Hounslow Borough Liberal Democrats

Dakers signs Royal British Legion pledge and calls for annual recognition of the troops in Hounslow

2010-03-23T00:00:00Z

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem Prospective MP for Brentford and Isleworth Constituency, has pledged to do his bit for the British Armed Forces and signed a pledge backing The Royal British Legion manifesto. The Legion 'Time to do your bit' website includes an election manifesto setting out priorities for the next Government to improve life for Service Personnel and their families, the bereaved, veterans and dependants. At the same time Dakers has called for last year's march through Hounslow by Royal Fusiliers when they were awarded Freedom of the Borough to become an annual event.

Kevin Shinkwin, the British Legion's Head of Public Affairs, said:

"We're really grateful to Andrew Dakers for pledging to do his bit. The entire Armed Forces family needs the support of politicians from all parties, and our manifesto outlines practical ways the next government can help. We hope all the parties will give it serious consideration and that all MPs and prospective candidates will pledge to do their bit."

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem Prospective MP for Brentford and Isleworth Constituency, said:

"I was delighted to support the Royal British Legion. They have an important role to play in highlighting the needs of the whole Armed Forces family. I think that it is important that we give proper support to our service personnel and their dependants. It is reflected in the Liberal Democrats Fair Pay for our Troops commitment.

"This does not mean that the Lib Dems always agree with the way the Government deploys our troops, for example in Iraq. Hounslow Liberal Democrats last year also called for our troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan. But whatever such political disagreements our armed forces know that we recognise their professionalism in taking direction from our democratically elected government and the huge sacrifices that they make.

"This is why I believe the recent successful celebration of the Royal Fusiliers with the award of Freedom of the Borough and the march through Hounslow town centre should be repeated annually. This event was a great achievement of our current Mayor Cllr Lynch. Residents have suggested to me that the march could take place in a different part of the borough each year, led by whichever regiment is currently posted at Hounslow barracks."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. British Legion's Time To Do Your Bit campaign website www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk

2. Andrew's pledges to the British Legion:

• Improve and keep the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme under continual review

• Stop breaches of harmony guidelines (deployment rates) in order to reduce family separation and breakdown

• Provide bereaved Armed Forces families with independent legal advice during inquests

• Introduce an Independent Advisory Committee on Military Deaths

• Make NHS priority treatment work for veterans with injuries caused by Service in the Armed Forces

3. Liberal Democrats' and Nick Clegg's promise to the troops - see http://tinyurl.com/fairpayforourtroops

- Around 50,000 receive less in basic pay than the starting salary of a police constable. Around 13,000 of these earn less than £17,000. Given the range of skills and risks now expected to be borne by the modern soldier, this hidden scandal must be addressed.

- Lib Dem proposals would bring the basic pay of the lowest paid soldiers in line with new-entrant police constables.

- Pay increases would be tapered up through the lower ranks, from a fully-trained Private up to NCO ranks. Under Lib Dem proposals no fully trained service personnel would receive less basic annual pay than a new-entrant police constable.

4. Hounslow Liberal Democrats call for troops to withdraw from Afghanistan (Sept 09)

http://hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000364/hounslow_lib_dems_take_local_residents_concerns_on_afghanistan_conflict_to_national_party_conference.html

Published and promoted by Sean Bourke at 104 Boston Manor Road, Brentford, TW8 9LN and Carl Pierce on behalf of Hounslow Liberal Democrats at 3 The Greenway, Hounslow, TW4 7AJ
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Hounslow Lib Dems take local residents' concerns on Afghanistan conflict to national party conference

2009-09-22T23:00:00Z

Cllr Dakers calls for improvements to the party's corporate responsibility policies at the national conference

Hounslow Lib Dem campaigner Hazel Dakers this week took the concerns of many Hounslow residents regarding the UK's continued involvement in the Afghanistan conflict on to the national stage at the party's Autumn conference in Bournemouth. Meanwhile (her son!) Cllr Andrew Dakers, prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth constituency, also challenged the national party with a speech against various aspects of a paper on consumer policy and corporate responsibility.

Hazel Dakers said:

"With the support of Councillor Andrew Dakers, our parliamentary candidate for Brentford & Isleworth Constituency, three times this year Hounslow Borough Lib Dems submitted motions to conference committee calling for UK withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2010.

"As Simon Jenkins has said: "Britain is not the sovereign power in Kabul, nor is the Taliban a single political entity. Everyone knows that the British will go, but the Taliban will stay."

"Sixty per cent of Britons want the UK military to withdraw from or reduce its presence in Afghanistan, according to an international poll.

"The government that we have been supporting passed laws giving rights to husbands to withhold basic maintenance if a wife does not meet his sexual demands. When women parliamentarians try to fight such laws they receive threats and intimidation - including from fellow MPs."

Cllr Andrew Dakers, prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth constituency, said in his speech:

"The paper forgets that in reality markets are not just about competition, but also cooperation between businesses. The negative social and environmental externalities that doing business can create will not be resolved by competition alone.

"For the past decade companies that take their responsibilities seriously have run scared of our current competition law framework. In the late 90s this lost both a mechanism for companies that wanted to collaborate on social & environmental issues through voluntary agreements to get these authorised by the OFT, as well as a public interest test. These mechanisms were vital when voluntary agreements involved internalising the external costs of a product and would potentially increase the price to the end consumer.

"The mess of current legislation is well illustrated by the ongoing OFT case regarding supermarkets. Blamed by the public for their low payments to dairy farmers, some supermarkets increased both their payments to farmers and the price to the end consumer. For this the OFT has fined them tens of millions.

"Sure sometimes there is going to be collusive behaviour that drives excessive profiteering and is against the interests of the consumer. This abuse of market power must be cracked down on hard. However there are also great business leaders and companies - even in the finance sector - who would encourage their peers to take more voluntary action on environmental, social and corporate governance issues if they had the tools in competition law.

"This is particularly necessary when government is one step behind public opinion and scientific evidence - or when government would be over-reaching itself by producing yet more legislation and enforcement bureaucracy. Or when achieving the vast changes in business practices required needs sector ownership of the problem.

"Unfortunately this issue of responsible collaboration was ignored by the working group. Taking this balanced view, that doesn't tarnish all business with the same brush, is so necessary if we are to shape a new era in capitalism.

"As a party we must produce policy that recognises we're all in it together: employer, owner, employee and consumer. This is why I urge Policy committee to commission more work in this area to put to spring conference."

Lib Dems launch Forces Focus website - Dakers

2008-03-19T00:00:00Z

MPs Alan Beith and Michael Moore discuss defence requirements at RAF Boulmer near Alnwick - now some of these conversations can happen online

The Liberal Democrats today announce the launch of 'Forces Focus', our new website, providing an online forum for us to engage with the Forces community and the wider community with an interest in defence issues. With increasing demands made of our Armed Forces and with continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, our Manifesto pledge has never been more pertinent: we should look after our Armed Forces so they can look after us.

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, said:

"Since this Manifesto pledge the Liberal Democrats have repeatedly championed the concerns of the Armed Forces and remain distinct on defence. We opposed the unnecessary and costly war in Iraq, we have campaigned across the country for adequate recognition for personnel and for the rights for Gurkhas and we are the only party to have put forward our priorities for Forces welfare.

"The Second Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, presently based at the Hounslow Cavalry Barracks, are a local reminder of the daily work of our troops. This is just another reason why I want us to continue in this vein and ensure defence remains at the top of the agenda."

Nick Harvey MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, added:

"It is for this reason that the Defence Team has launched this new website. We believe there should be a forum for us to discuss and debate how our liberal values should shape the defence agenda in light of the changing strategic landscape and international concerns, and highlight the work we are doing on the whole gamut of defence issues; including disarmament, procurement, and welfare.

"It will also offer the Forces community the chance to keep up to date with the work of the Team in both Houses. Please feel free to have a look and leave comments on the site. I look forward to hearing from you."

Keens have put nuclear talks at risk - Dakers & Khalsa

2007-03-16T00:00:00Z

Liberal Democrats in Hounslow Borough have expressed their disappointment that local MPs Alan and Ann Keen voted with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron in the House of Commons to replace the Trident nuclear submarines.

The vote on Wednesday 14 March saw Labour split between those who wanted a decision on building new Trident submarines put back until after international talks aimed at cutting nuclear weapons in 2010 and those who wanted an immediate decision on replacing the submarines.

The government's decision to press ahead with a decision was supported by the Conservatives, but 94 Labour MPs voted against.

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Parliamentary spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, said:

"I am disappointed that Ann Keen voted with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron whilst so many of her colleagues took a principled stand against the government."

"There are crucial international talks coming up in 2010 that could lead to cuts in nuclear weapons throughout the world and stop countries developing their own weapons.

"But taking a decision now to replace the Trident submarines will send all the wrong signals to other countries. If Britain is prepared to spend billions on a new nuclear weapon system now, it will encourage countries such as Iran to press forward with development of their own weapon systems."

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Parliamentary spokesperson for Feltham & Heston, said:

"Liberal Democrats voted against the government because we believe the decision to replace now could undermine the international talks. Once those talks have taken place we can see whether there is sufficient progress during the next decade towards nuclear disarmament to decide if Britain needs to continue as a nuclear armed country.

"By voting now for replacement, Alan Keen and his colleagues have put the talks at risk."

From Fiji to Fulham: Creating a world free from poverty

2005-02-25T17:51:00Z

Andrew Dakers and Alan Bullion at Polish Federation, Hammersmith

Yesterday evening (Thursday 24th February) local Liberal Democrat prospective MPs Alan Bullion and Andrew Dakers gave a Cook's Tour of the world at the Polish Centre, Hammersmith, from an environmental and international development perspective. Topics covered in the talk 'From Fiji to Fulham' included aid, trade, agriculture, debt, justice for the poor, the tsunami and the impact of global warming.

Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth, spoke on his work in Uganda, where AIDS/HIV is having a devastating impact, and Fiji, where the sugar industry is under threat. Alan Bullion, prospective MP for Hammersmith & Fulham, related his experiences in Sri Lanka, where although the tsunami affected people of all communities, the necessary aid is still not getting through to many in the north and east.

At the end of the talk, Alan and Andrew explained how the global could be linked up with the local by combating climate change, using public transport, recycling waste and energy-saving devices. Alan gave the example of Chelsea Football Club, which has recently installed heaters in its prestigious West Stand, which will literally raise the temperature in the stadium.

Andrew commented:

"A world of inequality and deprivation is less secure and more prone to conflict. This is why a Liberal Democrat government would ensure the UK spends 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on overseas aid by 2011 at the latest to help achieve the 2015 UN Millennium Development Goals. This is two years earlier than the current Government."

Charles Kennedy's speech in Hyde Park

2003-02-15T00:00:00Z

This is Charles Kennedy's speech as he delivered it to the million marchers in Hyde Park, taken from a transcript of the event.

"I'm delighted, delighted and privileged, to join with you here this afternoon on what, without doubt, is this historic occasion. And, given the events at the United Nations in New York yesterday - where they spoke - today, across the world, the people are speaking and the Prime Minister and the President have got to start listening. That is our message to them.

"For months now, I've been asking questions in the House of Commons of the Prime Minister and I've not been getting the answers. What's come back has been confusing, alarming and you're all here because, like me, you think it lacks persuasion. So it's no wonder that so much of British and European opinion is not convinced. But neither is a lot of American opinion convinced either and that is all too often overlooked in the reporting that we see.

"Now, my party has consistently argued, from the outset, for four principles.

"First - the mandate of the United Nations must be the one that takes the decision and gives the legitimacy.

"And secondly, that those decisions have got to be based on adequate information. That means full compliance with the weapons inspectors. Given the evidence that we had yesterday in New York, from Dr Blix, there can be, as we stand, no just or moral case for war against Iraq. That was the message from New York.

"Third - if we reach the stage, at some point in the future, where British troops are going to be asked to enter some form of military conflict then that's got to be achieved in a democratic way which means that the House of Commons should be given the right which, so far it has been denied, the right of a vote on whether we believe our forces should be sent into battle in that way.

"Next week, the House of Commons is in parliamentary recess - it's on holiday. At the same time, the unelected House of Lords is sitting. We will have the bizarre situation, will we not, where the unelected chamber of parliament will be able to question the government on these vital current events while the elected chamber of parliament will not even be in session. And I say to Tony Blair today, as a result of what has just taken place in New York, he should at least recall the House of Commons next week, make a full statement and allow the elected members of parliament, of all parties, to have their say on behalf of the thousands of their constituents.

"So I've joined you here today - and I've been asking these questions for months in parliament - because I'm not persuaded by the case for war. The arguments have been contradictory and inconsistent and the information has all too often been misleading as well as inconclusive. It's no wonder that people are scared and confused.

"I say this to you, quite seriously, as somebody who, personally, happens not to be a pacifist but has the utter respect for anyone for grounds of conscience who is. As somebody who's not actually anti-American but is deeply worried by this Bush administration. And as someone who is under no illusions about the brutal dictatorship and the appalling regime which is Saddam Hussein.

"But I conclude by returning to the United Nations. If the great powers of the world ignore it then great damage will be done to the world order and the best hope of international justice for everybody in the world. And, without a second United Nations resolution based on authoritative fact from the weapons inspectorate, I can assure you there is no way, in all conscience, that the Liberal Democrats either could or should support a war. And we will not.

"International justice also requires a serious restarting of the Middle East peace process. I wish the United Nations was able to devote its time and energies to that constructive process rather than the destructive process that we're seeing underway at the moment. The absence of a Middle East process can only fuel extremism and international terrorism.

"This is the riskiest moment for Britain since Suez. Our country has a principled and a responsible role to play on the world stage but to do so we have to pursue international justice through the United Nations. And our government has got to take it's people with them. It's patently failing and that's my message to you today.

"Thank you for coming. And thank you for listening."