John Shaw: Why I'm standing as Lib Dem candidate for MP for Basingstoke
I've lived in Basingstoke for over two decades. It's a great place and I'm proud to call it home, but I know it could be better.
2 May 2017
Local News
2 May 2017
Tory mess as Government confirms DIY waste should be disposed of for FREE
Liberal Democrat councillors in Hampshire are delighted that following a question in the House of Lords by Lib Dem Environment spokesperson Baroness Kate Parminter, it has again been confirmed that DIY waste should be disposed of for free. The Conservative Minister Lord Bourne, stated in a written answer on 20th March 2017 that DIY waste is household waste and should therefore be disposed of for free. However Conservative-run Hampshire County Council continues to charge for the disposal of waste from DIY claiming that it is not household waste. Cllr Gavin James, Liberal Democrat group leader on Basingstoke and Deane Council said: "The reply from Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, a Minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government clearly states that there should not be any charges for DIY waste disposal. We once again call on Hampshire Conservatives to scrap these unlawful charges, and this time we expect them to take notice of us as we clearly have the Minister's support. Surely Hampshire County
10 Apr 2017
Basingstoke - Our Roads are in Terminal Decline
The 2017 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance survey has found that nearly 20% of roads are in "poor" condition. Whilst the Tory government is planning to invest £1.2 billion in roads this year, including repair and maintenance, local authorities say it will take an average of 12 years and £12 billion to bring our roads up to scratch.
4 Apr 2017
Every school in Basingstoke will see budget cuts
Every school in Basingstoke will see budget cuts before 2020, even after new funding plans are put into place warns Liberal Democrat Group Leader Gavin James. The Liberal Democrats are calling for an urgent change of policy.
21 Mar 2017
Conservative MPs have betrayed EU nationals in Basingstoke
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Conservative MPs for voting against the right of thousands of EU nationals in Basingstoke to stay in the UK, as a majority of MPs gave the final go-ahead to a hard Brexit. There are 5,184 residents from elsewhere in the EU living in Basingstoke. There are 343 staff from other EU countries working for the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (that covers Basingstoke) including 65 doctors and 92 nurses. MPs overturned amendments backed by the Liberal Democrats to give Parliament a vote on the terms of the deal and to guarantee the right of EU nationals to stay after Brexit.
16 Mar 2017