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Article: May 12, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
The Lib Dems are urging the Government to extend income support for self-employed workers after they declared victory in convincing the Government to extend furlough payments for employers, preventing redundancies.
Acting Leader of the Lib Dems, Ed Davey MP, who is asking the public to join his campaign to protect workers warned "taxi drivers, hairdressers, cleaners, childcare providers and millions of other self-employed people are still not getting the help they need."
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Article: May 6, 2020
The Lib Dems have launched a campaign to protect furloughed workers and their families with proposals to continue furlough payments when lockdown measures are eased, preventing redundancies.
Acting Leader of the Lib Dems, Ed Davey, who is asking the public to join his campaign to protect furloughed workers, said his party's plans would give people "that time and that confidence and help avoid further large-scale job losses."
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Article: May 6, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
Following a request from the Lib Dems, Surrey County Council will start a phased reopening of its Community Recycling Centres on 11th May.
With fly tipping increasingly becoming an issue across Surrey, last month Lib Dem Councillors asked the Council to reopen local tips. This was supported by latest Government advice which said that Household Waste Recycling Centres can be open provided appropriate social distancing measures are in place.
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Article: Apr 24, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
Surrey County Council has cancelled plans to move its headquarters from Kingston-Upon-Thames to Woking due the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result of the current Covid-19 situation the current tenants of Midas House cannot move out and the Council cannot get access to all of the building to make it suitable for its use.
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Article: Apr 24, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
With Muslims observing the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan this week, senior Liberal Democrats and members will be joining them by fasting in the party's first #LibDemIftar.
MPs Ed Davey, Layla Moran and Lib Dem Mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita will join members in taking part in the fast on Saturday the 25th of April. It is the first time a political party and their leader has encouraged a joint fast or Iftar.
Those taking part will also be taking this opportunity to raise money for a charity of their choosing, including many charities that tackle hunger in the UK.
Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, said:
"I want to send my best wishes to Muslims across Britain and the world in this holy month of Ramadan.
"With mosques remaining closed and with people unable to come together to worship, this holy month will be particularly difficult.
"Liberal Democrats are determined to stand in solidarity with Britain's Muslim communities and believe that together we can defeat this awful virus.
"I am pleased that my Liberal Democrat colleague, Cllr Hina Bokhari, is organising the first ever Iftar for Liberal Democrats, across our country so we can fast together."
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Article: Apr 22, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
The Lib Dems have launched a campaign calling for a 'Frontline Support Package' a five-point plan to give frontline workers the support they need and the recognition they deserve as they get us through this appalling coronavirus crisis.
Acting Leader of the Lib Dems Ed Davey thanked the "army of workers protecting us" in hospitals, care homes and hospices and asked the Government to support these "coronavirus heroes" properly.
The package proposed by the Lib Dems includes measures to scale up the procurement of PPE, a frontline service reward and a deployment allowance of £29 per day in line with the Operational Allowance Armed Forces personnel deployed to dangerous areas receive.
Acting Leader of the Lib Dems, Ed Davey, said:
- "In our hospitals, care homes, hospices and in the wider health and care sector an army of workers are protecting us in this national struggle. The Lib Dems believe the Government must support these coronavirus heroes properly."
- "The top priority for frontline staff is protection. We should never ask our military to risk their lives without the proper kit and we shouldn't be leaving health and care workers without sufficient protective kit either. It is simply unacceptable that so many key workers do not have the equipment they need to protect them from coronavirus in the line of duty. The Government must do far more."
Lib Dem spokesperson for Woking, Councillor Will Forster, added:
- "When the country emerges from this crisis we must properly recognise those who were willing to serve and make a sacrifice just as we do with military forces. The Government must look at creating a frontline service reward similar to the deployment allowance frontline troops receive."
- "Quietly, key workers on the frontline every day, undertake acts of bravery both big and small to save lives. The Lib Dems and I are campaigning so they get the protection and support now - and get the recognition and thanks they deserve when the epidemic has passed."
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Article: Apr 16, 2020
Dale Roberts, a Knaphill man and Lib Dem campaigner/activist, reached out to global software giants for a local solution to help vulnerable residents, and found that international technology works best when it is powered by the local community.
Dale Roberts, explained "I wanted to find a way to connect those that needed help with those that could provide it using one of the many 'Uber like' applications. As a technologist, I know that they are immediate, efficient and require little administration, which was perfect for doing something quickly with a volunteer community with variable availability". He started conversations with Ikea owned, TaskRabbit, an app that connects people to local traders or 'taskers'. They immediately saw the opportunity to open their app to volunteers but needed time.
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Article: Apr 9, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
The Lib Dem Group on Surrey County Council has called for the Council to reopen its Community Recycling Centres with social distancing measures to avoid fly tipping.
This follows the latest advice from the Government that stated that Household Waste Recycling Centres can be open, but should have social distancing measures in place.
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Article: Apr 7, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
The Lib Dems are calling on the Government to extend a scheme that saves £140 on energy bills to households struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic helping an estimated 3,174 homes across Woking Borough.
In a warning from the Lib Dem Climate Change Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse, the MP said these measures were needed before families are forced "to choose between heating their home or eating".
The party's plans would see all households that fall into the government definition of fuel poverty access the Warm Homes Discount. The move would see some 2.5 million households across the UK - many of whom are not currently eligible for the scheme - benefit from £140 credit on their energy bills.
In a letter to the Government backed by a cross-party group of 28 MPs Ministers have also been encouraged to bring forward plans to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the country in order to reduce fuel poverty in the long term. This comes on top of Lib Dem proposals to scrap VAT on energy bills and freeze Council Tax during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said:
"No-one should ever have to choose between heating their home or eating let alone in the face of the current health crisis. It is essential that the Government takes action to ensure no one is forced to do so."
"I am therefore delighted so many cross-party colleagues across the House of Commons have joined me in writing to the Business Secretary to back this proposal."
Lib Dem Spokesperson for Woking, Councillor Will Forster, added:
"The Government already offers a Warm Home Discount on fuel to the poorest pensioners. Extending this to all those who meet the current definition for fuel poverty - 3,174 across Woking and 37,473 across Surrey - would make an enormous difference to thousands including many families with children."
"We are also calling for a more focused effort to end fuel poverty permanently such as more insulation. This would be a win for both society and the environment: with better insulation, less energy is needed, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels."
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Article: Apr 1, 2020
By Cllr Will Forster
Following a request from Lib Dem Councillor Will Forster, Surrey County Council has agreed to postpone its planned increase of residential parking permits due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The County Council wants to increase the cost of residential parking permits in Controlled Parking Zones and was intending to advertise and consult the public on the increase in April and then implement the increase soon after that. However, the consultation and increase will be postponed until after the coronavirus crisis has been resolved.
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