Latest news with #LiberalDemocrats
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Powys MPs support assisted dying bill as vote passes
Mid Wales MPs voted in favour of the bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales as the law cleared its initial stages in the House of Commons. As the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill reached its final stage in Parliament on June 20, the bill passed through the House of Commons by a narrow margin of 23 votes, ending with 314 votes in favour and 291 against. Among the MPs who voted in favour of the legislation were Mid Wales representatives, David Chadwick of the Liberal Democrats who is MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, and Steve Witherden of Labour, MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr. Following the vote, Mr Chadwick said: 'After carefully considering the arguments on both sides, I voted in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill because I believe people with terminal illnesses deserve the right to die with dignity and control and that the legislation has the necessary safeguards to do this in a safe way. 'This was not a decision I came to lightly, and I'd like to thank all the constituents who contacted me to let me know their views on the issue, whatever side of the debate you were on. 'I have heard too many stories of families forced to watch loved ones suffer unnecessarily, and as a Liberal and someone driven by compassion, I feel the law should allow for someone to make a clear, informed, and voluntary choice at the end of their life in a dignified and humane manner. 'Throughout this process, I have been struck by the thoughtful and respectful debate on both sides, driven by compassion and deep personal conviction, and while people may disagree, we have done so and continue to do so civilly and with empathy.' Mr Witherden had already expressed support for the bill before the final vote, saying in November 2024: 'At a pre-election hustings, I made it clear that I supported changes to the law to legalise assisted dying, provided I was satisfied that safeguards against any abuse would be enshrined in the new law. 'I am aware of the opposition to the legislation and understand fears, especially from some disabled people, those with mental health conditions and groups suffering from specific diseases. "However, I believe the proposed legislation enshrines sufficient protections for such groups, ensuring their voices will not be marginalised.'
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Norfolk council leader sorry over 'poor people' Facebook post
A council leader apologised "unreservedly" for posting a picture of a steak dinner on Facebook with the words: "Wonder what all the poor people are doing?"Norfolk County Council's Conservative leader Kay Mason Billig said it was a private joke that had been taken out of context and the comments were "not intended to be about anyone else".A copy of her post, which showed a tomahawk steak, red wine and a salad, was shared with the Eastern Daily council's Liberal Democrat group leader Brian Watkins said it made "a mockery of many in our county struggling to make ends meet" and called for her to resign. Mason Billig, who has led the council since 2023, said: "Of course I apologise unreservedly if I have caused any offence, it was never my intention to do so."She said the image – taken from her personal Facebook page – was being "twisted into something it isn't"."My husband and I have sometimes called ourselves 'the poor people'," she explained."It's a private joke as we live fairly modestly, so when we have a treat, we will sometimes post about it."It's not intended to be about anyone else and is no reflection on people who are less well off than ourselves."I am deeply disappointed that someone has decided to be this horrible when they must certainly know it's actually self deprecation." While the post was made on her personal page, University of Essex professor of government Paul Whiteley said politicians had to be careful using social media."To somebody who didn't know her, it would sound like she was being rude about people who are poor, even if that's not what she meant," he said."That's what it will sound like to the vast majority of people."Watkins, whose Liberal Democrats are the main opposition group on the council, said Mason Billig "should consider her resignation immediately"."A councillor is never off duty. These comments make a mockery of many in our county struggling to make ends meet."Labour group leader Steve Morphew said Mason Billig was "out of touch". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
New homes at beauty spot included in West Berkshire Council plan
A proposal to build homes on a beauty spot opposed by at least 2,000 people has been included in a council's strategy for future Berkshire Council's Local Plan, which outlines where major development should take place, was reviewed to ensure it is up to date until Liberal Democrats who control the authority had wanted to scrap the Local Plan in 2023 but the then Conservative government stopped that taking Hill, a field and nature area between Savacentre in Calcot and City Road in Tilehurst, has been allocated for 138 homes. There have been three major attempts by developers to build on Pincents Hill but they failed because the site was not allocated for the plan, including building on Pincents Hill, was approved by West Berkshire councillors on 10 those, 22 voted in favour of changing the plan, 13 voted against and one Conservative councillor, Dennis Bennyworth, abstained. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Call to end postcode lottery in children's social care after Sara Sharif tragedy
The Government has been urged to end the postcode lottery in children's social care after the tragic death of Sara Sharif. Sara was just 10 years old when she was murdered in her own home by her father and stepmother in 2023, despite being known to social services her whole life. Liberal Democrat peer Lord Mohammed of Tinsley has tabled amendments to the Children's Wellbeing And Schools Bill that aim to give a 'basic level of protection' to every child. The former youth worker told the House of Lords on Thursday: 'Every child, no matter where they live or what challenges they face, should be guaranteed a basic level of protection.' One of his amendments, dubbed Sara's Law, would introduce national standards for accessing and receiving support through 'children in need plans' to help reduce regional variations in the type, frequency and duration of support provided. A second amendment would establish the Child Protection Authority, a body that would work to improve child protection practices, advise Government and the sector, and conduct inspections. Lord Mohammed told peers: 'Neither of these proposals are theoretical. Both are urgent responses to real-world system failures, failures that we have seen repeated with devastating consequences across our country… 'We cannot ignore the repeated failures of the current framework. 'The names of Sara Sharif, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson will remain etched in our nation's conscience for years to come. 'Each of these children were known to professionals. Each was failed by a system that saw the risk, but lacked the clarity, coordination and accountability to prevent harm.' Section 17 of the Children's Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children 'in need', those whose health or development would suffer without additional support. However, thresholds are set at a local level, which results in a 'stark regional disparity', Lord Mohammed added. He told peers: 'In the absence of a national threshold or quality standards, this power is deployed in a deeply inconsistent way… 'It creates a system in which access to help is determined, not by a child's vulnerability, but by their postcode.' He added that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) found that existing child protection mechanisms are 'fragmented, inconsistent and insufficiently accountable'. The former MEP concluded: 'This isn't about removing local flexibility levels, it's about setting a national baseline for protection so that a child's right to support is not dependent on what they have.' Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has declared her support for the national thresholds proposed by Lord Mohammed, a move that aligns with her own recommendations. Dame Rachel said ahead of the debate: 'Sara Sharif died when she became invisible to local services. 'All the warning signs were missed – a history of domestic abuse, bruises on her body, being removed from school – because her circumstances did not warrant help or support from professionals in Surrey, despite having been known to the local authority since birth. 'As the Children's Wellbeing And Schools Bill returns to Parliament, I urge peers to support the proposed amendment to set national thresholds for triggering an assessment by social care, ending the postcode lottery in children's social care that is putting young lives at risk. 'I also urge them to take this opportunity to give children equal protection from assault, which Sara was cruelly denied. 'My own research shows alarming variation in how and when different areas step in to protect and support a vulnerable child – no child's safety should be determined by inconsistent local decisions. 'The time to act is now, and this amendment is a huge step forward in making sure no child slips through the net.' Responding, education minister Baroness Smith of Malvern said: 'Prescriptive national criteria with automatic referrals would risk narrowing the cohort of children, actually limiting local flexibility in providing support.' She said the existing legislation on providing services to children in need gave local authorities discretion. Lady Smith added: 'A danger of being specific in the way suggested here is that groups are left out, narrowing the cohort who receive support, exactly in fact, what the amendment is seeking to avoid.' The minister also insisted that there was national guidance to local areas on safeguarding children. She added: 'This Government is absolutely committed to protecting children from significant harm, providing the right support at the right time, and ultimately improving outcomes so that all children can thrive.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Call to end postcode lottery in children's social care after Sara Sharif tragedy
The Government has been urged to end the postcode lottery in children's social care after the tragic death of Sara Sharif. Sara was just 10 years old when she was murdered in her own home by her father and stepmother in 2023, despite being known to social services her whole life. Liberal Democrat peer Lord Mohammed of Tinsley has tabled amendments to the Children's Wellbeing And Schools Bill that aim to give a 'basic level of protection' to every child. The former youth worker told the House of Lords on Thursday: 'Every child, no matter where they live or what challenges they face, should be guaranteed a basic level of protection.' One of his amendments, dubbed Sara's Law, would introduce national standards for accessing and receiving support through 'children in need plans' to help reduce regional variations in the type, frequency and duration of support provided. A second amendment would establish the Child Protection Authority, a body that would work to improve child protection practices, advise Government and the sector, and conduct inspections. Lord Mohammed told peers: 'Neither of these proposals are theoretical. Both are urgent responses to real-world system failures, failures that we have seen repeated with devastating consequences across our country… 'We cannot ignore the repeated failures of the current framework. 'The names of Sara Sharif, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson will remain etched in our nation's conscience for years to come. 'Each of these children were known to professionals. Each was failed by a system that saw the risk, but lacked the clarity, coordination and accountability to prevent harm.' Section 17 of the Children's Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children 'in need', those whose health or development would suffer without additional support. However, thresholds are set at a local level, which results in a 'stark regional disparity', Lord Mohammed added. He told peers: 'In the absence of a national threshold or quality standards, this power is deployed in a deeply inconsistent way… 'It creates a system in which access to help is determined, not by a child's vulnerability, but by their postcode.' He added that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) found that existing child protection mechanisms are 'fragmented, inconsistent and insufficiently accountable'. The former MEP concluded: 'This isn't about removing local flexibility levels, it's about setting a national baseline for protection so that a child's right to support is not dependent on what they have.' Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has declared her support for the national thresholds proposed by Lord Mohammed, a move that aligns with her own recommendations. Dame Rachel said ahead of the debate: 'Sara Sharif died when she became invisible to local services. 'All the warning signs were missed – a history of domestic abuse, bruises on her body, being removed from school – because her circumstances did not warrant help or support from professionals in Surrey, despite having been known to the local authority since birth. 'As the Children's Wellbeing And Schools Bill returns to Parliament, I urge peers to support the proposed amendment to set national thresholds for triggering an assessment by social care, ending the postcode lottery in children's social care that is putting young lives at risk. 'I also urge them to take this opportunity to give children equal protection from assault, which Sara was cruelly denied. 'My own research shows alarming variation in how and when different areas step in to protect and support a vulnerable child – no child's safety should be determined by inconsistent local decisions. 'The time to act is now, and this amendment is a huge step forward in making sure no child slips through the net.' Responding, education minister Baroness Smith of Malvern said: 'Prescriptive national criteria with automatic referrals would risk narrowing the cohort of children, actually limiting local flexibility in providing support.' She said the existing legislation on providing services to children in need gave local authorities discretion. Lady Smith added: 'A danger of being specific in the way suggested here is that groups are left out, narrowing the cohort who receive support, exactly in fact, what the amendment is seeking to avoid.' The minister also insisted that there was national guidance to local areas on safeguarding children. She added: 'This Government is absolutely committed to protecting children from significant harm, providing the right support at the right time, and ultimately improving outcomes so that all children can thrive.'
