Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who supported us in the Tameside council elections on May 4th.

Nearby we gained two seats in Manchester and moved forward in Stockport to be the largest party with 30 of the 63 seats – ahead of Labour on 24 while the Conservatives lost every seat they had on the council.

Nationally 12 more councils now have a Lib Dem majority and we made a net gain of more than 400 councillors across England.

Here in Tameside:

  • John Bartley took 363 votes in Ashton St Michael’s ward.
  • Rowan Fitton received 358 votes in Droylsden East.
  • 378 people supported Peter Ball-Foster in Hyde Newton, beating the Greens into fourth place.

Now join us!

Sally Ashe Appointed Chair Of Tameside Liberal Democrats

Sally Ashe

 

Lib Dems Tameside

Tameside Lib Dems Appoint New Chair

I joined the Liberal Democrat Party in June 2016 immediately after the referendum. I was devastated by the result. I feel the UK will be stronger remaining in the EU. I have always favoured the Liberal Democrats and the party felt a natural fit for me, especially with their pro-remain stance.

I joined the LibDems with the intention of being active in the party although at the time I had no idea how. I just felt that to try and make a difference I needed to take part and not just observe. The first thing I did was search for my local party page on Facebook, I found Tameside Liberal Democrats Facebook page. Then I discovered the LibDem Newbies UK Facebook page and was warmly welcomed by everyone. I realised then that I had made the right decision. I made contact with Tameside Liberal Democrats and was invited to my first LibDem pint just before Christmas 2016. It was great; there were representatives from my local party and also people from the more experienced Hazel Grove LibDems. I was warmly welcomed and given loads of really good advice. I came away feeling ready to take an active part. I attended a Christmas card and leaflet delivery session in Romiley.

In January I attended a meeting where I was nominated and voted in as the new Chair of the reconstituted Tameside Liberal Democrats. I decided to stand as Chair because I could think of no better way to become an actively involved member of the party. I want to make a difference to Tameside and get the Tameside Liberal Democrats active again. Tameside needs a Liberal Democrat voice to be heard again. I know it’s going to be hard work but I am determined!

lib dems tameside

Tameside Liberal Democrats will be hosting some events in the coming months, Action Days (leaflet dropping and door knocking) and social events such as LibDem pint, Libertea and some slightly posher dinners. We are looking forward to meeting members at these events.

I look forward to meeting everyone very soon and making a real difference in my community.

#LibDemFightback in the North West elections

After bruising elections for the Lib Dems, losing seats each May for the past eight years, this year we were the party making the most gains nationwide. And many of those were here in the North West.

Labour’s one-party state in Manchester was brought to an end as John Leech won in Didsbury West.

In Burnley we gained 3 seats – Gannow (Cllr Mark Payne), Rosehill with Burnley Wood (Cllr Christine White) and Whittlefield with Ightenhill (Cllr David Roper)

Knowsley was another Labour one-party state but we gained three seats – congratulations to the three new Prescott North Councillors Carl Cashman, Ian Smith and Mike Wynn.

In Sefton we won every seat in the Southport constituency for the first time since 1858, as local MP John Pugh tweeted last night. That’s another council seat gained from the Tories.

In Liverpool we held Church ward (with new candidate Andrew Makinson) and gained Allerton & Hunts Cross (new Cllr Mirna Juarez) and Woolton (new Cllr Malcolm Kelly). We are now joint largest opposition party on the council.

In Liverpool‘s mayoral contest we moved up to second place and from 6% to 21% – a brilliant result even if not the winner.

In Rochdale we gained a seat in Milnrow & Newhey, congratulations to new councillor Irene Davidson.

In Bury we gained a seat in Holyrood ward. Congratulations new councillor Steve Wright.

Warrington council had all-up elections on new boundaries. We emerged with two more seats – up to 11 from 9.

It can’t all be good news though and next-door in Oldham we lost one seat and another was lost in Pendle.

In Stockport we sadly lost Manor ward, making Labour the largest party on the council, though as for many years it is in no overall control. Commiserations to former council leader Sue Derbyshire.

Nationwide, the graphic here shows the overall result. Lib Dems up 45 seats, UKIP up 25, and the others all falling back.

In the Police & Crime Commissioner elections we moved from fourth to third place in Cumbria.  For Merseyside we went from 7% to 11.5%. Our Cheshire support went up half a percent – and 8,000 votes. And in Lancashire we gained an extra 5,000 votes compared to 2012. There was no ballot in Greater Manchester because we have the new elected Mayor for Greater Manchester to be elected next year instead, incorporating the PCC role’s powers.

Thank You

Sadly we lost in our three seats on Thursday night on what was a bruising night for Lib Dems nationally. Labour held all three Parliamentary seats.

Yet nothing could show just how much Britain needs a strong, liberal party than Theresa May’s announcement – while the election results were still coming in – that she will immediately be introducing the snoopers charter, which will give the state unprecedented power to monitor your personal communications.

Those of us who believe in our values of liberty, community and individual freedom must stand together and defend them. Please join us today and be part of our future.

And thank you to the 943 who supported Carly Hicks in Ashton-Under-Lyne, 957 who voted for Mark Jewell in Denton & Reddish, and 1,256 who gave Pete Flynn their vote in Stalybridge & Hyde.

Lib Dems deliver biggest minimum wage hike

minimum-wage-2015

The National Minimum Wage is set to rise by three per cent, which means workers will get a new rate of £6.70 an hour. It is the largest real-terms increase in the National Minimum Wage since 2008, and over 1.4 million UK workers are set to benefit – including over 4,000 people on the minimum wage in Tameside.

Nick Clegg’s message for National Apprenticeship Week

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2015, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is urging young people and businesses alike to draw on the many benefits of apprenticeships.

National Apprenticeship Week runs from 9-13 March and celebrates the positive impact that apprenticeships have on individuals and businesses.

Liberal Democrats in government have created more than 2 million apprenticeships, helping people of all ages develop new skills and helping British businesses to grow.

In his message, Nick highlights research showing that a fifth of all apprentices progress to higher education and that gaining a higher-level apprenticeship can boost lifetime earnings by £150,000.

Nick adds: “Whatever your professional interests, there’s a high-quality apprenticeship available to help you develop the skills that you need. And, whatever your sector, there’s a hard-working, dedicated apprentice out there ready to help your organisation thrive.”

Davies welcomes launch of million job campaign

Chris Davies MEP

Chris Davies MEP

Tameside Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies has welcomed the Liberal Democrat Million Jobs Campaign, which was launched by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg today. More than one million private sector jobs have been created since the Coalition Government came to power. Liberal Democrats now want to create a million more.

This will build on what Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have already achieved. Business Secretary, Vince Cable has overseen a record rise in apprenticeships, including over 207,830 in the North West. To support jobs in manufacturing, £5.5bn extra has been invested into science, high-tech manufacturing and renewable energy and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander has introduced £2,000 cash back on National Insurance contributions for employers who take on more staff.

The Liberal Democrats are aiming to create more jobs outside London and have invested £2.6 billion in a Regional growth fund that is already benefiting northern England.

Commenting, Chris said: “The Liberal Democrats are building a stronger economy in a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.

“That’s why Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have helped businesses create more than one million private sector jobs, and now we’re working to help them create a million more. I am also working to bring more European investment to the area, to invest in new skills and give new businesses the premises and capital they need to get going.

“I look forward to me and my fellow Liberal Democrats working with local businesses, community groups and schools and colleges to turn this ambition into reality in Tameside.”

Income tax: promise delivered

cover-manifesto2010

Delivered:
Income tax cut for 80,000 workers across Tameside borough

From the front page of our manifesto – to your pocket!

8,800 people in Tameside borough have been taken completely out of paying income tax through the increases in the tax threshold.

80,000 people in the borough have had a tax cut.