I am a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. As a town and borough councillor I consider it an enormous honour and privilege to represent my residents. However, we need to remember why we are doing it. We are fighting for a better and more liberal Britain. Below are the key issues that I would like to continue to fight on:
Cost of Living Crisis
This crisis impacts us all but in particular the vulnerable. We should support those less fortunate in our communities. This requires action at both national and local levels with no cuts to essential services. The government should tax any windfall profits generated including oil companies and banks.
Green Agenda
As a Green Liberal Democrat, I believe that we need to do more on climate change which poses an existential threat. I have campaigned that new homes all include proper insulation, EV charging points, solar panels, and heat pumps. Local and central government should invest more in greening our communities and the economy. Water companies and other polluters should be held accountable.
NHS and Social Care
We need an NHS and social care system that is fit for purpose. This requires both proper investment and a holistic approach with increased partnership working between the ambulance service, the GPs, hospitals and adult social care. There is no point in having more ambulances waiting outside the hospitals because there are no beds due to the inability to discharge people into the community.
Mental Health
Over 25% of us will suffer mental health issues in our lifetime. Yet the provision of services in this area is a national disgrace. If you broke a leg, you would not have to wait for months before seeing a dedicated professional.
Education, Education, Education
As a governor of a special needs school, I am committed to better funding future generations and the proper maintenance of schools. We also need to invest more in technical education. A skilled and valued workforce is key to economic success.
Criminal Justice
This whole system from the police to the courts and prisons need to be properly funded. Hampshire Constabulary should not be underfunded by an archaic government formula. Prison populations need to be reduced and more effort spent on rehabilitation. Charities have an important role to play
More Sewage Spills
The local press has rightly highlighted the shenanigans of water companies and in particular the dumping of sewage in our rivers. Last year, sewage was dumped into England’s rivers over 460,000 times for a total of over 3.6 million hours. 9 in 10 constituencies in England saw a rise in the duration of sewage dumping and 90% saw a rise in the number of spills in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Across North West Hampshire sewage dumping has soared by 166% for a staggering 5672 hours in 2023 based on data from the Environment Agency. This is a shocking 166% rise in the duration of sewage spills compared to the previous year, showing how the sewage scandal has worsened under the Conservative government’s watch. Sewage was dumped into local rivers on 367 separate occasions in 2023. This is a 125% increase in the number of sewage spills, up from 163 in 2022.
It is disgusting that there has been such a sharp rise in water companies pumping their filthy sewage into our waterways. People are sick to the back teeth with Conservative MPs voting time and again to allow water companies to get away with this environmental vandalism. The whole thing stinks.
The Liberal Democrats have led the way in campaigning against sewage dumping. The party is calling for strict measures including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator, a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage and the declaration of a national environmental emergency. Come any election, the Conservative Party faces a reckoning at the ballot box from people fed up with this sewage scandal.