Good news for basic rate taxpayers as they see their tax bills reduced by up to £540

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Martin Tod

Basic rate taxpayers will be see their tax bills reduced by up to £540 by next April thanks to a big win for the Lib Dems in this year’s budget.

For the third year in a row the basic income tax allowance is to rise, putting money back in the pockets of low and middle earners.

Pensioners have also gained thanks to the Lib Dems.

The ‘triple lock’ on pension rises means that the basic state pension has risen by nearly £10 in two years – a far cry from Labour’s measly 75p rise.

Lib Dem Pensions Minister Steve Webb is also delivering a guaranteed basic state pension of at least £140 a week for pensioners in the future.

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Winchester Better Bus Campaign

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Anne Weir

Winchester Councillors and local campaigners are leading calls for improved bus services across the City and out to local villages.  They recognise changes are necessary and want to find out more about what residents need and improvements that would attract more people to use our buses. 

Please take a few minutes to give us your views on  local bus services by filling in the survey here and we’ll keep you posted on Campaign activities and successes.

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Thank you for supporting our campaign against the NHS Bill

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Martin Tod

BBC Screengrab of Winchester Liberal Democrat, Martin Tod, speaking in the NHS Debate at Lib Dem Conference

Thank you to the many people who supported our NHS campaign:

as well as the amazing team that worked so hard on this campaign for so long.

The bill is now through, but we will continue to campaign to influence the bill’s implementation and develop Liberal Democrat policy to ensure that we have a joined-up NHS that is equitable, accountable, universal and comprehensive – and accessible to all and free at the point of need.

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Thank you for your support – now we’re off to Conference!

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Martin Tod

Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign so far.

So far we have more than 1,221 signatures on the petition and 223 conference representatives’ signatures on the emergency motion.

In addition, our emergency motion was backed by the following local parties:

  • Shrewsbury and Atcham Liberal Democrats,
  • Winchester Liberal Democrats
  • St Ives Liberal Democrats,
  • Mid Worcestershire Liberal Democrats,
  • Newcastle-under-Lyme Liberal Democrats
  • Warwick and Leamington Liberal Democrats
  • Camberwell & Peckham Liberal Democrats
  • Harlow Liberal Democrats
  • Lancaster and Fleetwood Liberal Democrats

Thank you to all of them.

Finally a huge thank you to the team of people from around the country that’s worked so incredibly hard on this campaign.

Now we’re off to Conference in Gateshead – with only three more things to do:

  1. Get the motion through Federal Conference Committee on Friday afternoon
  2. Win the Emergency Motions Ballot on Saturday morning
  3. Win the Emergency Debate on Sunday at 9.30 a.m.

We’ll let you know how we get on!

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NHS Bill Emergency Motion goes live

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Martin Tod

Our emergency motion against the NHS Bill has now gone live.

If you are a Liberal Democrat Conference Representative, please sign up!

Posted in Lib Dems against the NHS Bill | Tagged | 1 Comment

Campaign against the NHS Bill – national coverage

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Martin Tod

The Lib Dems against the NHS Bill campaign is starting to get national coverage.

Thank you to the more than 1,221 Lib Dems who have backed our campaign.

Local party member, Martin Tod, has featured on the BBC Westminster Hour and the BBC World at One – as well as the Echo and Guardian.

World at One:

Westminster Hour:

Fellow campaigner, Charles West, has also featured in the Guardian.

If you are a Liberal Democrat member and haven’t signed up yet, please do so!

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Come and join Shirley Williams at our Annual Dinner

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Martin Tod

Shirley Williams

Shirley Williams will be our guest of honour at our dinner on March 23rd at the Holiday Inn on Morn Hill, just outside Winchester next to Intech.

Tickets cost £30 for members and £35 for non-members. Lifts to the Holiday Inn can be arranged and subject to requests we may be able to arrange group taxis back home.

If you’re like to come along, please email Jackie Porter on downhouse.porter@btinternet.com for details.

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Thank you to the Lib Dems backing our NHS campaign

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Martin Tod

Thank you to the more than 1,221 Lib Dems who have backed our campaign to get the party’s leadership to withdraw support for Andrew Lansley’s NHS Bill.

If you are a Liberal Democrat member and would like to support the campaign, please sign up at http://www.winld.org.uk/nhs-petition/

If you are not a Liberal Democrat member, but would also like to see the bill withdrawn, please back the online petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670

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Town Forum to Support more Night Buses

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Anne Weir

At the Winchester Town Forum on Wednesday evening, councillors made a significant move towards bringing back a night bus service to Winchester.  They have set aside £10,000 to subsidise an evening bus service in Winchester for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Bus services for the Winchester area are currently being put out to tender by Hampshire County Council.  Members of the Town Forum had previously asked the County Council to put a requirement for night buses in the tender.  Following advice from County Officers on the likely cost of the service, the Town Forum decided to reserve the necessary funding to provide an evening/night service in Winchester. more …

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Winchester Town Forum Steps Into Funding Breach

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Anne Weir

With the Conservative City Council and County Council cabinets both planning to cut back on grants this year it is likely to be another difficult one for the voluntary sector in Winchester. At the Winchester Town Forum meeting on 25th January, members discussed the grants given from Town funds and are recommending an increase.  In total, £30,000 of funding formerly given by the City Council as a whole could be taken over by the Town. more …

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Pitt Manor decision a blow to ‘Localism’

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Anne Weir

Liberal Democrat Councillors are disappointed with the Planning Inspector’s decision to allow the development of two hundred new homes at Pitt Manor, off Romsey Road.

Lynda Banister, Liberal Democrat City Councillor for Oliver’s Battery, the neighbouring ward, commented; “This decision flies in the face of considerable local opposition to this development.  The Inspector seems to have brushed aside significant local concerns about the impact of such an increase in traffic on local roads which are already too congested.  He has also ignored the impact on local schools, which are significantly over-subscribed and having to make emergency arrangements for this September’s intake of children.” more …

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