Welsh Liberal blogs

Welsh Liberal Democrats have today called for an upfront premium grant to small and micro-businesses in Wales, as well as to freelancers, to help them through the next few months  in light of  the latest lockdown measures.   Small and family-owned businesses are set to suffer significantly with the double whammy of Brexit and the new  Covid  lockdown, with experts are predicting closures could extend into the spring.   Many small and micro-businesses in Wales are either ineligible for Welsh Government support or are receiving so little it prevents them from becoming financially stable in these uncertain times.   Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:   “Each successive lockdown hits business harder, with few having recovered their resilience from the last lockdown. The effect is cumulative - recovery from each closure takes longer. Much of the support business receives has so far been in the form of loans, which will need to be repaid even...

It's vital we extend the transition period to avoid no deal. aders to sign a joint letter to the UK Government requesting an extension to the Brexit transition period until after the coronavirus crisis has subsided. Her call comes after EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier made clear in a letter to Westminster leaders that an extension to the Brexit transition period is possible. Jane Dodds said: “It is clear the UK Government’s plan to have Brexit wrapped up by the end of the year is no longer feasible. Trade negotiations have stalled as Governments across Europe are, rightly, focusing on defeating the Coronavirus. “The UK Government must grasp the opportunity of an extension to the trade talks that the European Union has offered. This is not about rerunning the debates of the past, it is about ensuring we avoid crashing out without a deal. "Extending the transition period is the only sensible option and will allow us to focus all our energy on fighting this deadl...

It's vital we allow MPs to continue to participate from home.     Alok Sharma MP has had to return home to self isolate after becoming unwell with suspected Covid-19 at the dispatch box. In response we're calling for MPs to restore the virtual Parliament as a matter of urgency. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said: “I am incredibly concerned for Alok Sharma. He was clearly very unwell at the dispatch box earlier and I hope that he recovers soon. "Mr Rees Mogg was warned about forcing MPs to return, but he didn’t listen. His obsession with tradition has put the health and wellbeing of MPs at risk, and excluded those who cannot return due to health concerns. “Mr Rees Mogg has lost all credibility and needs to resign as Leader of the House of Commons. “This case shows just how important maintaining the virtual parliament is. It is ludicrous that MPs have to spend 45 minutes snaking around the Parliamentary estate in order to vote, when this can be done online in a ma...

Today Kirsty Williams MS, Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Secretary, has unveiled her plans to begin a phased re-opening of schools from 29th June. All children will have the opportunity to “Check in, Catch Up, Prepare for summer and September”. It is proposed that all schools will start the next phase on the 29th June, with the term extended by a week, therefore ending on 27th July.  In each school there will be a phased approach. Year groups will be split into cohorts with staggered starts, lessons and breaks. It is expected that this will mean, at most, a third of pupils present at any one time, though schools may need time to reach this level of operation. There will be much smaller classes, providing secure dedicated time with teachers and classmates. This time will include online and personalised classroom experience, getting children and teachers ready for a similar experience in September. Further Education colleges are ensuring that appropriate measures are being taken to...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have today called on the Welsh Government to give urgent clarity around the new 5-mile rule and how it effects different areas of Wales. In the Welsh Government announcement today First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that two individuals would be allowed to meet, so long as they maintained social distancing. As part of this new guidance, people are not meant to travel more than 5 miles for these interactions. However, the First Minister made clear that in rural communities, where the distance to even essential services can be greater than 5 miles, there would be some flexibility to this limit. In response, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have urged the Welsh Government to be completely upfront about how they plan to communicate these new regulations and to make this distinction clear. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said: "While I welcome today’s easing of restrictions many questions remain. I know the Welsh Government is making these ...

We're calling for a review of the lockdown rules regarding hospital pati ents to ensure that those who need it can have a family member with them during their hospital admission. Concerns have been expressed that people admitted to hospital who are elderly or have a language barrier are struggling to communicate with healthcare staff, delaying their diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Usually when someone whose main language of communication isn’t English, or who finds it difficult to communicate due to Alzheimer’s or another illness, a family member would be there to help them communicate with doctors and nurses. But under current rules people admitted to hospital cannot have anyone accompany them. The part claims that providing more flexibility in the rules will reduce the need for external translators, who are current trying to fill the void, and ensure quicker treatment to be delivered, saving lives in the process. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leade...

The UK Parliament needs to adapt in response to COVID-19 and ensure MPs can still hold the Government to account. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have supported calls for an urgent all-party meeting to discuss remote working for Westminster, urging MPs to follow the actions taken to allow the Senedd to function virtually. In a letter to the Chief Whips of all parties in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael MP warned the necessary constraints caused by the spread of coronavirus mean “we must consider alternative arrangements.” The letter follows confirmation that the Speaker of the House of Commons has backed calls for a "virtual" Parliament to allow MPs to keep on scrutinising the Government during the coronavirus outbreak. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the Senedd has led the way in ensuring it can continue to meet, discuss and scrutinise the actions of the Welsh Government. The first digital session of the Senedd was held ...

We're calling on the Chancellor to give self-employed workers the support they need to weather the Covid-19 outbreak Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has urged Chancellor Rushi Sunak to use his announcement today to increase support for the self-employed so no-one is left worse off self-employed than they would be in employment. There have been growing calls from across the political spectrum for a package of support for the self-employed that matches support for those in employment. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said: We are seeing unprecedented actions from a Conservative Government, with serious support on offer for firms and workers. However, one group that has fallen through the cracks so far is the self-employed. Give self-employed workers the same support as everyone else The self-employed are an essential part of the Welsh economy and make a vital contribution to their communities. No-one in self-employment should be lef...

Today Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Secretary Kirsty Williams has announced a new package of support for pupils whilst schools are closed. Up to £7 million of funding will be provided to local authorities to urgently provide financial assistance to families of pupils who rely on free school meals but are unable to receive them due to sc “I have already informed local authorities of this additional funding, which will allow them to address immediate needs at a local level – and at pace – so support can get to children and families who need it most.” hool closures. Guidance will also be issued to local authorities to make arrangements to ensure children and young people eligible for free school meals receive access to alternative provision. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds commented: “Today’s announcement will ensure no child goes hungry because their school is closed and will allow our schools to continue to support those children who need ...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to match the UK Government’s decision to suspend business rates for small businesses. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced during his budget that the UK Government would suspend for a year business rates in England for small businesses with a rateable value of less than £51,000. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds commented: Today’s announcement from the UK Government is a welcome step in the right direction and one which I’m sure small businesses in England will appreciate. However, we must now ensure that small businesses here in Wales are not disadvantaged by this. I urge the Welsh Government to match the proposals announced today by the UK Government and not to simply reject them out of hand simply because of which party enacted them. We cannot let tribalism or narrow party politics get in the way of doing what is right and will better people’s lives. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have lo...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have criticised the length of NHS Wales waiting times following the release of January’s A&E data showing waiting times to be the worst on record having risen yet again. 6,882 patients across NHS Wales waited more than 12 hours in A&E to be treated, transferred and discharged. This is 226 more people than in December. NHS Wales targets specify no-one should need wait that long. 83.5% of patients were waiting less than six months to start hospital treatment, substantially less than the 95% target. Whilst 5.5% of patients waited more than 36 weeks from the hospitals’ receipt of the referral letter. Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, commented: A&E waiting times are unacceptable. Every patient forced to wait in overcrowded hospital waiting rooms and corridors is a patient being let down by the very service built to support them. We know pressures on the NHS are always greater in winter, but these new figures clearly s...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have branded it “unacceptable” that 40% of people find it difficult to make a GP appointment and called for more to be done to improve people’s access to GPs. Ps play a vital role in the NHS in Wales and difficulty accessing GPs may push more people to use already overcrowded and under pressure hospitals. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for an Access to Primary Care Fund to improve access to GPs and other specialisms within primary care. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds, commented: This report today makes for disappointing reading. It’s utterly unacceptable that 2 in every 5 people struggle to get an appointment with their GP when they need one. The Welsh Government’s attempts to improve the situation have clearly not worked. We now we need to look at what more can be done to fundamentally address this issue. Failure to do so will mean more patients will be forced to rely upon already overcrowded A&E departments f...

Today Kirsty Williams, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Minister, has announced that Further Education colleges in Wales will receive an additional £23m in the coming year. £6m of this funding will give college staff a 2.75% pay rise to ensure they receive the same funding as school teachers. £2m of the funding will allow colleges to improve their mental health and wellbeing support for students and staff alike. £10m will continue the Skills Development Fund to help colleges address skills gaps within their local workforces, whilst £5m will allow colleges to invest in their staff’s professional development. Kirsty Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Secretary, commented: “Our further education colleges play a vital role in post-16 education in towns and cities all over Wales, as well as the wide range of services and employment opportunities they provide to local communities. “Ensuring students of all ages can access mental health support...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed the end of the benefits freeze and an inflation-linked increase in benefits income. However, the party has also warned that on its own ending the freeze will not be enough to reverse the years of harm the Conservatives have caused to those receiving welfare. Research from Citizens Advice has shown an increase in the number of people unable to cover their living costs since the start of the benefits freeze in 2016. It also highlighted that close to 4 in 10 households receiving benefits and seeking advice on debt are not expected to have enough money to cover their costs by 2024, this is even if benefits continue to rise with inflation. Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, commented: “I’m glad that the Conservatives have finally listened to opposition parties calls to scrap the heartless and damaging freeze on benefits. This policy has brought untold hardship to thousands of families across Wales, hardship these families...

The Liberal Democrats are pressing the Government to commit to providing additional funding in their upcoming budget in order to protect access to cash and free withdrawal services in rural areas. Jamie Stone, Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, has written a letter to the Chancellor with the support of MPs from Plaid Cymru, the SNP, Labour and the Conservatives to call for this additional funding to be made available. Research conducted by Which? has revealed that between January 2018 and December 2019, the UK has witnessed the closure of 1,203 local bank branches and around 8,700 fee-free ATMs. Meanwhile, the number of fee-charging ATMs has increased by 37% meaning last year alone consumers paid over £29million just in transaction fees. The Liberal Democrats have been leading the fight to protect rural banking services and led the cross-party campaign which made Barclays U-turn on their plans to stop customers withdraw...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have responded to the release of 2019’s National Rough Sleeper Count that shows a 17% increase on the previous year. The count took place over two weeks in October and showed 405 people sleeping rough compared to 347 people last year. Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, commented: It’s disappointing to see the numbers of rough sleepers in Wales continue to increase. If we consider ourselves to be a caring and compassionate society, we have a moral duty to tackle homelessness. We recognise that the Welsh Government is already implementing some of the recommendations of the Homelessness Action Group. However, this is no time to get complacent. We urge the Welsh Government to listen to organisations like Cymorth Cymru and increase funding for the Housing Support Grant in their final budget. Increasing the Housing Support Grant will help prevent homelessness, lead to fewer rough sleepers on our streets and help disadvantaged peop...

Welsh Liberal Democrat peers today helped to inflict another defeat on the Conservative Government in the House of Lords, this time on a vote to protect child refugees. By 300 to 220, the House of Lords passed an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill to maintain the rights of unaccompanied refugee children elsewhere in Europe to be reunited with their family members in the UK. This marks the fourth government defeat on the Bill, after the Lords passed three amendments yesterday: one moved by Liberal Democrat peer Jonny Oates to guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and two to prevent Ministers from instructing lower courts to ignore legal precedent. The Bill is set to return to the House of Commons tomorrow, when the Conservative Government is expected to try to overturn these amendments – against opposition from Liberal Democrat MPs. Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: Liberal Democrats will not stand by...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have criticised the UK Government following today's new GDP figures showing the UK experienced the lowest 12-month growth for 7 years in the last quarter. Today’s official figures showed the economy in November was only 0.6% larger than a year before. This is the weakest growth since June 2012 and means output in November shrank by 0.3%, this is the greatest fall since April. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds commented: “Today’s GDP figures make for grim reading for the Welsh economy. Despite numerous claims our economy is thriving, these numbers paint a totally different picture. "Our economy is shrinking as the reality of Brexit bites. Boris Johnson made a lot of promises to the people of Wales during the general election and he must now show he plans to deliver on these promises by delivering the investment Wales deserves. “He can start by using his first budget to ensure the Welsh Government gets the resources it ne...

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have criticised the UK Conservative Government following its announcement showing Welsh farmers will receive less financial support than they currently get from the EU. At present farming subsidies from the EU, mostly distributed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), amount to around £350million a year for Welsh farmers. This represents more than 80% of average farm incomes in Wales. The Government's new announcement outlined a £2.85billion funding package to replace EU funding, in which £231million is allocated to Wales. This represents a drop of up to £120million, roughly one-third of the money currently received from the EU, and only covers the next years funding. During the election, the Conservatives made numerous pledges to support Welsh Farmers and guarantee existing funding would be matched. Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "Brexit is already threatening the livelihoods of our ...

T This Christmas I want to reiterate my thanks to you for all your hard work in 2019 and how important it is we hold onto a sense of hope as we move into 2020. 2019 has been an exceptionally busy year for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in particular; the European elections, the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, and the recent General Election.  This has been a time of very mixed emotions, but it's been inspiring to see so many new people enthusiastically getting involved in our political system for the first time. I hope this will continue as it’s so important we all stand up and fight for what we believe in and the type of country we want to live in. But now is the time to relax. For us all to put up our feet, spend time with our friends and loved ones, and be merry. However, there is one thing we must never forget – and that’s just how lucky we are.  This Christmas hundreds of people across Wales will be spending this Christmas alone, wit...