Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson and MP for Bristol West, Stephen Williams, today urged constituents to sign the e-petition which calls on the Chancellor to adopt plans that would fast track the introduction of the Lib Dem £10,000 income tax personal allowance.

Commenting on the e-petition, Stephen said: ‘I would ask all those in favour of a fairer tax system to sign this e-petition. Liberal Democrat plans would save working people £700 a year -that’s an extra £60 in your wages every month – and more than 3.5million older and low-paid people will be freed from paying any income tax altogether.

‘This is a plan we put on the front page of our General Election manifesto and it went into the Coalition Agreement. In April last year, millions of ordinary working people were given a £200 annual tax cut and since last April 800,000 low paid people no longer pay any income tax at all. But I believe our tax cuts need to happen faster and go further.’

You can sign the petition here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28640

It has been reported that a councillor from east London faces dismissal after being sentenced to 16 weeks in prison after pleading guilty of housing benefit fraud.

Tower Hamlets Councillor Shelina Akhtar was found to have sub-let her housing association home without permission while claiming benefits for the property.

The sentence came on Monday, after pleading guilty to three counts of failing to notify a change in her circumstances.

Commenting on the sentencing of Cllr Akhtar on Monday, a council spokesperson said:

“Shelina Akhtar lodged a guilty plea at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday 09 January regarding a failure to notify a change in circumstances in respect of housing benefit with regard to a rented council housing property in her name.”

Shelina Akhtar was elected as a Labour councillor for Spitalfields and Banglatown ward in May 2010, but since October 2010 she has sat as an Independent councillor.

Under the Local Government Act, a councillor is automatically disqualified from office if a custodial sentence of more than three months is received.

The spokesperson said:

“Due to the length of the custodial sentence Shelina Akhtar will be automatically disqualified from holding office as a councillor under section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972, but that disqualification does not take effect until the opportunity for appeal has expired which is 28 days after sentence.

“If there is an appeal then the disqualification will not take place until any appeal has run its course”.

I was appalled to hear that Labour have been lying to us about what they would do to tackle the economic mess the Coalition Government inherited from Blair and Brown.

The almost comic duo of Ed Miliband and Ed Balls have let the mask slip and made clear that they have no Plan B on the economy.

For the last year and a half, local Labour activists have been pushing leaflets through your letterboxes which have now been exposed as lies. They have made clear they are not going to reverse any of the cuts the Coalition Government has been forced to make to restore economic stability.

This is the worst kind of politics: creating confusion by campaigning against policies which they have no intention of doing anything about in Government. They have gone from being in the wrong place, to all over the place.

It is time the local Labour party came clean themselves, apologise for the economic mess they left behind by letting the banks run wild and losing control of the nation’s finances. They need to explain what they would do in Government.”

Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

“This admission by the Eds leaves the Liberal Democrats as the only political party with the backbone to tackle the country’s problems, but with the heart to do everything to ensure that fairness, compassion and justice are written through everything we do.

“In the Coalition Government, Liberal Democrats are the party delivering tax cuts for working people, we are the party investing in the poorest school pupils, we are the party delivering the largest ever state pension rise and most importantly, we are the party prepared to take the tough decisions needed to get this country back on track.

“Don’t hold your breath waiting for an apology from Labour – but rest assured Liberal Democrats will continue to do the right thing on your behalf.”

ENDS

Notes to Readers:

1. On BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, Ed Balls said: “As shadow chancellor, I can say to you unequivocally we can make no commitment to reverse any of the Government’s tax rises or spending cuts.”

2. In an interview with the Guardian on 13 January, Ed Balls said: “My starting point is, I am afraid, we are going to have keep all these cuts. There is a big squeeze happening on budgets across the piece. (…) We are going to have to start from that being the baseline. At this stage, we can make no commitments to reverse any of that, on spending or on tax. So I am being absolutely clear about that.”

Ed Balls continued: “It is now inevitable that public sector pay restraint will have to continue through this parliament. Labour cannot duck that reality and won’t. There is no way we should be arguing for higher pay when the choice is between higher pay and bringing unemployment down.”

3. Interviewed on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show Ed Miliband supported Ed Balls: “If I were to come on your programme and say well take the cuts, some of the cuts that are being made, I can promise you now that I would restore them, you’d say, ‘Well where’s the money going to come from? You don’t know the circumstances you’re going to inherit.’ Ed was making an important point.”

He went on to say that “This is responsible, this is absolutely responsible opposition.”

Four major groups representing British businesses have given their support to the Youth Contract, a £1billion scheme launched by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to get young people earning or learning.

Support for the plan to tackle youth unemployment comes from The Confederation of British Industry, British Chambers of Commerce, British Retail Consortium and Federation of Small Businesses, who will also urge their members to back the initiative.

Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are determined to tackle the growing problem of youth unemployment, which Nick Clegg described as “an economic waste and a slow burn disaster”. The aim of the Youth Contract is to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done. Over three years, the Youth Contract will provide at least 410,000 new work places for 18 to 24-year-olds into work.

The Youth Contract includes:

• 160,000 wage subsidies and 250,000 new work experience placements.

• There will be at least 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices.

•There will be a new programme to help the most disengaged 16 and 17-year-olds – getting them back to school or college, onto an apprenticeship or into a job with training.

Nick Clegg said:

“Supporting people into work is my priority for 2012 and helping young people get proper, lasting jobs is especially important.

“The Youth Contract will make sure every unemployed young person starts earning or learning again before long term damage is done, but government can’t do this alone, we need businesses to play their part too. That’s why the support of the Confederation of British Industry, British Chambers of Commerce, British Retail Consortium and Federation of Small Businesses is such good news.”

The Deputy Prime Minister is hosting a roundtable discussion with business leaders, including senior representatives from some of the UK’s top businesses including Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, BT and Asda, to hear from them about how they offer young people work, training and apprenticeships in their organisations and discuss the Youth Contract.

Nick Clegg will also launch a new website – dwp.gov.uk/youth-contract for employers across Britain to sign up to the Youth Contract.

CBI Director-General, John Cridland, said:

“The Youth Contract is good news for young people up and down the country. It will encourage firms to give a young inexperienced person a chance so that the scourge of youth unemployment can be tackled.

“We sincerely hope that employers of all sizes looking to hire staff will see the Youth Contract as a real incentive to invest in our young people.”

Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Youth unemployment is a huge challenge for Government and business alike. Firms up and down the country are concerned about the record numbers of young people currently out of work, and tell us they are ready to do their bit.

“That’s why we warmly welcome the Youth Contract, which will help growing businesses offer more young people real jobs and work experience. We will work closely with the Government to ensure that these initiatives help to overcome the obstacles that stop young people and potential employers from connecting.”

Director General of the British Retail Consortium, Stephen Robertson, said:

“Nearly a million young people are employed by retailers in the UK and they’re keen to take on even more. The sector employs a quarter of all 20 to 24 year olds who are in work and the proportions are even higher for teenagers. Retail also has an excellent record on staff development and is one of the highest spending sectors on training per employee.

“The Government’s focus on helping young people into work and training has the potential to make a real and very welcome contribution to reducing youth unemployment. There needs to be an accompanying set of initiatives to drive growth which will help create new jobs for people of all ages.”

Mike Cherry, Policy Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said:

“Youth unemployment continues to be a major problem and so we welcome the Government’s Youth Contract initiative. Small businesses want to create jobs but need help overcoming the risks associated with taking on staff, especially in the current climate. We also need to see enterprise education in schools and colleges so that young people are given the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the world of work.”

The following article by Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar,Ian Swales, originally appeared on the Liberal Democrat Voice website:

The Labour party think they can win the economic argument by just wailing about cuts on behalf of their public sector union paymasters. They give no credible alternatives for what they would do about Britain’s economic crisis.

What they also like to ignore is some of the changes that are being made towards making this country fairer. Here is a list of cuts WE should be talking about because they are mostly happening through Lib Dem action and pressure:

• The CUT from £250,000 to £50,000 in the maximum annual pension contribution to receive tax relief clawing back a staggering £4,000,000,000 (£4bn) that Labour was giving to the rich.

• The CUT in bank profits with a new tax raising £2.5 bn a year.

• The CUT in regional disparity through the £2.4 bn regional growth fund.

• The CUT in tax paid by ordinary people with the basic tax threshold raised to £8,105by next April from £6475 in 2010/11 – and no more 10p tax rate fiascos.

• The CUT in the 40% tax threshold meaning the better off pay more.

• The CUT in money that Labour allowed people to make in Capital Gains with the tax rate rising from 18% to 28%.

• The CUT in pensioner poverty with a triple lock guarantee of rises and the biggest ever cash rise coming in April 2012.

• The CUT in the gap between rich and poor through the VAT rise. Remember those who spend most pay most and the basic costs of living don’t have standard rate VAT.

• The CUT in benefit fraud with new resources being brought in.

• The CUT in tax evasion by the rich with £900m of extra resource.

• The CUT in education disadvantage for poorer children through the Pupil Premium.

• The CUT in the amount per month students will have to pay back after graduation and a higher threshold before they start paying anything.

Remember, Labour didn’t deliver these changes in their 13 years of government and voted AGAINST them in this government.

Lib Dems in parliament are pushing a fairness agenda and showing that Labour can never again be trusted with the economy.

If you have Labour Councils you can probably see the same incompetence and wrong choices in your area too. It’s time to go out and tell the public.

By the way, just for good measure we also CUT Tory plans to increase the Inheritance
Tax threshold from £350,000 to £1,000,000!

Ian Swales is the Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar

North East Lincolnshire Council is reminding local households that, if they haven’t yet responded to their electoral registration forms, they must do so as soon as possible.

Registration forms have already been issued across the borough, and those households which have not yet replied will be sent reminder letters this month.

Electoral registration is compulsory but it takes just a brief moment to do. If the details on the form are correct, you can confirm them quickly by text, telephone or on the internet.

Using the electronic services will save time and money for the council, in comparison to processing forms. Full instructions will be on the form for your household, together with its own unique security codes. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The freephone telephone service is also available in other languages.

There are two versions of the electoral register: the full version and the edited version. Following advice from the Electoral Commission, each year electors must be given the choice about whether they wish to “opt out” of the edited register, which anyone can buy. If you do not wish your name and address to be on the edited register, select this option when using the internet or freephone services (but not text) or tick the box if returning your form by post.

Residents who need to make other changes to their details must complete and sign the form and return it by post to the council offices.

Rob Walsh, strategic director of governance and transformation at the council, said:

“I’m urging all households who haven’t yet replied to their electoral registration forms to respond as soon as possible. Registration is compulsory, as it allows residents to exercise their right to vote.

“The quicker you reply, the better. Reminder letters are going out next week, and if there is no response after that, canvassers will be sent in person to chase up households.”

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is attempting to make the funding of political parties more transparent, which is causing concern within the Labour Party.

One idea that the Labour party are particularly uncomfortable with is the idea of a £50,000 cap on individual donations to parties so they do not rely on wealthy backers.

The Independent reports:

Labour is nervous about his planned reforms. It suspects Mr Clegg is in cahoots with the Tories to produce reforms that harm Labour by including its trade-union donations in any cap. “That could bankrupt us,” one Labour source said. Allies of Mr Clegg insist he wants to reach an all-party consensus. However, they do not rule out legislation if no deal can be reached and one of them said:

“This is not a stitch-up, it is a serious attempt at reform, but Labour cannot have a veto,”

Mr Clegg said it is unhealthy for Labour to rely largely on trade-union donations and taxpayers’ grants to opposition parties.

The Liberal Democrats lost their opposition money when they entered the Coalition last year and their officials are keen to see a new settlement on funding.

The Government’s proposals will be completed following an independent inquiry into political funding which is expected to report in October. The Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly, will draw up its report next month. It is considering a cap on donations, with parties compensated by tax relief or matching state funds for small donations.

In evidence to the committee, the Tories and Liberal Democrats backed a £50,000 ceiling on donations, while Labour floated the idea of a much lower £500 cap.

Recent attempts at funding reform stalled after failing to resolve the question of Labour’s union links. The Tories want their donations included in any cap, but Labour argues it should be exempt because union-affiliation fees represent small donations by the three million members who pay the political levy.

Official figures published yesterday by the Electoral Commission showed Labour’s dependence on its union founders. Between April and June, unions contributed about £2.7m of the £3.2m received by Labour. The biggest payments were from Unite, Unison, the GMB, the shopworkers’ union Usdaw and the CWU communication workers’ union.

To read the full article in the Independent, view HERE.

It’s wrong to claim that nothing has changed since the coalition came to power

“In her article on the detention of child refugees, Natasha Walter asks: “If a locked centre is called ‘pre-departure accommodation’, does it cease to be detention?” (Britain is still no refuge for refugees, 28 July). The current practices with regard to children awaiting deportation cannot be – and s hould not be – in any way compared to the shameful past.

“Children are no longer held for weeks, pending their removal from the country during and after their asylum or visa applications. Since current regulations were introduced, no child has been held under these circumstances. Only on the rare occasions when a family was denied entry at the border and there was no immediate return flight, have they been held in pre-departure accommodation until the next available flight, usually within 24 to 48 hours.

“The holding of any child is distressing because of the psychological harm it can cause: we’re clear on that. But it would be inaccurate to compare this government’s policies to the habitual long-term detention in inadequate facilities of the past. The coalition is not bringing “detention for families back into the asylum process”, as Walter claims – it has gone out of its way to end it.”
Read the full article on the Guardian website here.

Households in North East Lincolnshire will this month be sent their electoral registration forms in the post, and as is the case every year, all homes are required to check and confirm their details.

Electoral registration is compulsory but it takes just a brief moment to do.

If there are no changes to the details on the form, residents can confirm this using the simple freephone, internet and text messaging services. It takes just minutes to confirm your details, and use of electronic services is cheaper for the council than processing forms. Full instructions will be on the form for your household, together with its own unique security codes. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The freephone telephone service is also available in other languages.

Residents who need to make changes to their details must complete the form and return it by post to the council offices. Again, a prompt reply helps save money: those who don’t reply must be sent reminders, and if there is no response after that, canvassers are sent in person to chase up responses.

Residents who registered in the run-up to the general election in May must still re-register for the new electoral roll.

Rob Walsh, executive director of business services at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

“All households are required by law to confirm their electoral roll details, but this doesn’t take long, especially if the automated confirmation services are used. If residents respond quickly, the council will not need to send out reminder letters or canvassers to people’s homes. So don’t leave your letter unopened – act on it as you soon as you receive it and ensure that you can exercise your right to vote.”

The following article was written by Stephen Tall and originally appeared on the Liberal Democrat Voice Website:

News International ‘bullied Liberal Democrats over BSkyB bid’ is the headline in today’s Observer, with the paper reporting:

Rupert Murdoch’s News International launched a campaign of bullying against senior Liberal Democrats in an attempt to force through the company’s bid for BSkyB, high-level sources have told the Observer.

Lib Dem insiders say NI officials took their lobbying campaign well beyond acceptable limits and even threatened, last autumn, to persecute the party if Vince Cable, the business secretary, did not advance its case.

According to one account from a senior party figure, a cabinet minister was told that, if the government did not do as NI wanted, the Lib Dems would be “done over” by the Murdoch papers, which included the now defunct News of the World as well as the Sun, the Times and the Sunday Times.

And of course News International had a proven track record of doing over the Lib Dems, as this Sun front page reminds us.

The reason? Well, that was explained clearly enough by former Sun editor David Yelland before the 2010 general election:

Make no mistake, if the Liberal Democrats actually won the election – or held the balance of power – it would be the first time in decades that Murdoch was locked out of British politics. In so many ways, a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote against Murdoch and the media elite.

As Vince Cable reminds us today, that prophesy came to pass (almost). In the end, though, it was News International’s total and utter failure to keep its own house in order that has brought to an end its stranglehold on British politics.