NEWCASTLE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS LOCAL ELECTION MANIFESTO 2019

'Forward to a better future with the Liberal Democrats'

OUR PARTY'S PRINCIPLES AND VALUES AND AMBITION

I. Introduction
Newcastle Liberal Democrats hold firm to the values of the wider Liberal Democrat party. Our national vision is set out in the preamble to our party's federal constitution:
The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.
In Newcastle, we aim to stay true to our national vision.
In all that we say and do, we will strive to be open, tolerant and united and to demand better for the residents of our city.
We add one more proviso to our vision locally in our desire to be close to the communities in which we serve, to listen to local people, to work with community organisations, and to act on their behalf where it is possible to do so, in line with our Liberal Democrat principles.
We believe passionately that our focus as a local party and actions should be rooted in communities.

Here's what Cllr Colin Ferguson (pictured with Cllr Phil Hall, right, who chairs the Budget and Finance Scrutiny Committee) said in launching the Liberal Democrats' approach to Newcastle's 2019 budget which saw Labour hiking Council Tax by 3.95% and cutting services by £20 million, highlighting that the budget is based upon Labour's choices.

This leaflet is being delivered through doors in Newcastle - but as its part of a bundle of advertising materials, you may have put it straight into the recycling....on the other side is you waste collections day so worth keeping

Liberal Democrats Councillors in the north of Gosforth today showed their support for keeping open the Brunswick tip (Household waste and recycling centre)

Pictured here are Parklands and Castle wards councillors Pauline Allen, Phil Lower, Anita Lower (Opposition Leader) David Down and Robin Ashby plus local campaigner Christine Morrissey.

Liberal Democrats believe strongly that asylum seekers should be allowed to work while waiting for a decision on their application. It's good for the UK economy and it gives asylum seekers self respect and allows them to provide for their families. It would avoid destitution, isolation and exploitation.

The statement by the three local councils (reproduced in full below) is a massive political cop-out and an abject failure of political leadership on the issue of the dangers of the air quality on our Tyneside streets.

Cllr Greg Stone, who speaks on transport and air quality issues for the Liberal Democrats, said "Other cities are dealing with the same challenges and the likes of Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, and Birmingham are consulting on their clean air charging proposals for polluting diesel emissions, not making excuses. We recognise that the A1 Western Bypass needs a national Highways Agency approach, but Newcastle, Gateshead, and North Tyneside had the opportunity to set out by the end of last year how they proposed to reduce emissions on the local network without a clean air charging scheme and have failed to do so.

You can find readings from War Poets including the one below, here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBKQgmAn7FngNQlAy_NnKt0BLqZCz55aY

Not all war poets were British men

Not all soldiers were white

Not all battles were fought in Europe

The Neuve-Chapelle Memorial commemorates more than 4,700 Indian soldiers and labourers who lost their lives on the Western Front during the First World War and who have no known grave.

Newcastle Liberal Democrats would like to hear from you about domestic waste and public litter bins to inform our response to the City Council'c review of its waste strategy and our manifesto for the 2019 elections. So we invite you to complete the survey which can be found at here

Newcastle City Council's budget for children's social care is set for an overspending by £6.5m this year - following the budget being blown last year by £5.66 million. The money is used for around 550 looked-after children in care.

The city's Liberal Democrat opposition has questioned whether the council itself can do more to get the situation back under control.