Bus fare cap an "easy win" for Burnham, now he must go further on transport![]()
![]()
Responding to Andy Burnham's announcement of a return to the £2 bus fare cap in England, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, Olly Glover MP, said:![]()
![]()
“We called out the bus fare hike from the very beginning, so it’s a relief to see the cap back down to £2. This was an easy win for Burnham, but now the work of transforming transport for the whole country must begin.![]()
![]()
“The Government is still leaving millions behind. Bus routes are the backbone of economic activity in communities across our country, and he must not forget about rural communities with few or no bus services at all. We need the Prime Minister to deliver for the whole country.![]()
![]()
“Burnham should now look at our emergency measures to ease costs that have soared due to Trump’s illegal war in Iran - capping national bus fares at £1, slashing rail prices by 10%, and cutting fuel duty by 10p per litre.”
The Liberal Democrats have today called on UEFA to completely withdraw from FIFA, declaring that football’s global governing body is "corrupt beyond repair". The call comes in the wake of an unprecedented tournament scandal where FIFA overturned a match suspension for a US striker following direct backroom lobbying from Donald Trump - a move UEFA itself condemned as crossing a red line. ![]()
![]()
Football deserves far more than the cronyism, profiteering, and corruption currently served up by FIFA. Enough is enough. Ultimately, it is the fans, who are just trying to cheer on their team, who are seeing the rules of the game undermined and their wallets squeezed for all they are worth. Liberal Democrats are drawing a line in the sand. It is way past time we are clear eyed that FIFA is too far gone, only a new organisation, without the corruption that burdens FIFA, can fix international football. FIFA can keep their ‘hydration breaks’ - we don’t want them.
The UK government borrowed slightly less than expected in June, according to official figures published and UK unemployment hits 4.9% as payroll jobs fall by 85,000.![]()
![]()
The new Chancellor needs to turn things around, and fast. The economy is stuck in the slow lane while job seekers and families pay the price. Healey now needs to urgently tackle unemployment, by scrapping Rachel Reeves' unfair jobs tax that is stifling businesses and slamming the door shut on job opportunities. Today's borrowing figures also show the huge pressure on our public finances. The only real answer is to boost growth, and protect our economy from the global shocks it faces, like Trump's illegal Iran war. That's why Andy Burnham must immediately begin negotiations for a new growth defence partnership with the EU, including joining the Single Market.
www.facebook.com
Hardworking Brits have faced a grueling year, yet the simple pleasure of a summer holiday is being pushed out of reach by runaway costs and systemic travel chaos.![]()
![]()
From booking platforms bleeding our local B&Bs dry, to airlines hitting families with stealth charges just to pack a bag, holidaymakers are being ripped off at every turn. Combined with the absolute armageddon at our airports due to the EES rollout, the government is letting summer be ruined.![]()
![]()
The Liberal Democrats have a clear plan to save the British summer. By lowering hidden fees, curbing big tech profiteering, and sorting out the chaos at our borders, we can make travel affordable and stress-free again.
Cole-Hamilton pushes lack of mammogram appointments to top of NHS Lothian Local Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has written to the CEO of NHS Lothian after residents raised concerns over the lack of mammogram appointments in Edinburgh. Local Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has written to the CEO of NHS Lothian after residents raised concerns over the lack of mammogram appointments in Edinburgh. {}
Cole-Hamilton pushes lack of mammogram appointments to top of NHS Lothian
www.edinburghlibdems.org
Local Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has written to the CEO of NHS Lothian after residents raised concerns over the lack of mammogram appointments in Edinburgh.
VAT removal ‘won’t cut it’ for Derbyshire Dales residents as Candidate urges Burnham to back Lib Dem plans to slash bills![]()
![]()
The Liberal Democrats say Andy Burnham’s plan to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills in October does not go far enough to help struggling households.![]()
![]()
The Government’s scheme to cut the rate of VAT applied to household electricity from 5% to 0%, starting on 1 October would save people around £45 a year.![]()
![]()
Candidate for Derbyshire Dales, Barry Holliday, says however, the Lib Dems’ ‘Essential Energy Guarantee plan’ would save the average household more than double this amount.![]()
![]()
It would cut energy bills by £100 for the average household in Derbyshire Dales, helping to tackle the cost of living crisis and put money back in people’s pockets.![]()
![]()
It would see every household receive a basic energy allowance, equivalent to 50% of average energy consumption, at a discounted rate, helping with the cost of everyday essential energy needs like heating, lighting, and running medical equipment. ![]()
![]()
Barry also adds that Burnham's VAT cut, is once again an example of Labour forgetting about rural Britain, and households that rely on heating oil.![]()
![]()
The Lib Dems say they have consistently stood behind rural communities to fight for better protections, including calling for a three-month zero-rating of VAT on heating oil for all residential homes, plus a price cap to shield against sudden spikes.![]()
![]()
According to House of Commons Library data, 13% of local households in Derbyshire Dales are in fuel poverty, struggling to afford their most basic energy needs.![]()
![]()
The Lib Dems’ Essential Energy Guarantee intervention would save the average household £100 a year, while the poorest 20% would save an average of £140.![]()
![]()
Families would receive extra allowances for children, and the most vulnerable - such as people with disabilities or on the lowest incomes would receive the discounted rate on all their energy use.![]()
![]()
The Lib Dem scheme will be funded by clawing back £7 billion in unexpected windfall profits from monopoly energy network operators.![]()
![]()
However, funding for the Government’s VAT cut has already been criticised by a former Labour minister. It was announced the Government would reallocate funds from the now-scrapped Digital ID scheme, which Darren Jones has pointed out was “unfunded”, in a social media post.![]()
![]()
Liberal Democrat Candidate for Derbyshire Dales, Barry Holliday said:![]()
![]()
“We need to get money back into the pockets of people in Derbyshire Dales, but tinkering with VAT on energy bills simply doesn't cut it. It is a drop in the ocean compared to the soaring costs families are facing.![]()
![]()
“The Liberal Democrat plans for an Essential Energy Guarantee and calls for a three-month cut to VAT on heating oil would provide immediate and meaningful relief, ensuring that nobody in Derbyshire Dales is forced to choose between heating and eating.![]()
![]()
“We may have a new Prime Minister, but Labour’s blind spot remains - they simply do not understand rural Britain. Once again, households in our community that rely on heating oil risk being left out in the cold.![]()
![]()
“Heating your home is not a luxury, it is a fundamental need. It’s a scandal that 5,462 households in our area worry every day about keeping their homes warm.”
Even after today's announcement, high street hospitality businesses up and down the country will still be in serious trouble.![]()
![]()
Andy Burnham should take up our plan to Save our High Streets, with a proper overhaul of business rates, a crack down on ‘ghost landlords’ and rejuvenating town centres.
