Calls for action over spiking risk

Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats are calling for action in order to reduce the risk of spiking in Neath Port Talbot county borough. 

The call comes after concern continues to grow over the reported increase in spiking incidents across Wales and England. Figures from the BBC revealed a rise in recorded cases of drink-spiking, with more than 2,600 reported incidents in England and Wales since 2015. This includes a worrying rise in the number of incidents of “injection spiking”, where a victim is injected with drugs using a small needle without their consent. 72 per cent of the alleged victims of spiking were female. 

Local Liberal Democrats stated that these reports had led to a growth in fear and anxiety, especially among young women and are calling for action to be taken. Commenting, party secretary Frank Little stated: “The reported rise in spiking incidents across the country is seriously concerning. Women and others should not be being forced to change their behaviour in order to have an enjoyable night out. These concerns come on the back of existing anxieties over sexual assault and violence. 

“We are calling on relevant stakeholders to take what action it can to help women and young people feel safe. We would like to see the Council support and promote two schemes in particular that have already been deployed across Lincolnshire. 

“The first is the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme where bar and venue staff are trained so that when a person who believes themselves to be in danger can ask for Angela, a fictitious member of the staff. The staff will then help the person get home discreetly and safely.

“The second is the adoption of a scheme put forward by PubWatch, which seeks to have free drug testing kits permanently placed behind bars. Venues could take this further by offering free lids or covers for drinks.

“Finally, we call on South Wales Police to ensure that cases of both drink spiking and injection spiking are being recorded as distinct instances, allowing us to know just how widespread the problem is.

“Overall, we need Government legalisation to help tackle this problem, but the steps outlined above can be pushed by the County Borough Council here and now.”

AGM

 Following last night's meeting, the following officers have been appointed for the coming year:

Chairman: Helen Clarke

Treasurer: Marilyn Harris

Secretary: Frank Little

Rishi Sunak interview reaction: Chancellor is living on another planet

The Liberal Democrats have said the Chancellor is "living on another planet" after he claimed  on interviews this morning that changes to the Universal Credit taper amount to cutting taxes. It comes as analysis from the Resolution Foundation finds that the average household will see their tax bills rise by £3,000 by 2027. Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "This Chancellor is living on another planet if he thinks the British people are going to believe this spin. This underlines how completely out of touch he is, if he thinks we are going to buy this nonsense, especially given the average household faces a £3000 tax rise thanks to this Conservative government. "The only people celebrating a tax cut this morning are the bankers. "This was a bankers' budget, when it should have been a children's budget. The woefully tiny amount given for school catch-up was an insult to parents."

Budget: Mortgage borrowers face biggest rise in interest payments since financial crisis

OBR warns mortgage interest payments to surge by 13% in 2023, the biggest rise since the financial crisis: average mortgage borrower to see monthly payments rise by £510 a year. Liberal Democrat leader warns of "ticking mortgage timebomb" and says “it is now the worst time in a generation to be a homeowner.” British mortgage owners face the biggest hike in interest payments since the financial crisis, the Liberal Democrats can reveal.  Buried in the Office of Budgetary Responsibility's Budget documents is a stark forecast showing that mortgage interest payments are set to rise by 13% in 2023, reaching a peak of 14.8% in the second quarter of that year.   The unprecedented increase could see mortgage owners hit with eye-watering bills. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows that an average mortgage borrower on a standard variable rate of 3.26% will see their monthly mortgage payments go up by £42 a month, or £510 over a year. For a typical average mortgage borrower on a fixed rate mortgage of 2%, payments would go up by £25 a month or £300 a year.   The Liberal Democrats have warned the rise is the biggest threat to homeowners since the 2008 financial crisis - and could see families struggling to make ends meet with rising inflation, council tax hikes and mortgage costs all hitting at the same time.    Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “This Conservative Chancellor has created the perfect storm. This is now the worst time in a generation to be a homeowner. “British homeowners face the toxic cocktail of interest rate rises, house prices surges, and council tax hikes just around the corner.  “This ghastly forecast should send a shiver down the Chancellor’s spine. The way he brushed off the cost of living crisis in the budget was careless and completely out of touch with the country. If he can’t get a grip on this cost of living crisis, how on earth is he going to cope with a mortgage crisis? “People who work hard and play by the rules deserve a fair deal. Enough is enough, it is time to scrap the tax hikes, solve this cost of living crisis and defuse this ticking mortgage timebomb.”

Minimum wage rise: Nearly half lost to tax hike new analysis reveals

Research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that a full-time worker paid the National Living Wage will see nearly half (44%) of the proposed increase wiped out before it even reaches their bank account due to tax and the increase in National Insurance.   Currently, an employee working 40 hours a week and paid today’s so-called National Living Wage of £8.91 an hour, takes home £16,264.50 - after income tax and the current rate of National Insurance (12%). Once the Government raises the National Living Wage to £9.50, and National Insurance to 13.25%, that worker will see their take home pay rise by £707 a year. However, if the Government hadn’t raised National Insurance, they would have seen their after-tax income increase by £835 instead. This means that they would have been able to keep over two thirds (68%) of their pay rise, whereas now they will only take home just over half (58%). Once combined with the cut to Universal Credit, the same worker could be left poorer by £780 a year.   Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said:   “Ahead of the budget people will be looking to the Chancellor's announcement of a pay rise to help them, instead they will be bitterly disappointed to see almost half of any rise snatched away by the Treasury before it even reaches their bank accounts.   “The Conservatives' carelessly breaking their promise not to increase National Insurance is hitting working people hard on their paychecks, snatching back money from people who have worked hard for their salary.    “The Chancellor seems to be taking  working families for granted. Instead of a fair deal, families across the country are facing a budget nightmare with a soaring rise to the cost of living paired with tax hikes left right and centre.”

Leaked climate report: UK oil drilling and Cumbria coal mine must be cancelled

Responding to the leaked documents revealing countries lobbying the UN to play down the impact of fossil fuels, Liberal Democrat Climate Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said:   "These leaks show the Conservatives have their work cut out for them if we're to get a good outcome from COP. It is vital the world moves away from fossil fuels, but it is hardly a shock that countries still dependent on them are trying to play down their significance.   "But the Tories are supporting fossil fuel expansion too, from a new coal mine in Cumbria to expanding oil drilling in Surrey. The UK cannot tell other countries to transition away if we're still backing new projects on our doorstep.   "Liberal Democrats want a successful COP, but without the cancellation of both these projects we are unlikely to see it."

Government new heating plan "kick in the teeth for families facing soaring bills"

Reacting to the Government's new low carbon heating announcement, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change Wera Hobhouse MP said:  "These plans are a kick in the teeth for families across the country facing soaring energy bills this winter.   "These proposals will do nothing to lift people out of fuel poverty and hardly make a dent in the emissions produced from homes. And they will help around just 1 in 300 homes, whilst millions of households face record high bills due to rising gas prices.   “We urgently need an emergency programme of investment to better insulate our homes, cut emissions and end fuel poverty. Instead the government is delaying the inevitable while condemning millions to eye-watering bills for years to come.”

Ed Davey on Net Zero: Government ignoring City of London "elephant in the room"

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has warned that the Government's new Net Zero Strategy is ignoring the "elephant in the room" by failing to include measures to stop investment in fossil fuel industries through the City of London.   The former Energy and Climate Change Secretary is calling for new oil, gas and coal companies to be banned from the London Stock Exchange and for urgent action to stop the UK hosting the world’s fossil fuel investments.   Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:   “The UK must be net zero as soon as possible - Britain’s economy needs it just as much as the world’s climate does. Yet rapid progress to net zero just isn’t possible while the Government keeps ignoring the elephant in the room.   “The UK produces just 2% of global emissions, so to really impact the global fight against climate change we need to stop financiers in the City of London funding the world’s fossil fuel industries.   “Whilst millions of people across the UK are doing the right thing, often making difficult decisions to live more sustainably, big finance and big fossil fuel giants are raking it in hand over fist on dirty coal, oil and gas deals.    “If the Conservative Government is really serious about Net Zero it will get this dirty money out of the City of London.”

Butcher visas: Groundhog day for half-baked visa schemes

Reacting to the Government giving overseas butchers a six month temporary visa, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Food and Rural Affairs Tim Farron MP said: “It is groundhog day again as Ministers scramble to rush out another half-baked and inadequate visa scheme.   "If Ministers think the answer to the shortages we face is a handful of temporary visas for one sector after another, they are badly mistaken. They just can't seem to learn from their mistakes.    “Businesses across the UK are suffering because of the Conservatives’ damaging new immigration rules, imposed in the midst of a pandemic. The answer must be to rewrite those rules and abolish the arbitrary distinction that rejects key workers such as care staff and HGV drivers as ‘unskilled’.”

Dowden admits only 20 fuel tanker drivers from overseas on UK roads

Responding to Conservative Party Chairman Oliver Dowden's comments this morning on HGV drivers, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “It is staggering that just 20 fuel tanker drivers from abroad who applied to work here are now on UK roads.  “In the face of a national crisis and our ports going into gridlock, the response from Conservative ministers is too little too late. This incompetence will mean more empty shelves and more misery for British consumers in the run-up to Christmas. “The immigration system is broken, and it is hurting everyone. The government needs to end their arbitrary rules that shut out lorry drivers as ‘unskilled’ and take visa applications away from the Home Office to get them decided quickly and fairly.”

Davey: Fuel poverty report shows government is failing millions of households

The government has missed its 2020 fuel poverty targets and is already at “high risk” of failing to meet its goals for 2025, a report by the Committee on Fuel Poverty has found. Commenting on the findings, Liberal Democrat Leader and former Energy Secretary Ed Davey MP said: “The Conservatives are failing millions of hard working families and leaving them in fuel poverty at a time when energy bills are rocketing.   “As a result of this Government’s abysmal failures, people could find themselves unable to heat their homes this winter. With empty shelves in the supermarket and soaring energy bills, the Conservatives are leading us into a winter of discontent.   “The Government needs to step up now and help those struggling to pay their bills. Ministers must expand the Warm Homes Discount now and roll out an emergency programme of home insulation right across the country.”

Hate crimes: Highest on record despite misogyny exclusion

Reacting to new statistics released yesterday which show that there has been a 9% rise in hate crimes since last year - now the highest on record - Liberal Democrat Justice and Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: “Violence and abuse of any kind has no place in our society. It is unacceptable that so many people are victimised simply because of who they are. This has to change.   “There are even more hate crimes – against women – that are not included in these statistics, because the Government still refuses to make misogyny a hate crime. It’s time for the Prime Minister to listen to our calls for change, so that crimes motivated by hatred against women are treated as seriously as those motivated by racism or religious hatred.   “Everyone should be able to be who they are and live the life they choose, without fearing for their safety. That demands responsible leadership that celebrates our diversity and condemns the divisive, intolerant rhetoric that inflames hatred.”

High Court ruling on trafficking victims shows Conservatives must abolish hostile environment

Reacting to the High Court's ruling earlier this week that trafficking victims should be granted leave to remain in the UK, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “It shouldn’t have taken a court to tell the Home Office that victims of trafficking – some of the most vulnerable people in our country – should be protected. Instead of appealing this judgment, the Government should implement it in full, so that victims are supported when they come forward, helping to bring their slavers to justice.   “The Conservatives’ hostile environment is undermining the fight against modern slavery. Priti Patel must abolish it and put tackling these evil criminal gangs first.”

Action needed to tackle surge in homelessness of women and girls

Responding to concerns from homelessness charities that the number of women relying on their services is increasing, Liberal Democrat Women and Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: "The Conservatives pledged to end rough sleeping, but now their policies are making it worse - especially for women and girls. They ignored all the warnings about cutting Universal Credit and ending the eviction ban, and now we are seeing the tragic results.   "No one should be forced to sleep on the streets. The Government must get on with the job of ending rough sleeping by 2024, including banning 'no-fault' evictions as they promised more than two years ago."

NI Protocol: Tories talking casually on breaking international law

Reacting to Lord Frost's speech in Lisbon yesterday on the UK-EU relationship and the Northern Ireland Protocol, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs and Northern Ireland Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “This Conservative Government is playing out like a badly-written farce. The same minister who just months ago was trumpeting the Government's botched Brexit deal now says it’s intolerable and has to be changed. “After all the upheaval British businesses have suffered and all the challenges they face now, they need certainty and support from the Government, not more pointless posturing. The solution to disruption and shortages is working together with our friends and neighbours, not picking needless fights. “Boris Johnson's Conservatives have got to stop talking so casually about breaking international law. Every time they do this, it weakens the UK’s standing with our closest neighbours and around the world."

Rishi Sunak recycling aid money deals "damaging blow" to UK reputation ahead of COP summit

The Liberal Democrats have warned a UK government decision to effectively slash the aid budget by billions more pounds will send "completely the wrong message" to the world ahead of next month's COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.   It comes after it was a reported that the Chancellor Rishi Sunak will include the UK's share of financial assistance provided by the International Monetary Fund through Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) as part of the 0.5% aid target. The move is expected to reduce the aid budget by another £4bn to £5bn over a number of years.   Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development Layla Moran MP said: "This Conservative government has dealt yet another damaging blow to Britain's global reputation, by recycling aid money to avoid helping the world's poorest people.   "It sends completely the wrong message to the world ahead of next month's crucial climate summit.    "Rishi Sunak should listen to the voices within his own party urging a rethink and reverse this mean-spirited decision. The UK should also use the money from its windfall to boost the UN Green Climate Fund, and urge our partners at the G7 to do the same ahead of COP26."

Raab's comments on misogyny are callous and insulting

Responding to the news that new Justice Secretary Dominic Raab does not understand the meaning of misogyny, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said:   “It’s little wonder the Conservatives are failing to tackle misogyny when their Justice Secretary doesn’t even seem to know what it is.”   "These comments are an insult to the millions of women and girls impacted by misogyny and show just how out of touch the Conservatives are on this issue.    "Women and girls deserve better than these callous remarks. The Government must make misogyny a hate crime so that police forces take these crimes more seriously and support women and girls who are being so desperately let down."

Green electricity: PM full of "bombast and bluster"

Local Lib Dems party secretary Frank Little writes: The Conservatives had to find a new hall in Manchester for Boris Johnson's keynote speech because the normal conference venue was not big enough to accommodate his ego. Before he even shambled on to the platform, Liberal Democrats called him out for being full of “bombast and bluster” on green electricity, pointing to the Government’s poor record on renewables.   Amidst all the careless use of statistics and the downright lies, the Prime Minister indeed waxed lyrical about huge offshore wind farms and made extravagant claims about how much of Britain's electricity will come from renewable sources.   But a recent analysis by the Liberal Democrats found that UK renewables growth is actually at its slowest rate since 2010. The UK also recently fired up old coal power plants to meet the nation’s electricity demand, as gas prices have soared.   Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Climate Emergency and Energy, said:   “Yet again this Government is guilty of chasing headlines whilst failing to take the necessary action to achieve what they claim they can.   “The Conservatives have utterly neglected the UK renewables industry to the point where coal power stations are being fired up. They need to come clean on a firm end date to fossil fuel use in the energy sector, but Boris Johnson studiously avoids this topic.   “It’s insulting that the Prime Minister is talking a good game on green electricity whilst families are left feeling the pinch this winter, thanks in no small part to the UK’s overreliance on gas and Government inaction on renewables.   “Liberal Democrats nearly quadrupled renewable energy in government, but the Tories have since dropped so many balls on this they could fill a children’s crèche.    “If we’re to make any significant progress towards meeting these green ambitions, we need serious investment in renewable energy - not a Prime Minister full of bombast and bluster and a Government dragging our green record through the mud.”

Tory donor scandal: Electoral Commission must launch investigation

Responding to reports about a prominent Conservative donor in the leaked 'Pandora papers', Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said:   "It is simply wrong that wealthy donors get privileged access to Conservative Ministers, while millions of people and small businesses have been excluded from their support throughout the pandemic. It’s even worse when those donors are seemingly implicated in corruption themselves.   "The Electoral Commission should launch an immediate investigation into these allegations. The Tories must comply with this investigation and explain what they are doing to stop the flow of dirty money into the UK and apparently into their own party coffers."

Tory ministers' attacks on Human Rights Act must end

Responding to Dominic Raab's comments on the Human Rights Act, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael MP said:   "This Conservative Government’s attacks on human rights and the rule of law must stop.   "Trying to weaken people’s ability to challenge the Government just because the courts sometimes rule against you is the act of dictators and despots, not democrats.   "Liberal Democrats will oppose any attempts to water down the Human Rights Act and will always defend individuals’ abilities to challenge the government and uphold their rights."

PM refusing to make misogyny a hate crime is "out of touch" and "tone deaf"

Responding to the news that Boris Johnson does not support making misogyny a hate crime, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: "Violence against women and girls is endemic in our society. Since the tragic death of Sarah Everard, 80 women have allegedly been killed at the hands of men. We need stronger political leadership for a huge culture change. "The Prime Minister today ruling out making misogyny a hate crime shows just how out of touch and tone deaf he is. "Making misogyny a hate crime is a crucial step at the heart of reforming our criminal justice system, which has failed women and girls for too long. Yet this Conservative government is refusing to look at the real causes for violence against women and girls. "Women and girls are being desperately let down time and time again, and this Tory Government is cruelly ignoring them."

Pandora papers: Foreign property ownership law must be introduced when Parliament returns

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the Conservatives finally bring in long-delayed legislation to tackle money-laundering through UK properties as soon as Parliament returns later this month. It comes as the latest revelations from the Pandora papers suggest that £4 billion worth of UK property has been bought using offshore firms. The Conservative government still hasn’t introduced legislation to establish a public beneficial ownership register of overseas entities that own UK property, despite promising it nearly five years ago. A draft bill was published in 2018 and was mentioned in the 2019 Queen’s Speech, but the law still hasn’t been introduced to Parliament. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran commented: “The stench of corruption and sleaze at the heart of the Conservative party is becoming hard to ignore. “The Conservatives have been sitting on this legislation for years, despite repeatedly promising to act. In that time millions of pounds worth of UK property has been bought using offshore firms, including it seems by major Conservative party donors. “The government must introduce this long-delayed legislation as soon as Parliament returns. The longer they wait, the more this looks like a deliberate delay to help their wealthy donor friends.”

EU HGV driver visas: Elastoplast solution is dismal failure

Responding to the news that the Government has only received 127 visa applications from EU HGV drivers, Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:   "The Government's sticking plaster solution to recruit drivers at the last minute has been exposed as a dismal failure.   "Ministers knew that their new immigration rules were worsening the HGV driver shortage for months, yet they sat on their hands and waited until it was too late. This lack of leadership has let down all those people still struggling to fill up their tank and go about their daily lives.   "The Government must urgently treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves. They need to stop branding HGV drivers and other key workers as 'unskilled', and allow them to work here for a longer period instead of sending them packing after a few months."