Liberal Democrats in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton have called for income tax cuts to help struggling families weather the recession. 

Speaking to a meeting of members over the weekend, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate  said that people in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton have endured a year of rocketting fuel, transport and food prices and many were still out of pocket following the government’s decision to double the starting rate of income tax. 

“On Monday 24th November, the Chancellor presents his Prebudget Report to Parliament,” said Simon McDougall. “Liberal Democrats will be pressing for permanent tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes. We will be looking for radical changes in the tax system which lock in lower rates of income tax for good. 

“To make these tax cuts lasting, they have to be funded. That means shifting the tax burden onto pollution and ending the tax perks and loopholes enjoyed by the highest earners. 

“We are worried that the Government will simply introduce temporary tax cuts, paid for by borrowing, which will disappear once we start to come out of recession. 

“Now is the time for a genuine and radical change to the tax system. Liberal Democrats will be pressing for that and, having spoken to many residents of  Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, I know it is what people here want. 

“We believe, however, that an area where borrowing should be allowed is investment in new buildings and facilities that are needed. I am very keen to see people’s homes properly insulated and more affordable homes built for people who need them. 

“As well as boosting jobs and the economy, it will help to save money in the future.”

Liberal Democrats in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton have demanded that SouthernTrains abandons its plans to impose a 6% in the price of regulated fares, season tickets and saver tickets. 

The increase in ticket prices not regulated by the government is to be an even steeper 6%. 

The announcement of the inflation-busting fares hike on 21st November was met with an angry response by Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Simon McDougall. 

“Train passengers living in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton  are being hit for six by Southern Trains said Simon McDougall “At a time when people are struggling with the recession, this train company is adding to people’s difficulties and is stinging passengers for more cash. 

“These rises could make the recession worse in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and could lead to more congestion and pollution as people abandon public transport for their car instead. 

“I am calling on the government to step in and use the power they have over regulated fares to impose a freeze on ticket prices for a year. This could be paid for from within the Government’s road-widening budget. 

“Just as the Government stepped in to freeze fuel duty for motorists because of the recession, they should change their mind and stop these price increases going ahead. 

“Rail passengers will rightly feel that they are being taken for a ride by Southern trains. They have every right to feel angry with this price hike and with the Government for letting it happen.” 

The Government has agreed that the ticket price increases can come into effect on 2nd Janury 2009. 

Well another conference over what a fantastic week. But as ever the best was saved for last. Nick’s speech was the best I have ever seen from a Liberal Democrat and Liberal leader in my lifetime. He hit all of the right notes attacking the Tories for no economic policy and basically no substance at all. Well as for labour he is right the only party who can tackle social justice now is the Lib Dems.

With rising shopping bills,fuel bills and the threat to re-possesions its getting like the old Tory government. As a country we are sleep walking into a another Tory nightmare. I will be rising to Nick’s 1 Million door challenge meeting as many of you as possible on the door step and presenting our Make it Happen policies. We have a good tax cutting message that will help those on low and middle income. But also this is an agenda that any self respecting socialist can sign up to as well as those who are fed up and have not voted in a long time. Go ahead Cleggy Make it Happen

The more people I am speaking to the worse it seems to get. I would love to know fron people what problems they are suffering from because of the credit crunch eg rising bills,repossesion,no pay rise,redundacy etc to name but a few.

IF THIS IS HAPPENING UNDER LABOUR I DREAD TO THINK WHAT IT WOULD BE UNDER THE TORIES

Remember thier last disgraced government? No? well let me remind you just how bad it was
2 POLL TAX
3 RECORD LEVEL OF INTEREST RATES
4 RECORD NUMBER OF BANKRUPCIES
5 RECORD NUMBER OF HOUSE REPOSSESTIONS
6 PRIVATISATION OF NATIONAL UTILLITIES
7 BLACK WEDNESDAY
8 TWO TIER HEALTH SERVICE
9 RECORD NUMBERS ON HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS
10 SLEASE RIDDEN GOVERNMENT
11 ARMS TO IRAQ
12 3 MILLION UNEMPLOYED

Look at my post on Make It Happen or visit the Make it Happen appreciation Society and give me your views on whether the Liberal Democrats have the agenda to take things forward.

I  welcome the launch of the Liberal
Democrats’ vision for Britain by Party Leader Nick Clegg MP. Called ‘Make
it Happen’, the paper will be debated at the party’s conference in
Bournemouth in September.

In their vision for the country the Liberal Democrats say:

They will cut taxes for ordinary families;

If your local hospital can’t see you on time, they will pay for treatment
elsewhere;

They will switch taxes from people to pollution - so it pays to go green;

To improve standards in education, they will fund extra help for those who
need it most;

They will put Britain at the heart of Europe to make us a force for good
in the world;

They will stop ID cards so we can keep control of our privacy;

They will change the voting system so everyone’s voice counts;

They will bring communities together with local people in charge;

They will give communities a say in how offenders pay for their crimes;

These are exciting policies for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and for Britain. Local people
tell me they are fed up with rising prices, unfair taxes, the waste of
money on the ID card scheme and a Labour government that just doesn’t seem
to care., I’m backing Nick Clegg’s manifesto. It sets out how the Liberal Democrats will
run Britain. No-one in Bognor Regis and Littlehamptonhas escaped the rising cost of food and fuel. The credit crunch is biting hard and local people are feeling the pinch.  Now our party
leader Nick Clegg has set out how the Lib Dems want to help ordinary
people by cutting taxes on those on low and middle incomes. Thousands of
people in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton would benefit from this too.

‘Make it Happen’ is available online at: http://www.libdems.org.uk/

As a parent of a 20 year old I have to admit it was with some relief that I read a report from the police in Bognor Regis that they found no knives on young people who were out on a Saturday evening. I understand that this was a random check on many young people in the area. In my view such checks should be in use during the weekend on a random basis.

 I can not be the only parent out there who has the same fears when they hear the news that some other poor youngster has been innocently stabbed. In my book a knife is every bit as dangerous as a gun and sentencing and punishment should reflect that. I have to say that this is a personal opinion and may not represent Liberal Democrat policy.

Well the credit crunch has well and truly stooped the Construction industry in their tracks. Recent job cuts at Berekley Homes,barrats and Persimmons have made the likelyhood of Policy Site 6 being bulit or the Relief Road in the near future as zilch. However the discovery of a Roman skeleton on the construction site in the past 3 weeks will certainly give them cause for concern but is it a showstopper?

More worringly St Modwen continue towards their 2nd round of consultation with so many questions still unanswered.

• WILL THEY CLOSE THE PROMENADE?
• WILL THE LIBARY BE MOVED?
• WHAT IS THE FINAL DESIGN OF THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE?
• WILL IT BE BETTER THAN OUR CURRENT THEATRE PROVISION?
• WILL THEY MAINTAIN THE THEATRE WHEN BUILDING THE NEW ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE?
• WILL THEY GET RID OF THE HIDEOUS TOWER AT FITZLEET?

All these questions and so many more. The biggest question of the lot though is will the banks lend the money in the present climate?

Liberal Democrats in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton have attacked Government offers to compensate low income earners losing out under tax changes as “vague promises of jam tomorrow”. 

The doubling of the 10p income tax starter rate was announced last year but was put into operation at the start of April after Labour MPs voted for it in March. Since then, Labour MPs have suffered a backlash from low income people whose tax rates were doubled by Gordon Brown. 

“Thousands of residents of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton have been hit hard by Labour’s decision to double the 10p income tax starter rate,” said Simon McDougall Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate “Labour MPs, having only just voted to put this tax rise into operation, suddenly started shouting about how terrible it was. 

“It is disappointing that they have caved in and agreed to back the Government’s last minute offer of vague promises of compensation. All that is on offer is jam tomorrow. There are no details of how the compensation scheme will work. 

“Having previously been told there was no money in the kitty to reverse the tax rise, the Government has failed to explain how they will pay for the compensation scheme. 

“And as is so often the case with this government, we should believe it when it happens. In the meantime, those on low incomes in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton continue to lose out whilst Gordon Brown’s tax rises bite into pay packets and pensions. 

“It is staggering that in the same week as vague concessions for some of the lowest paid people in the country were dragged out of the Government, Gordon Brown’s door to Downing Street was wide open for bankers to visit him and successfully argue for £50 billion bailout from the taxpayer to keep the banking system afloat. 

“There is something seriously wrong when a Labour Government turns its back on ordinary people. We have 4 Council wards in multiple deprivation and are amongst the lowest earners in West Sussex ,with rising fuel bills, council tax bills and below inflation pay rises this is another hammer blow local people can ill afford.  ” 

Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton Simon McDougall has slammed the recommendations for St Richard’s Hospital for ignoring public opinion and turning the hospital into a glorified satellite centre for Worthing. Commenting on the proposals Mr McDougall said” Local residents need to wake up to the reality of these proposals and what they mean to those who are pregnant, serious injured, seriously ill or have children with long term health problems. They will in the longer term need to go to either Worthing or Portsmouth for emergency treatment. This situation is unacceptable and will undoubtedly put lives at risk” 

The proposals to make Worthing the only major general hospital in west Sussex are due to be ratified by the PCT on Wednesday 4^th June. Mr McDougall went on to say “ With a growing population and a totally ineffective road network  the revelation that blue light times were not a material consideration in the final decision is in my view bordering on negligence. No matter what way these proposals are window dressed they can not get away from the fact that journey times will be longer and potentially lives will be put at risk. The A27 is not likely to see any improvements in the near future and anybody with a knowledge of local geography can tell the PCT these services will not work unless the A27 and the A259 are upgraded  to meet the demands of the new service provision”.

Following the stakeholders meeting held at BRCC the future provision of Youth services at the school has fallen under the microscope. Concern was raised at the previous meeting 6 months ago by County Councillor Simon McDougall as to the future arrangements when it became clear that the current building used by the service is earmarked for demolition this summer as part of the set up works for the new BRCC building due to start in October this year.  

Commenting on the situation Cllr McDougall said” I have had several meetings with County officer’s and local Youth Workers to provide a temporary arrangement and look at a long term arrangement for the future provision of the Youth Wing. I have also written to the cabinet member for Children and young people services outlining my concerns.  I was absolutely amazed to go to this meeting to find we are facing a funding shortfall as well as no where near guaranteeing that a temporary solution is in place.” 

It is estimated that a multi-purpose building that will house Youth and early years provision would cost in the region of £750,000 to provide onsite. The situation is not clear if it is lack of government funding that has lead to the shortfall or lack of available funds at the County Council. The County Council at the moment has identified potential funding to the tune of £350,000.  

Cllr McDougall said “The community was told that this project would lead to an all life learning process. I take that to mean extended school provision facilities as well as early learning year’s provision and other community use. I am deeply concerned that the County Council is taking its time to make temporary and secure long term provision for both Youth and early years learning. The Youth wing has an average attendance of 600 plus youths per month and on a Friday evening this can be as high as 130 Youths in one evening. They are clearly enjoying the environment provided for them and not roaming the streets and drawing attention to the police. This is a success and needs to continue. There is also a young mother’s group that meets weekly to address their needs and the excellent Bridge project which deals with young people on the verge of exclusion is also housed within the Youth Wing Building. Pevensey is one of the most deprived wards in West Sussex and this situation which could be avoided does not help to the continuation of these services that go along way to addressing deprivation issues.