Hinckley & Bosworth Liberal Democrats

Following the publication of a report showing that rural crime has hit a seven-y ear high, costing the UK £50m in 2018 and up 12% on the previous year, Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: "These figures only confirm what people in rural areas have known for a long time. As government gets ever more centralised our country areas are increasingly left behind. Successive policing ministers may have forgotten the countryside but It is clear that the criminals have not. A visible presence from police that understand the needs of rural communities now has to be a priority."

Jo Swinson has been welcomed to the leadership of the Lib Dems by a leading local Lib Dem who believes there's a real chance the party can make a big breakthrough at the next election.

Leicestershire County Councillor Michael Mullaney said "We were fortunate to have two excellent candidates for the leadership of the party Ed Davey and Jo Swinson. I backed Ed Davey and am sorry to not see him elected leader however Jo Swinson will make a great leader and gives the Lib Dems a real chance of breaking through at the next election.

Liberal Democrat analysis of new Home Office figures, has revealed that the Conservative Government cut police funding to Leicestershire by 6.1% in real terms between 2015-16 and 2019-20.

According to Liberal Democrat analysis, total government funding to all 43 forces (in 2019-20 prices) fell from £8.48 billion in 2015-16 to £7.99 billion in 2019-20. 32 of the 43 forces across the country experienced cuts of 6% or more.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:

"Across the country, we are seeing rising crime and falling police. Far too many people now feel unsafe walking down their own streets.

"Taking 5,000 police off our streets in the last four years and cutting funding in real-terms by £490 million from 2015-16 to 2019-20 are big Tory crimes."

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Hinckley and Bosworth Cllr Michael Mullaney added:

"Inflicting 6% cuts on our local police force over the last four years, given concerns about knife crime, and other crime, shows just how out of touch the Tories are.

"The Liberal Democrats demand better. We will give police forces the resources they need to recruit more officers and restore community policing, so that we can make our streets safer and make people feel safer too.
The data is from the Home Office statistical bulletin Police funding for England and Wales 2015 to 2020, published today and available here.

The 2015-16 figures have been converted to 2019-20 prices using HM Treasury's latest GDP deflators, available here.

The calculations of real-terms cuts for each police force can be found here.

Voters in Hinckley and Bosworth and the rest of the East Midlands have elected Lib Dem MEP Bill Newton-Dunn to represent the area. The Lib Dems finished the election ahead of the Conservatives and Labour.

Hinckley and Bosworth Lib Dem Cllr Michael Mullaney said "Congratulations to Bill Newton-Dunn who is a fantastic champion for our region. At the elections the Lib Dems finished ahead of the Conservatives and Labour again in Hinckley and Bosworth. This shows when the Conservatives call the election there's a real chance Bosworth can elect a Lib Dem MP."

Liberal Democrats stormed to victory in Hinckley and Bosworth gaining the council from the Conservatives. The Lib Dems won 21 council seats, the Conservatives were reduced to 11 seats and Labour won just 2

Stuart Bray becomes Lib Dem leader of the Council Stuart said "Thank you to everyone who backed the Lib Dem team we will continue to champion the issues that concern residents in our borough."

Since the Conservative controlled Council switched off streetlights and cut funding for PCSOs residents have
noticed an increase in crime in their neighbourhoods. We call on the Council to reverse these cuts and help make our streets safer

Leicestershire County Council's Conservative budget was condemned today as a budget that would "cost the people of Leicestershire more and deliver them less."

Speaking at the County budget meeting opposition Finance spokesperson Lib Dem Cllr Michael Mullaney said "Residents in Leicestershire will be hit by a 3.99% Council Tax rise and cuts to essential local services. Many Sure Start Children's Centres are closing and vital local bus services face being cut.

Liberal Democrat County Councillors have set out their opposition to the Conservative run County Council's budget.

The budget will be debated on Wednesday and includes a 3.99% Council Tax rise and cuts to services including bus subsidies.

Opposition leader Cllr Simon Galton said "This is the first year since I got elected to the County Council in 1989 that the Council will receive no revenue grant from the Government. Which means local services will be funded entirely by council tax and business rates. Although they have managed to balance the budget this year the Tories plan appears to be keep fingers crossed and hope their Government will be more generous to Leicestershire in future years"

County Councillor Stuart Bray (Lib Dem, St Marys Division) will this week press the County Council to install a new crossing on Hinckley's London Road near to St Peter's Primary School. Cllr Bray has tabled a question to the full County Council meeting on Wednesday 20th February.

This follows representations received by both school children and the Head Teacher at the school. Cllr Bray said, "The problem has arisen because the previous school crossing patrol left and despite efforts by both the County Council and the school a replacement hasn't been found.