Political Viewpoint - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Political Viewpoint – BY Coun Paul Collins, Southend City Councillor, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

Political Viewpoint – BY Coun Paul Collins, Southend City Councillor, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

BY Coun Paul Collins, Southend City Councillor, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

Are the Liberal Democrats the best antidote for Reform UK?

It was an interesting week in the first week of May in our country’s politics. Some of the Counties of England turned either to the Liberal Democrats or Reform UK as their chosen way of moving our Country forward.

Whilst mainstream news outlets were shouting about the Reform UK’s 677 new Councillors and ten new Councils, the Liberal Democrats also crowned 163 newly elected Councillors gained from other groups, bringing our total number of Councillors in the UK to 3,198, the third largest group in the UK.

The Liberal Democrats took control of three more Councils in England, bringing our total of Councils to sixty-eight in which are currently led by Liberal Democrats, either in outright control or in alliance/coalition with other parties and are also the clear opposition in many more Councils across the Country.

The Liberal Democrats policies of change and innovation for our communities by working to enable all residents to participate equally and grow, is in direct contrast to the Reform UK mantra of ‘No diversity, equality or inclusion’ and their environmental climate policy which is built around a complete rejection of the net-zero agenda.

Reform UK wants to scrap the 2050 target, dismantle renewable energy subsidies, revive fossil fuel, coal extraction, and restrict land use for climate purposes such as solar farming or rewilding to support biodiversity. This is a total anathema to progressive political parties like the Liberal Democrats, which passionately believe that we absolutely do face a climate change emergency and we should be leading the free world in making the right and long term choices for our future families and investing in the ‘green’ economy.

There are other issues, which we feel we differ from reactionary politics of the right, such as a severe lack of affordable housing which holds back our young people and in turn, our own housing market. Our local rental market is being stretched and rents are accordingly racing up and making it much more unaffordable for those that want to live and raise their families here.

In our recent ‘Fair Deal Manifesto 2024’, the Liberal Democrats pledge to ‘build the homes people desperately need’ by expanding neighbourhood planning across England; building ten new garden cities and allowing councils to buy land for housing based on current use value rather than on a hope-value basis by reforming the Land Compensation Act 1961.

This will put planning and development into the hands of the community and not the very wealthy land developers.

We also back properly funding local planning departments to improve planning outcomes and ensure housing is not built in areas of high flood risk without adequate mitigation, by allowing local authorities to set their own fees. We do want to encourage development of existing brownfield sites with financial incentives and ensuring that affordable and social housing is included in these projects. And introducing ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ planning permission for developers who refuse to build and just land bank, such as we see on the sea front in Southend.

And unlike Reform UK, we want to see increased investment in green infrastructure and housing is also highlighted and a clearer zero-carbon remit to the UK Infrastructure Bank.

On clear matters such on progressive politics, such as the climate, housing, and social inclusion , we could not be more opposite to Reform UK and what they stand for.

The Liberal Democrats advocate for a fair and humane immigration system that respects the rights of individuals, particularly refugees and asylum seekers. We propose safe and legal pathways to sanctuary, including expanding resettlement schemes and addressing the root causes of displacement.

We also aim to reform the asylum system to ensure fair and efficient processing of claims. Keeping asylum seekers in hotels for months on end, helps no one.

I am proud of our support of a liberal democracy, and I welcome that in many parts of England last week, thousands of voters saw us as a true alternative to the right wing reactionary politics of the past and, the future. We take their support and will work to call out the politics of hate and division when and where we see it and we will stand up for better outcomes for all.

Liberal Democrats are proud to be a party for inclusion and diversity, as we all need to work together for our future and wellbeing.

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