Nick in Maidstone (Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats)

Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats <info@bexhillandbattlelibdems.org.uk>

Nick in Maidstone

September 30, 2011 10:13 AM

Cllr Kathryn Field

In September Battle's County Councillor Kathryn Field was one of a small number of Liberal Democrat Activists from the South East Region invited to meet Nick Clegg to discuss aspects of policy. This was a wonderful opportunity to talk to the Deputy Prime Minister in a small business meeting.

Of particular concern was the plight of the young and rising rates of unemployment among that sector. Nick explained that rates of youth unemployment have been rising since 2004. These were the good times so the clear implication is that there is something structurally wrong with the labour market. We need to expand apprenticeship schemes and accept that a good education is essential, and not necessarily a university education. We must broaden the range of vocational options.

A quick fix could be found in the construction industry; for example building more social housing would provide much needed homes and jobs as well as giving an important boost to confidence.

Green issues are of fundamental importance to Liberal Democrats so no-one was surprised to hear Nick say that we must end our reliance on oil. All the time we are beholden to oil companies and producers we will never be free of the spiking effect caused by prices going up and down unpredictably. This is causing real problems to many people in the difficult economic times of the moment particularly in rural areas where people are so reliant on their cars. Some help has already been given by using the £2bn levied fromNorth Seaoil and gas to stop the fuel escalator.

Closing the meeting, Nick stressed that our General Election manifesto made four promises and we have delivered on all of them: pupil premium, raised the income tax threshold, tackling toe banking system and electoral reform. Liberal Democrats need to build on this and demonstrate that we are right, different and most importantly of all have shown ourselves to be capable of government.