Lichfield, Tamworth and Burton Liberal Democrats

After pressure from Liberal Democrat Peers, the Government have announced major concessions on the Tenant Fees Bill.
The amendment would significantly limit the fees that could be charged to a tenant by their landlord or lettings agent, require a greater amount of transparency when deciding not to refund a holding deposit, and limit the maximum security deposit a landlord can require to five weeks rent.

Responding to the Government amendments, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson John Shipley said "It is good to see the Government have listened to the concerns we raised during the progress of the Bill. These amendments will make a huge difference for tenants, who will save hundreds of pounds every year. We also want to congratulate Shelter, Citizens Advice and Generation Rent who have worked so hard to get this Bill in the right place."

Many of the provisions in the Tenant Fees Bill were proposed in the previous session of Parliament by Lib Dem Peer Olly Grender, in her Renters' Rights Private Members' Bill.

Commenting on the changes to the Bill, Liberal Democrat local campaigner Lee Cadwallader-Allan said "It is the vulnerable in our society who are most affected by the extortionate fees imposed by landlords and lettings agencies. The inability to pay these fees upfront can often lead to homelessness. While I welcomed the Government bringing forward this Bill, there were a number of outstanding issues that could have had severe consequences for low income tenants or tenants on benefits in the private rented sector. There is still more work to be done to get tenants a fairer deal, but I am delighted that the Government have listened to our suggestions and others to improve this Bill. The task now is to get this change for tenants through as quickly as possible."

Cash-starved (£35m shortfall) and Conservative dominated Staffordshire County Council proposes "defunding" school crossing patrols ("lollipop men and women") and passing the running costs on to "community funding" (public working together with schools) - stealth tax?
A public consultation by Staffordshire County Council (web-link: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/education/schoolsandcolleges/SchoolCrossing/SchoolCrossingPatrols.aspx is open until the end of this year, with the final decision to be taken in early 2019.
Liberal Democrats believe we need urgent action to prevent the deterioration and decay of essential public services: NHS, Social Care, Schools, roads, police and all the rest which make this country good for ordinary folk to live in.
Lib Dems stand for serious increases in investment in these services acknowledging that higher earners will likely pay more in tax.
Only recently the Conservatives nationally announced an 'end to austerity'. Do YOU think austerity is over?

Skills-based migration sounds like a great thing on the face of it. You make sure that anyone coming to your country contributes to the bits of your economy that the Government knows needs workers. You also make sure that those workers are highly skilled workers and that they won't be a drain on our safety net. We end up with enough bankers, engineers, and doctors without flooding the country with so-called cheap labour.

The NHS can't recruit the doctors and nurses it needs. Families are separated by complex visa requirements. People without documents are denied access to healthcare and housing. Decades of incompetence and cruelty by Labour and Tory Home Secretaries has shattered confidence in the system.

The Liberal Democrats demand better. We demand a more effective and compassionate immigration system. A system that works for our economy and treats migrants and asylum seekers with dignity.

Last night the Liberal Democrats tabled a cross-party motion of no confidence in the Conservative Government.

The Liberal Democrats have led the fight to give the people the final say on Brexit for two years.

Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn has helped the Conservatives deliver Brexit. The motion of no confidence could remove one of Corbyn's last excuses not to back a People's Vote.

The Government has challenged the Labour Party to table a real 'no confidence' motion. We have now done that for them.

Jeremy Corbyn need only add his name, and the debate and vote would happen before Christmas.

If he fails, it will be yet more evidence that his recalcitrance is really a rouse to avoid supporting a People's Vote.