Lib Dems welcome commitment to enshrine Rights of the Child into UK law

COUNCILLORS are welcoming the Lib Dems manifesto commitment to enshrine the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into UK law.

It's just one of a host of measures aimed at children and young people in the document which the party is putting before the electorate at the General Election on May 7th.

Councillor Mathew Hulbert (Lib Dem, Barwell), the Borough Council's Children and Young People's Champion, says "The Lib Dems are the only major political party to make such a pledge, which makes me very proud.

The announcement has been welcomed by The Children's Rights Alliance for England who say it will help to ensure all children, regardless of their background or present circumstances, can have a good childhood and reach their full potential."

"We have a strong record locally on promoting children's rights, including Lib Dem-run Hinckley and Bosworth becoming the first Borough Council in Leicestershire to sign up to the Play Charter, recognising the importance of play in the lives of young children."

"We're not going to end there, either, as we have a range of commitments in our local youth manifesto including continuing to listen to the views of young people in the Borough via the youth voice project and doing all we can to try and mitigate the disgraceful cuts to youth services by the Tory-run County Council."

"We're the only party locally to have a specific set of commitments dedicated to children and young people in our Borough."

Councillor Michael Mullaney, the Lib Dems Parliamentary Candidate for Hinckley and Bosworth, says "In our national manifesto we also commit to protecting the education budget from nursery to nineteen."

"We will give every child access to a high-quality pre-school education and insist that every child is taught by a qualified teacher."

Councillor Mullaney, who is also the Borough Council's Mental Health Champion, says "I very much welcome our commitment to transform young people's Mental Health services, to get more help closer to home."