May262017

Why Labour’s pledges on NHS and pensions are meaningless

Liberal Democrats
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An announcement by the Labour Party that it would invest £45bn in the NHS and social care over five years as well as protect pensions could be rendered meaningless by Brexit, Liberal Democrats have said.

Treasury analysis from 2016 estimated that the form of Brexit supported by the Labour and Conservative parties – a negotiated bilateral agreement as opposed to membership of the single market – would rob public services of £36bn EACH YEAR. A botched Brexit could cost the Exchequer up to £45 billion a year. The government has neither formally rejected this analysis nor commissioned new figures since the referendum.

Susan Kramer, Liberal Democrat Business spokesperson, said: “In the biggest fight for the future of our country in a generation, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour has let down those who need a strong NHS and a secure pension by voting with Theresa May on Brexit – not against her. Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs to vote in favour of Article 50 despite the Government making no concessions to them whatsoever, including on staying in the single market.

“Over the course of a parliament, Labour would have to find many times the amount they are promising on the NHS and social care just to pay its Brexit bill. But with trade with Europe set to be hit by an extreme Brexit, how could this be delivered?

“That’s why Liberal Democrats will give the people a chance to change Britain’s future by letting them reject a bad Brexit deal, putting a penny on income tax to rescue the NHS and social care, and reversing Theresa May’s heartless cuts to school funding.”

May262017

Liberal Democrats lead campaign against Theresa May’s cruel dementia tax

Liberal Democrats
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Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has launched a national movement calling on people, irrespective of their party affiliation, to stop the Conservatives’ planned Dementia Tax.

It comes alongside Liberal Democrat research that reveals that across England, 9 out 10 homes could be eligible for sale to meet Theresa May’s Dementia Tax.

Tim Farron is writing to key organisations about the campaign, including David Cameron as President of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Writing to the leaders of leading health and older peoples’ charities, Tim Farron said: “The measure of a Government is how they treat the most vulnerable in our society. I don’t think that the Conservatives are unaware of the impact of their plans but they chose to ignore the human cost.

“Every elderly person that needs care should receive it in the best place for them and not be fearful of those mounting, limitless costs. I am determined that we ensure that Theresa May drops the so-called ‘Dementia Tax’ and implement a cap on the cost of care.

“Caring for our elderly must be above party politics and that is why I want to urge anyone who opposes the Conservatives’ plans to come together to stop it.

“We must resist this plan and challenge would-be Conservative MPs to reject and stop it.

“As a first step, I am urging people to sign up at dementiatax.org.uk to help. I hope you will urge the supporters of your organisation to do the same. Together we can stop the so-called ‘Dementia’ Tax.”

Sign up against the dementia tax

May262017

Civilians in Syria must be spared from anti-ISIL airstrikes – UN rights chief

United Nations
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26 May 2017 – The United Nations human rights chief today urged all warring parties in Syria to take every feasible measure to spare the civilian population from the effects of the armed conflict, noting that civilians are increasing caught in fighting between the Government forces and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) terrorist group.

In particular, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged the air forces of the Government and other States fighting ISIL in Syria to take much greater care to distinguish between legitimate military targets and civilians.

&#8220The rising toll of civilian deaths and injuries already caused by airstrikes in Deir-ez-Zor and Al-Raqqa suggests that insufficient precautions may have been taken in the attacks,&#8221 Mr. Zeid said in a news release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

&#8220Just because ISIL holds an area does not mean less care can be taken. Civilians should always be protected, whether they are in areas controlled by ISIL or by any other party,&#8221 he added.

Places such as the border city of Albo Kamal &#8211 where retreating ISIL fighters and their families are mixed in with some 100,000 people, including displaced Syrians and Iraqis &#8211 are of particular concern, Mr. Zeid said.

The same civilians who are suffering indiscriminate shelling and summary executions by ISIL, are also falling victim to the escalating airstrikes, particularly in the northeastern governorates of Al-Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor, according to numerous credible reports of such incidents, he said, citing an airstrike of 14 May that reportedly killed 23 farm workers, including 17 women, in a rural village of eastern Al-Raqqa Governorate.

Airstrikes on two residential areas of the ISIL-controlled city of Albo Kamal in eastern Deir-ez-Zor Governorate on 15 May reportedly killed at least 59 civilians, including 16 children and 12 women and injured another 70.

The day after that, ISIL fighters are said to have cut the throats of eight men at the sites of the airstrikes, after accusing them of providing coordinates for the strikes. On 18 May, an ISIL attack on the Government-controlled village of Aqareb in rural eastern Hama Governorate allegedly resulted in the deaths of 36 civilians including women and children.

May262017

£500,000 expansion of business park in Presteigne already creating interest

Welsh Government
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Two plots have already been sold, subject to contract, to a local business wishing to expand – and discussions are taking place with other local businesses and individuals looking to build their own premises.

The expansion followed enquiries from a number of companies, including businesses based in Presteigne, that wanted to expand.

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“This investment is the latest in a number of proactive interventions taken by the Welsh Government to support businesses based in areas of rural Wales that wish to expand.

“As a Government we are committed to supporting business growth which in many parts of Wales means we have to step in and invest in premises and infrastructure when the private sector  is not delivering.

“I want to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are shared across Wales and the expansion of Broadaxe Business Park supports this strategy as we know the availability of sites and premises is fundamental in attracting new investment, retaining existing investment and creating jobs.” 

He added that last week he officially opened a new £1.8m facility the Welsh Government had built to enable Zip-Clip to expand its operations in Welshpool and ground works are also underway by the Welsh Government that will pave the way for Charlies Stores to build a new headquarters and ecommerce fulfilment centre on Offa’s Dyke Business Park in Welshpool.

The Broadaxe project was carried out by Jones Brothers (Henllan) Limited.  It involved the construction of a new road and the installation of associated services which have opened the 4 acre site and created six serviced development plots for businesses. 

Gareth Jones, Director, Jones Bros (Henllan) Ltd said: 

“As a long established Welsh business, we are naturally delighted to have been involved in bringing this prestigious development site to fruition by constructing the access road and the installation of associated services and infrastructure. 

“We have had recent involvement in a number of business park projects in Carmarthenshire (Cross Hands Food Park and Trostre Retail park), as well as other parts of Wales and hope that this investment will help deliver the same economic and employment opportunities that the other have delivered.”