Broadland Liberal Democrats

Norfolk Liberal Democrats have summarised the proposals in Norfolk County Council's budget as "unimaginative".

Steff Aquarone, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, said "Norfolk's recovery from the pandemic cannot be business as usual with the same tired out old ideas. We need a bold, new vision for Norfolk. The Conservatives have simply relied on government handouts whilst continually asking people to pay more for less.

25 years ago our former leader Paddy Ashdown laid out the stakes for Britain's position in the world:

Britain's role as the bulwark against tyranny in two wars this century was not a product of isolationism. It was the natural response of a nation used to engaging in the world and certain about its role as a European power.

Millions of people across the country have made untold sacrifices in the past year.

Boris Johnson must not squander the months of sacrifice by millions of people and businesses across the country

People have been isolated from their families, hundreds of thousands of businesses have been shuttered and our precious freedoms have been curtailed.

Here is the speech given by Steff Aquarone, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Norfolk County Council on the council's budget and on initial proposals to show what the Liberal Democrats would do to speed up Norfolk's recovery from the Covid pandemic.

"I'd like to start by acknowledging what previous speakers have said… that for all of us here, this past year has been like no other. And to thank the council officers who have worked tirelessly and adaptively to do what they can, with the resources they've been given.

A one day trial to allow people who carried out home improvements during the lockdown to dispose of the waste for free at the County's Household Waste Recycling sites is being proposed.

The trial would be available once people are allowed to travel safely again, across all the County's recycling centres allowing disposal of up to three items free of charge for a fixed period.

Norwich's most polluted street could be in for a clean up thanks to innovative air filtering technology.

CityTrees, which are made by green technology firm Green City Solutions, are the world's first biotech pollution filter and use living plants and mosses to filter pollutants from the air, creating microenvironments of cleaner air that benefit residents and passers-by.

Liberal Democrats in the East of England have called on the Government to reinstate the EnAble Fund for disabled candidates running for public office.

With political campaigning made more difficult because of Covid-19, disabled candidates are unfairly disadvantaged. The current Conservative Government should fulfil the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, which states disabled people have the right to 'participate effectively and fully in political life on an equal basis with others.'

Adam Robertson, Diversity Lead for East of England Liberal Democrats, said:

During this pandemic, carers have stepped up in very difficult circumstances to look after elderly, disabled and vulnerable people.

Carer's Allowance is just £67 a week. It's just not nearly enough.

Unpaid carers in particular are doing a remarkable and important job looking after our loved ones.

But many carers are facing extreme financial hardship.

Just like with Black History Month (October) or Disability History Month (which runs from November into December), it's typically filled with events (check ours out here) and discussion. LGBT+ History Month reminds us of the progress we've made, but also warns us about the injustices that we have only recently escaped - and injustices that are still with us.

During this pandemic, millions of people have stepped up heroically to look after elderly, disabled and vulnerable people.

Most carers are simply exhausted during coronavirus. Most haven't had a single break since the pandemic began.

A recent survey by Carers UK found that 81% of carers are spending more time on their caring responsibilities during the pandemic, mainly because the needs of the person they are caring for have increased or because the local care services they rely on have been reduced or closed.