Apology

Increasing the personal allowance is a red line

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Introduction to the main Liberal Democrat manifesto in BSL

People in the business of sustainables support Liberal Democrats

BBC reports that among the signatories to an open letter supporting the Liberal Democrats is the co-founder of Admiral insurance group. Heather Stevens has signed in her capacity as chair of the Waterloo Foundation.

The letter reads:

Dear Sir/Madam,

When the Coalition took office, both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pledged to make it the 'greenest government ever'. Liberal Democrats kept to that pledge.

Under the leadership of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, they have consistently acted to make this country cleaner, greener and more open to investment in renewables. Some £37 billion has been invested in renewable energy, supporting 460,000 jobs as of 2013, reducing our carbon emissions and improving Britain's energy security. 

From setting up Britain's first Green Investment Bank and the first Community Energy Strategy, to battling with the Treasury over critical decisions like the Levy Control Framework or the 4th Carbon Budget, the Lib Dems have an impressive record of achievements on climate change that deserves much wider recognition. The vital EU 2030 deal - that set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets across the EU - simply would not have happened without Ed Davey's personal leadership, especially through the EU Green Growth Group he established. 

We have been impressed with the determination of Liberal Democrat Ministers to fight for the environment agenda - even when they met significant resistance. Their efforts to preserve the UK's natural environment and maintain its biodiversity include planting over a million trees to investing in our coastal paths, establishing 27 Marine Conservation Zones up and down the English coastline, cleaning up over 9,700 miles of rivers and 410 square miles of lakes and estuaries, and introducing a 5p charge on plastic bags from large firms.

We also welcome the prominence the Liberal Democrats have given to these issues in their manifesto vision for the next government - notably their proposed programme of 5 Green Laws on the front page of their manifesto. With the polls showing that another hung Parliament is likely, we hope - for the sake of the battle against climate change and for our environment - that any Coalition will include the Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems can secure Britain's progress towards a clean energy future and ensure that our country will continue to play a leading international role on the green agenda.

Sincerely, 

1. Bruce Davis - Managing Director, Abundance Generation 
2. David Hempleman-Adams - Founder, Cold Climates 
3. Ray Georgeson - Director, RGR Ray Georgeson Resources Ltd 
4. Karl Harder - Managing Director, Abundance Generation 
5. Dr Mark Hinnells - Solutions Director, Susenco 
6. Cath Ibbotson - Development Director, Coriolis Energy 
7. Ben Johnstone - Consultant to Climate Change Abating Businesses 
8. Susan Juned - Director, Greenwatt Technology Solutions 
9. Harry Malyon - Development Director, Coriolis Energy 
10. Vickram Mirchandani - Managing Director, Coronation Power 
11. Dave Murray - Managing Director, Coriolos Energy 
12. Mark Petterson - Director, Warwick Energy 
13. Jeremy Sainsbury - Director, Natural Power 
14. Dr Patrick Sheehan - Founder and Managing Partner, Environmental Technologies Fund 
15. [Lord] Nicol Stephen - Director, Renewable Energy Ventures 
16. Heather Stevens - Chair, Waterloo Foundation 
17. Jane Vaus - Project Director, Sustainability Hub 
18. William Watts - Director, RAW Energy Limited 
19. Esbjorn Wilmar - Chief Executive, Infinergy 
20. Louise Wilson - Managing Director, Abundance Generation

This follows the public declaration in favour of the Liberal Democrats by 30 entrepreneurs, as reported by the Financial Times on the 16th April.

Liberal Democrat Women's manifesto

You can also read the main manifesto in easy read, clear print, plain text or Braille versions, or listen to it on an audio recording.

Justice for public sector workers

Independent think-tank gives LibDem manifesto highest rating

In its analysis of the parties spending plans, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reported that the Liberal Democrats are the most transparent.

It also said that the Conservatives give a "misleading impression" while Labour give "disappointingly little" information on borrowing and do not provide enough funding for the NHS.

The report states that the Liberal Democrats have been more transparent than the other parties about their overall fiscal plans for the next parliament, in particular setting these out in some detail up to 2017–18.

It also highlights how we would cut borrowing more quickly than Labour and keep our economy strong for the future.

From IFS comparison of post-austerity plans: http://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/7725

The report also notes how we will invest in public services and that under the Liberal Democrats, departmental spending would be £13.2 billion (or 3.6 per cent) higher in real terms in 2019–20 than it was in 2014–15.

Responding to the report David Laws said:

"The IFS could not be clearer - when it comes to the economy the Liberal Democrats are the most transparent and are the party that will end austerity the earliest.

“By contrast, the IFS lift the lid on Tory plans to cut public spending to the bone and accuse them of burying details of their the plans to shrink the state.

“They also shine a light on the sheer scale of Labour’s deficit denial, which includes yet unspecified levels of borrowing, despite starving the NHS of the cash it needs.

“It's now official. Only the Liberal Democrats can be trusted to build a stronger economy and fairer society, and create opportunity for all.”

Labour can't be trusted on the economy

LibDems would help all would-be house owners

Rent to Own will help all renters. Right to Buy has no particular effect on Wales and is a flawed policy anyway.

Liberal Democrats Five Green Laws

New graduates better off under LibDems

Let's stay on the road

Christian Aid endorses Liberal Democrat manifesto

The Liberal Democrat manifesto offers a vision of a fair and sustainable future for all, including the world’s poorest people, says Christian Aid.

Don't let them get away with it

Thinking of voting Labour?

Four reasons to think again.

Liberal Democrat manifesto welcomed by advocates

The Bar Council's response to the Liberal Democrat manifesto:

"Neither main party will protect the Ministry of Justice budget, but judging from today's manifesto pledges from the Liberal Democrats, it looks like politicians are finally addressing the legal profession's concerns about access to justice," Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar, said yesterday.

"In a week of manifesto launches, today feels like it is third time lucky. "Promises were long over-due on reversing the hike in up-front court fees, reviewing tribunal fees, ensuring legal aid is available to those who need it and re-introducing legal aid for judicial review. But today they were delivered.

"The commitment to maintaining a viable, competitive and diverse market of legal aid providers is also one we can fully support.

"The legal sector has campaigned hard, this year in particular, to protect legal professional privilege from heavy-handed surveillance laws. Today we can see that has paid off as the Liberal Democrats have promised that judicial authorisation will be needed to eavesdrop on privileged communications, a safeguard the Bar Council has been demanding for some time. They also propose to introduce a Digital Bill of Rights and to deliver a 'complete overhaul' of surveillance powers in 2016.

"Provided opportunities for clients to be represented and heard in court remain, we support proposals such as promoting mediation and alternative dispute resolution, investment in IT and the development of online justice.

"We also look forward to hearing more about the Liberal Democrat strategy to fill the legal advice gap created by the LASPO cuts on areas including personal debt and social welfare.

"The Bar Council is keen to work with the new Government, whatever its complexion, on all these policy areas. At least some of the concerns voiced by the profession are being heard."

Welsh Liberal Democrat General Election manifestos online

Look left, look right, cross Liberal Democrat

We will borrow less than Labour, cut less than the Tories

The Conservatives' astonishing claim to freeze rail fares

In government the Conservatives repeatedly argued for raising rail fares by well above inflation. Liberal Democrats had to fight to keep rises to a minimum.

It is astonishing that the Conservatives now claim they would freeze rail fares.

They have shown no willingness to do so in the last five years and it is difficult to see why anyone should now believe they would do so.

Liberal Democrats in government have fought to keep rises lower than demands made by the Conservatives. 

Liberal Democrats first to commit to saving the NHS

http://www.welshlibdems.wales/lib_dems_remain_the_only_party_to_make_credible_commitment_to_nhs_funding

Digital rights

Frank Little writes:

One of the key issues on which the Liberal Democrats differ from the Labour Party, the increasingly authoritarian Scottish Nationalist Party and, sadly after such a good start, the Conservatives, is that of the rights of the citizen.

Yesterday, the Liberal Democrats outlined a Digital Rights Bill which we want to introduce in the next parliament.The Bill would introduce:

• Prison sentences for companies conducting large-scale data theft and illegally selling on personal data;
• Beefed up powers for the Information Commissioner to fine and enforce disciplinary action on government bodies if they breach data protection laws;
• Legal rights to compensation for consumers when companies make people sign up online to deliberately misleading and illegible terms & conditions;
• Code of Practice for online services who would by law have to correct information about members of the public where it is inaccurate or defamatory
• Enshrining in law the responsibility of government to defend the free press, including the rights of journalists and citizen journalists to express their views freely online;
• Prevent government from watering down cyber-security and encryption measures used by British business.

Read more here.

Spin-driven policies

Liberal Democrat Green Transport Policy

Why Liberal Democrat women in parliament are vital

Liberal Democrats are fielding a record number of women in winnable seats and in seats which we held in the last parliament. Liberal Democrat Women are emphasising the party's key achievements and policies which are female-friendly:

1. Our commitment to ending the gender pay gap.
2. Shared parental leave, so mothers and fathers can work out what's best for their child.
3. Significantly improving mental health, with supports which mirrors that received for physical health.
4. Raising the tax allowance to £10,600. Which has meant a tax cut of £825 for 27 million working people and taken over 3 million out of paying tax altogether. A great Lib Dem policy particularly for women and young people who are most likely to be in part-time work as they can now keep more of the money they earn.
5. There are two million new apprenticeships because of the Lib Dems in Government.

Credit where credit is due

Preview of manifesto themes

Liberal Democrat council by-election success

Thanks to the Tandridge District Council web-site for the following:

Election Date: 1/4/2015

Election Type: District Council

Electorate: 2991

Whyteleafe

Result: David Lee, Liberal Democrats - Elected (393 votes)
(Gain)
Turnout: 26.4%

Candidate	Party	Number of votes
	Spoilt	5
Martin Ferguson	United Kingdom Independence Party	119
David Lee	Liberal Democrats	393
Peter Sweeney	Conservative Party	274

David Lee will be the Liberal Democrat candidate for the East Surrey constituency, of which Whyteleafe is part. David was the challenger to Conservative Sam Gyimah in 2010, 9,000 votes ahead of Labour in third place.



Congratulations also to Sam Bennett, chair of IR Cymru/Welsh Liberal Democrat Youth, on winning last Thursday's by-election in St Mary's ward on Brecon Town Council. (Figures not yet to hand.) The result bodes well for Roger Williams, looking to retain the Brecon & Radnorshire seat for the Liberal Democrats.

Trust Liberal Democrats on civil rights