Liberal Democrat General Election candidates for Keighley and Shipley
Tom Franks and Caroline Jones are standing in the General Election for Keighley and Shipley constituencies. You can e email Tom...
10 Nov 2019
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Lib Dems demand parity for mental health service
Lib Dems demand parity for mental health service Cllr John Howson, Lib Dem Candidate for Castle Point said, "Mental health services have been badly neglected in this country. young people are especially at risk if early symptoms are not dealt with quickly. Too many young people requiring in-patient care are also being sent long distances making family visits difficult and creating a sense of isolation. "
10 Nov 2019
CANDIDATE FOR MK SOUTH ANNOUNCED BY LIB DEMS
Dr Saleyha Ahsan has been selected to stand for the Liberal Democrats in Milton Keynes South for the General Election on Thursday...
RG
10 Nov 2019
Anthem for Doomed Youth
Mayor Dave Hodgson read Wilfred Owen's Anthem For Doomed Youth at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,- The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
10 Nov 2019
Wolverhampton Council 'failing' on adoption say Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats argue they are shining a light on Labour-run council's failings and is urging urgent improvements. Wolverhampton Council is 'failing' on adopted children blasted the city Lib Dems after figures came to light that shows the council is six months late on getting children to adoptive families. The council is failing to hit government guidelines say the party.
NMF
10 Nov 2019
Tories recycle 2015 failed pledge on GPs - Brexit exit of EU doctors and nurses making things worse
"The latest Tory announcement of 5000 new General Practitioner doctors by 2024 is a rehash of a similar one made in 2015 which they've failed to start delivering. It takes 10 years to train a GP. But we need more doctors now, " said Newcastle Liberal Democrats health professionals Dr Wendy Taylor, Dr Aidan King and Ali Avaei.
9 Nov 2019
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, called on the government to provide incentives for energy providers to develop solar power in the UK.
Mrs Hobhouse slammed the government for falling behind on meeting the UK’s renewable targets for solar energy capacity. The government plans to deploy 70 GW of solar power across the country by 2035. However, as of 2022, the UK had only installed 14.3 GW of solar pv.
Following a visit to a rooftop solar system installed by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) at Beechen Cliff School last year, Wera Hobhouse is keen to encourage the development of similar solar projects across Bath. The solar system is predicted to significantly cut the school’s fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 52 tonnes a year.
In the House of Commons on the 27th February, the Bath MP noted that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the world in renewable energy investment, she urged the government to offer incentives to energy providers to improve solar capacity.
However, Andrew Bowie, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, ignored Hobhouse’s proposals, failing to describe the ways in which the government could incentivise solar energy. Instead, Bowie said that the government’s Solar Taskforce would publish recommendations for solar power and reiterated the government’s target to deploy 70 GW by 2035.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, commented:
“The Conservatives are falling dangerously behind on meeting our targets for renewable energy production. It is no good the government setting an ambitious 70 GW solar target if they are nowhere near reaching it.
“It is clear that they have no plan to get us back on track to reach Net Zero. Evidently, they are more than happy to dismiss perfectly good proposals like incentivising solar power. That is why I am so proud that Bath is home to many community energy projects like the solar system at Beechen Cliff School, so that we can lead the way in renewables.”
“It is not just our climate targets harmed by the Conservatives’ delay. Families in Bath and across the country are struggling to pay soaring energy bills which investment in renewables could curb. That is why we Liberal Democrats would build significantly more renewable energy, aiming to generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030.”
Peter Capener, Managing Director of Bath & West Community Energy said:
“Our work with schools is really demonstrating the value of community energy in both addressing the climate crisis and reducing fuel bills. Rooftop solar installed last year has already saved local schools a combined total of £134,209 and has reduced carbon emissions by 224.3 tonnes, which is equivalent to 12,173 journeys from Bath to Edinburgh by train!”
