Reading Liberal Democrats

Reading’s Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that Reading Borough Council has belatedly joined the group of local authorities representing over 5 million residents of the Thames Valley and west London who are campaigning to oppose Heathrow Airport expansion.

Liberal Democrat councillors in Reading have signed up to Greenpeace’s Airplot campaign, becoming owners of a plot of land earmarked to be concreted over for the third runway. The campaign is an attempt to frustrate the compulsory purchase process and demonstrate the strength of opposition to the third runway.

Welcoming the news that Reading Borough Council has formally joined the 2M Group of 24 local authorities campaigning against Heathrow airport expansion, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigner, said:

“This is positive news for the people of Reading who already suffer aircraft noise from Heathrow, and for the thousands of local residents who oppose a Government scheme that makes a mockery of Labour’s commitment to tackle climate change.

It is a pity it took the Labour Party in Reading so long to face up to their responsibilities on this matter. I would urge Reading residents, including councillors like my Liberal Democrat colleagues, to sign up to a campaign backed by the overwhelming majority of local people.”

Editor’s Note: Cllr Gareth Epps has campaigned for the Council to formally oppose Heathrow expansion since 2007 when he asked a formal question to then Labour transport spokesperson Cllr Tom Crisp. At that time the position of the Labour council administration was that the Council should not oppose expansion; however, it supported the cross-party motion passed earlier in 2009 which formally signed the Council up to 2M.

Cllr Gareth Epps has vowed to fight attempts to permanently close successful community pubs in Reading after talking to publicans and customers about Enterprise Inns’ forced closure of the Jolly Anglers pub in Newtown – the latest ‘local’ to suddenly close.

Gareth visited publican John Westendorp on Tuesday evening (16 June) after news broke that he been given less than one day’s notice to close the pub, after Enterprise representatives suddenly announced that the pub had been sold to developers (although it does not have permission for a change of use to stop being a pub). He joined customers savouring what they feared may be the last night of the pub. He spoke to two customers who told him they had submitted serious offers to Enterprise Inns to keep the pub open – which were treated dismissively by the giant pubco. Garethalso reassured residents that there would be widespread political support for a campaign to save the pub. He has also, as a member of Reading CAMRA, discussed the closure with CAMRA officers.

The Anglers’ closure follows mounting concern at the way pub companies have sold and closed often successful pubs which host community events and provide valuable local services. The sudden closure of the Claddagh Ring on Elgar Road (now reopened) in the winter is one local example of an Enterprise Inns pub; other pubs currently boarded up include the County Arms on Watlington Street, the Whitley Tavern and the Red Cow in Caversham.

Among the ‘pubcos’, the giant Enterprise Inns has a particular notoriety in the pub trade for selling pubs with restrictive covenants forbidding their future use as a pub – even when there is no other pub in the area. Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland who chairs the ‘Save the Pub’ campaign has suggested that Enterprise’s business is founded on a mountain of debt – an unsustainable business model which rips the heart out of local community pubs in particular.

The Business & Enterprise Select Committee published in May 2009 a report, agreed unanimously by MPs of all three parties, which was highly critical of the business practices of the largest pubcos in particular and called for swift Government action on the issue.

Commenting on the closure, Gareth said:-
“This pub has been turned in just three months into a thriving community facility that is popular and much-loved. Enterprise Inns – notorious for their destruction of community pubs across the UK – have given this successful publican just a few hours’ notice to shut. It is outrageous treatment ofJohn and the Newtown community he serves.

“If Enterprise think or claim that they can gain planning permission for the closure of this pub, they can think again. They cannot shut successful community pubs at a whim. Corporate bullies such as Enterprise Inns are increasingly going to find that communities fight back in a united and positive way. Newtown will not allow ‘Time’ to be called on the Anglers.

“This local example highlights a set of wider issues that require action from local and national Government. It is time that good community pubs were cherished, before they are gone forever.”

The latest results from the local and European elections.

Nick Clegg visited Bristol to congratulate council leaderBarbara Janke and the local Liberal Democrats European elections results from across the UK.
Fiona Hall has been re-elected as an MEP for North East England.

Andrew Duff has been re-elected as an MEP for the East of England.

Diana Wallis has been re-elected as an MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Sarah Ludford has been re-elected as an MEP for London.

Bill Newton Dunn has been re-elected as an MEP for the East Midlands. (With the number of MEPs in the region reducing by one, this was a gain from UKIP)

Graham Watson has been re-elected as an MEP for the South West of England.

Sharon Bowles has been re-elected as an MEP for the South East of England and is joined by new MEP Catherine Bearder.

Liz Lynne has been re-elected as an MEP for the West Midlands.

Chris Davies has been re-elected as an MEP for the North West of England.

George Lyon has been elected as an MEP for Scotland.

In the local elections, the Liberal Democrats have taken control of Bristol City Council, picking up four seats. Labour fell into third place on the Council, losing eight seats.

We have taken five seats from Labour in the Burnley area of Lancashire County Council, and three seats from the Conservatives and one from Labour on Essex County Council.

Liberal Democrat candidates have defeated the Conservative group leader on Cumbria County Council and the Labour council leader on Nottinghamshire County Council. We cut the majority of the Labour leader on Derbyshire County Council from around 1,000 to 76.

The Liberal Democrats are the largest group on the new unitary Bedford Council and made big gains from Labour in Ashfield.

While Labour and the Conservatives saw their number of seats on Surrey County Council fall, the Liberal Democrats were the only of the main parties to increase their number of seats. We also made net gains – from the Conservatives and Labour – in many other counties, including Cumbria, Dorset, East Sussex, Hertfordshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Sussex and Worcestershire.

The BBC’s projected national vote share is Conservatives 38%, Liberal Democrats 28%, Labour 23% – the Liberal Democrats are the only of the three to increase their projected share from last year’s local elections.

Responding to the early results and the Cabinet reshuffle, Nick Clegg described the government as “finished” and called for a general election. He said, “The Labour government has run out of road, it’s finished. We need something new, different, fresh.”

“This government can no longer govern. It is dysfunctional, it is in meltdown. We need a general election.”

Nick went on to applaud the Liberal Democrats in Bristol, saying that now “the Liberal Democrats run the vast majority of the big cities.”

Editor’s Notes…
Particular congratulations are extended to our local MEPs Sharon Bowles and Catherine Bearder

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.

Today Martin Salter MP failed the Gurkhas and this country. Martin Salter abstained from this crucial vote, however the Government still suffered a symbolic defeat when MPs voted by 267 to 246 on a Liberal Democrat motion to give all Gurkha soldiers equal right of residence in Britain.

Patrick Murray, Parliamentary Lib Dem candidate for Reading West, says, “I am delighted that this motion passed through Parliament. People who are willing to die for our country should be allowed to live in our country. However, it is a disgrace that Martin Salter abstained from this motion, and put party before principles. Reading West deserves an MP who will vote according to what is right not what is dictated to them, from their masters in Westminster.”

Commenting after the vote defeating the Government, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said:

“This is a historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served our country so bravely. This government has now lost its moral authority. From the first moment I challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, he didn’t understand that there was a simple moral principle at stake.”

Editor’s Notes:

1. To give him his dues Rob Wilson MP Reading East in a written reply, this morning, to a question from the editor said, amongst other things… “We believe there are some technical problems with the motion before the House today but nevertheless we will be supporting it. I will therefore be voting against the government today.”
2. Martin Salter has yet to respond!

Liberal Democrats in Reading have warned, ahead of this week’s public unveiling of proposals of the new Station Hill development, that the plans could jeopardise a once-in-a-century chance to achieve a fully integrated transport interchange next to Reading Station.

The Liberal Democrats are concerned that rail users could be taking second place to development interests, and have criticised the drive to close Station Hill to buses in particular.

The Lib Dems on the Council have repeatedly advised against splitting the transport interchange, as it would cause confusion for passengers and encourage car journeys to and from the Station. As currently envisaged, there will be no fewer than three separate transport interchanges for buses, taxis etc, linked to the proposed new station building.

Commenting, Cllr Gareth Epps, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Borough Council, said:-

“There is a huge danger that Reading loses an unrepeatable opportunity for a world-class transport interchange.

Labour Council bosses have had the chance to negotiate with developers to plan a development that enables high quality public realm and allow through bus travel past the Station.

Relegating many buses to Valpy Street hardly sends a positive message that we want to integrate public transport.”

Cllr Ricky Duveen, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, added:-

“The Station Hill development plans appear to shift the buses further away from the station.

I am very worried that what I’ve heard about Station Hill 2 will shut the door on linking transport at the Station. We should be putting passengers first.

While it’s obvious the area needs regeneration, the Labour-run Council cannot allow that regeneration at any price.”

Council officers have decided to reject the application from Vodafone for a 14 metre high mast on the corner of Lower Elmstone Drive and Elmstone Drive.

Local residents, 229 of whom signed a petition against the mast application, are delighted with the news. Petition organiser and local councillor, Ricky Duveen said, ‘this is a good decision for Tilehurst where we have clearly demonstrated the depth of feeling about plans to erect this monstrosity in our residential neighbourhood.’

‘I would like to thank all the residents who signed our petition and I would also like to say a special thank you to Nerys and Andrew Wilkinson who helped with the petition and also provided a lot of excellent publicity for our cause.’

The council’s rejection is based on planning grounds in that the mast and its base cabinets would be obtrusive structures that do not fit with the surrounding environment.

However, Vodafone can appeal against this decision and they have three months in which to do so. Given the amount of time and money they have already spent on this case, an appeal is very likely. Any appeal will be heard by an independent Planning Inspector and both sides will be able to put their case.

Ricky added, ‘Despite this threat that will hang over Tilehurst for a few months yet, this is a splendid win for Tilehurst in Round 1.’

Local residents were appalled when they heard about Vodafone’s mast application, especially since they sent off a barrage of protest letters to Vodafone last July when the company first tried to consult local residents.

Reading’s Liberal Democrat councillors have said a call for further work on the proposal to appoint Askett-Hawk as preferred bidders for the refurbishment of King’s Meadow and Lock Island is a ‘do-nothing’ option – and called for the bid to be thrown out outright.

The Corporate, Community and External Affairs (CCEA) Panel voted for a Conservative “call-in” proposal for further work to be done on both bid proposals for King’s Meadow. Liberal Democrats – who have consistently voted for the rival bid by the King’s Meadow Campaign, subject to improvement of its business plan – point out that neither bid can progress until a decision is taken on which bid is preferred. Liberal Democrat Cllr Gareth Epps proposed an alternative call-in to ask the Cabinet to rule out the Askett-Hawk bid outright – but this was rejected by Conservative and Labour Councillors.

Cllr Warren Swaine, the Lib Dem spokesperson for Culture and Sport, said: “The Culture and Sport scrutiny decision was not unanimous so looking again at the decision is the right thing to do. However, it is disappointing that the Conservatives, despite having taken part in the process to evaluate these two bids, have yet again shown that when it comes down to it they are incapable of making a decision and have chosen to procrastinate yet again.”

Lib Dem Group Leader and prospective Parliamentary candidate Gareth Epps commented:

“Tonight the Conservatives voted to further put at risk the chances of Kings Meadow ever being restored.

“Failing to back either bidder at this stage makes a mockery of the scrutiny process. If they felt strongly about neither bid measuring up, then that would have been the appropriate place to voice it. Instead we heard nothing until their position started unraveling at a public meeting, Their call-in now puts both bids in jeopardy.

“It is pure political expediency at its worst. The Askett-Hawk plans are massively out of scale with the listed Baths, to a point where they are undeliverable. The Conservatives have ducked a positive decision – and have ended up backing Labour over public opinion on this issue.”