Reading Liberal Democrats

A quote by discredited Labour sycophant and politician Martin Salter in Thursday’s Chronicle shows utter disdain for the intelligence of local Reading people and our Gurkha allies! One wonders if the bottle of Champagne shown in the picture will appear in his expenses.

It is duly noted that Martin Salter, MP for Reading West, failed to vote (he “abstained”) in the House of Commons on behalf of the Gurkha Campaign on 29th April 2009 and yet appears in yesterdays (21 May 2009) edition of the Chronicle claiming “I firmly believe WE are close to victory, WE are on the final lap of this campaign”. He is also on record in his Chronicle blog as claiming to have done it all himself (I paraphrase; for those wishing to see the sorry tale in full gotoThis Link)

Today, in an email message sent to this editor from the REAL driving force and hero of the day, Miss Joanna Lumley says -

“At midday today, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made the announcement to the House of Commons that the Gurkha Justice Campaign have been fighting for for years. All ex-Gurkhas who have served more than 4 years in the British Army will have the right to settle in the UK if they wish.

After such a long fight, with huge ups and downs, this is a superb announcement.

We simply would not have won this fight without the massive, overwhelming support of all those who have supported our campaign. To the hundreds of thousands of people who have signed Gurkha Justice petitions, lobbied their MP, campaigned, attended rallies and marches – thank you so much to you all. This is your victory. It would not have happened without you.

The Government has now responded to that campaign after court cases, votes in Parliament, a huge media campaign and, most importantly, massive public support. I am delighted, and humbled, at what has been achieved by our remarkable team.

The whole campaign has been based on the belief that those who have fought and been prepared to die for our country should have the the right to live in our country. We owe them a debt of honour – a debt that will now be paid.

With warmest good wishes,

Joanna
Justice for Gurkhas

It’s a pity that Martin couldn’t have joined the campaign earlier!

All in the Liberal Democrats who have supported the campaign from day one send our heartiest congratulations to the Gurkha warriers from Nepal and wish them a happy and prosperous future.

Liberal Democrat PPC for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps, has joined a call by 56 top Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidates in an open letter for the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin MP, to resign.

The move comes as Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP broke with convention by calling on Mr Martin to resign. It follows the resistance to the releasing of documents related to MPs’ expenses – and a Private Members’ Bill to exempt MPs from Freedom of Information led by Reading MP Martin Salter, described at the time by Gareth as a ‘squalid little Bill’.

Commenting, Gareth said:-
‘A number of those of us working to get elected to Parliament have thought hard about the way the Commons authorities seem out of touch with reality on the subject of MPs’ expenses.

‘When I worked in Parliament I met Mr Martin who is amiable and likeable. However, he has misjudged this issue. His duty to the British people is greater than his duty to the Parliamentary authorities.

‘Two years ago I described efforts to exempt MPs’ expenses from scrutiny as squalid. The anger with which Reading East residents are responding to the revelations is very real. It will undermine faith in democracy unless firm action is taken now. Mr Martin has the chance to take fundamental action now to repair the damage; if he cannot do that he must resign.’

Editor’s Notes:
Full text of letter follows

Dear Mr Speaker,
As Parliament continues to be dragged down by the allowance system, and its rules, the role of those in public service across the country is being undermined.
We are Liberal Democrat candidates seeking to be elected to Parliament and yet we find ourselves disappointed, and frustrated, at the way in which this matter is being handled. Every day our residents are telling us loudly that this must stop and this must stop now.

Three things stand out:

• The resistance to the releasing of these documents and the attempt to exclude Parliament from the Freedom of Information requirements
• The way in which Norman Baker and Kate Hoey were treated when they sought to raise legitimate concerns
• The fact that, through you, Parliament could now release the information into the public domain and cut short this parade of drip-fed news and empower MPs and citizens through a new transparent relationship.

It is vital that Parliament must become transparent and accountable now. We call on you, as Speaker of the House, to do everything within your power to force the full publication of all expenses immediately. We also call on you to accept the independent review of MPs expenses and salaries chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly.

If you are unable to do this we then ask you to consider your position. Time is running out for politicians of all parties to repair the damage to our democracy.
Yours sincerely

56 Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates
Ed Fordham, Hampstead and Kilburn
Sal Brinton, Watford
Andrew Simpson, Northampton North
Bridget Fox, Islington South & Finsbury
Duncan Borrowman, Old Bexley and Sidcup
Steve Goddard, Oxford East
Adrian Collett, Aldershot
Adam Carew, East Hampshire
Gareth Epps, Reading East
Sally Morgan, Central Devon
Sue Doughty, Guildford
Rebecca Hunt. Chatham & Aylesford
Sarah Carr, Hereford and South Herefordshire
Guy Voizey Canterbury and Whitstable
Jo Shaw, Holborn and St Pancras
Liz Leffman, Meon Vallley
Merlene Emerson, Hammersmith
Sandy Walkington, St Albans
Richard Burt, West Worcestershire
Caroline Pigeon, Vauxhall
Kevin Lang, Edinburgh North & Leith
Andrew Dakers, Brentford and Isleworth
Andrew Duffield,Hexham
David Kendall, Brentwood and Ongar
Ann Haigh, Epping Forest
Simon Wright, Norwich South
Liz Simpson, Tonbridge and Malling
Sam Webber, Bromley and Chislehurst
Rabi Martins – Luton North
Greg Stone, Newcastle East
Theo Butt-Philip, Bridgwater and West Somerset
Dave Radcliffe, Birmingham Selly Oak
Richard Clein, Sefton Central
Mike Cox, Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Andy Stamp, Gillingham & Rainham
Stephen Lloyd, Eastbourne & Willingdon
Mark Blackburn, Westminster North
Denis Healy, Hull North
Robin Lawrence, Wolverhampton South West
Alex Feakes, Lewisham and West Penge
Andrew Falconer, Brighton Pavilion
Dave McBride, Orpington
Nigel Quinton, Hitchin & Harpenden
Alan Beddow, Warwick and Leamington
David Goodall, Southampton Itchen
Ryk Downes, Leeds Central
Chris Took, Ashford
Peter Wilcock, Saffron Walden
Karen Hamilton, Birmingham Perry Barr
Qurban Hussain, Luton South
Keith Angus, Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Stephen Robinson, Chelmsford
Mike Bell, Weston-super-Mare
Dave Raval, Hackney South and Shoreditch
Fred Mackintosh, Edinburgh South
Munira Wilson, Feltham and Heston
Paul Zukowskyj, Welwyn Hatfield

Over 2 million social tenants have missed out on the Government’s pledge to halve the increase in council rent this year, figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

People who live in housing association homes have been excluded from the Government’s promise, despite the fact that they make up half of all social tenants and already pay on average 13% higher rents than council tenants.

The average rent for a housing association property averages around £80 per week in the South East. In Reading housing associations control over 4,000 homes compared to just over 7,000 controlled by the local authority.

Commenting, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading East Cllr Gareth Epps said:

“Millions of social tenants have been abandoned by this Government.

“Families and individuals across Reading are struggling to pay their bills and this inflation-busting rent hike could be the last straw for many.

Cllr Daisy Benson, Lib Dem housing spokesperson on Reading Borough Council added:

“There is no reason why housing association tenants are able to afford this rise any more than council tenants.

“It’s simply yet another case of the Government’s eagerness to grab headlines instead of helping millions of families.