According to research published in the Bloomberg article 'Boris Johnson's Flagship Plan to Fix Britain Is in Trouble', Derbyshire Dales has fallen further behind London and the South East in 5 out of 12 parameters, selected to compare parliamentary constituencies throughout the country. Each parameter was assessed for 2019 and then for 2021. These 5 parameters were;
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak admitted to Bloomberg yesterday that the government's computer system cannot change payments more than once a year. In other words that it is inadequate for a modern welfare society. B & H Lib Dems respectfully suggest to the Chancellor that it might be a good idea to amend the software so that it can.
There is new information about Bourne End Academy and the school in Stoke Poges in this link. Please write to the Secretary of...
Responding to new statistics that show the number of people in England waiting to start routine NHS hospital treatment has grown to a record high of 6.4 million and that A&E waiting times are the worst on record, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:
** Congratulations to everyone who helped the party achieve such a great result in the May 5 elections. Gains of 180+ Council seats build our stature and keep us on course for taking those crucial 'blue wall' seats off the Conservatives at the next election - a 'hung' parliament is our best chance to achieve PR for the House of Commons**
This year as part of marking International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia we will be having a history talk.
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!”
