain a detail of the location. It is intended this will be a in person event.

Members of the Liberal Party as well as the general public are welcome to attend this meeting.

Stephen Graham
Liberal Party NEC Member