Leicester Liberal Democrats Dining Night - Dates for your diary March and April 2018
The next Leicester Liberal Democrats Dining Night will take place in March on Friday the 23rd and in April on Monday the 23rd.
LLD
25 Feb 2018
Wera Hobhouse MP urges government to incentivise solar power
29 Feb 2024
Leicester members at East Midlands Regional Conference - Saturday February 24th, 2018
Leicester Liberal Democrats were strongly represented at yesterday's East Midlands Regional Conference held in Derby. Party members had a variety of debates, including Brexit, Reform of the House of Lords and fairer funding for the East Midlands Region from the government.
LLD
25 Feb 2018
Leicester residents face Council Tax increase and £20m of cuts after Labour run City Council budget
Leicester City residents face an increase in Council Tax and cuts around £20m in services after this weeks Leicetster City Council budget held on Wednesday February 21st. The Liberal Democrats did not vote to support the Labour run Council cuts who put the blame firmly at the Conservative government at Westminster.
LLD
25 Feb 2018
Cinema
The Elmbridge Liberal Democrat/Residents' coalition put forward a proposal for the conversion of the Weybridge Hall into...
25 Feb 2018
Services at risk without full tax increase for social care
The Conservative proposal of only a 4.95% increase in council tax (2% for adult social care and 2.95% for general purposes) has been approved by the Council. This is lower than the 5.95% rise that is permitted by government, where 3% of this would be ringfenced to help address the adult social care crisis. Lib Dems voted against this proposal as other council services will likely have to be cut to make up the shortfall for adult social care. Morwen Millson, a Lib Dem councillor for Horsham Riverside Division, explains why the Lib Dems are so concerned by the Council's move.
25 Feb 2018
Fairtrade fortnight - Newcastle event
Fairtrade - Can the consumer still make a difference? Wednesday 28th February, 5.00 - 6.30pm Corry Room, Sport Central, Northumbria University Book online at northumbria.ac.uk/FairtradeTalk It is said that 'with Fairtrade you have the power to change the world every day' by making simple shopping choices that can improve the lives of farmers (Fairtrade Foundation). More than 1.65 million farmers and workers across the world are in Fairtrade certified producer organisations and the FAIRTRADE mark is recognised around the world. There are however challenges for Fairtrade: a number of large organisations such as Sainsbury's and Kraft have recently stepped away from the FAIRTRADE mark; businesses have the choice of multiple other ethical accreditations; and many consumers are watching their spending as shopping costs continue to rise. So does the consumer really still have the capacity to 'change the world' by buying Fairtrade? Join the discussion at Northumbria University this Fairtrade Fortnight. Speakers
24 Feb 2018
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!”
