A LibDem Perspective - Dear Santa I Wish.....

1. Peace, reconciliation, justice, and reconstruction. Gaza and Ukraine understandably dominate our headlines but there are just too many other areas of conflict and injustice around the globe to try to mention them here.  I will accordingly focus on matters closer to home.
2. An early General Election to rid us of this hapless, self-harming Government that continues to preside over a cost-of-living crisis, the widest ever wealth gap and highest ever taxes.
3. Introduction of a fair, democratic voting system. In 2019, despite a disappointing result for the LibDems we still polled more than three times the total SNP votes, yet they have four times as many MPs at Westminster influencing law-making in England. That is an affront to democracy.
4. A Government that is serious about the Environment and prepared to ratchet up spending on renewable energy and accelerate the reduction of carbon fuels. Climate change is real, it is now, and it is incumbent on us all to do what we can to save our precious planet.
5. A fundamental review of our NHS and Care Sectors. Both are seriously understaffed and have excessive waiting lists. The NHS needs more staff, better administration and more state-of-the-art equipment, and the Care Sector needs improved pay and conditions, enhanced qualifications, and a proper career structure to encourage staff retention.
6. A commitment to tackling the housing shortage by pressing developers to build our existing planning approvals, stopping the loss of potential starter homes to the ‘air B&B’ market, and providing incentives to Local Authorities to develop brownfield sites. Local Authorities need incentives to develop their communities, not Central Office bullying by Mr Gove.
7. A commitment to re-build constructive relationships with our European neighbours. The much vaunted ‘Brexit bonus’ has proved to be a complete illusion and the Government’s desperate pursuit of trade deals in far flung countries has simply resulted in a complete under-mining of our own farming industry.

I’m running out of room. What about excessive energy company profits? Under-funding of Local Authorities? Complete chaos in dealing with asylum seekers?  Water company sewage pollution? Our dire transport infrastructure? Teachers’ low pay? Depleted defence resources? The philistine attitude towards the Arts in general? Police corruption? The Justice System and Prison Service on their knees?

I’m afraid Father Christmas is going to have his work cut out. He’s going to need a lot more elves to help, but he’s having problems getting their work visas, so don’t expect too much to change.

Happy Christmas!

Cllr Kathryn Field