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Labour is pinning its hopes on stemming the ebbing of their support in the May 1st council elections on frightening the electorate with anti-social behaviour.
Some points need to be answered:
"Remove licences or close down shops that persistently sell alcohol to under eighteens"
Will this include the major supermarkets, which Labour nationally has refused to challenge?
"Introduce local crime fighting strategies so that every area is kept safe [...] Work closely with neighbourhood policing teams to deal quickly with local hotspots for crime and anti-social behaviour"
We thought this was just what LibDem-led Swansea was doing?
"The Liberal Democrats opposed our tough action on crime."
How can a party which wants to put more policemen on the street (as opposed to cutting police budgets, which Labour has done) be described as not wanting to be tough on crime?
"[LibDems in Swansea have] wasted £80m on a failed IT project ... "
Initiated by Labour.
" ... failed to be straight with local people about the cost of the new leisure centre"
WLGA Labour group leader Derek Vaughan, who co-presented the launch of the manifesto, is also leader of Neath Port Talbot council. Last week, Cllr Vaughan announced two major construction projects: the rebuilding of the Gwyn Hall and a restructuring of Pontardawe. Both are uncosted.
The story of Liberal Democrats in Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham is of restoring financial competence to those councils after Labour mismanagement. It is no surprise that Labour is majoring not on value for money, but on their supposed competence on crime.
Meantime, the convicted terrorist Yassin Nassari has been let go under the Government’s early release scheme.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, Chris Huhne commented:
“There is a huge discrepancy between the Government’s rhetoric on terrorism and its actions.
“Next week ministers will bring before Parliament unnecessary and draconian legislation on pre-charge detention in a desperate attempt to look tough on terrorism.
“People convicted of terrorist offences can be back in society having served less than half their sentence because of our desperately overstretched prison system.
“Measures to tackle prison overcrowding should focus on helping drug-addicts, inmates with mental health problems and non-serious offenders, rather than giving terrorists an easy ride.”
6 comments:
Commenting on the announcement of changes to the early release scheme after it was discovered that two convicted terrorists had benefited, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
“This is a welcome decision that once again demonstrates the Government’s remarkable talent for shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.
“It is time that ministers got their priorities right and ensured that anyone who is a danger to the public is kept in jail while anyone who would be better treated in mental health or drug rehabilitation centres is kept out.”
The Lib Dems in Swansea must be responsible for all these cones though? It's a nightmare driving through there.
They've taken half of the car park by the Grand for the bendy bus, and changed all the road structure. Just for 1 bus, on one route, that no one really wants.
I understand residents in Swansea don't have kerbside collections for plastics, yet Neath Port Talbot manage it. So much for being the green party.
I had always thought Lib Dem councils were pretty good, but having seen the debarcle in Swansea I think I'll stick to Labour or Plaid.
Steve, the car park by the Grand has actually been taken for the new bus station, not the metro bus. The cones are a problem as are the road works they are associated with but you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. When it is finished we will have a dedicated public transport system between Morriston Hospital and Singleton, which I would suggest is actually quite green. On the recycling I agree with you on plastics, however the Lib Dems in Swansea have doubled the City's recycling rate and are rolling out further doorstep collections by the end of this year.
Just remind Labour that they abandoned the 101 phone number for the Police in South Wales.
Gary Lewis
Secretary, Bridgend Liberal Democrats
Gary, you could also have pointed out that Cardiff City Council (LibDem-led) has taken on the burden of running the 101 system there.
This is something which we hope all the new councils will look at after May 1st, if they cannot persuade Labour to reverse its decision. There may be a short-term cost, but a net saving in the long run.
So much labour being Tough on Crime, Tough on the Causes of Crime.
G. Lewis
Sec. Bridgend Lib Dems
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