Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Lib Dems two-faced on civil service cuts
THE Liberal Democrats are being two-faced on the issue of cuts in the civil service.
When Gordon Brown announced reductions in the civil service during the last Comprehensive Spending Review, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Lembit Opik criticised the announcement. And Liberal Cardiff Central AM Jenny Randerson has been campaigning against possible civil service cuts in Cardiff.
But today the Liberal Democrats announced at their party conference that if they win power in Westminster, they will axe over 100,000 civil servants.
Labour AM CARL SARGEANT said:
"This is just another example of how unprincipled and two-faced the Liberal Democrats are. I challenge Lembit Opik and Jenny Randerson either to condemn their own party leaders or to apologise to those civil servants they have provided false hope to and explain to them that the Liberal Democrats aren’t really a very serious party.
"Sadly we are getting used to this kind of behaviour from the Lib Dems. They campaign locally against anti-social behaviour and petty crime even though their MPs voted against tough new Government measures to tackle these very issues.
"The Liberal Democrats have no guiding principles. They are the party without a soul, without a conscience.
"Notes:
"Gordon Brown used to present himself as the champion of the worker. Now, employees find out that their job may be on the line live on television." - Lembit Opik, Western Mail, 13/07/04Welsh Liberal Democrats Economic Development Spokesperson, Jenny Randerson, has tabled an urgent question to the Labour Assembly Government about the impact on Wales of the announcement by the Department for Work and Pensions that it will be pursuing a programme of job losses and site amalgamation as part of its so called "modernisation" programme. - Welsh Lib Dem website, 30/06/04
When Gordon Brown announced reductions in the civil service during the last Comprehensive Spending Review, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Lembit Opik criticised the announcement. And Liberal Cardiff Central AM Jenny Randerson has been campaigning against possible civil service cuts in Cardiff.
But today the Liberal Democrats announced at their party conference that if they win power in Westminster, they will axe over 100,000 civil servants.
Labour AM CARL SARGEANT said:
"This is just another example of how unprincipled and two-faced the Liberal Democrats are. I challenge Lembit Opik and Jenny Randerson either to condemn their own party leaders or to apologise to those civil servants they have provided false hope to and explain to them that the Liberal Democrats aren’t really a very serious party.
"Sadly we are getting used to this kind of behaviour from the Lib Dems. They campaign locally against anti-social behaviour and petty crime even though their MPs voted against tough new Government measures to tackle these very issues.
"The Liberal Democrats have no guiding principles. They are the party without a soul, without a conscience.
"Notes:
"Gordon Brown used to present himself as the champion of the worker. Now, employees find out that their job may be on the line live on television." - Lembit Opik, Western Mail, 13/07/04Welsh Liberal Democrats Economic Development Spokesperson, Jenny Randerson, has tabled an urgent question to the Labour Assembly Government about the impact on Wales of the announcement by the Department for Work and Pensions that it will be pursuing a programme of job losses and site amalgamation as part of its so called "modernisation" programme. - Welsh Lib Dem website, 30/06/04
Senior Lib Dem blasts own leader
A SENIOR Liberal Democrat has blasted his own party leader in Wales, dubbing recent comments on fox hunting a "disgrace".
South Wales West AM Peter Black has launched a scathing attack on his party’s Welsh leader, Lembit Opik, for saying a ban on hunting would lead to violence in the countryside.
PETER BLACK, on his own website, said:"The reported comments of Lembit Opik in today's Western Mail are a disgrace and he should withdraw them. Although Lembit condemns violence and illegal acts his warning that civil unrest and even targeted violence will follow a ban on hunting with hounds effectively amounts to an explicit threat on behalf of the fox-killers. It is not a position that any responsible politician should take.
"I personally do not believe that 'young men would resort to violence if "the only way of life they know" is criminalised while others would risk imprisonment or heavy fines to defy the ban', but in saying that he believes that such a thing could happen, Lembit has got off the fence and effectively issued a call to arms. He is not speaking on behalf of the Welsh Liberal Democrats or me on this issue.
"Labour Cardiff West MP KEVIN BRENNAN said:"I couldn’t agree more with Peter Black’s comments. It was irresponsible of Lembit to talk of possible violence if hunting is banned after our vote in the Commons.
"What this comment reveals more than anything I think is the gulf between what the Liberal Democrats say in the cities and what they say in their rural seats. Recently we have seen the Liberals campaigning against anti-social behaviour in by-elections and council elections despite having voted against tough Labour measures to combat petty crime.
"This ferocious attack on Lembit Opik is symptomatic of today’s Liberal Party - unsure about what they stand for and lacking in solid, fully costed policies they can stand up in public."
South Wales West AM Peter Black has launched a scathing attack on his party’s Welsh leader, Lembit Opik, for saying a ban on hunting would lead to violence in the countryside.
PETER BLACK, on his own website, said:"The reported comments of Lembit Opik in today's Western Mail are a disgrace and he should withdraw them. Although Lembit condemns violence and illegal acts his warning that civil unrest and even targeted violence will follow a ban on hunting with hounds effectively amounts to an explicit threat on behalf of the fox-killers. It is not a position that any responsible politician should take.
"I personally do not believe that 'young men would resort to violence if "the only way of life they know" is criminalised while others would risk imprisonment or heavy fines to defy the ban', but in saying that he believes that such a thing could happen, Lembit has got off the fence and effectively issued a call to arms. He is not speaking on behalf of the Welsh Liberal Democrats or me on this issue.
"Labour Cardiff West MP KEVIN BRENNAN said:"I couldn’t agree more with Peter Black’s comments. It was irresponsible of Lembit to talk of possible violence if hunting is banned after our vote in the Commons.
"What this comment reveals more than anything I think is the gulf between what the Liberal Democrats say in the cities and what they say in their rural seats. Recently we have seen the Liberals campaigning against anti-social behaviour in by-elections and council elections despite having voted against tough Labour measures to combat petty crime.
"This ferocious attack on Lembit Opik is symptomatic of today’s Liberal Party - unsure about what they stand for and lacking in solid, fully costed policies they can stand up in public."
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Splott Swimming Pool
The official re-opening of Splott Swimming Pool is to take place on Thursday 23rd September.
The Sports Council for Wales and Cardiff Council jointly funded the work, which included:
- A new roof and ceiling- Upgrading of the shower areas
- A larger gym fitted out with new equipment
- A larger foyer area with new doors for easier and safer use for disabled customers
- A family/disabled changing room
- Complete refurbishment of the pool plant equipment and air handling units
The Sports Council for Wales and Cardiff Council jointly funded the work, which included:
- A new roof and ceiling- Upgrading of the shower areas
- A larger gym fitted out with new equipment
- A larger foyer area with new doors for easier and safer use for disabled customers
- A family/disabled changing room
- Complete refurbishment of the pool plant equipment and air handling units
