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The Coalition: Taking Liberal Democrat Policies into Government

Ray_BRACK

Ray Earwicker who stood as your Lib Dem PPC for Bracknell

For the first time in nearly 100 years the Liberal Democrats are in Government and putting into practice the ideas and policies that we have long campaigned for. In the space of just a few short months we have negotiated a comprehensive policy agreement with the Tories, which has the support of most of the country, and made a huge impact on the Coalition Government's agenda for the rest of this Parliament.

We could have stayed on the sidelines as an opposition party and may be offered support to a minority Conservative government on individual issues where we had a common interest but this would probably not have advanced our cause very much or even found favour with the electorate.

Going into the General Election the Liberal Democrats made it clear that we had four key priorities; fairer taxes; a fair start for children with extra funding for disadvantaged pupils; a comprehensive clean up of our politics, including a fairer voting system; and a greener, more sustainable economy.

Thanks to our involvement, the Government is now beginning to deliver on each of these objectives. There are also a large number of other Lib Dem policies and pledges that will start to make a real, positive difference to peoples' lives because of the role we are playing in the Coalition.

These include everything from rolling back the surveillance state and giving people back their civil liberties, to prison and and NHS reforms, fairer pensions, the ending of child detention and the scrapping of the third runway at Heathrow. There will also be a referendum on the Alternative Vote and a commission on long-term reform of social care.

Inevitably, there will be Conservative policies that we find difficult to accept but each Party had to make concessions in order to produce a workable agreeament. This does not mean however we cannot try to amend such policies, nor will it mean a loss of our own identity.

The next few months will be particularly important as the Coalition Government seeks to deal with the budgetary crisis and the structural deficit inherited from Labour. By joining in such a coalition the Liberal Democrats provided the best chance for the country to change course and generate the conditions necessary for future long-term growth. It also provides an unique opportunity to show what we can do in government!

Ray Earwicker

Former Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell

Recent updates

  • Tory rebels
    Article: Jan 16, 2012

    In the absence of an effective opposition, it would seem the ruling Conservative group on Bracknell Forest Council has taken to falling out within itself. The suspension of three long-standing members of the group for failing to support the party line on future housing planning policy (Standard, 5 Jan) was the first public sign of any disaffection within the group since it won control of the council under Cllr Bettison's leadership in 1998.

  • Bracknell's Housing Crisis
    Article: Nov 24, 2011

    The housing measures being introduced by the Coalition Government to help first-time buyers and persuade local authorities to provide more council homes is both very welcome and long overdue.

    The record of Bracknell Forest Council in helping to provide more affordable homes in this area has been pitiful.There are still over 3000 people on its housing waiting list and yet only a handful of affordable homes are being built.

  • BRACKNELL IN A PICKLE OVER WASTE!
    Article: Oct 18, 2011
    Communities' Minister puts Council Leader on the spot over ABC
    Cllr Paul Bettison, Leader of Bracknell Forest Council and the public face of the Local Government Association's longstanding campaign in favour of charging for household waste collections, according to the Parliamentary Communities and Local Government Select Committee, has been put on the spot by the unexpected Coalition Government's decision to set up a £250m fund to discourage councils such as Bracknell from operating a system of fortnightly alternate bin collections (ABC).
  • Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
    Nick Clegg's Speech to Lib Dem Conference: "Our home. Our children. Our future."
    Article: Sep 21, 2011

    In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

  • Dr Lee MP
    Article: Jul 18, 2011

    A recent article in 'Private Eye' suggests Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, is spending more time supplementing his Parliamentary income than many might have hoped or dared to expect.

    Since he won his seat in 2010 (after coming a poor fifth in Blaenau Gwent in 2005), Dr Lee has made 113 separate payment claims totalling £40,000 acting as a freelance GP in Maidenhead, Slough and elsewhere. Most of these claims covered periods when the House of Commons was sitting.

  • BRACKNELL'S MP KEEPS THE DAY JOB!
    Article: Jul 5, 2011

    Dr Phillip Lee remains a locum GP in Maidenhead and Slough

    Despite claims during his 2010 election campaign that he would 'need to roll up [his] sleeves and really serve the people of Bracknell, Crowthorne, Finchampstead and Wokingham Without', it would seem that Bracknell's MP, Dr Phillip Lee, is spending more time outside his constituency than in it!

  • LOCAL ISSUES TAKE BACK SEAT IN BRACKNELL
    Article: May 9, 2011

    Tories' dismal record of failure allowed to succeed yet again!

    Bracknell Forest Conservatives can once again thank their bedrock support for being re-elected to run Bracknell Forest Council for another four years. Regrettably, despite the need to also vote on the AV referendum, most electors failed to vote and the other parties either failed to attract sufficient support or were unable to get their vote out.

  • LEGALITY OF TORY ELECTION LEAFLET CHALLENGED
    Article: Apr 19, 2011

    Lib Dems claim manifesto leaflet breaches election rules

    Bracknell Liberal Democrats believe the election manifesto leaflet published by Mary Ballin on behalf of Bracknell Conservative Association breaches election regulations by giving the impression that Bracknell Forest Borough Council is supporting the Conservative Party in the forthcoming local elections on 5 May 2011.

  • Local Elections 2011
    Article: Apr 5, 2011

    FORMER LIB DEM PPC TO CONTEST LEADER'S SEAT

    Cllr Bettison's record under attack in Little Sandhurst local election

    Bracknell Liberal Democrats have responded to public concern and anger about the performance and record of Conservative-controlled Bracknell Forest Council under Cllr Paul Bettison's leadership by selecting former Parliamentary candidate, Ray Earwicker and Steve Pope, Constitituency Chairman, to stand against him and Deputy Leader, Dale Birch, in the forthcoming local elections on 5 May 2011.

  • Yes to Fairer Votes logo
    Say YES! to the Alternative Vote on 5th May
    Article: Mar 25, 2011

    On 5th May you have a choice. You can keep the discredited First Past the Post system to elect our MPs, or you can choose a new and fairer system - Alternative Vote (AV). Back the campaign for change at www.YesToFairerVotes.org

    AV is a small change that makes a big difference.

    Saying YES! to Fairer Votes Means:

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