Reading Liberal Democrats

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has issued a call to arms against pointless regulation and unnecessary bureaucracy, asking the public how they want the Government to redress the balance between the citizen and the state.

If you wish to make a suggestion or comment please visit www.hmg.gov.uk/yourfreedom

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate Cllr Gareth Epps has launched the General Election campaign in Reading East with a direct challenge to his Conservative opponent to face the electorate at forthcoming public meetings in Reading.

The Reading East constituency is likely to be a close contest between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. At the last election, the Liberal Democrats reduced the gap to fewer than 5,000 votes, after a 5.7% swing in their favour. At this election, Gareth Epps needs a 5.7% swing to beat the Conservatives and win. The seat includes a large student population, with most University of Reading students living in Reading East alongside students from Thames Valley University’s Reading campus. The Lib Dems are set to profit from their policy of scrapping tuition fees – a policy Gareth Epps helped to engineer back in 1997. The Conservative candidate has refused to sign a National Union of Students (NUS) petition committing candidates to oppose further increases in tuition fees.

The Labour Party has continued to decline in Reading East after its vote fell by over 10 per cent in 2005. From having 16 councillors in the constituency in 2005, it has lost seats in Caversham, Church, Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards – the latter to the Liberal Democrats, who now have 11 councillors to Labour’s 5.

The Conservative candidate for Reading East has refused to attend a hustings being organised by Reading environmental groups under the banner of GREN (Greater Reading Environment Network) on 13 April, and a student hustings organised by Reading University Students’ Union on 26 April. In both cases the Conservatives are sending a councillor as a substitute. Gareth Epps has written to Rob Wilson to ask why he refused to attend the GREN meeting, despite being offered a date of his choice on which the meeting could be arranged.

Gareth Epps has also revealed he is to launch a contract with the electorate, to demonstrate how Members of Parliament should form a bond of trust with the people electing them after the scandals of recent years.

The General Election comes at a good time for the Liberal Democrats. They are up 4% in the most recent ICM polls for the Guardian from 19% to 21% and 23%. And the Lib Dems’ Vince Cable is widely seen has having won the “Ask the Chancellors” debate on Channel 4 last week. The Independent newspaper gave Vince Cable 4 stars, the Conservatives’ George Osborne, 1 star.

Commenting on the doorstep reception in recent days, Gareth Epps says:-
‘Knocking on doors in recent days, I have found huge disillusionment with both Conservative and Labour. After 65 years of failure, we are dubbing them the “Labservatives” – each as bad as the other. People want to see a stronger Lib Dem presence in Parliament.

‘The days where Labour dominated politics in this area are now long gone, with them reduced to activity in a handful of wards in Reading East. Commentators and local residents are acknowledging the Reading East election this time will be a fight between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. Many Lib Dems who were helping in other constituencies last time will be spending more time in Reading East now we can win.

‘I will be campaigning at this election for a fair deal for local people. Fairness in taxation – a £700 tax cut for the average earner. Fairness for schools – millions of pounds extra for local schools’ through the Lib Dems’ pupil premium, to tackle the gaping divide in educational chances between children from the wealthiest and worst-off backgrounds. Fairness in jobs – a “green road” out of the recession through investing in renewable energy. And fair and accountable politics. All MPs share some responsibility for the problems that grew up over expenses; we must now reform the political system to restore trust as a whole.

‘This is the best chance for 100 years for us to elect a Liberal Democrat in Reading East. We start fewer than 5,000 votes away with the Labour Party continuing its rapid decline. We go into this election with very great confidence.’

Commenting on his challenge to the Conservative candidate, Gareth said:-
‘It is simply not good enough for a candidate who wants to be re-elected as our local MP to hide behind his councillors on some of the biggest issues facing us all. People do not want to know the views of a councillor on whether he or she believes in man-made climate change. They want to know what their prospective Member of Parliament thinks.

‘Rob Wilson was offered a date of his choice for this meeting. A similar event in Reading West was well-attended. To refuse to attend in the manner he has done demonstrates contempt for the electorate – or begs the question, what do the Conservatives have to hide?’

Commenting on the news that Thames Valley Police has received a ‘poor’ rating in crime solving from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, and an overall rating of only ‘fair’, Liberal Democrat crime campaigner Cllr Gareth Epps slammed the Labour Government for ‘demotivating attacks’ on police and underfunding local police – the real reason for the rating.

Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East and Reading Safer Communities spokesperson, said:-

‘This is what happens when police authorities are underfunded and buried under piles of meaningless Labour Government targets. Thames Valley officers work hard to tackle crime – but everywhere I go, I hear people wanting to see more from our police which cannot be delivered because the resources are given by Whitehall to the Met. If the Home Office stopped wasting billions of pounds on useless and dangerous pet projects, that would be a start; ID Cards and the discriminatory PREVENT agenda are no substitute for effective policing.

‘It is a particular failure of Reading’s outgoing Labour leaders that they have achieved absolutely nothing to tackle this in thirteen years of a Labour Government. Reading needs a fair deal on policing, and has been let down by the Labour Party. We need a fresh start and our police need fair funding – not more demotivating attacks from Gordon Brown and Whitehall.’

The Liberal Democrats have announced they will fight the General Election on four key principles, designed to make Britain a fairer place.

Prospective MP for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps has today set out his campaign priorities: fair taxes; a fair start for every child; fair, clean and local politics and a fair, green economy with jobs that last.

Gareth said:
“People in Reading East have been let down by politicians. There is frustration and anger about the airbrushing, the broken promises and the spin. I am going into the election with a clear direction and a manifesto that is short, direct and to the point.

“We will introduce fairer taxes by closing loopholes for the richest, introducing a tax on mansions and tax cuts of £700 for everyone else.

“For those with children at school, we can promise investment to help reduce class sizes, improve discipline and develop one-to-one tuition. This will benefit those from the poorest backgrounds the most, ending the disgraceful failure of Labour in Reading to give every child an equal chance in life.

“We would also give you the right to sack your MP. The Liberal Democrats are the only party committed to real change of our political system; it’s time we flushed out big money and corrupt donors and reduced the number of MPs by 150.

“And we will rebuild the economy in a way that promotes green technology and creates lasting jobs. We will put an end to casino banking, bring back competition and support local entrepreneurs in every part of Britain to make sure businesses in Reading East can find the money they need to grow.

“The coming months are a crucial time for politics. I will be using them to focus on these four priorities and delivering real change for people in Reading, Caversham, Woodley and Earley.”

In his recent speech (11-Jan), Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg said:

“David Cameron and Gordon Brown are playing the politics of the airbrush and the focus group.

“One doesn’t know what he believes. The other doesn’t know what to do with the power he clings to so desperately.

“I believe the country wants something different. The Liberal Democrats are different. We offer credibility where it’s needed. And hope for our common future.”

Liberal Democrats in Reading have slammed the contents of today’s Queen’s Speech as a ‘self-serving charade’.

Commenting on the legislative programme, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, said:-

“The Queen’s Speech has been shamelessly turned by Labour into a self-serving political charade. At a time when Parliament has lost its authority following the expenses scandal, all it can do is give its successor a fresh start. Confidence and trust in the political process and faith in the Government’s capacity to change things has never been so low.

“An emergency programme of political reform is the duty of this Parliament, in order to clear the way for its successor. Instead, we see Bills proposed that in most cases will never see the statute book and in some cases are political posturing of the most vacuous kind.”

The Liberal Democrats are putting forward a programme of emergency political reform:-

1. Recall power for MPs suspended for misconduct – so we never again have to wait months and years to get rid of people who have betrayed the people they represent
2. Code of conduct for candidates in the next election, including declaration of financial interests – so everyone elected can command full public confidence
3. House of Lords reform – so only elected representatives have the power to make our laws
4. Party funding reform in time for this election – so big money and the whiff of corruption it brings are removed from politics for good
5. Fixed term Parliaments – so the voters can never again be toyed with by a Prime Minister planning an election timetable to save his own skin
6. Legislation to establish a 100-person Citizens’ Assembly, on the Canadian model, to agree a new voting system for Parliamentary Elections
7. Changes to House of Commons procedure to reduce executive power – so never again can a government use the power of the whips to ride roughshod over the views of Parliament.

Commenting on the publication of the Kelly report proposing radical reform of MPs’ expenses, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, said:-

“MPs must accept this report in full. We need MPs of all parties to come together and agree them without argument, and we need the new independent Parliamentary standards body to implement them without delay. The public must see action taken before the forthcoming General Election.

Gareth continued “I have pledged not to take a second home as Reading East’s MP, and to publish all my expenses in the interests of transparency. I back Kelly in full, and want to see results well before next May.

“There is still a need from David Cameron and Gordon Brown to take action against their MPs who have benefited substantially in financial terms at the taxpayer’s expense. David Cameron in particular must stop picking and choosing who is disciplined.”

The Labour Government’s flagship mortgage rescue scheme has – it was confirmed on Tuesday (13 October) – helped nobody at all in Reading since its launch in January.

Liberal Democrat campaigner Cllr Gareth Epps has slammed the failure of the Labour scheme that – while 40 households within Reading Borough saw their homes repossessed in the last quarter for which records are available, and 34 households applied for assistance under the scheme- none at all were found by the Council to be eligible under the scheme. The figures were released by Reading Borough Council at the Credit Crunch Summit and were published at the Full Council meeting.

On being questioned by Gareth about the reasons for this failure, Labour council leader Jo Lovelock admitted that the scheme was based too heavily on tackling negative equity – which is not the reason for the current wave of repossessions. The Lib Dems have demanded that more effective action be taken to tackle repossessions, by reforming mortgage law to allow courts to reduce repossessions. Lib Dems also called for a review of whether more effective steps can be taken by the Council to avoid Reading families losing their homes.

Commenting, Cllr Gareth Epps said:-
“It is clear the mortgage rescue scheme has utterly failed. It has been shown as little more than a publicity stunt that may have raised false hope for residents in the most difficult circumstances.

The Government’s own figures say that some 6,000 households are supposed to benefit from this scheme, but only 15 households nationwide have so far been found to be eligible. Repossessions are a ticking timebomb in the current economic climate. In the last recession I saw the effects repossession has on people; I would not wish it on anyone.

The Government should be reforming mortgage law to give courts the opportunity to resist pressure from lenders aggressively pursuing families. I hope the Council can work with Reading’s excellent advice services to outline what practical steps can be taken to prevent Reading families from losing their homes.”

Editor’s Notes:
The Mortgage Rescue Scheme “has been operational across the country since January 2009, aiming to prevent some of the most vulnerable families losing their homes and experiencing the trauma of repossession. The Mortgage Rescue package has two elements: (1) the ‘Government Mortgage to Rent’ option which involves an RSL purchasing the homeowner’s property, enabling the household to remain in the property as a tenant on an assured short hold tenancy, paying an intermediate rent; and (2) the ‘Shared Equity’ option which involves a RSL providing a loan to the homeowner to enable the homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments to be reduced.”

The impact assessment costs of implementation are available from the Impact Assessment Library here

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

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!