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Detailed response from Ben Mayor
- The NHS.
I would go further and call for the termination of all Private Finance Initiative deals in the NHS with compensation only on the basis of proven need. These PFI schemes are draining £60bn a year from the NHS, far more than the £30bn estimated to be needed to go into the NHS. - TTIP.
TUSC added opposition to TTIP to our general election platform at our last conference, it needs to be completely scrapped. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
Again I would go further calling for the closing down of detention centres. Legal aid should be available to all who require it. - Trident Replacement.
I am opposed to the colossal waste of money that nuclear weapons represent. That money should be invested in jobs, homes and public services. - Climate Change.
I think there should be major investment in a programme of green jobs reducing energy waste, improving public transport and developing green technology. This needs to be linked to bringing into public ownership the key sections of the economy. - Housing And Rents.
TUSC supporters lobbied Leeds City Council on this very issue on Wednesday 1st April, we have an online petition taking up some of these issues which can be signed at https://www.change.org/p/leeds-city-council-establish-a-council-run-letting-agency-build-council-houses
One of our local candidates led the deputation organised by anti-bedroom tax campaign Hands off our Homes to Leeds City Council and our other Leeds general election candidate and one of our local candidates were both leading figures of the anti-bedroom tax campaign. - Robin Hood Tax.
I think we should also put resources into challenging corporate tax avoidance as well. There are 100x fewer people chasing that than benefit fraud which is a scandal considering the PCS union estimates that £120bn each year is evaded or avoided in taxes owed by the rich and large corporations - Benefit Sanctions.
TUSC supporters have been actively supporting protests organised by Unite Community, Leeds Welfare Fightback and other groups against benefit sanctions. - Fracking Ban.
Yes – I agree. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
Myself and other TUSC supporters have taken part in numerous protests against the bombing of Gaza.
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Detailed response from Laura Edge
- The NHS.
I am fully committed to ensuring that the NHS always remains free at the point of use and access and is based on need and not someone’s ability to pay.
The draft NHS Reinstatement Bill calls for a long list of NHS reforms, including the abolition of the purchase-provider split and the reestablishment of District Health Authorities. I think that in practice, many of these changes would be unworkable and lead to a complex and time-consuming structural reorganisation of the NHS at a time when it needs stability. Such a reorganisation would be both costly and unnecessary. That is why Labour’s pledge to repeal the Health and Social Care Act, which would lead to another complete re-organisation of the NHS, is potentially very damaging. While Liberal Democrats would not have introduced the Health and Social Care Act had we been in government on our own, the Act has not led to widespread privatisation in the NHS, as some predicted, and has led to some helpful reforms.
I want to make sure that the NHS is protected and funded properly so that it can continue to provide a first class service. I’m pleased that Lib Dem Health Minister Norman Lamb has announced that if the Liberal Democrats form part of the next Government we will not only protect the NHS budget, but boost NHS funding by £8bn a year by 2020. This extra cash is in line with the recommendation of a recent report into the future of the health service from NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens. The NHS now needs to get on with optimising front-line care, while making such efficiency savings as it can and taking advantage of the £8 billion of new funding to maintain standards in line with Simon Stevens’ recommendations. Only that way can the NHS succeed to maintain standards given the difficult challenges presented by our ageing population and the ever increasing cost of new treatments
We will also commission an independent fundamental review of NHS and social care finances in 2015, before the next spending review, to assess the pressures on the NHS and social care budgets
Liberal Democrats in Government have introduced measures to ensure that patients are at the heart of NHS decision-making. We are improving support for mental health services and we are making sure that health and social care is better co-ordinated to meet the needs of patients and their carers. Cutting NHS bureaucracy has saved over £1bn a year, allowing significant increases in the recruitment of frontline staff. There are now 13,000 more doctors, nurses and other frontline staff than in 2010.
As well as being financially well-supported, the NHS must be run fairly too. That’s why Liberal Democrats in Government put a stop to Labour’s policies that gave private health companies special treatment. Labour paid £250m to these companies for operations that were never performed. They also paid private sector providers on average 11% more than the NHS for the same service. This kind of favouritism has now been made illegal.
Proper accountability and transparency in the way the NHS is run is also vital, and I’m pleased that Liberal Democrats have ensured that local authority Overview and Scrutiny Committees will now be able to get evidence from any healthcare provider – including private ones – and summon them to a public scrutiny committee sessions.
The proposed NHS Reinstatement Bill also raises concerns about the potential impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the NHS. I hope I can reassure you that TTIP does not put the future of the NHS at risk. It will have no effect on the ability of local NHS commissioners to decide who delivers services to patients and the European Commission has clarified that public services will be explicitly ruled out from the scope of any market liberalisation in TTIP.
Liberal Democrats will always oppose any attempts to privatise the NHS. Like previous Governments, we accept that there is a role for the private and charitable sectors in the NHS. Organisations like MacMillan and the Terrence Higgins Trust have provided important services for patients. But we strongly believe that the NHS should always remain free and access should be based on need and not the ability to pay. These principles form the core of our health policy and will remain a key part of our plan to create the fairer society we all want to see in the UK. - TTIP.
We will support negotiations towards an ambitious Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the USA, which could bring benefits of up to £10 billion per year to the British economy. We are however determined to ensure that any new agreement meets European standards of consumer protection, as well as ensuring that employee’s rights are not damaged and that safeguarding the environment is accorded a proper priority. Liberal Democrat ministers have listened to people’s concerns on the issue of TTIP and the NHS, and have insisted that TTIP will have no effect on the powers of the NHS at a local level and will not diminish the power we have to determine how NHS services are provided..
After determined negotiations, we now have a clear guarantee from the EU that member states’ rights to provide public services directly, are enshrined in TTIP explicitly, including the case where outsourcing had previously taken place.
A letter from EU Trade Commissioner Malmstrom received this week by Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable specifically mentions the case of the NHS in Britain as an example of the rights of member states that are over and above TTIP. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
“Right First Time” is a principle that we need to pursue in all our decision making procedures – and decisions of immigration officers on asylum cases are particularly sensitive. It is not just morally right – and more efficient – to ensure that initial decisions are thoroughly considered, properly made and fair. It saves money too. Relying on appeals to put right the mistakes of an over-rushed and ineffective decision-making system leads to great anxiety, dissatisfaction and often unfairness as many mistakes go uncorrected as the question suggests. I agree with the premise of the question that the asylum system does not have a strong record of good early decision making.
On civil legal aid we will carry out a full review of legal aid, in consultation with the judiciary, to ensure that Legal Aid is available to all who need it.
While there is of course a place for sensible time limits, they must not be so tight as to restrict the opportunity for appellants to prepare and put their cases effectively. - Trident Replacement.
Liberal Democrats are crystal clear in our opposition to a like-for like replacement of Trident. In 2007, Liberal Democrats voted against the decision to renew the Trident system – the majority of Labour and Conservative MPs supported it. The devastating potential of nuclear weapons remains at the forefront of Liberal Democrat thinking and as a party, we are committed to working towards a world without these weapons in line with the UK’s obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, whilst we seek to scale down our nuclear deterrent, complete unilateral disarmament is not our policy. Instead our determination is to work towards reducing our nuclear capacity in order to encourage others to do the same and to advance the cause of multilateral disarmament, particularly in the context of the imminent Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference.
Our 2010 Manifesto ruled out the like-for-like replacement of Trident in this Parliament and in Government, we have ensured that the final approval for Trident replacement has been deferred until a decision is necessary – in 2016. By extending the timetable for the key decisions, Liberal Democrats have ensured that Britain has saved money in the short term – and we’ve been able to keep nuclear policy under review.
Based on our own party policy review – ‘Defending the Future: UK Defence in the 21st Century’ – presented to our party members at Autumn Conference 2013, the Liberal Democrats propose retaining the Trident deterrent through a ‘contingency posture’ of regular unarmed exercises, enabling a surge to armed patrols when appropriate. This would enable us to reduce the UK warhead stockpile, procure fewer successor submarines, meet our obligations under the NPT and take a big step down the nuclear ladder.
In Government, Liberal Democrat MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander oversaw the completion of the Trident Alternatives Review, a Lib Dem commissioned government study into the costs, feasibility and credibility of alternative systems and postures. Published in July 2013, it is the most thorough review of nuclear systems and postures the UK – indeed any nuclear weapons state – has ever made public. At a cost of £100 billion over a lifetime, Liberal Democrats believe Trident is unaffordable and that Britain’s security would be better served by stepping down the nuclear ladder to a more modern nuclear deterrent. We believe that spending billions on a nuclear weapons system designed for the Cold War era is no longer acceptable. - Climate Change.
Our commitment to the environment and to combating climate change has been second to none. With Liberal Democrat Secretaries of State for Energy and Climate Change and for Business, it has been Liberal Democrats in Government that have pressed the climate change agenda and have given us the green deal and the Green Investment Bank, as well as a commitment to renewable energy that has often been opposed tooth and nail by our Conservative colleagues in government. In Government, Liberal Democrats have made huge progress on renewable energy, doubling the amount of energy generated from renewable sources since 2010 and switching even more electricity production to renewable sources remains our priority.
We have also planted one million trees, introduced a plastic carrier bag charge, ensured new homes will be built to a zero carbon standard from 2016 and stopped the Tories from selling off our forests.
Our manifesto is the greenest ever from a major political party.
We propose to pass “Five Green laws”: a Nature Act, a Resource Efficiency and Zero Waste Britain Act, a Green Transport Act, a Zero Carbon Britain Act and a Green Buildings Act.
Our Zero Carbon Britain Act will set a new legally binding target to bring net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, to be monitored and audited by the Climate Change Committee (CCC). There will be a 2030 power sector decarbonisation target of 50-100g per kWh, as recommended by the CCC. Emission Performance Standards for existing coal power stations will be designed to ensure electricity generation from unabated coal will stop by 2025. In addition the Green Investment Bank will get full borrowing powers, to boost further investment in low carbon technologies. - Housing And Rents.
We have set an ambitious target of building 300,000 new homes to help address the chronic housing shortage that is stifling so many people’s chances of finding decent accommodation for money they can afford. Within a year we will set out our detailed plan of how this can be achieved.
We will allow local authorities to borrow to build affordable housing. We will scrap plans to exempt smaller developments from the requirement to provide affordable housing.
We will introduce an Intermediate Housing Fund to fund affordable rented homes, shared ownership homes, rent to own, where tenants build up a stake in their homes as they pay rent over time, and more new build shared accommodation at the LHA shared accommodation rate.
We will also substantially improve the protection of tenants in the private rented sector.
However, moving back to the old system of rent controls would be a retrograde step, which would, on past experience, be likely to lead to less rather than more homes being available to rent. - Robin Hood Tax.
While I can see the attraction of a transaction tax, the reality is that unless it were introduced in cooperation with our international partners it would merely drive financial services out of the UK. While there is every reason to ensure that the financial sector is effectively run, regulated and monitored, there is no reason to drive one of our most successful international industries out of business. - Benefit Sanctions.
I appreciate that it is helpful to attach some conditions to benefits, as a way of incentivising people to engage with the job seeking process. However, all too often, the way sanctions are implemented is unhelpful and disproportionate. For instance, using a four week initial sanction because a claimant has missed one appointment at the job centre, is unfair
Further problems also arise because of the difficulties sanctioned claimants have with accessing hardship payments. The options available are often not properly publicised, the process of claiming them can be complicated and payments take up to two weeks to arrive for non-vulnerable claimants.
In Government the Liberal Democrats have taken steps to improve the way sanctions decisions are taken and to make sure people know how to claim hardship payments; we have also made it quicker to access hardship payments.
When payments are stopped or delayed, we have changed rules to allow jobcentre advisors to direct claimants who need additional help to food banks. The Trussell Trust, who provide a network of food banks across the UK, has welcomed this move. Of course, this should only ever need to happen in exceptional circumstances and I want to see changes which mean far fewer people are put in the position of having to rely on food banks.
The Lib Dems will review the way sanctions operate and have proposed the introduction of a ‘yellow card’ scheme. Under this system, people would be given a second chance and an explanation of what they need to do differently, before they lose any of their benefits.
As part of this process, claimants would be thoroughly briefed on the sanctions process and how to avoid having their payments removed, in order to reduce the number of people who are sanctioned excessively or inappropriately.
I also want to see improvements in work capability assessments so people who are unable to work, because of a disability or illness, are assessed quickly and fairly.
Equally, it is important we do everything we can to give people financial stability in the longer term through work and training opportunities. I very much welcome figures showing there are now nearly 1.9 million more people in work and two million more young people in apprenticeships than when the Liberal Democrats entered Government five years ago. - Fracking.
The independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has confirmed that with appropriate regulation shale gas production and consumption would not increase and could actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to the Liberal Democrats’ insistence, the CCC will be required to produce reports on the impact of fracking on UK carbon emissions and consistency with carbon budgets. Public Health England has also confirmed that with appropriate regulation, any risks to health are manageable.
We have ensured that thirteen “necessary conditions” will need to be met before fracking can take place, including ensuring an Environmental Impact Assessment happens, independent inspection of wells, notification of local residents, and consultation with relevant water companies. Traffic movements and noise pollution will be considered in judging any planning application and seismic monitoring will be in place in order to assess seismic risks.
Local communities will have a say on fracking in their area and will benefit from any potential shale gas well. There will be stringent regulation of the integrity of any wells drilled and of any fugitive methane emissions. Fracking will be banned in National Parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
As I have explained above, Liberal Democrats take environmental concerns very seriously and have ensured that appropriate safeguards are in place. But in order to lead the fight against climate change we think shale gas can have a role as renewable energy develops as part of a “bridge” on our journey towards a zero carbon Britain. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
I think it was right that the UK reviewed the issue of our arms exports to Israel last year, and I was pleased that the Coalition Government said it would suspend the relevant licences to Israel if hostilities restart and would revoke any licences that undermine the peace process. Israel has also been listed as a country of concern in the UK Government’s Human Rights and Democracy Report and Liberal Democrats believe that there should be a presumption of denial when considering whether to grant arms export licenses for equipment bound for countries that are listed in that report.
In my view the priority now must be to restart peace talks as quickly as possible to bring an end to the violence, improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians and Israelis as well as ensuring Israel’s security and Palestine’s territorial integrity and state ambitions. I am pleased that Liberal Democrats in Government have ensured the UK continues to play its part in the pursuit of peace, and I am keen that the UK continues to play this role going forward.
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Detailed response from Alex Pierre-Traves
- The NHS.
NO?, except I do think the legal duty that applies to the secretary of state should be revised. - TTIP.
I support trade as it creates jobs and a stronger economy. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
I think this area is in need of review / reform. - Trident Replacement.
I support the continuation of a nuclear deterrent. - Climate Change.
I need to review the details around this in more detail though agree we need to work towards the goal of being a ‘greener’ society. - Housing And Rents.
There are so many policies contained within this short paragraph that I must say ‘no’ on the whole, though I agree there is a broader point to address. - Robin Hood Tax.
No. - Benefit Sanctions.
Generally ‘no’ though I do feel some aspects of the benefits system need further review. - Fracking.
For now I’m supporting fracking. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
This is a complicated matter. I am undecided on this particular aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
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Detailed response from Andrew Pointon
- The NHS.
The Green MP Caroline Lucas introduced the Bill and I would support anything that works towards a health service that is in public hands, free at the point of use, accountable, and removes all privatisation. Our health system is not something that should be used by private firms to make profits. Having lived in the USA for a short period of time and experienced the American health system, we need to cherish the NHS and fight to resist any move to an insurance based system, and to end its privatisation. - TTIP.
The Green Party is totally opposed to TTIP and I support that position for the precise reasons you have cited. - Fair Asylum Decisions.
The UK’s treatment of asylum seekers, especially when their claims have failed, is appalling. We need a much fairer system that treats people with dignity and respect. - Trident Replacement.
I have been a member or supporter of CND since my teens and I believe in unilateral nuclear disarmament. We don’t need nuclear weapons and the UK should take a lead in getting rid of them. Furthermore the public money ear-marked for Trident’s replacement could be much better used elsewhere as you have highlighted. The Green Party is totally against replacing Trident. - Climate Change.
Climate Change is the biggest threat to humankind. If the planet is uninhabitable by humans within a century or so, every other issue is irrelevant. The Green Party has a complete programme of policies that help tackle Climate Change and improve the lives of all people, whether it be around housing, transport, or energy use to name but a few. - Housing And Rents.
The solutions suggested in the question are all pretty much Green Party policy. We are against “right to buy” and would end it, we want to cap rents, introduce longer tenancies, license landlords, and build 500,000 properties for rentable social housing by 2020. - Robin Hood Tax.
Introducing a Robin Hood Tax is Green Party policy as one of the measures to make the economy work for all not just the top 1%. - Benefit Sanctions.
Long term the Green Party aspires to introduce a Citizen’s Income or Basic Income paid to every citizen by right and kept whether you work or not. Until that is introduced we must prevent sanctions driven poverty affecting the lives and life chances of anyone. We must end “workfare” and other exploitative practices that Universal Credit utilises. - Fracking.
Fracking is totally the wrong direction the UK should be going to improve its energy supply. The Green Party totally opposes fracking and supports the expansion of the renewable energy sector with investment channelled to that rather than fracking or nuclear. - Arms Embargo Against Israel.
I am Branch International Officer for the Leeds Local Government Branch of UNISON and a supporter of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). My reports to Branch often publicise the work of PSC and highlights the appalling actions of Israel towards the Palestinian people. I wholeheartedly back a two-way arms embargo against Israel until it ends human rights violations and complies with international law.
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A bit more detail from Anne Murgatroyd
Question 2, TTIP.
UKIP will at a minimum seek to exempt the NHS from TTIP. Waiting until full information is released for subsequent decisions.
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Detailed response from Rachel Reeves
The NHS.
Labour believes the answer to the health challenges we face is not to set hospital against hospital, but to join up services around patients’ needs. We will repeal the Government’s Health and Social Care Act, scrapping the competition regime and restoring proper democratic accountability for the NHS. Repealing the Act will restore the Secretary of State’s duty to provide a comprehensive national service which is free at the point of use, and scrap David Cameron’s market framework in the NHS. We will establish a sensible commissioning framework, based on the principle of an NHS preferred provider, to stop the drive towards privatisation and make sure that NHS services are not destabilised by competition and fragmentation. Where private companies are involved in providing clinical services, we will impose a cap on any profits they can make from the NHS, to ensure that the needs of patients are always put first.
Vote Against TTIP.
Trade deals between the EU and the US are important, but they must work properly to the benefit of workers and consumers. I share the concerns that have been raised about the impact that TTIP could have on public services, particularly the NHS, and believe that the NHS should be exempt from the agreement. I also share concerns about the ISDS provisions and will call for far greater transparency around an exclusion for legislation in the public interest. I also believe that that the benefits of any treaty must filter down to employees and consumers. Treaties can cement and even increase labour, consumer, environmental and safety standards. Concerns have been raised that TTIP could reduce standards, although the principle behind the treaty is to keep or raise standards rather than reduce them. Labour will only support an agreement that avoids a race to the bottom and promotes decent jobs.
Fair Asylum Decisions.
A Labour Home Secretary would be working to deliver a more humane asylum system. I believe oversight of the system needs to be stronger and more staff are needed to ensure claims are processed properly. It is right to offer safe haven to those escaping rape, torture, genocide or the midnight knock from the secret police. I’m proud of this British tradition, and proud of the role Leeds has played as a city in offering safe haven through the years as well.
Trident Replacement.
I want to see a world free of nuclear weapons. But in an increasingly uncertain world, where others still possess nuclear weapons, and the future security landscape remains uncertain, unilaterally abandoning the nuclear deterrent will not make Britain or the world more secure. I will support a Labour government’s efforts to lead an international drive towards multilateral nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and pushing the agenda of global antiproliferation by seeking to advance ‘Global Zero’ with nuclear and non-nuclear states. It would require a clear body of evidence for me to change my belief in the need for a minimum, credible, independent nuclear deterrent while this is progressed.
Climate Change.
The last Labour Government introduced the groundbreaking Climate Change Act, with the first legally binding emissions reduction targets. We will build on this proud record. We are committed to existing Carbon Budgets, and we will set an additional legally binding target to take the carbon out of our electricity supply by 2030. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris later this year, a Labour Government will work for a global, legally-binding and ambitious agreement to tackle climate change. We will push for global targets for reducing carbon emissions, rising every five years, with regular reviews towards the long-term goal of zero net global emissions in the latter half of this century.
Housing And Rents.
Britain is in the midst of the biggest housing crisis in a generation, with the lowest levels of house building in peacetime since the 1920s. Young people have been priced out of home ownership. Fewer affordable homes are being built, homelessness is rising, and millions face insecurity and poor standards in the private rented sector.
Labour reduced homelessness by 70 per cent when we were last in office, but all forms of homelessness are back on the rise, with rough sleeping having increased by 55 per cent. We are committed to reversing this trend by tackling the causes of homelessness and rough sleeping.
A Labour government will make sure that at least 200,000 homes a year get built by 2020 – almost double the current level. To help young people and families get on the housing ladder, we will give local authorities the power to give first call to first time buyers on new homes in areas of housing growth. We want a housing market that rewards the building of high quality homes rather than land banking and speculation. So we will introduce greater transparency in the land market and give local authorities new ‘use it or lose it’ powers to encourage developers to build. We will build more affordable homes by prioritising capital investment for housing and by reforming the council house financing system. We will give local authorities powers to reduce the number of empty homes, including higher council tax on long term empty properties.
For the 11 million people who rent privately, the first Queen’s Speech of the next Labour Government will include laws to cap rents so they cannot rise by more than the rate of inflation during secure three-year tenancies, require landlords to disclose the rent levels charged to previous tenants so that householders can negotiate the best possible deal at the start of their contract, and penalise rogue landlords by reducing buy-to-let tax relief for those who own hundreds or thousands of properties which don’t meet basic standards.
Robin Hood Tax.
The next Labour Government will increase the current Bank Levy to fund an increase in free childcare from 15 to 25 hours a week for working parents of three and four year olds, and we will introduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses to pay for a Jobs Guarantee for young unemployed people. Labour will also reform our banking system to make it more competitive in the long term, including by introducing at least two new challenger banks and a market share test. We’ll continue to campaign for an international Financial Transaction Tax covering major financial centres. It is important that any FTT should incorporate the widest possible global participation to mitigate the risks of traders simply playing one jurisdiction against another.
Benefit Sanctions.
A Labour government will scrap targets for sanctions within Jobcentre Plus so that Jobcentre Plus staff can focus on helping people back into work, not simply stopping their benefits. We will take forward key recommendations of the All Party Inquiry Report on Food Poverty, including improving ways of working to better identify vulnerable groups, help them to claim hardship payments and access support services available through Jobcentre Plus and contracted providers. Labour will also protect the most vulnerable from benefit sanctions, by ensuring that JobCentre staff receive updated training on identifying those who could be exempted under current guidance such as those with mental health issues, those with caring responsibilities, or those affected by domestic violence.
A Labour government will target in-work poverty and insecurity by raising the National Minimum Wage to £8 before the end of 2019, getting more workers paid a living wage, and banning exploitative zero hours contracts.
Fracking Ban.
Shale gas extraction must not come at the expense of robust environmental protections or climate change commitments, and should not go ahead unless we have a framework of robust regulation and comprehensive inspection in place. The Tories have repeatedly sidelined people’s genuine concerns. We cannot allow fracking to take place until the regulatory scheme is up to scratch. Up to eight in ten homes still rely on gas for heating, and while this is the case shale gas may have a role to play. But that potential benefit cannot come at the expense of robust environmental protections or our climate change commitments.
Arms Embargo Against Israel.
Peace and security in the Middle East remains one of Labour’s most important foreign policy objectives. I remain committed to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on a two-state solution, and will support efforts to provide a successful outcome of the peace process.
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