Bournemouth Liberal Democrats
Working for you all year round
What Lib Dems have Done in Government for Bournemouth Residents
October 24, 2012 4:52 PM
By Andy Canning
By Andy Canning
Largest Ever Pension Increase this Year!
Last April the basic state pension increased by £5.30 a week to £107.45 - it's largest ever rise!
This large increase is due to the 'triple lock' policy agreed by the Coalition Government that came straight from the last election manifesto of the Liberal Democrats.
This is an example of the Lib Dems making a real difference to the government and to the lives of thousands of local people.
The policy states that pensions will increase by whichever is the highest out of prices, wages or 2.5%. Good news for pensioners at a time when the rate of inflation is starting to fall.
Fairer Tax in Tough Times
This year's budget has clearly shown the difference between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.
Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems lobbied hard for an income tax cut to help the vast majority of working people and that's what we got.
From next April nobody will pay income tax until they start earning over £9, 205. When the Lib Dems entered government you paid tax as soon as you earnt over £6,475.
This means that thousands of low paid part-time workers are longer paying tax at all!
It also means that most low and middle income earners will be £546 a year better off.
All thanks to the Lib Dems.
In contrast, the Conservatives pushed for a cut in the top rate of tax from 50% to 45% which could only beniefit those earning over £150,000.
Lib Dem MPs argued against any cut in taxes for the well off. Either the top rates should have been kept at 50% or a new mansion tax should have been introduced.
Lib Dems have long argued for a Mansion Tax on homes worth over £2 million as a simple and direct way to tax the rich which they won't be able to get out of paying!
It reveals that the modern conservative partyis all about that, in spite of our arguments, they went ahead and cut the tax rate for the rich anyway.
Britain's Going Green
Lib Dems are fighting to make sure that this is Britain's Greenest ever government even though the Conservatives are busy backtracting on green policies.
Already thousands of local residents have installed solar panels in the last two years and are benefiting financially.
Indeed the scheme was so successful that it had to be modified. Even so the new more modest proposals still make sense for many homes with a south facing roof.
Thousands of homes across Dorset are now receiving energy from a biomass plant using food waste. Plans have just been revealed for a second plant in Christchurch.
Offshore wind farms are also due for a major expansion by 2020 with a more than fourfold increase in the amount of energy they produce.
The Lib Dem-run Department for Energy and Climate Change has also introduced a Green Deal for low and middle income households.
The Green Deal is about energy companies installing insulation, double glazing and other energy saving measures at no cost to consumers. Instead the companies get paid back out of their savings made on energy bills while the consumer gets lower bills.
Thousands of homes are eligible to benefit from these savings.
Local Schools get extra £4.7m thanks to Liberal Democrats
A key policy at the last General Election for the Lib Dems was to bring in a 'Pupil Premium' to help children from poorer backgrounds get a better education.
18 months ago Liberal Democrats in government were able to announce that every school would get £488 a year per pupil who was eligible for free school meals. This year that has increased to £600 per pupil.
In our area that means £2.7 million extra for Bournemouth's schools and £2 million extra for Poole's.
"In spite of the harsh economic climate and public sector cuts, most of our schools will be better off," says Annette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole. "The Pupil Premium will go on increasing every year to 2015"
This is an effective example of Liberal Democrats making a real difference in government.
Open publication - Free publishing
Published and promoted by Claire Halliwell on behalf of Andrew James Canning (Liberal Democrat) & Bournemouth Liberal Democrats all at Flat 6, 22 Park Lane, Wimborne BH2 11LD. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY