"At a time when Scotland's unemployment rate is rising faster the elsewhere in the UK, and youth unemployment is seen as a priority, this attack by the SNP on colleges defies logic."
- Feb 7, 2012:
- Russell last man standing over college cuts
- Laughing stock comment says more about Trump than Scotland
"Donald Trump's hysterical attack exaggerates the impact of the offshore turbines on his golf course."
- Graham Watson: European renewable energy is answer to Gazprom gas crisis
Commenting on the ongoing crisis where Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Germany have experienced reductions of up to 30% in Russian gas supplies from Gazprom over the last few days, Sir Graham said:
"The freezing conditions across Europe highlight yet again the dangers of being so overly-reliant on Russia for a quarter of our gas. Gazprom has - understandably - diverted its supplies to keep Russian homes warm, leaving many European countries short and prices on the rise."
"And we just don't know what Gazprom will do next."
"But the wind is blowing harder than ever in the Scottish Hebrides and it is 15 C and sunny in southern Spain and Greece. If, instead of building gas pipelines, we were building electricity transmission infrastructure and switching from fossil fuels to wind and solar power, this week's energy outlook would be a different story. European renewables are the answer to our energy security."
"Indeed, the sun is also shining bright as ever in the Sahara. Importing electricity from North Africa would in fact be more secure than Russian gas, due to the larger number of potential trading partners and the fact that electricity cannot be switched off like gas. Electricity is the ultimate 'just in time' product: that which is not transmitted today is lost forever." - Time for Welsh Labour Government to make 2003 Awema report public
Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, is today calling on the Welsh Labour Government to make public the report commissioned back in 2003 regarding financial irregularities in the equalities body All Wales Ethnic Minority Association (Awema). The report commissioned by the then Labour Social Justice Minister, Edwina Hart, has never been made public but it does raise questions whether it recommended it was time to stop funding Awema. It has been suggested that the report did recommended stopping funds to Awema but that this was never actioned by Labour Ministers. Nearly a decade later, the Welsh Labour Government is expected to publish another report on the financial irregularities of Awema and suggest whether it should continue to receive public funding. Just last week, Permanent Secretary Dame Gillian Morgan said that Awema should have been graded "high risk" after numerous allegations of financial corruption. Peter Black has used the Freedom of Information Act to request a copy of the 2003 report. Peter Black said: "I welcome the Welsh Government's intention to publish the 2012 Awema report however it is imperative that they publish the 2003 report so that we can be assured that the Welsh Labour Government weren't covering up for 'one of their own', as has been suggested. "The people of Wales have a right to know if their taxes are being spent appropriately. The expected report on Thursday will hopefully shed light on the Awema debacle but the 2003 report will give a fuller picture of what has been going on in a charity in receipt of substantial amounts of public funds. "Carwyn Jones and the Welsh Government have always said how they want an open and transparent government. This is the perfect opportunity for the government to show their commitment by publishing this report. I have used the Freedom of Information Act to see whether the Welsh Government will publish this report that could possibly be the 'smoking gun' in the Awema affair." Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Lorely Burt: Labour hypocrisy on bankers' bonuses
"The sheer hypocrisy of Labour to point the finger on bankers' bonuses is staggering. Labour presided over the biggest boom in bonuses this country has seen, from £3.1bn in 2001 to £11.5 billion in 2007. At the same time, they sat back and knighted the financial speculators who led this country to the brink of economic collapse.
"The Coalition Government inherited this economic mess from Labour and has taken decisive action to put the country back on track. We've capped cash bonuses at state owned banks to £2,000 and overall, the bonus pool is smaller than last year and considerably less than under Labour.
"In Government, Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing - implementing the Vickers' proposals to make banking safer in the future, continuing our fight to get the banks to lend more and introducing the banking levy which raises £2.5bn a year. All Labour can do is complain from the side lines.
"While Labour spent thirteen years being intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich, Liberal Democrats have made clear that our priority is lifting the lowest paid people out of paying income tax all together." - Julian Huppert: Coalition cycling investment comes at a crucial time
"Promoting cycling and green transport is the right thing to do and I am delighted Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are taking action.
"This comes at a crucial time. Just five days ago The Times launched a cycle campaign in response to the shocking increase in fatalities among cyclists on our roads.
"It is absolutely essential people should be able to walk to work or cycle to school in a safe environment. The extra £8m for Sustrans will go a long way to achieving this.
"And the £7m for improved rail-cycle links will ensure that we continue to build a transport network which puts passengers first."
- Russell last man standing over college cuts
- Feb 6, 2012:
- More work to be done to drive forward climate change targets
"While we have seen some progress in recent years in the procurement of green vehicles by local authorities, much more still needs to be done."
- More work to be done to drive forward climate change targets
- Feb 3, 2012:
- Welsh Liberal Democrats submit proposals to Silk Commission
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have revealed proposals to reform the funding of the National Assembly to promote "accountability, fairness and growth." The Party today provided their suggestions in a weighty submission to the Silk Commission. Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said, "Our vision for devolution has always included making sure that the National Assembly has the appropriate range of powers available to improve the lives of the people of Wales. "The Welsh Liberal Democrats campaigned hard for a Yes vote in the referendum in March because we believed Wales would benefit from a broad range of legal powers. Today we have submitted a plan for a range of financial powers so that the Welsh Government - of whatever party or parties - and the Assembly as a whole can be further held accountable for the decisions they make, and be further challenged to make the economy grow so that the potential tax base is in turn increased". These proposals include: Reform of the Barnett formula, which is used to calculate the amount of money coming to Wales from the UK Government, on the basis of need, so that public services are properly funded Powers to enable the National Assembly to collect half of Welsh income tax and vary it by at least 3p, so that economic growth can be rewarded To have complete control over taxes that affect the Assembly's responsibility, such as stamp duty so that housing can be made more affordable. Also for Assembly control of industry-specific taxes so that Wales can create jobs Borrowing powers so that the Welsh government is able to invest in the infrastructure Wales needs for the future Kirsty added, "We have always advocated reform of the Barnett formula, as being essential to any financial reforms. The Welsh Liberal Democrats want to see this as a precursor to any devolution of taxes. Wales has missed out on funding for over a decade because of this unfair system. "But our submission takes a much wider view of the way the National Assembly should be funded. Powers over taxes makes the Welsh government more accountable to the people of Wales and encourages the Welsh government to pursue better polices for growth. Borrowing powers will give the Welsh government more scope to stimulate the economy. "Welsh Liberal Democrats have been arguing for greater devolution for over a century. This is the latest step in our long campaign for a federal UK. It will strengthen Wales and help make a real difference to the lives of people across the country." Welsh Liberal Democrat Silk Commission proposals can be seen by clicking here. Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Liberal Democrat News 3rd February 2012
Clegg calls time on unfair tax system
At the Institute for Government last Friday, the Deputy Prime Minister gave a major speech on tax and supporting working families.
"The tax system," said Nick Clegg, "should be designed to reward effort, enterprise and innovation... and bear down on those things which are bad for our society.
"Attitudes to tax are a good proxy for our deepest political instincts and the three major political traditions in the UK - conservatism, socialism and liberalism - have very distinct approaches."
"The liberal approach, put most simply, is based on a profound commitment to the value of paid work. Citizens are empowered when they can keep the fruits of their own labour. And fiscal liberalism supports taxes on unearned wealth... precisely to lighten taxes on the incomes of hardworking people.
"So the Coalition is calling time on our unfair and out-of-whack tax system.
We've put up Capital Gains Tax; we've reduced tax breaks on pension funds for the very rich; we've clamped down on avoidance - the steps taken already will raise an extra £7bn every year by the end of this parliament. And our priority in government - from the front cover of the Lib Dem manifesto to the pages of the Coalition Agreement - is freeing the lowest-paid from income tax altogether... and cutting income tax for millions of ordinary workers.
"Whether you call them the 'squeezed middle', 'hard-working families', or, as I have, 'alarm clock Britain'… it's the people who whose incomes are too high to qualify for welfare benefits but too low to provide any real financial security who need this extra help. Over the last few decades wage rises have outpaced the increase in the allowance... so that more people have been sucked into the income tax net.
"At the last election my party promised to raise the personal allowance for ordinary taxpayers to £10,000 and I am extremely proud that the Coalition has committed to doing so over the course of this Parliament. I want to make clear that I want the Coalition to go further and faster in delivering the full £10,000 allowance.
Because the pressure on family finances is reaching boiling point … these families cannot be made to wait.
"Delivering the £10,000 personal allowance more quickly will need to be fully funded. But to those who say: we cannot afford to do this. I say: we cannot afford not to do this.
"It is often said that to govern is to choose... and, in particular, to choose whose side you are on. That is especially true when there is no money around. My choice - the Liberal Democrat's choice - is clear: I want to help hard-pressed and hardworking families. If that means asking more from those at the top - so be it.
"We are committed to eliminating the deficit... and eliminate it we will. But I am determined that we do so in a way that is fair...that rebalances our economy...that gives the right people the right rewards.
"People look to the Liberal Democrats to keep this Coalition anchored in the centre ground. They want economic competence, but they want compassion too.
It is our job to make sure this government delivers both."
- Welsh Liberal Democrats submit proposals to Silk Commission
- Feb 2, 2012:
- Prison visiting committees play vital role
"More than simply being an independent voice for prisoners, the Committees play a far greater role in ensuring that standards in our prison estate are maintained."
- More questions and concerns over currency
"The reality is that independence is a complicated and protracted process in which the Scottish Government will have little or no control on the details that will determine it."
- Scottish colleges deserve better from SNP
"It seems the only person unwilling to accept and argue the case for an improved funding settlement for our colleges is the Education Secretary."
- Swansea Council, Welsh and Irish Governments must work together over loss of ferry service'
Peter Black, Assembly Member for South Wales West, has responded to news that the Swansea-Cork ferry service is to close with the loss of 78 jobs. Peter said: "I am sorry to hear about the loss of jobs announced today. I very much regret the Fastnet Line ferry service is to close, but I have to accept the Minister's comments on face value that the proposition presented by Fastnet Line was not commercially viable. "The service was estimated to be worth around £20 million to Swansea's economy, so it is essential for Swansea Council and the Welsh and Irish Governments to work together in order for another service to be back up and running as soon as possible if it can be proven to be commercially workable." Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Prison visiting committees play vital role
- Feb 1, 2012:
- SNP should come clean over colleges
"Instead of shouting down anyone who dares challenge him, the Education Secretary needs to come clean and tell colleges what the SNP's plans will actually mean for their budgets and reserves."
- Focus on youth unemployment
"To maximise youth employment in Scotland, the First Minister should also swallow his pride and work closely with the UK Government to promote the Youth Contract."
- SNP should come clean over colleges
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