I will stay as party leader: Swinson
JO SWINSON has insisted she will remain Liberal Democrat leader even if the party fails to make significant gains in the General Election.
Ms Swinson, pictured, said people had confidence in her leadership and the party was running a strong campaign, despite the Lib Dems slipping to the low to mid-teens in the opinion polls.
Asked if she would stand down if the party did not make major gains, Ms Swinson told the PA news agency: “No, because I have just been elected as leader of the Liberal Democrats four months ago with an overwhelming majority.
“We have got more members than we have ever had before and we are running a strong campaign. So, people have got confidence in my leadership and I’m excited to be doing the job.”
Meanwhile the party have pledged a £50 billion fund for infrastructure investment outside London if they win power. The Regional Rebalancing Programme would help tackle inequality across the UK, the party said.
H The Lib Dems say the money wold be spent on sustainable infrastrucUNDREDS of people ture projects, such as electrifying railturned out to see Jeremy ways, increasing the availability of Corbyn across Wales, as charging points for electric vehicles the Labour leader travelled and improving broadband access. through the country in the final week
Liberal Democrat finance spokesof election campaigning. man Sir Ed Davey said: “For far too After a first stop in Barry where he long, people have seen their commumet voters, Mr Corbyn arrived late in nities up and down the country miss Swansea, where he spoke to an audiout on the investment needed. ence at the Patti Pavilion.
“We will give local and devolved And he spoke to a receptive audiauthorities given a meaningful say in ence, which frequently cheered as he how funding is used, so that commuspoke about social justice, universal nities can prioritise projects that credit, austerity, the NHS, and the offer them the most value.” Conservative government, before he urged everyone to get out knocking on doors and campaigning in the final few days before the election.
A small group of Brexit party supporters greeted his arrival outside the venue, where he was joined by fellow Labour parliamentary candidates Geraint Davies, Carolyn Harris and Christina Rees – previously MPs for Swansea West, Swansea East and Neath respectively – as well as First Minister Mark Drakeford.
Mr Corbyn also sampled a Welsh cake in Barry and poured a pint in the town’s Sports and Social Club on Barry Island.
On Labour’s proposed spending plans he said: “Our plans are fully costed. The taxation will come from the richest 5%, and corporation tax will rise eventually to 26%, which is actually less than it was in 2010 and significantly less the corporation tax is in France and the USA.
“We believe that and closing down tax loopholes and tax evasion will pay for our programme. Those earning less than £80,000 a year will not pay any more tax or National Insurance”.
Mr Corbyn said he intended
THERE are concerns compulsory voter identification at polling stations will discriminate against the young, poor and those from ethnic minorities.
Professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, Tim Bale, said the research suggests there is a social and demographic difference between those who can routinely provide identification, and those who cannot.
“Younger and poorer people and those from ethnic minorities would perhaps find it more difficult to produce their identification,” he told the PA news agency. “It would discriminate against them.”
He argues that voting behaviour in the UK indicates that people who are poor, young and from ethnic backgrounds tend to vote Labour, and as a result the voting reforms could favour the Conservatives. to abolish the bedroom tax and replace Universal Credit with social security “based on preventing anyone falling into poverty and destitution. Universal Credit has had a terrible effect on many people’s lives”.
Some of his biggest cheers came when he defended the NHS. He said: “The problem with the NHS in Wales is it has been underfunded. It has lost a billion in funding. The Welsh Government has invested more in the NHS, as much as it can, but it does require a UK Labour government to properly invest in the NHS across the whole country”.
He added: “The NHS is not for sale, not now, not ever.”
Other policies highlighted included the abolition of student tuition fees, and the intention to hold a referendum with a “credible” leave option “which maintains a trading relationship with Europe”.
And on personal attacks in the media, he said: “I just carry on putting forward what I believe in and the policies I believe in.
“I do not respond to personal abuse because I think that demeans politics and demeans the political debate. So when they go low, I go high”.
Following his rally Mr Corbyn headed to Carmarthen. His itinerary also included stops in Bangor and Conwy.
While Mr Corbyn defended the Welsh Government’s NHS investment during his visit, Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts challenged the Labour leader to defend his Welsh Government’s record of “managed decline”.
Ms Saville Roberts said: “Worse A&E waiting times than England, homelessness rising and child pov