Tory attacks are they now worried ?

It was interesting somewhat to be attacked on Twitter by a couple of Tories last night about the Lib Dem fightback.

It is always the case that when we get down to work other parties become concerned. In Twerton ward we have been working hard since the election and have spoken to over 600 households since the last election many openly telling us that they regret not voting Lib Dem at the last election but will be next time.

I take comfort that this is clearly getting through to the Tories and the more they move the austerity agenda the more people will reject them and turn to the only party willing to stand up to them.

Many questions have been asked internally within the Liberal Democrats in Bath as to why we fared so badly in both the General election and the local elections.

These questions are being answered and we know exactly what happened and are putting mechanisms in place to address these issues.

The one shinning light that happened is that we gained a seat from the conservatives in Bathavon North and gained a council seat in Lambridge.

We also hold key activists and campaigners in many wards who are also working hard in their communities to help residents affected the Conservative Austerity measures.

The last majority Conservative government introduced the Poll tax that hit the poor hard as will the austerity measures that are now being put in Place. The Tories lost Bath to the Liberal Democrats then, so my message to our new MP is don't get too comfortable.

The Liberal Democrats wont be coming into the next election complacent and we will have a very strong team of candidates for the Local elections in 2019 led by a very strong Parliamentary candidate.

I wonder if this article will be attacked or criticised by the Tories if it is then it just shows how complacent they have become in just a short period of time.
 

What was Labours ambition in Bath

These are my own thoughts after a few weeks reflection.

Labour could expect to be rightly buoyant going into the General election and could expect to make some progress in the City.

We were aware that they were working hard in several wards that in the end did not come their way although increasing their vote across the City.

The surprise came in my own ward of Twerton where a young Labour candidate finished second although still being a long way behind my own personal vote deposing a long standing councillor. I in fact increased my own vote quite significantly and even put my majority up, but the hard work of this young Labour candidate saw him elected in second place only time will see if he will put the work in that is needed in this area?

I blame myself somewhat for not seeing the signs that votes were leaking away from my former ward colleague and am reflecting on what we could have done differently.

At a General election Labour has normally faired quite badly in Bath just holding their deposit on many occasions, but this time they put their vote up quite significantly by reducing the Liberal Democrat Vote in the parties heartlands. 

It is ironic that the rise in the Labour and Green vote in Bath was nearly all from the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative vote hardly moved.

If you were cynical you could say that by people voting Labour at the General Election succeeded in electing a conservative MP for Bath.

Is this something that Labour wanted only they can answer that but that is what they succeeded in doing.

From listening to residents over the weeks since the election many have said what have we done.

I suspect that the Labour vote at this election may be a high point for them in Bath but only time will tell.

Conservative spending cuts risk to B&NES residents’ health

In-year cuts to public health spending are a threat to B&NES residents’ health, according to local Liberal Democrats. The Government has announced a £200m cut to public health spending by Councils.

Councillor Tim Ball (Liberal Democrat, Twerton) commented:

“These abruptly-announced cuts to public health spending represent a clear threat to local residents’ wellbeing. Public health programmes, such as helping people stop smoking, contribute to preventing illness and it is the most vulnerable residents who are likely to suffer if they are withdrawn. 

It is also short-sighted of the Government to threaten programmes aimed at reducing wider health and social care costs.

“The Government has indicated that Councils are expected to use reserves to cover the cost of services including drug and alcohol harm reduction programmes and smoking cessation clinics. However reserves can only be spent once. Local Councils are doing good work with new public health powers, but they need the freedom and funding to continue:.

“With the new B&NES Conservative administration reviewing many programmes planned by the previous Liberal Democrat administration, B&NES residents would be justified in fearing further local cuts.”