Campaigns, surveys and petitions

I am always keen to collect local people's views on a variety of issues about which I regularly campaign. These relate to local and national issues and it is often helpful to receive additional comments and support from my constituents.

I have listed some of the campaigns which I am currently working on below. Please do contribute to any of these surveys or petitions which interest you and please do let me know if there are any other issues which you would like me to take up.

Simon Hughes' Big Survey

Housing Association survey

Personal Carbon Trading party consultation

Southwark Policing Priorities

Post Office Survey

Canada Water Action Plan

Tackling Youth Violence

Tower Bridge Refurbishment

What problems are you having with the C10 and 381 bus routes?

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Party consultation on personal carbon trading

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Mon 22nd Feb 2010:

Nick Clegg sets out respite for carers guarantee

Nick Clegg's speech in full: Audio Version: The Kings Fund Speech (29.22 opens in new window) The way a society treats its elderly and vulnerable people is a true mark of its identity. With an ageing population, rising numbers of people suffering from dementia and millions of people in need of care with basics like washing, dressing and feeding themselves - if ever there was an issue for cross-party talks, this was it. Those talks fell apart when the Conservatives chose to launch a poster and in doing so killed off one of the best hopes in recent years of agreeing a long-term settlement. But the Labour Party contributed to this breakdown with their cynical promise of free care at home. A promise everyone now knows will actually lead to cuts in care budgets for some of the most vulnerable elderly people. This policy is one of Gordon Browns so-called dividing lines, designed to paint opposition parties into a corner rather than to improve the country. We need a solution that unites the generations, not divides them. A solution we can all sign up to, not just for today but for the long term. A solution that will not be torn apart on the rocks of short-term party-political advantage. The Liberal Democrat manifesto will confirm that progress must be and will be made on a consensus basis, by an independent, cross-party commission. I commit us to reaching an agreement that will help all people, no matter their needs in their retirement. An agreement that is fair, affordable and sustainable. I challenge the other party leaders to stop grandstanding and put the long-term needs of the elderly ahead of the short term demands of politics. I would be happy to meet with Gordon Brown and David Cameron at any time on the basis of the principles I have set out to start thrashing out the beginnings of a cross-party solution.   But, even as we wait for progress on a long-term approach, that doesn’t mean we can’t do something now to help with the difficult challenges faced by the many families in which someone is in need of care. It is time to recognise that there is a hidden army of people in Britain, without whom no social care policy would be even remotely affordable. Between them, they save the country an estimated 87 billion a year. They are some of the most dedicated, hard-working and under-valued people in Britain today. They are carers: people who put in hour after hour, day after day, week after week of care for their relatives and loved ones. The physical challenge of looking after someone who needs help. But also the emotional challenge of seeing someone you love struggle or suffer. There are a million carers who do this for more than 50 hours a week. That’s more hours than anyone else is allowed to work in paid employment. Without even the right to time off, breaks or holiday. I am in awe of every carer, young or old. I want to make an announcement today about a new policy we will put in our manifesto to help carers. Labour has allocated hundreds of millions of pounds to its mistaken pledge on care at home. That policy threatens other forms of social care, has not been properly costed and should be dropped. We are proposing an alternative: guaranteed respite care for the million hardest working carers in Britain. Paid for by redirecting the money the Department of Health has allocated to the Governments flawed care policy, together with its existing, poorly-focused funds for respite care. It is a simple promise: if you care for more than 50 hours a week, you will have the right to a full week of respite. Giving you the time you so desperately need to rest, recuperate, or simply have a holiday. This commitment to carers would finally acknowledge the debt all of society owes to carers. And it would make a difference, a real difference, to a million families straight away. The Policy in Brief There are close to five million unpaid carers in England, with a million providing more than 50hrs care each week. Liberal Democrats believe that people who selflessly provide care to their loved ones deserve a break.  In most jobs you get paid holidays but for a huge number of carers that simply isn’t an option. We believe that respite care is a lifeline - not just for carers but for whole families.  That’s why we will provide a weeks break from caring every year to the million unpaid carers who provide more than 50 hours care each week.   Why is it Necessary? Caring matters deeply to families and individuals but when you are taking care of somebody you also need to think about caring for yourself.  The millions of unpaid carers in this country deserve as much support as possible and that is why we will provide a week of guaranteed respite care each year for a million carers who work the longest hours. This also makes financial sense because carers who don’t get a break can often end up suffering health problems themselves. Sustaining the ability of carers to provide the care and support they give to others is of critical importance.   Policy Detail We will provide a weeks respite care to the million carers in England who currently provide more than 50 hours of care every week. Each carer will be entitled to receive a personal budget each year equivalent to the cost of a care homes weekly charge to redeem with whichever local service they choose.   How you use your personal budget will depend on your own circumstances. The money can be used to take one break or a series of breaks, for example: to get someone to take over caring for several weekends while the carer takes a break; payment towards the cost of the person you care for going away leaving you to take a break at home; arranging for someone to look after the person you care for at home while you go away; payment towards the cost of a break for you both together.   Each Local Health Board (currently Primary Care Trusts) will receive a block grant dependent on an assessment of the needs of their local populace and the costs of care in their local area. Local Authorities are already equipped to carry out assessments of the needs of the people requiring care, and the needs of their carers. Once such an assessment has been made and the person is considered to eligible they will be able to apply to their Local Health Board for funding for respite care. By operating the system in this way we hope to encourage improved partnerships between the NHS, social care and third sectors, in looking after the needs of carers.   Costs/Savings We will provide a week’s respite care to the million carers in England who currently provide more than 50 hours of care every week. The total cost of this scheme will start from 460m in 2010-11 rising to 500m in 2014-15. Some people will not want to take part in the scheme and some will already qualify for respite care through local authority funding. We have therefore assumed a 90% take-up rate for this scheme.   We will pay for this by using the 420m of health funding that the government intends to use for the Personal Care at Home Bill. And we supplement this money with the 100m that has already been allocated by the Department of Health for respite care through the Carers Strategy.

Fri 12th Feb 2010:

Liberal Democrats launch plans to revitalise Britain’s high streets

Nick Clegg was joined by Ed Fordham, PPC for Hampstead and Kilburn, to launch the policy document Vibrant Local High Streets while visiting businesses in Kilburn on Friday morning. The document includes proposals to: Encourage the development of a PostBank and free the Post Office from the Royal Mail to enable it to develop new business Introduce a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail developments to establish a fairer balance between local independent stores and large supermarkets Establish a system of Local Enterprise Funds and regional stock exchanges to ensure small businesses get access to cost effective equity that meets their needs Commenting, Nick Clegg said: “Thriving high streets are at the heart of local communities. “But it has been our high streets that have borne the brunt of this recession, with boarded up shops scarring towns and villages across Britain. “Ministers have overseen the rapid decline of the post office network leading to even fewer people visiting the local shops. “The Government has tilted the planning system in favour of the haphazard expansion of ubiquitous supermarkets at the expense of hard-pressed independent stores. “The financial crisis has exposed Labour and the Conservatives’ folly of being entirely dependent on the City of London. The Liberal Democrats understand that it will be small businesses that are key to building a healthy and balanced economy.”

Thu 11th Feb 2010:

Liberal Democrats launch green jobs manifesto pledge

Nick Clegg launched this latest plank of the Liberal Democrats’ economic stimulus and job creation package visiting a former shipyard in Newcastle. The proposals would enable firms to manufacture off-shore wind turbines in the UK, instead of seeing them built abroad due to out-of-date facilities. Current plans to expand wind farms in the North and Irish seas could see every one of the 6,400 turbines needed brought in from abroad, as there are currently no turbine manufacturers in the UK. British ports are ideally located to host turbine manufacturers due to their proximity to the off-shore wind farms; however, they are currently unable to invest due to the lack of appropriate docks with suitable space. The proposals to invest in physical infrastructure to support a greener economy also include a pledge to invest £100million in training and testing facilities, including at universities with specialist engineering research facilities such as Loughborough, Durham and Newcastle. Commenting, Nick Clegg said: “We need to make sure we come out of this recession with a rebalanced and green economy. “Our plans would act as a huge boost for Britain’s budding wind industry and create nearly 60,000 jobs in many shipyard cities where unemployment is a huge problem. “New off-shore turbines, with blades the size of the London Eye, need to be built and launched from modern docks, so we need to upgrade our shipyards to take advantage of this massive opportunity. “Just imagine the docks and shipyards along the coastline of Britain coming to life and leading the world in this new technology. “Expanding off-shore wind will create jobs but unless we act now, these jobs won’t be British jobs. It’s a scandal that 90% of the £1.75bn contract for a wind farm off the coast of Kent is going to foreign contractors, with the turbines being manufactured in Germany. “Investing in infrastructure for a new green economy not only helps create jobs now but will allow Britain to take its place at the cutting edge of this growing industrial sector for the future. “Britain clearly has the manufacturing and engineering expertise to lead the world in this green technology but government must play its part in supporting this.” In response to this announcement, John Sauven Greenpeace Executive Director said: “This is the kind of practical vision that will bring Britain huge benefits. “Using shipyards to launch a fleet of offshore turbines could make Britain an international powerhouse in wind power, and create thousands of jobs. “But if we don’t realise the huge potential of renewable energy in the UK, then we risk being left behind by other European countries." The Policy in brief The Liberal Democrats will renovate and adapt facilities in seven North and Irish Sea ports so they can be used to build the giant turbines needed for off-shore wind energy. This will be a huge boost for Britain’s budding wind industry and create 57,000 jobs in many shipyard cities where unemployment is a huge problem. This plan forms part of the Liberal Democrats’ economic stimulus and job creation package. In the first year of a Liberal Democrat government, over £3.3bn of spending will be redirected to create jobs and build up Britain’s infrastructure. In the following years this money will be redirected to other Liberal Democrar spending priorities and reducing the structural deficit. Why is it necessary Energy from wind must meet a much larger proportion of Britain’s energy needs if we are to cut carbon emissions and our reliance on fuel imported from abroad. But there’s a problem: there is hardly anywhere in Britain suitable to build the giant turbines needed. That holds back our industry and also the much-needed expansion of wind energy. Liberal Democrats are committed to increasing the proportion of our electricity that comes from renewables to 40% by 2020. The majority of that electricity will have to come from off-shore wind – so we need to build at least 6,400 offshore wind turbines, 2.5 a day. The technology we need is ready and the consortiums who have won the right to build offshore wind farms in the North and Irish Seas are now looking for manufacturers to build the turbines. If action is not taken now all the manufacturing jobs that these orders could create will go abroad where there are already the facilities to build huge wind turbines. Only if existing port facilities close to the off-shore wind farms of the North and Irish Seas are converted will the turbines be built here and the jobs created here too. Renovating ports: The Liberal Democrats will invest £400million in refurbishing ports in the North of England and Scotland so they can manufacture offshore wind turbines. They will be upgraded so they are suitable for construction and testing facilities and are of a reasonable depth for the large boats used to transport the blades and towers. All port authorities with direct access to the North and Irish seas, the crucial areas for offshore wind development, will be invited to bid to be part of the scheme. For example, ports in the North of England around Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, Middlesbrough and ports in Scotland around Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow will all be eligible for funding. Based on the cost of the recent renovation of Great Yarmouth, it is estimated that £400million will be enough for the renovation of seven ports. The Liberal Democrats will also invest £100million through the Renewables and Energy Efficiency Delivery Authority (an agency we will establish, modelled on the Olympics Delivery Authority) who will invest in training and testing facilities, including at universities which specialise in this kind of engineering research such as Loughborough, Durham and Newcastle. In Government, the Liberal Democrat would work with the education sector and industry to ensure we have the skilled workforce to support new world class facilities. Jobs: This investment will create 12,000 jobs in port development and facilitate a further 45,000 new jobs in the manufacturing, construction and supply chain of offshore wind energy within the UK.

Fri 5th Feb 2010:

Don Foster launches 'The Power of Creativity'

Don Foster wants to see creativity and culture celebrated, as important in their own right and as powerful drivers of our national identity, global standing and affluence. The Liberal Democrats believe the status of the arts and creativity should be raised across society and government.     The proposals published in The Power of Creativity are not formal party policy but set out Don Foster’s vision of how to support the arts and culture and celebrate creativity in this country.   The paper includes proposals to: Change the way the National Lottery is taxed to generate more money for arts and heritage as well as for the Treasury Provide support for new start-ups in the creative industries and enable more businesses to offer internships and apprenticeships Offer all our children a more creative education by freeing up the curriculum and increasing the amount of time trainee primary school teachers spend learning about the arts and creativity    Make it easier for small venues to host live music events by reducing bureaucracy that restricts small venues Make sure the regions and cities outside London do not miss out by reviewing the Arts Council England’s funding structures and creating a new administrative status for national museums that will enable them to be more enterprising and independent Open up the Government Art Collection for greater public use Commenting, Don Foster said:   “This set of policies demonstrates our commitment to the arts and creative industries and our belief in their central importance in our society.  Art and culture play a vital role in society and as well as driving regeneration they can be crucial in helping with education and even fighting crime.   “We want to move away from restrictive and bureaucratic targets for the arts and instead focus on celebrating our cultural wealth and nurturing new talent.   “In particular we want to see a greater emphasis on creativity in our education system. We will bring an end to the stifling impact of Labour’s over-prescriptive curriculum and meaningless targets.   “At a time when our creative industries offer the potential for a bright economic future in this country we will invest in creative talent.   “The future we want is a country fulfilling its creative potential.”

Thu 4th Feb 2010:

Liberal Democrats launch General Election plans on policing

Launching Safer Streets – More and Better Police during a visit to Durham today, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne will reveal research showing that: Police numbers have fallen in 18 out of the 43 police forces (42%) in England and Wales since 2005. Two thirds of these police authorities are currently controlled by the Tories and one third by Labour The new officers proposed under Liberal Democrat plans could be expected to make an additional 27,500 arrests and solve more than 24,500 extra crimes each year in England and Wales alone The extra officers, funded by the savings from scrapping ID cards, would be provided over the course of a Parliament with every area in England, Wales and Scotland benefiting. The plans to cut crime through more and better policing also include: Elected police authorities Publishing detection data as well as crime data at ward level A review of the restrictive terms and conditions for police officers, including introducing an annual fitness check for all officers on the beat Commenting, Nick Clegg said: “The Liberal Democrats are the only party that wants to cut crime by putting more police on the street. “When only one in a hundred crimes ends up with a conviction in court, it is time for things to change. “Labour and the Conservatives may talk tough but they are unwilling to make the crucial decisions to cut crime.” Commenting further, Chris Huhne added: “With so many forces seeing cuts in numbers, this is the right time to be promising a longer arm for the law. “The Liberal Democrats would rather have more police officers and catch more criminals than continue with unnecessary and expensive ID cards. “Getting more police on the beat and reforming the way they work is the only way to create safer streets.”

Mon 1st Feb 2010:

Cut class sizes for a fair start for children

To give every child a fair start in life, the Liberal Democrats will spend an extra £2.5bn on schools, guaranteeing them the money they need to support children who are struggling. It will be targeted at schools that take on children who need more help and can be used to ensure all pupils get the individual attention they need by cutting class sizes. Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats said: "Under our plans, our schools would get further money which they could use to cut class sizes and provide more individual support. With the current unfairness in Labour's education funding it’s no surprise there is such a gap in achievement between children from the poorest backgrounds and those families who are better off. Only when we get education funding back on track will be able to give all our children the fair start they deserve.” Regional Breakdown The breakdown below show is by Local Edcuation Authority and Region and shows the total amount the 'pupil premium' would invest to fund the education of all pupils, who qualify for free school meals, to private school levels. Devon and Cornwall East Midlands East of England London North East North West South Central South East West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber Devon and Cornwall Cornwall: £22,119,924 Devon: £27,309,882 Plymouth: £13,348,720 Torbay: £7,228,386 East Midlands Derby: £16,838,354 Derbyshire: £32,470,048 Leicester: £23,709,550 Leicestershire: £18,434,688 Lincolnshire: £21,275,896 Northamptonshire: £22,892,896 Nottingham: £20,112,960 Nottinghamshire: £36,937,416 Rutland: £547,722 East of England Bedfordshire: £16,623,328 Cambridgeshire: £18,560,700 Essex: £47,570,144 Hertfordshire: £33,886,578 Luton: £15,980,230 Norfolk: £35,747,664 Peterborough: £10,852,116 Southend-on-Sea: £9,640,800 Suffolk: £25,991,984 Thurrock: £8,204,484 London Barking and Dagenham: £15,534,480 Barnet: £18,363,794 Bexley: £9,267,912 Brent: £16,278,826 Bromley: £12,946,948 Camden: £3,122,624 Croydon: £23,106,288 Ealing: £17,830,428 Enfield: £25,171,496 Greenwich: £10,739,148 Hackney: £471,360 Hammersmith and Fulham: £4,755,888 Haringey: £14,950,222 Harrow: £10,533,600 Havering: £9,747,252 Hillingdon: £15,851,344 Hounslow: £13,458,606 Islington: £5,777,090 Kensington and Chelsea: £2,643,456 Kingston upon Thames: £4,261,968 Lambeth: £5,380,984 Lewisham: £8,887,208 Merton: £6,726,720 Newham: £20,909,360 Redbridge: £18,047,274 Richmond upon Thames: £5,608,148 Southwark: £7,274,448 Sutton: £7,648,112 Tower Hamlets: £1,036,100 Waltham Forest: £17,491,584 Wandsworth: £9,684,664 Westminster: £7,141,440 North East Darlington: £6,658,404 Durham: £30,862,224 Gateshead: £12,777,210 Hartlepool: £7,633,524 Middlesbrough: £14,579,768 Newcastle upon Tyne: £21,657,438 North Tyneside: £10,434,168 Northumberland: £15,159,438 Redcar and Cleveland: £10,701,600 South Tyneside: £10,956,144 Stockton-on-Tees: £12,198,290 Sunderland: £20,923,056 North West Blackburn with Darwen: £11,897,402 Blackpool: £12,857,078 Bolton: £21,373,556 Bury: £10,720,584 Cheshire: £25,863,624 Cumbria: £20,907,720 Halton: £7,986,608 Knowsley: £15,104,580 Lancashire: £53,690,406 Liverpool: £41,373,176 Manchester: £45,775,546 Oldham: £20,525,274 Rochdale: £17,668,464 Salford: £18,312,208 Sefton: £16,340,072 St. Helens: £12,737,136 Stockport: £14,021,240 Tameside: £15,557,316 Trafford: £10,256,022 Warrington: £7,474,780 Wigan: £17,695,436 Wirral: £29,785,552 South Central Bournemouth: £6,148,898 Bracknell Forest: £2,355,916 Buckinghamshire: £10,547,004 Hampshire: £37,239,890 Isle of Wight: £7,523,576 Milton Keynes: £11,237,096 Oxfordshire: £19,459,344 Portsmouth: £9,543,392 Reading: £6,349,220 Slough: £6,967,952 Southampton: £13,010,088 West Berkshire: £4,029,256 Windsor and Maidenhead: £2,857,428 Wokingham: £2,735,278 South East Brighton and Hove: £11,952,778 East Sussex: £18,059,848 Kent: £55,193,304 Medway: £12,302,880 Surrey: £24,965,568 West Sussex: £16,121,568 West Midlands Birmingham: £112,527,324 Coventry: £22,885,500 Dudley: £20,282,700 Herefordshire: £4,770,756 Sandwell: £22,228,248 Shropshire: £9,495,090 Solihull: £12,281,568 Staffordshire: £31,632,128 Stoke-on-Trent: £19,606,802 Telford and Wrekin: £12,557,152 Walsall: £22,059,618 Warwickshire: £18,273,008 Wolverhampton: £18,255,636 Worcestershire: £20,005,654 Western Counties Bath and North East Somerset: £5,463,540 City of Bristol: £22,172,024 Dorset: £8,513,824 Gloucestershire: £19,096,416 North Somerset: £7,607,448 Poole: £3,374,136 Somerset: £15,385,612 South Gloucestershire: £8,474,416 Swindon: £11,330,496 Wiltshire: £11,341,608 Yorkshire and Humber Barnsley: £15,947,062 Bradford: £43,771,984 Calderdale: £12,316,920 Doncaster: £19,415,036 East Riding of Yorkshire: £10,376,956 Kingston upon Hull: £21,801,012 Kirklees: £25,084,504 Leeds: £48,999,366 North East Lincolnshire: £10,127,376 North Lincolnshire: £8,009,474 North Yorkshire: £16,670,714 Rotherham: £17,115,720 Sheffield: £30,391,096 Wakefield: £18,587,472 York: £5,840,744

Wed 20th Jan 2010:

Giving hope back to young people: Nick Clegg launches youth jobs pledge

On the day that new statistics show the number of young people unemployed for more than six months has doubled in two years, Nick Clegg will announce the party’s plans using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The proposals would ensure young people do not spend more than 90 days on Jobseekers Allowance before they get more training, education, an internship or a place on a work programme. Today’s announcement forms the next step in the Liberal Democrats’ economic stimulus and job creation package. The plans will invest almost £900m in increasing the number of further education places, giving students financial support to return to college and creating a paid internship scheme. Commenting Nick Clegg said: “Young people feel cheated by this recession. “Everyone knows someone who has recently left college or university with hopes of starting a career only to find they cannot even get on the lowest rung of the job ladder. “We must help them now or they will be left behind in any recovery. “Our promise of more training, education, an internship or a place on a work programme will give hope to the nearly one million young people who currently can’t find a job. “Facebook, YouTube and Twitter play just as important a role as TV or newspapers in young people’s lives. Politicians can’t ignore new and social media if they want to connect with the next generation of voters.”

Thu 14th Jan 2010:

Liberal Democrats launch manifesto housing pledge

There are hundreds of thousands of empty properties across England which are no longer used as homes but can be brought back into use with some investment. People who own these homes will get a grant or a cheap loan to renovate them so they can be used: grants if the home is for social housing, loans for private use. The plans form part of the economic stimulus package outlined as a core principle of the Liberal Democrat election manifesto. In the first year of the new Parliament, the party would redirect over £3.3bn of spending to create jobs and build up Britain’s infrastructure. In the following years this money will be redirected to other Lib Dem spending priorities and reducing the structural deficit. Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today launched the plans with Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable and Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather. Visiting the College of North West London, they met students on construction and engineering courses who would benefit from these new plans. Commenting, Nick Clegg said: “Allowing thousands of houses to sit empty when millions of families have been waiting years for a home is nothing short of a scandal. “These plans are a clear example of where Liberal Democrat priorities lie: creating jobs and providing more family homes. “The cost of bringing these homes back into use is just a fraction of the cost of building new ones, yet the Government is sitting idly by while they fall into disrepair. “This is one element of our economic stimulus package that will generate jobs and help Britain on its way to building a fair, sustainable economy.”

Mon 11th Jan 2010:

Nick Clegg puts fairness at the heart of the Liberal Democrat manifesto

The first priority is to introduce fair taxes, with radical proposals for the biggest tax reform in generations. The Liberal Democrats will close loopholes for the richest and introduce a tax on mansions to fund tax cuts of £700 for everyone else. No-one will pay income tax on the first £10,000 they earn, meaning millions of low earners and pensioners will stop paying taxes altogether, while millions more will get hundreds of pounds back in their pockets. Only the Liberal Democrats will make taxes permanently fair. The next priority is to give every child the fair start they deserve through a huge transformation of our education system that will build the foundations of fair society. That means cutting class sizes so children get the individual attention they need to thrive. The Liberal Democrats will be putting an extra £2.5 billion into schools to pay for more teachers, better discipline and catch-up classes so children get the individual attention they all need. This means an average of £2,500 extra per pupil for the schools teaching the million most deprived children in the country, funded by taking above-average earners out of the tax credit system and cutting wasteful programmes at the Department for Education. The Liberal Democrats will also phase out tuition fees over the course of six years, so that, after school, everyone who gets the grades has the opportunity to go to university without fear of debt, no matter what their background. Thirdly, the Liberal Democrats are the only party committed to real change of our political system. This means getting big money and corrupt donors out of politics altogether, reducing the number of MPs by 150, giving power over the police and NHS to local communities, changing the voting system to abolish safe seats and giving you the right to sack corrupt MPs. These are changes that would upend our political establishment. Neither Labour or the Conservatives will ever offer change on this scale - they will defend the status quo to the last. Only the Liberal Democrats offer the chance for a different politics. Another whitewash is unacceptable, we need permanent change to make politics clean, fair and local. The Liberal Democrats will shift the economy away from the traditional over-reliance on the City of London and on financial services. Our plans will usher in a new era where growth is enabled in every part of Britain in a way that promotes green technology and creates lasting jobs. We will put an end to the casino banking that caused the financial crisis by breaking up the banks and encouraging regional and local ways to bring competition back to the financial sector and make sure businesses can find the money they need to grow. Under our plans, councils will regain control of business rates, reconnecting local enterprise with local politics; Local Enterprise Funds will help people invest in growing businesses in their area and Regional Stock Exchanges will give companies a way to move into public equity without the huge risks and costs of a London listing. The Liberal Democrats will also create a new National Infrastructure Bank to bring in private money to build the transport links, energy grid and public buildings we need for a sustainable, low carbon economy in every part of Britain.

Mon 7th Dec 2009:

Vince Cable announces Liberal Democrat public sector pay proposals

The proposals would cap public sector pay rises at £400 per person to limit the growth of the public sector pay bill while ensuring fairness for teachers, nurses, police officers and other public sector workers. The progressive measure will save taxpayers about £4bn a year while reducing pressure on front line services and protecting jobs. Commenting Vince Cable said: “Public sector pay makes up a quarter of all public spending so any serious and credible attempt to limit spending must include proposals on pay rises. “Unlike the Tories who would freeze the salaries of millions of teachers, police officers, nurses and firemen while cutting taxes for millionaires, these proposals would ensure pay rises for key frontline services that are fair and economically realistic.”

Mon 30th Nov 2009:

Fair taxes at the heart of Liberal Democrat message

The party’s new tax plans will see tax cuts for millions of people, paid for by closing tax loopholes, making polluters pay and introducing a ‘mansion tax’ on homes worth over £2m. Nick Clegg said: “If you want to know how committed a government is to fairness then look at its tax system. “Gordon Brown has created a tax regime that forces some of the lowest earners in society to pay hundreds of pounds in tax they can’t afford, while polluters and rich tax dodgers avoid paying their fair share. “Meanwhile the Conservatives want tax cuts for millionaires, but say there might be tax rises for everyone else. “Under our plans people won’t pay a penny on the first ten thousand pounds they earn. That would put £700 back in the pockets of the vast majority of tax payers, and take millions of people on low pay out of paying income tax altogether. “Our plans represent the most radical, far reaching tax reform in a generation. “They embody everything the Liberal Democrats stand for: fairness, protecting the environment, rewarding hard work. “It is right to ask those with the broadest shoulders to bear a little more of the burden so that millions of people on normal earnings get the break they desperately need.”

Wed 11th Nov 2009:

Copenhagen 2009: Cooling the Planet

Between 7 and 18 December, Copenhagen is hosting a major climate change conference, during which the world’s leading nations will attempt to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Treaty. We are seeing the horrors of climate change already: in the thousands forced to live in caravans after the great floods of 2007; and across the world, in places like Bangladesh being buffeted by cyclones and rising sea levels. On Saturday December 5 the Liberal Democrats joined The Wave, a day of action in London including a march on Parliament to publicise the importance of making real commitments for the environment. The Liberal Democrats used this opportunity to highlight our environmental credentials – and reassert our position as the leading party on climate change. We are the party that will go furthest on cutting carbon emissions. We will go furthest in generating renewable energy. And we will go furthest in insulating homes. The Liberal Democrats will make Britain carbon neutral by 2050 – and by 2020 will have brought our emissions down to the level scientists say will stop climate change.   There is only one party that is serious about the environment and in a position to defend it The next parliament is likely to be the last that can stop dangerous climate change. And there is only one party that is both serious about the environment and in a position to exact real change: the Liberal Democrats. Copenhagen is a vital staging post in the international fight to reduce carbon but the Government is not up to the task of driving through changes. Labour has failed to cut emissions in the past and refuses to commit to what science demands in the future. We are still at the bottom of the European league table for levels of renewable energy, only above Malta and Luxembourg. The Conservatives are a laughing stock on the international scene and their environmental policies consist merely of empty platitudes. The Liberal Democrats are different. We are the only party in UK politics with the vision, policies, ambition and ability to kill carbon emissions. We will make Britain carbon neutral by 2050. We will reduce emissions faster and more effectively than any other party. And we will make sure that every home is properly insulated within 10 years of taking power. There is only a small window of opportunity to stop dangerous climate change. Only the Liberal Democrats will take it. UK government must show leadership at home by: Saying yes to an immediate 42% reduction in the UK emissions by 2020 before leaving for the Copenhagen climate talks (the Government is currently committed to 34%). Saying yes to a ten-year programme to offer the opportunity for every home to be a warm home by 2020. Saying yes to 40% of all our electricity from renewable sources by 2020 (the Government is currently committed to 30%). Saying no to the third runway at Heathrow. Saying no to new dirty coal power stations without full CCS. Saying no to the nationalised banks investing public money into Tar Sands. Europe needs to influence the climate talks by: Committing now to a unilateral EU reduction of 30% by 2020 against a 1990 baseline, ahead of the talks and adopt a target of a 40% reduction against the same time on completion of an international agreement. Commit to supporting a global finance deal worth $160bn per year from developed countries, without double counting emissions through offsets. Introduce further confidence measures to cap-and-trade aviation and shipping; halt deforestation; stop extracting Tar Sands and unconventional fossil fuels.

Wed 9th Sep 2009:

Liberal Democrats launch a campaign against airbrushing in advertising

The online campaign is encouraging people to complain to the Advertising Standards Agency and the Committee of Advertising Practice about adverts which portray unrealistic and unhealthy body images. The campaign, which also seeks a ban on adverts aimed at under-16s using digital retouching to portray unrealistic body images, has received backing from a range of organisations, including The National Centre for Eating Disorders, Girlguiding UK and leading academics. Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP, Jo Swinson, who chairs the party’s working group on women’s policy, said: “Adverts that feature heavily retouched images of perfect skin, perfect hair and perfect figures mean that women and girls increasingly feel that nothing less than perfect will do. “Advertisers should be honest and upfront about the extent of airbrushing that goes on. It is frankly dishonest to advertise an anti-wrinkle cream and then airbrush out all of the wrinkles in the ad. And it is simply irresponsible to take already underweight women and then slice off pieces of their thighs or hips in the computer suite. “This campaign aims to make the Advertising Standards Agency and the Committee of Advertising Practice use the power they have to insist adverts clearly indicate if they’ve been airbrushed. “Consumers should have as much information as possible and children should have the space to develop their self-esteem without constantly being bombarded with a narrow range of manipulated images that promote conformity.”

Wed 2nd Sep 2009:

Nick Clegg launches ‘Don’t Short Change Our Troops: Fair Pay for Our Armed Forces’

Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces, but recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have revealed the disparity between what we expect of our soldiers and how they are rewarded. Liberal Democrats believe that we must take action now to restore the military covenant between the Armed Forces and the people. As a fundamental part of this we would put service personnel and their welfare at the heart of defence policy. We will ensure that no soldier, sailor or airman goes into harm’s way on less basic pay than a new recruit to the police or fire service. There is widespread dissatisfaction over pay among the lower ranks. This has a dreadful impact on morale and retention. We will find the money to pay for this from inside the MoD. It’s ridiculous that we have one civilian for every man or woman in uniform, and almost 1000 people working in communications alone. Major reform is necessary to reduce costs within the department. Those savings should go to where they are really necessary, to the people prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.” The brave men and women of our armed forces are the most precious military asset we have.  They must be treated fairly, with pay and conditions that reflect their amazing commitment to this country. Liberal Democrats will ensure that no soldier, sailor or airman goes into harm’s way on less basic pay than a new recruit to the police force.   Pay levels are shamefully low for the lower ranks and there is widespread dissatisfaction among service personnel at salary levels and the allowances provided. Almost half of soldiers are dissatisfied and 60% of Royal Marines are dissatisfied with pay.   Around 50,000 receive less in basic pay than the starting salary of a police constable. Around 13,000 of these earn less than £17,000. Given the range of skills and risks now expected to be borne by the modern soldier, this hidden scandal must be addressed.   The ongoing Strategic Defence Review is the ideal opportunity to put the welfare of our Armed Forces at the heart of defence policy. Our proposals would bring the basic pay of the lowest paid soldiers in line with new-entrant police constables.   Pay increases would be tapered up through the lower ranks, from a fully-trained Private up to NCO ranks. Under our proposals no fully trained service personnel would receive less basic annual pay than a new-entrant police constable.

Fri 28th Aug 2009:

Nick Clegg asks public servants ‘in the know’ how to save taxpayers’ money

Nick Clegg is today visiting a hospital in Sheffield, as well as launching a website where people who work in the public sector can submit suggestions on how to cut waste. The 'Ask the People in the Know' project recognises that serious savings will have to be made to bring public finances under control and seeks the expertise of those working in the public sector on how to cut out waste while protecting services. Nick Clegg said: “Hard-working nurses and teachers tell me how frustrated they are by the money which is being wasted on needless paperwork, administration and computer systems that don’t work. “David Cameron and Gordon Brown are having a sterile debate about the size of the total Whitehall budget. But they’re asking the wrong question: we first need to find out if money is being spent on the right things. “It can’t be right that billions of pounds are being spent on NHS computer systems which don’t work, yet basic help for people with serious mental health conditions is still lacking because of a shortage of money. “The people who are best placed to tell us where money is not being well spent are the teachers, nurses, social workers and other public servants who work so hard day and night on our behalf. “Politicians should stop talking over the heads of public servants. We need to listen to the people in the know on how we can better run public services, making sure that every penny of taxpayers’ money is well spent. That’s what ‘Asking People In The Know’ is all about.”

Thu 13th Aug 2009:

Real Women: Healthy, happy and confident

Women face pressure from all directions these days. Hit hard by the recession, trying to juggle family commitments with work and home life, it’s easy to feel like you’re running just to stand still.  The media screams out an endless list of things still to do: get a bikini body in 20 days, plan the perfect children’s party, how to look 10 years younger. Despite great strides forward in equality, women still get paid less than men, and generally still end up taking more responsibility for childcare and looking after elderly relatives.  This can be hugely rewarding, but combining this with a job can seem almost impossible. There’s a lot the Government could do to give a helping hand and it would be nice to inject some realism into the media’s portrayal of  women, instead of the suggestion that nothing less than perfection will do.   In this paper we will set out what the Liberal Democrats would do differently to help real women. Jo Swinson

Wed 22nd Jul 2009:

Nick Clegg launches 'A Fresh Start for Britain'

Dear friend, Ever since I became leader of the Liberal Democrats I have been travelling the country, holding public meetings, listening and talking to the people I meet. The economy is in a mess, people are losing jobs and everywhere I go, people are angry at the way politicians have let them down. The two old parties don’t really want to change a political system that keeps them in power or challenge the bankers who got the economy into such a terrible mess. The next election will be your chance to tell them they're wrong – your chance to vote for something different. Many people believed they would get change for the better in 1997. Instead, under Labour, the gap between rich and poor has got bigger, our politics has got even dirtier, our civil liberties have been eroded, the environment around us is in danger and our international reputation is at a new low. Labour let us all down. The Conservatives say they want change but all they really want is to keep things the way they are. They say they want fairness but demand tax cuts for millionaires. They say they want to protect the environment, but have linked up in Europe with people who deny climate change is a problem at all. They will promise everything and change nothing. Britain is in the teeth of three crises: a huge banking crisis and recession, a rotten Westminster system abused by too many MPs for personal gain, and the threat of climate change. We need big changes to fix our economy, our discredited politics and our environment, yet both Labour and the Conservatives are letting the City, the House of Commons and polluters off the hook. No action against bankers’ bonuses. No action to give people the right to sack MPs guilty of breaking the rules. No action to slash emissions. They say just enough to get in the headlines, but when the spotlight moves on it's back to business as usual. I believe there’s a better way. This country can be fairer, it can be safer, greener, and stronger in the world. Only the Liberal Democrats have the ideas, the energy, and the ambition to provide the new hope the country needs. If that’s what you want too, after twelve years of Labour disappointment, turn to us. We carry the torch of progress now. Despite all the gloomy news, there's still real hope for the future – but only if we make a fresh start. We need strong leadership and a different kind of politics to make it happen. The way things have always been done has got us into this mess, and it will never get us out. Above all, we must do everything to protect the next generation from the mistakes made today. For me, how we treat young children is the most important measure of what kind of society we want, what kind of values we hold dear. Even in these difficult times, giving all children from all backgrounds the life chances they deserve will always be my personal priority. So if you want things to be different, choose a party that is different. Choose the Liberal Democrats. Best wishes, Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Thu 28th May 2009:

Take Back Power: No summer holiday before the overhaul says Clegg

This article first appeared in the Guardian, May 28, 2009. Finally the dam has broken, and everyone is talking about changing Britain's political system. For decades reformers have been thwarted by Westminster inertia. But the MPs' expenses scandal has overturned old certainties and made change possible. This moment must be seized by all who want a different kind of politics. Warm words, rhetoric and consideration are not enough; indeed, they are a guarantee that little will happen. So let us bar the gates of Westminster and stop MPs leaving for their summer holidays until this crisis has been sorted out, and every nook and cranny of our political system has been reformed. Today I'm setting out a plan of action to get all the changes we need delivered in just 100 days - making it possible for MPs to be sacked by constituents, abolishing the House of Lords, getting corrupt money out of politics and changing the electoral system to give everyone a voice. People will say it isn't possible - parliament can't act that quickly. I say the innate conservatism that marks out our political establishment is part of the problem. Let's stop all this self-congratulatory hype about the mother of parliaments and get on with improving it. Momentum will ebb away unless we act quickly. Delay would be a victory for those who want to confine change to the bare minimum - the two establishment parties who will talk up reform long enough for the storm to pass, then kick it into the long grass for good. David Cameron's proposals set out in the Guardian on Tuesday were a masterful example of well-judged rhetoric free of substance and conviction. Open-source software, new select committee chairs and legislative text messages will not rescue British democracy. They are designed, I fear, to provide verbal cover for maintaining the status quo. Real political change is about taking power from those who have hoarded it for themselves, and distributing it to others. So change will only be possible if the vested interests that have benefited from the way things are accept that they can no longer preside over an institutional stitch-up. For generations the Labour and Conservative parties have ­colluded to keep out competition. They are like a corporate duopoly, ­setting the rules of the game to maintain dominance. And just like in economics, it's ordinary people who suffer: taken for granted, and deprived of the ability to make different choices to those imposed upon them. That is why what Cameron did not say is more revealing than what he did. No mention of the murky business of party funding. No mention of the scandal of an unelected second chamber. The rejection of any change to an electoral system that hands power to governments on a fraction of the vote. Without these changes, British politics will continue to be a game of pass the parcel between two old parties, while the rest of the country switches off, So instead of long-term consideration of the possibility of tinkering, let us have 100 days of real action: swift, decisive and confident. It really is possible. The details of a reformed system of party funding have already been thrashed out between the parties, months ago. Sir Hayden Phillips secured outline agreement to ban donations of more than £50,000, limit spending to £100m over a parliament and shake up union contributions. The reason it wasn't adopted was because the Conservatives walked out, keen to protect donations from tax exiles such as Lord Ashcroft. But there is no reason not to return to what was all but agreed, and enforce it. The political parties and elections bill, now before parliament, could be amended and adopted within weeks. Similarly, on House of Lords reform, the principles of a fully elected chamber have already been exhaustively debated and adopted by MPs. As in any bicameral system, peers should be elected on a different constituency basis and electoral cycle to MPs. Details could be decided on and introduced in the constitutional renewal bill being promoted in the House of Lords by Paul Tyler. And then there's electoral reform. The ideal solution would be an Irish-style single transferable vote system in which voters elect the person, not the party. But even alternative vote plus - as first advocated by Roy Jenkins in 1998 and now backed by Alan Johnson - would ensure most MPs have a personal constituency link with their voters, as already occurs in Germany and Scotland. Labour made a promise more than a decade ago to hold a referendum on the Jenkins proposals. If the government won't call a general election, let us have this referendum in early September, as the culmination of 100 days of reform. Together, over the next 100 days, we could achieve nothing less than the total reinvention of British politics. These months could become a great moment in British political history, rather than a shabby footnote to a shameful month of scandal. Let us seize, not squander, the opportunity for change.

Thu 26th Feb 2009:

The Freedom Bill: radical plans to defend civil liberties

The legislation is the first time a major political party has collated all of the laws which have undermined civil liberties into one Bill, so that they can be easily repealed. The 20 measures contained in the draft legislation will: Cut the maximum pre-charge detention period from 28 to 14 days Abolish the veto in the Freedom of Information Act that allows ministers to keep information secret Scrap the ID card scheme Remove all innocent people from the DNA database, except for those tried for a violent or sexual offence Stop councils and others snooping by restricting the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to serious and terrorist offences Regulate CCTV to protect privacy following a Royal Commission on the use of cameras Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "With one small change after another over the last 20 years, the cumulative loss of civil liberties is huge. "The Government has presided over the slow death by a thousand cuts of our hard-won British freedoms. "Our forebears who fought so hard to establish our rights under the law would be shocked at what we have lost. "The Freedom Bill we are publishing today will repeal 20 years of attacks on our civil liberties from both Labour and Tory governments."

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