Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats

Two years ago the UK voted by a small margin to leave the EU, Liberal Democrats Cllr Wendy Taylr has reminded Councillors in Nerwcastle. People voted for many reasons, but at the time few people really knew the details of what leaving the EU might mean, particularly for our region. Two years on from the referendum we're not much further forward. The Government is in total disarray with the Tory Party lurching from crisis to crisis as they try to pander to the Mogglodites on the right, while trying stopping the pro Remain Tories from putting their country before their party. And in the meantime the Government is failing to tackle the issues that matter to people in the North East- the NHS, social care, education, housing, environmental sustainability and employment. What a splendid opportunity for her majesty's opposition to make the case for avoiding the biggest strategic mistake this country has ever made. As both Phil Wilson the MP for Sedgefield and Keir Starmer have said the country voted on the principle of leaving, not on the terms. The detail is therefore important. Unfortunately the Labour leadership has totally failed to show real leadership on this issue, either tamely leading MPs to vote with the Government or ordering Labour MPs and Peers to abstain on crucial votes. We are delighted that so many Labour Peers have ignored this advice, but seeing Labour MPs split 3 ways on a vote to stay in the EEA must have left the Tories laughing all the way home.

I have worked in the NHS for almost all my working life and I'm hugely proud of what the NHS achieves, Cllr Wendy Taylor who speaks on health and social care issues for the Liberal Democrats, told Newcastle City Council tonight.

As a doctor, I can't overstate how important it is to me to be able to offer my patients the best treatments available, without having to ask how much they can afford to pay. Yet as the motion says, the NHS is facing many difficulties including lack of funding, loss of staff and increasing debt. The impact of Jeremy Hunt's attack on junior doctors has been devastating, with over 50% of doctors not taking up a training post when they complete their basic training. Many are going to New Zealand or Australia, others are giving up medicine altogether. Of course many will come back to train as a GP or Consultant at a later time, but when I think of the enthusiasm and excitement of medical students when they apply to study medicine, it is so sad that much of this is lost once they qualify. And the loss of the bursaries for student nurses has been just as damaging.

The Newcastle Liberal Democrats Councillors Group consists of 19 people, representing new wards in our City.

New councillors are :

Tom Gordon - Manor Park Ward

Aidan King - Castle Ward

Colin Ferguson - Gosforth Ward

Phil Hall - Gosforth Ward

Peter Lovatt - Fawdon and West Gosforth Ward

Returning councillors

https://youtu.be/436hiwAoX10

For the second year in a row, council tax payers in Newcastle face an inflation-busting 5% hike in charges as tax demands come through the doors. Liberal Democrats hold both the Labour Council and the Conservative Government responsible for this, and spoke strongly at Newcastle City Council in the face of attacks from the ruling Labour Party.

Here's what the Council gritting teams are trying to do in Newcastle....https://www.facebook.com/NewcastleCityCouncil/videos/10155491051973790/

Earlier this week Newcastle City Council announced a major clean-up of the city "a spring clean" as they're describing it.

£1m has been found from reserves to sweep the streets, pick up litter, remove dog mess, erase graffiti and cutback overgrown shrubbery. New posters will appear on litter bins and livery on council vehicles.

Newcastle City Council dropped Environment and Sustainability as a priority at the change of administration in 2011, replacing 7 years of rapid progress with 7 years of drift.

In particular, there is a crisis in the waste recycling system leading to potential contractual penalties of almost £750,000 per annum according to the Leader of Council.

A £3.3m project to improve air quality by cutting harmful emissions from buses has been given a cautious welcome by Newcastle's Liberal Democrats.

The scheme will see 191 buses operating on 20 routes in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside fitted with new engine technology which significantly reduces levels of pollutants.