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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Liberal Party Councillours Steve Radford and Hazel Williams walked out of District Cmte after Lib Dem Commisar Monkcom refused us a vote over public question time, We were joined by a dozen Anfield Residents and Lib Dem Cllr Jimmy Kendrick to his credit
" even Hatton and his Militants allowed opposition cllrs a vote, more than Commisar Monkcom was prepared to do as he declred it was "his meeting" Cllr Steve Radford
Here is an open letter from one of the Anfield protestors
Steve
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Dear Sir
On Monday 26 October, together with other local residents, I attended The Liverpool East District Committee meeting.
At the start of the meeting, the new Chair, Councillor Stuart Monkcom, announced that he was going to allow a public question time and this would be the last item on the agenda, but the questions would be restricted to only items on the agenda that night.
This is a huge departure from the previous format of these meetings, which for at least ten years (similar meetings were known as Area Committee meetings), the Public Question Time was at the start of the meeting and questions could be asked on any subject, and if they were unable to be answered at the time, then an answer was forwarded to the questioner within 14 days.
Councillor Steve Radford protested at this new rule that the public could ask questions only on the night’s agenda, and a number of councillors of all three parties supported him.
The councillors requested a vote on returning to the old system i.e. the public being allowed to ask questions on any subject. The chairman denied them this vote and reiterated the fact that only questions on that night’s agenda could be asked.
I found it particularly ironic when a glossy council handbook on the table contained a foreword, which stated “Over the next 12 months, as chair of the District Committee, I will make sure that we continue to listen to the community and work together to develop lasting improvements across Liverpool East.” This foreword was signed by the same chairman who had denied the public the right to ask questions.
Considering that the City Council claims to be open, transparent and democratic, I feel that that it is no wonder why there is such public disinterest in local politics
Incidentally my question was to have been to ask "whether the Council could do anything to prevent the surprise closure of the Active Age Centre in a few weeks time", a matter which I felt to be of an urgent nature in the circumstances.
Hugh Pearson
An Anfield Resident
author: Steve | 10/28/09 20:46
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Liverpool’s gay community calls for action after attack on James Parkes
Oct 27 2009 by Samantha Parker, Liverpool Daily Post
Liverpool’s gay community has called for more to be done after a gang attacked a police officer.Samantha Parker reports
LIVERPOOL’S gay community said more needs to be done to combat homophobic hate crime in the city following a vicious gang attack on an openly gay police officer.
Trainee officer James Parkes, 22, was attacked by a group of up to 20 youths in Stanley Street, in Liverpool city centre, at around 10pm on Sunday, following a night out with friends.
He is currently in hospital with life threatening injuries which include multiple skull fractures, a fractured cheek bone and a fractured eye socket.
Four teenagers, aged 14, 17 and two aged 15, from the Kirkdale area, were yesterday arrested on suspicion of assault, but released on bail last night. Two more youths, both aged 15 and from Kirkdale, have now also been arrested and are being questioned by detectives.
Last night, the city’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community announced they were planning a peaceful march and a meeting to discuss how to stop hate crimes continuing.
Edge Hill student Emma Louise Stewart, 24, started a Facebook group “Liverpool march against homophobia” after hearing about the attack on Mr Parkes.
She said: “When I heard about what had happened I felt now is the time to do something. Within two hours, more than 60 people had signed up. Edge Hill’s student union has agreed to help me organise the event.
“It will be a peaceful march and will hopefully take place towards the end of November.
“It will be peaceful as fighting violence with violence doesn’t get us anywhere.”
Tommy McIlravey, chairman of Liverpool’s LGB&T, said: “We will be holding an open meeting later this month and will be inviting senior police officers to attend.
“Stanley Street is the very heart of gay Liverpool. There has been a gay bar somewhere along there for the best part of 40 years. What’s more, it has always felt like a much safer place on a Friday or Saturday night than much of the rest of Liverpool city centre.
“Whatever the motivation for this attack, it is shocking to everyone who socialises in that area. Hopefully James Parkes will make a full recovery.
It just beggars belief that this happened. It saddens me to say that I am not shocked that this happened.
“The network works with schools to try and bring down the number of hate crimes incidents.
“This has been marginally successful, some schools just deny they have a problem.
“One headteacher even told me he didn’t have any gay pupils.
“He can’t possibly know that. It’s also not just gay pupils that suffer from homophobic bullying, straight children who may be different are often taunted for being something they aren’t.
“We want to put an end to that too. Because of the age of the alleged attackers, people are likely to blame the parents, but the youths need educating properly about the effect of hate crime.”
Openly gay councillor Steve Radford called for the city council to do more.
He said: “Irrespective of the sexuality of the victim, what a cowardly attack this is. A gang attack is the most cowardly attack I can think of – it is beyond contempt. For 13 people to pick on one guy is the antithesis of rat pack cowardice.
“I chair the city council’s community safety panel.
“Extra CCTV would help reduce these sort of attacks. The city council has been dragging its heel over making it more safe. How many more attacks does it need?
“Liverpool has made terrific strides in making educational material for use in schools, but we have no idea if it’s being rolled out to the independent or church schools.
“Hate crime of any kind will not be tolerated. In my ward, we have handed out 3,000 leaflets about it and the impact it has.
“If we are going to stop hate crime, it’s up to all citizens to challenge this kind of behaviour.
“What we need is a more robust response from the authorities. We need tougher sentencing when it goes to court."
“This sort of vicious premeditated attack cannot happen again and we need to make sure the appropriate deterrents are in place. Rat pack attacks need targeting.
“They pick on somebody they perceive to be different. I wish I was shocked by this attack, but I am not at all.
“Homophobia is still rife in the city centre and we need to do more to combat it.”
Mr Parkes joined the Force in May this year and prior to that was a Police Community Support Officer on Merseyside for a couple of years .
DCI Tim Keelan, said: “I would appeal to anyone who may have information which could help us to catch those responsible for this despicable crime to come forward.
“Intensive inquires are taking place and we are currently examining CCTV footage from around the time of the incident to identify those responsible.
“We are treating the assault as a homophobic hate crime and this incident shows there are still some people who have not learnt that crimes of this type are completely unacceptable.
“People who commit hate crimes can expect the full attention of the police and we will not rest until the offenders are brought to justice.
“The offenders will learn their lesson the hard way. We have stepped up high-visibility patrols in the area to reassure the public, and we would urge the community to help us with our enquiries and find those responsible.”
He added: “Merseyside Police is committed to taking robust and positive action when investigating hate crimes.”
Stanley Street was cordoned off yesterday as police carried out forensic examinations.
ANYONE who witnessed the incident, or has any information should call 0151 777 4064, the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111, go to www.stop hateuk.org
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Join the Candle Vigil against Homophobia this sunday evening Stanley Street from 8
author: Steve | 10/28/09 19:26
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Monday, October 26, 2009
Further to the motion passed at Liberal Assembly to allow candidates have a photograph on the ballot paper we have created the
online petition .
It can be found at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ballotphotos/
author: Steve | 10/26/09 23:10
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
Appeal from Inspector Paul Harrison
As you may have seen from yesterday's news a chap by the name of Byron Toner jumped from the dock at Liverpool Crown Court and escaped into the city.
He was about to be sentenced for an assault and a rape on a woman known to him. It is therefore not a 'stranger rape'.
The reason I am letting you know is that he lived in Culme Road but has contacts in the
Tuebrook and Fairfield area and he may return here. We are doing everything we can to re-capture him and his photograph has been shown on the tv news
last night and has been circulated to newspapers.
telephone us ideally on 709 6010 and ask for Liverpool North Control
Room. Alternatively, CrimeStoppers can be phoned on 0800 555 111
author: Steve | 10/22/09 21:25
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fight Hate Crime - Daily Post Letters Page 21st Oct
WE SHOULD welcome the decisive action by Knowsley authorities over youngsters carrying out racial abuse in Stockbridge Village.
Abuse is only one step away from violence.
Those of us who live in Liverpool should and are not complacent. While reported cases of hate crime incidents are down 10% from last year, we recognise the vast majority of incidents go unreported.
To combat under-reporting, we have had thousands of leaflets from Stop Hate Crime UK distributed in my immediate Tuebrook/Anfield area, as well as the Dovecot border with Knowsley.
Merseyside should not hit the headlines for another Anthony Walker murder.
It is the duty of all responsible residents to work with police and authorities to combat any forms of violence and intimidation directed towards anyone.
Cllr Steve Radford, Chairman, Liverpool Community Safety Panel, Leader Liberal Party Group
author: Steve | 10/21/09 21:01
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Forthcoming Meetings for our community
Liverpool East District Committee Monday 26th October from6 at Newsham Park Adult Education Centre, 83 Newsham Drive
Tuebrook and Stoneycroft Our Community Matters
Monday Evening 2nd Nov from 6 at Tuebrook Hope Centre
Morecambe Hampson Homewatch
Wednesday evening 11th Nov from 7 at Tuebrook Police Station
Newsham Park Forum
Thursday Evening 12th Nov from 6 at Adult Education Centre
Healthy Living Roadshow
Thursday 19th Nov from 10 in the morning till 2 in the afternoon at Tuebrook Hope Centre
Newsham Park Homewatch
Friday Evening 27th Nov from 7 at Tuebrook Police Station
author: Steve | 10/20/09 20:15
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Lost Playing Fields - Lost Job Opportunities
ONLY 10% of construction workers on Liverpool’s first flagship Building Schools for the Future projects are from the city.
New figures reveal that of 469 construction staff at the West Derby and Alsop schools, 49 are from within the Liverpool boundary.
The council says “no specific targets were set for contractors”, but that it is “monitoring” the amount of local labour on each scheme.
Of the 469 employees registered on the Alsop and West Derby sites, 49 are from Liverpool, and a further 119 from Merseyside, meaning 64% of workers are from outside the Merseyside region.
Everton Cllr Jane Corbett – in whose ward 43% are unemployed – added she believed there should be a proper written guarantee written into the tender, while Tuebrook Cllr Steve Radford added he could recall numerous occasions where he had met construction workers who were having to work as far afield as London to earn a living.
A spokesman for construction firm Balfour Beatty said the company was “actively engaged in creating opportunities for local people”.
He added: “We encourage our subcontractors to employ local people, for example through People Pool, in order to support regeneration initiatives. We are also trying to increase the involvement of local companies in our supply chain.”
He added: “Currently there are three apprentices already working on site, with one due to start shortly and a further two apprentices to follow in the near future.”
A spokesman for Morgan Ashurst, on site at Alsop, added: “We have developed a close working relationship with Liverpool People Pool to maximise the number of local people working on our scheme.
“In total, one in three, or 34% of people working on this project, including several of our staff, come from the Merseyside area.
“Morgan Ashurst is committed to using local suppliers and labour whenever possible in our projects.”
Skills and employment executive member Cllr Keith Turner said in the next phase of contracts “there would be targets laid down where possible within the legal framework.”
He added: “We are as keen as anybody to make sure that opportunities are maximised for local people.”
author: Steve | 10/20/09 13:45
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Debate Title: “The Future of Politics in Britain”
– we are aiming this debate to cover more than just the upcoming election, but to reflect on what our current leaders are doing to shape politics for our future ones (the student representatives who will be attending).
Date: 22.10.09
Time: 5pm
Location: McAusland Lounge, 1st Floor, Liverpool Guild Of Students, 160 Mount Pleasant, L3 5TR
List of Panellists:
Esther McVey - Conservatives
Stephen Twigg - Labour
Colin Eldridge –Liberal Democrats
Cllr Steve Radford - Liberal Party
Tom Crone - Greens
author: Steve | 10/18/09 18:22
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Friday, October 16, 2009
Liverpool council investigation into “half-finished hell hole” flat development
Oct 16 2009 by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo
Council investigation into “half-finished hell hole” flat development
AN INVESTIGATION is under-way into how the all-clear was given to an affordable housing development residents say turned out to be “a half-finished hell hole”.
Liverpool council is looking into how its building control department signed off the property following angry residents’ claims that tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of work was not completed.
More than £800,000 of taxpayers’ cash was given over in government grants towards the “flagship” shared ownership scheme.
But residents who moved into the Tuebrook complex found crumbling brick work, cracked ceilings and subsiding floors, missing soundproofing and insulation and the foul smell of raw sewage emanating from the sinks.
A council building inspector signed a completion certificate in 2006, but documents obtained by the ECHO show the officer who signed it off had not attended the site until earlier this year, following repeated complaints.
Since then, a further £250,000 has been spent strengthening ceilings, with one resident in a wheelchair having to spend several months manoeuvring around steel supports holding her ceiling up.
Bramall Construction, the building firm behind the scheme, said it was currently undertaking work not on the original plans.
But Don MacRitchie, chairman of the development’s residents’ association, said the original Crown drawings – which were never amended before work began – showed a plethora of work which was never undertaken.
Mr MacRitchie, a former council finance officer, said the council had failed in its duties by signing off “sub-standard” work.
He added: “All plaster boarding needs to be redone to standard, every boiler needs inspecting and replacing, the insulation needs doing, all the brickwork should have been cleaned and prepared but it is falling out of the walls – it has been a nightmare.
“The trees and the landscaping from the original plans have not been done either, but the council inspector’s records show someone came, had a look at the drains, and then the next thing there was a completion certificate which should never have been issued.”
Mr MacRitchie claimed until recently, he and other residents were met with a wall of silence from city bosses when trying to obtain site records and the original plans to find out if the inspectors had fulfilled their duties.
He said he had written to council chief executive Colin Hilton five times without reply.
He added: “It is a half-finished hell hole. The work was substandard. We need compensation across the board or we are going to court.
“Basically, we did not get what it said on the tin, and I believe that was down to negligence on the part of the council.
“The ethos of shared ownership is it helps people with less money get on the property ladder, but we have been let down.
“The council was legally responsible and it should pick up the tab and compensate people.
“What should have been a flagship development has turned into a white elephant.”
Fellow resident Richie Nicholson said his entire flat had been ripped out and stank of damp.
He added it was “horrendous” and he had to contend with a temporary floor for 18 months.
Remedial work is currently being carried out on his property, along with similar work in another property which forms part of the extension to the block to install under-floor installation.
Bramhall Construction insists that was not in the original plans.
A spokesman for Bramall added: “However, following our own investigations and discussions with our partner Regenda and also Liverpool council’s building control, we are installing insulation on the extension to the two properties.”
He reiterated a statement given to the ECHO in November last year when the building faults were first highlighted.
The spokesman added: “A building control completion certificate was attained and issued on March 24, 2006.
“A potential defect with respect to the ceilings on the ground-floor and first-floor apartments was highlighted by us and we appointed a structural engineer to look into it.”
Graham Bennett, director of home ownership for the Regenda Group, added: “The Regenda Group is aware of and has acted upon concerns raised by residents living at the Muirhead Avenue development over a limited number of defects with the building.
“A number of concerns have already been resolved and we are continuing to work with the original building contractor, Bramall Construction, to satisfactory resolve these issues.
“A schedule of work has been drawn up and shared with residents and work has already commenced on site.
“The Regenda Group is totally committed to resolving these defects at the earliest opportunity and will continue to work closely with its residents in doing so.”
Liberal group leader and Tuebrook Cllr Steve Radford said it was vital no other residents should ever have to suffer the same experience as those living at Muirhead Avenue.
He added: “This shared-ownership scheme should have been a flagship project, but the failure of the developers to renovate fit for purpose has turned it into an ordeal.
“We have demanded a disciplinary investigation into why shoddy work appears to have been ‘passed on the nod’.”
A council spokesman confirmed an investigation of its building control department was being carried out and could take several weeks.
He added: “We are aware allegations were made about this site.
“The council’s internal audit team is carrying out fact-finding inquiries.”
author: Steve | 10/16/09 18:04
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Stretch of Liverpool pavement costing taxpayer £30,000 in compensation claims
Oct 16 2009 by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo
A STRETCH of pavement in Liverpool has cost the taxpayer more than £30,000 in compensation claims in the last three years.
There have been five claims relating to trips and falls on West Derby Road, with one pedestrian receiving £14,225 from the council and United Utilities.
Another claimant was awarded £12,876 for falling outside the Iceland store, while another who fell foul of the pavement at the junction of Belmont View was paid £6,000.
One claim is still outstanding, one was referred to United Utilities and another which occurred on a stretch of unadopted pavement outside the Grafton Rooms was referred to the private landowner.
A further claim was dismissed after the council argued it had undertaken regular inspections and repairs.
But leader of the Liberal Party and Tuebrook, Cllr Steve Radford, said he found the council’s policy on pavement repairs “absurd” due to the fact that highways bosses do not prioritise according to which footways have seen the greatest number of falls and claims.
Instead, the council is undertaking work on pavements yards away from West Derby Road on Millbank, where Cllr Radford said there had not been an accident in nearly 30 years.
Cllr Radford added that at a time when the council needed to save millions in the coming years it was unacceptable there was no risk management in terms of pavement repairs.
In December, the ECHO revealed that the council had paid out £9.3m in compensation for people suffering trips since 2006.
Cllr Radford said: “People are tripping and injuring themselves but the council doesn’t consider footfall or the number of claims that have been made when it draws up its repair schedule.
“It is absurd to ignore a footway with significant claims costing the council in excess of £30k each year and resurface a footway where there has not been a known accident in 29 years as a greater priority.
“It seems they are incapable or unwilling to take account of the volume of claims and volume of people using this footway.”
Andy Barr from the traffic and highways maintenance team said there was a concentration of failing ‘red zones’ on Millbank but only ‘amber’ ones on West Derby Road.
It added: “Colleagues from Enterprise Liverpool visited the Millbank site last year to confirm these results and there were many tripping hazards caused by trees lifting the flags, however when visiting the West Derby Road site the defects seemed to be more aesthetic with many cracked but level flags caused by vehicle overriding.”
But Cllr Radford said when he had invited two city engineers to inspect West Derby Road, one of them could not find a spirit level which he had asked them to bring and the other did not turn up at all.
A council spokesman said: “Liverpool, like many other authorities, uses a system in which surveyors visually assess the condition of footpaths to prioritise where repairs should be carried out.
“In Millbank , there are a number of potential tripping hazards cause by trees lifting flags. We would point out that a number of the claims referred to in West Derby Road arose not because of the condition of the footpaths but because of issues such as covers for utility works being missing.”
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Help our campaign to get West Derby Road repaved write in with your comments to the local press or telephone radio chat shows
author: Steve | 10/16/09 17:35
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Dangerous Property 48 Rossett St
After house visits Cllrs Steve Radford and Chris Lenton had the above fire risk property which was used for drug dealing secured within 24 hours, they have passed their thanks onto City Building Surveyors
author: Steve | 10/13/09 10:45
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Saturday, October 10, 2009
Newsham Park Homewatch Launch Friday 16th Nov
If you want to join in we are hoping to relaunch the Newsham Park Homewatch on Friday 16th Nov , 7 in the evening at Tuebrook Police Station
author: Steve | 10/10/09 21:42
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Friday, October 09, 2009
Liberal Party gain from Lib Dems in Ryedale by-election
Pickering East Ward
Liberal 392
Liberal Democrat 274
Independent 213
Independent 37
Liberal gain from Liberal Democrat.
author: Steve | 10/09/09 18:46
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Thursday, October 08, 2009
Can we please invite you friends and family to two forthcoming events
Monday 2nd November we will be holding one of a series of consultations for residents in the Tuebrook and Stoneycroft Ward at the Tuebrook Hope Centre from 6 in the evening
The event will have a general feedback and then split into three groups looking at:
Youth and Community facilities
Policing and Community Safety
Environment and Housing Issues
On Thursday 19th November from 10 in the morning till 2 in the afternoon we will have a Healthy Living Roadshow which will include information stalls including
Fagends, Age concern, Sure Start, Energy efficiency, Pension Service, Taste 4 Health, MFRS, Next Step, Health Trainers, PALS, fuel poverty, Active City,Community nurse., Crime Prevention and Merseyside Fire Service
Please pass the word on to make both these events a success for our community
The Tuebrook Hope Centre is at the rear of St John's Church,1 b Snaefell Avenue, Tuebrook , residents from any district are welcome to pop in
Cllr Steve Radford
author: Steve | 10/08/09 19:01
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Oakfield Traffic Safety Scheme
Residents should have been or be soon consulted over a traffic scheme called Oakfield Road Safety Scheme
This will disrupt the area and involve central reservations along Shell road and Belmont road
I have strong reservations how the cost and disruption will justify any benefit
Please e mail spencer.pritchard@2020liverpool.co.uk if you have not been consulted or wish to pass commen
Steve
author: Steve | 10/08/09 14:13
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Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Boot Estate a municipal scandal
THE news that the regeneration of the Boot Estate could take another 15 years to complete has been denounced as “the municipal scandal of the last three decades” by city leaders.
They said the fact the estate will not be finished until up to a quarter of a century after the plans were first made was “unacceptable” and called on the council to do everything in its power to speed the process up.
At yesterday’s planning committee, when an application for more than 1,000 homes was put before city bosses, Labour and Liberal councillors condemned the 10 to 15 year timescale.
Labour group Norris Green Cllr Alan Walker said he was pleased the outline planning application had been put forward, but that he too was appalled at the length of time the development would take.
He added: “The council decided in 1999 to do this and 10 years later, two thirds of it remains undeveloped. Another 10 to 15 years before completion is totally unacceptable to Norris Green residents.”
Liberal Party group leader Cllr Steve Radford said: “What are we doing putting our name to the biggest municipal scandal of the last three decades?”
Cllr Radford compared that "the Breckside Park Depot new etsate of 300 houses took less than two years to build and the Pinehurst Estate took three years to rebuild for 900 houses, the contrast is astounding"
author: Steve | 10/07/09 19:52
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Saturday, October 03, 2009
Hate Crime Review Meeting for Yew Tree
Councillors, Police, Housing Association officers and Neighbourhood Services are reviewing progress towards combating Hate Crime in the Yew Tree Ward, in particular off Finch Lane and up to the Knowsley Border on Tuesday at 3.30. The meeting is chaired by Clr Steve Radford as Chair of the Safer Communities WNPG for Liverpool East at the Berrybridge Offices
This will be the third of a series of meetings convened to focus on the area
author: Steve | 10/03/09 20:52
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Lower Breck Road,Waltham , Winchester and Suburban Road Homewatch
Residents in Lower Breck Road, Waltham, Winchester and Suburban Roads are invited to a police community meeting on Thursday afternoon 8th October at 3 in the ABCC offices Richmond Park. Residents bringing ID can also collect their solar lights and other home security kit
author: Steve | 10/03/09 20:39
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Welcome to the Democracy Movement
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Europe Says No - new international campaign
against the Lisbon Treaty needs your support
21 September 2009
A new, pan-European campaign called Europe Says No: No to Lisbon, Yes to democracy has been launched.
The campaign is being organised by a wide range of people across Europe, and across the political spectrum, who want to see the Lisbon Treaty rejected.
In advance of Ireland's outrageous repeat referendum on
2nd October, Europe Says No aims to show how many people across Europe would themselves vote 'No' to Lisbon ... if they could.
Supporters include Harry van Bommel, Socialist Party MP in the Netherlands; Gustav Fridolin, Swedish journalist, author and former Green Party MP; British Labour MP and former minister Gisela Stuart; Sari Essayah, Christian Democrat MEP for Finland and many others.
On 2nd October, Ireland will have an historic opportunity to lead Europe to a better, more democratic future by once again voting 'No' to the treaty.
Please show your support for a second 'No' by visiting the
Europe Says No website and leaving your comments. Make sure your voice is heard!
If you use Facebook, please also join the Europe Says No Facebook group - click here to view.
Cllr Steve Radford , makes clear The Democracy Movement works closely with The Liberal Party to expose waste and corruption in the EU, whilst it is a broad based movement not endorsing any one party
We are delighted to share platforms with the Democracy Movement campaigning the length and breadth of the country , it shares our aspirations for a flexible and democratic Europe "
Cllr Steve Radford
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The Democracy Movement is a non-party pressure group to defend liberal democracy in Britain and across Europe. We believe that this is being fundamentally undermined by the single currency, the proposed EU Constitution, and the drive to create a Brussels-based system of government in which all major decisions are taken at the EU centre by undemocratic institutions.
- We are pro-European: because of our committment to diversity, democracy and decentralisation in our continent, we consider ourselves to be the real pro-Europeans in this debate;
- We are internationalist: because we emphatically reject not only the 'little Englander' but also the 'little European' mindset that currently predominates in Brussels;
- Our long-term objective: is of a Europe of Democracies that trade together, enjoy cultural exchange with each other, and co-operate voluntarily where it makes sense to do so. These are very different aims to the out-dated centralism and state-building ambitions driving today's EU.
- What we do: as a non-party group we bring together people in all parties and none who share our beliefs into a large network of supporters and volunteer-run branches. Our main activities are at the grass-roots, working to spread our ideas and direct pressure for change on political decision-makers.
Click here to read our Statement of Principles in full
New campaign:
Not Liberal - Not Democrats
12 May 2009: updated 22 May 2009
The DM has launched a hard-hitting new campaign to highlight the growing conflict between the Liberal Democrats' claimed values and their enthusiasm for handing ever more decision-making to the EU.
The campaign has started in the run up to the European Parliament elections on 4th June but will continue right through until the next general election, which is expected within 12 months.
In particular, the campaign has been launched in defence of Ireland's democratic 'No' vote to the Lisbon Treaty. Leading Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson has has pledged to use taxpayers' money he and his colleagues will receive from the European Parliament to help fund a major 'Yes' to Lisbon campaign in the outrageous repeat referendum Ireland is being pressured to stage later this year.
The pledge makes a vote for the Lib Dems on 4th June a vote to disregard the previous referendum result and to bully the Irish people into reversing their clear 'No' verdict.
But the DM's new campaign follows a succession of affronts to democracy and civil liberties committed by the Liberal Democrats, caused by their enthusiasm for handing ever more decision-making to the EU. They amount to a stark conflict between the party's claimed values and actions that can no longer be allowed to pass unnoticed.
Not only did they vote to approve the highly illiberal and anti-democratic Lisbon Treaty, but at every stage of the treaty's progress through Parliament the Lib Dems did what it took - abstaining in the Commons and voting against in the Lords - to prevent us being given the EU referendum they promised us at the last general election.
That's why the campaign has been called Not Liberal - Not Democrats.
Powers the Lib Dems approved handing to the EU have resulted in:
- the EU Arrest Warrant, which allows British citizens to be taken to face trial in another EU member country without evidence of a crime having to be presented in court - over-riding a fundamental legal safeguard of individual liberty called Habeas Corpus;
- increased "operational" powers for the growing EU police force Europol which, unlike our national police, has immunity from criminal prosecution (Statutory Instrument 1997 No.2973);
- the EU's so-called Charter of Fundamental Rights, which includes a clause (Article 52) allowing "limitations" of basic rights if deemed in the "general interest" of the EU;
- powers for the the EU to make laws in relation to
ID cards (Article 77-3);
- intrusive internet and email monitoring such as the EU communications data retention directive (2006/24/EC), which requires the storage of data relating to every email we send and every website we visit.
Having approved treaties handing the EU powers to make such laws, the Lib Dems then posture in opposition when the inevitably authoritarian implications become known. Yet once EU laws are made they cannot be blocked by national Parliaments.
A giant mobile poster bearing the campaign slogan (pictured above) is set to be deployed to rove Graham Watson's South West euro constituency, among other places, including the marginal seats of the party's Westminster MPs who refused to support the EU referendum they promised local voters.
The roadshow will be accompanied by a targetted local leafleting and letter-writing campaign by DM activists, and many other activities. Thousands of campaign leaflets are already being independently distributed in Liverpool, Totnes, Aylesbury, Welwyn Garden City, Bakewell, Stanford le Hope, Richmond-upon-Thames, Folkestone, Tunbridge Wells, Norwich, Bournemouth, Maidenhead, Havant ... with more locations being added to the list daily.
Luton EU Referendum: The Results
21 October 2008
The DM has scored a resounding victory in the Luton EU referendum.
After a head-to-head battle with the European Movement, filmed for ITV's Tonight programme, 63% voted 'No' to the Lisbon Treaty and a ground-breaking 54% voted to come out of the EU altogether.
The programme documenting the event was shown on ITV1 and is typically watched by between 3 and 6 million viewers.
The result reflects major disatisfaction not just with the prospect of further decision-making being passed to the EU but also with the extent of the EU's current powers, its financial costs and the damaging effects of its activities.
Click here for the full results and more about the Luton referendum campaign on the DM blog.
Click here for more about our Break Free campaign.
Break Free: from the outdated EU
October 2008
The DM has taken the opportunity of ITV's 'EU Decide' referendum in Luton to launch a new leaflet and campaign called Break Free: from the outdated EU.
Featuring a picture on the front of jubiliant 'No' campaigners after Ireland's Lisbon Treaty referendum, this new campaign leaflet leads with the question; What part of 'No' doesn't the EU understand?
The French and Dutch peoples also rejected the "substantially equivalent" EU Constitution in referendums and polls show a large majority of the British people would have too. Had our government and the Liberal Democrats kept their election promises to hold a public vote.
Yet the European Union is still trying to side-step the people's verdict and transform itself into your government.
The Lisbon Treaty and the reaction to the Irish 'No' vote show that EU is stuck in the past and incapable of reform, even when people overwhelmingly reject centralising more decision-making in its undemocratic institutions.
The Break Free campaign sets out the main failings of today's EU, together with the benefits of major change. Its main theme is that it's time for Europe's leaders to drop the top-down EU state idea and to instead spend their time addressing today's challenges - rather than planning how to centralise ever more power in Brussels without democratic consent.
Order free campaign materials
The Democracy Movement publishes a range of campaign materials, available free of charge to all those who would like to help our campaign.
Click here to view our range and to order your copies.
We've teamed up with the June Press to bring you a range of the best books on the European Union issue.
Click here to view our stock.
Democracy Movement
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T: 020 7603 7796 F: 020 7602 9699
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author: Steve | 10/03/09 00:17
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Friday, October 02, 2009
Plans for New Tuebrook Hope Centre at Buckingham Road
For the last year the Tuebrook Hope Group, Elders of Christ Church - Buckingham Road, Neighbourhood Services, Youth Service and Ward Councillors have been developing plans for an additional Tuebrook Hope Centre at the rear of Christ Church Buckingham Road.
If you want to view the initial plans or have any comments please e mail tuebrookhope@hotmail.co.uk or northwestliberalparty@hotmail.co.uk
These plans were being worked upon prior to St John's Parish Council seeking to prematurely terminate the lease agreement for the current Hope Centre .
This termination of the lease agreement is being legally contested with the THG being represented by Rex Makin .
Representations have been sent to the Bishop of Liverpool who has so far failed to meet the Tuebrook Hope Group Committee and /or Ward Councillors.
author: Steve | 10/02/09 19:40
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