Yeovil Liberal Democrats

Thank-you for visiting the website of Yeovil Liberal Democrats. As you will see there is now lots of information and activities you can browse through. As always we are keen to make sure local people are kept up to date about the work we are doing on their behalf.

Through our website you find the latest Advice Centre Times, read the latest constituency news and can email David at enquiries@yeovil-libdems.org.uk. If there are any features or additional information you feel would be of benefit on this website please feel free to send comments to our office at the same email address.

HEALTH - LAWS LAYS FOUNDATION STONE AT SOUTH PETHERTON HOSPITAL

David Laws MP for Yeovil Constituency, recently laid the foundation stone at the new £17.5 million South Petherton Hospital. The hospital will be built in 2010, and will be open in early 2011. The hospital will be of huge benefit in improving NHS services in our area – including in the area of stroke care.

The campaign to re-build this hospital has been a very long one, and there have been a few bumps along the road. But the people of South Petherton have never given up.

David Laws MP said:
“I would like to thank Mary Robertson, the League of Friends, and all the people of the South Petherton area for their strong backing for this project. I would also like to thank the Parish Council and the local district councillors for their hard work.”

Read the Press Release

JOBS - LAWS CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO BRING FORWARD WESTLAND ORDER

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has called on the Government to act swiftly to increase the number of military helicopters and to upgrade older helicopters such as the Puma and Sea King. The order safeguards thousands of jobs across Somerset and ensures equipment for our troops in Afghanistan.

David Laws MP said:
“The Government has started to take the issue of helicopters more seriously – with the £1bn order for the new “Wildcat” (Future Lynx) helicopter, the Merlin helicopter deployment to Afghanistan, and with the upgrading of the Lynx Mark 9 aircraft. All this is welcome, and the employees at Westland helicopters are doing everything they can to meet the tight timelines set for aircraft delivery.”

Read the Press Release

EDUCATION – LAWS SLAMS £4.5 MILLION LOCAL TORY EDUCATION CUTS

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has heavily criticised Conservative controlled Somerset County Council for its announcement this week that it plans to cut £4.6 million from front-line school budgets. David is calling for the Conservatives to rethink the proposed cuts at the County Council Cabinet Meeting on 3rd February.

The cuts include:

Cancelling plans to replace Yeovil’s existing Pupil Referral Unit, whose buildings are not considered fit for purpose.
Cancelling plans to upgrade a temporary classroom at Ilchester School.
Axing plans to set up local Support Units for Behavioural, Emotional, Social and Autism difficulties.
Axing the budgets set aside to help replace the ageing Ashlands School in Crewkerne.
Axing budgets allocated to support the development of new schools in Yeovil – at Thorne Lane, Lufton and Brimsmore.

Read the Press Release

MP - LAWS CLEARED IN MP’S EXPENSES INQUIRY

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, today received the results of the investigation into MPs expenses by Sir Thomas Legg.

David has not been asked to pay back any expenses paid out to him. So far, over a third of MPs are believed to have been asked to make re-payments.

David has also today become the first MP to publish a full breakdown of his parliamentary expenses for the first six months of the 2009/10 year – April 2009 to September 2009. David is making this information public three months before other MPs are expected to do so.

David's Latest Expenses

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CRIME - MINISTER BACKS LIB DEM MPs IN FIGHT TO OPPOSE CONSERVATIVE PLANS FOR POLICE CUTS.

Senior Home Office Minister, David Hanson MP – Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism – recently gave his support to a campaign by Somerset Liberal Democrats to oppose the plans by Conservative controlled Somerset County Council to cut police numbers. The Minister’s support came in a House of Commons Debate called by the Lib Dems, and supported by Somerset Lib Dem MPs Jeremy Browne (Taunton), David Laws (Yeovil) and David Heath (Somerton and Frome).

The Minister said that the Police Community Support Officers which the Conservatives are planning to cut are playing a key role in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and that he “shared the concern that Somerset County Council is considering a reduction of some £129,000 in its funding of PCSOs.”

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has today welcomed news that 1,120 people have joined the Facebook group, Save Our Somerset PCSOs.

David Laws MP said:

“Given that over a thousand people have voiced their concerns over the cuts, the Tories should re-think their proposed cuts, which would endanger the police presence which is so highly valued by most people.”

Sign our petition at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/SaveOurPCSOs

Read the Press Release