Pendle Liberal Democrats

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

Liberal Democrat peer and Pendle Councillor Tony Greaves has given two hearty 
cheers to the news that the Government has called a three-month delay for 
reflection on the Health and Social Care Bill in the House of Commons.
 
Tony Greaves said: "I am delighted that there is now a chance for open debate on 
this Bill. My third cheer would have been for the Government to withdraw the Bill 
and start again. Even so this is good news and very much down to the influence of 
the Liberal Democrats."
 
Tony Greaves proposed a motion at the last Pendle Council meeting which said 
that the Council "welcomes the Government's commitment to the founding 
principles of the NHS: available to all, free at the point of use, and based on need, 
not the ability to pay; but believes that many of the present proposals run counter 
to these principles and calls on the Government either to withdraw the Bill in its 
present form or to support its amendment by Parliament."
 
This motion was carried by a large majority with only some of the Conservative 
Councillors voting against it (with five of them abstaining).
 
Tony Greaves said: "Pendle Council spoke on behalf of the great majority of people 
in Pendle who, like people around the country, are very concerned at the prospect 
of this massive top-down reorganisation at a time of severe spending restrictions.
 
"I am glad that the Government is now starting to listen to the rising tide of 
concern and I am very pleased that the Council added its voice to this when it 
supported my motion."
 
Ends

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A Liberal Democrat councillor has slammed Lancashire County Council for providing 'fake' salt in roadside grit bins. At Pendle Council's Executive meeting last Thursday. Councillor David Whipp said bins contained more sand than salt which is ineffective at melting snow and ice.

Speaking during a discussion about winter gritting arrangements, Councillor Whipp said, "Roadside grit bins are filled with fake salt. Instead of proper rocksalt, it's mixed with sand which doesn't melt snow and ice. The material will give people a false sense of security. The high sand contend will litter the streets, get tramped into shops and houses and block road drains, but it won't melt the ice."

Pendle's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman, Afzal Anwar has called on Andrew Stephenson to openly speak out against his party and the Conservative led Government on the proposed rise in tuition fees.

Afzal, who fought the 2010 general election in Pendle for the Liberal Democrats also signed a pledge with the NUS back at the election to vote against any proposed rise in fees if he was elected to Parliament. Now Afzal believes he should carry on sticking to the pledge by calling on the elected MP to vote against a proposed rise.

Liberal Democrat Lord Tony Greaves took the fight for Lancashire's 400-plus police community support officers (PCSOs) to the House of Lords on Monday when speaking in a debate on the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review.

Lord Greaves said that PCSOs are "the basis of an extremely successful community policing system in Lancashire" which he said was "a pioneer of modern community policing". He said: "PCSOs are there on the ground doing what everyone wants when we talk about bobbies on the beat".

The second Party Leaders Debate is taking place this Thursday starting at 8pm on Sky News. Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron will again be going head to head in a TV debate in the run up to the General Election on May 6th, this time leading on Foreign Affairs.

The first half of the 90 minute Election Debate on Sky News will be devoted to Foreign Affairs, with the rest on any topic. The debate comes from Bristol, and will be chaired by Adam Boulton. Sky are inviting questions before the debate, with more information at http://news.sky.com/skynews/Election/debatequestion

The Liberal Democrat party agent for the elections in Pendle, Tony Greaves, has criticised the Conservatives for not turning up to an election briefing held for the parties by the Returning Officer Stephen Barnes and his election staff. Detective Inspector Dave Groombridge from Lancashire police was also present.

Nick Clegg has launched the Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto. The manifesto sets out four clear priorities of fair taxes, a fair chance for every child, a fair economy, and a fair deal by cleaning up politics.

At the launch, Nick Clegg said:

"Every manifesto needs to have an idea at its heart. The basic idea that animates this manifesto is something I have always believed. I believe every single person is extraordinary.

Afzal Anwar, the Liberal Democrats Prospective MP for Pendle, is going to chain himself outside Burnley General Hospital. The chained protest is in response to plans by Labour health bosses to move the children's ward from Burnley to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Afzal Anwar said, " The statement I made earlier about chaining myself to the hospital railings was serious, not just an election gimmick. I care a lot about our children's health and future."