Adrian Sanders

Torbay MP calls for greater recognition for the UK’s six million carers

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has teamed up with GMTV news reporter and presenter John Stapleton to support this year’s Carers Week (14 - 20 June) and celebrate the contribution made by people in Torbay, and throughout the UK, who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.

The theme of Carers Week is ‘A Life of My Own’ with calls for greater understanding and support for the army of carers who provide vital care for their families, friends and communities. In doing so, many sacrifice much in their own lives, unable to do the little things that most of us take for granted. All too often, these unsung heroes also suffer ill health.

Adrian met up with John Stapleton at the House of Commons to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles. Adrian said:

“A trip to the cinema, or even a full night’s sleep – these are luxuries for many of the thousands of carers in Torbay I am supporting Carers Week and all those helping to raise awareness of carers, and their priceless contribution they make to our local community. I hope that as a result of Carers Week, many more carers will find out about services and support that exist to help them.”

John Stapleton, who has cared for both his wife and his mother, said:

"Working without pay and often with little recognition - many carers give up their lives as they once knew them, but never give up on caring. They are not the forgotten few, but the forgotten millions. This Carers Week let's speak up for carers - let's not leave them isolated and lonely, financially, physically and emotionally broke. Let's start caring for the carers, give them back a life of their own."

Other celebrities supporting Carers Week, all of whom have had experience of caring, include:  Lynda Bellingham, Cilla Black, Jonathan Dimbleby, Sir David Jason, Claire King, Phyllida Law, Miriam Margolyes, Angela Rippon and Tony Robinson.

Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 7 national charities: Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Care, Help the Hospices, Macmillan Cancer Support, Parkinson’s UK and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

For information about Carers Week, including local events and activities, and where carers can find information and assistance, visit www.carersweek.org or call 0845 241 2582.

Bay MP Welcomes Badger Cull Re-think

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has welcomed the decision by the new Environment Secretary to reconsider the pledge to instigate a cull of badgers in the South West.

DEFRA Minister Caroline Spelman announced a review of the policy and Adrian has written to her expressing the concerns of local people and urging her to take account of the Independent Scientific Group review, which clearly found that badger culling was actually counter productive in tackling Bovine Tuberculosis.

Adrian said: “So many Torbay constituents are appalled by the idea of a badger cull; there is not enough scientific evidence that it would make any difference and any cull would simply be a massive waste of public money.”

“Culling badgers simply is not the right way forward and it is good that the Government is now looking at this again.”

Terms of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition

 

Click here to download the initial coalition agreements between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats Download Agreement 12 5 10

Adrian Sanders stands up for Torbay Charities

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay is campaigning against proposed new charges for Torbay voluntary organisations, which will mean they have to pay licence fees if they play recorded music in their own premises.

Thousands of charities in the region, including scores of tiny grassroots organisations, will be burdened with the proposed extra fee if they wish to continue playing music and may have to withdraw some services unless a solution is found.

Adrian said: “I am incredibly concerned about the impact this will have on the voluntary and community sector in Torbay. There is a fear that many organisations may simply cancel fundraising events or activities specifically designed to enhance their beneficiaries’ lives.

“In particular, any solution should ensure that smaller organisations are not discouraged from pursuing activities involving recorded music.”

Adrian is supporting a national campaign called Don’t Stop the Music, run by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and is one of 104 MPs to have signed a motion in Parliament calling for charities and not-for-profit organisations to maintain an exemption from paying this fee.

Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said: “There are thousands of voluntary and community groups across Devon that already run on incredibly tight budgets and will rightly wonder how they will afford to pay this extra fee. These organisations help some of the most disadvantaged people in our society and should be treated differently to commercial organisations.”

While charities and not-for-profit organisations have always had to pay licensing body PRS for Music, which collects royalties on behalf of music writers, composers and publishers, the Government has now proposed they should also pay a fee to PPL, which collects royalties on behalf of performers and record companies.

The charge, which applies to a wide range of events such as fundraising discos, tea dances, community drop-in sessions or where it is used in charity shops create a more cheerful atmosphere for shoppers and volunteers, is due to come into force on 1 April.

A message regarding the General Election and upcoming events

Thank you for voting and special thanks for voting Lib Dem and extra special thanks if you voted Lib Dem in Torbay. The results have thrown up a challenge and over the next hours and days we will have to meet it. We are in a fast changing situation so don't jump to conclusions on what you hear. Especially if you hear it from the media or political opponents.

I'm off to London Saturday to discuss events with Nick Clegg and other senior Lib Dems. Expect many conflicting reports tomorrow about our intentions together with a combination of savage attacks and love bombs from Labour and the Tories.

Adrian.

Torbay General Election 2010 Result

Adrian Sanders has been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Torbay. The results were as follows:

BNP 709 (1.4%)
Green 468 (0.7%)
UKIP 2628 (5.3%)
Labour 3231 (6.6%)
Sanders (LIB DEM) 23,126 (47%)
Conservative 19,048 (39%)

Lib Dem majority 4,079

Paddy Ashdown to Launch Devon Campaign

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders will be joining former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown tomorrow in Torquay to launch the Liberal Democrats’ campaign for Devon.

 

Adrian and Paddy will be meeting volunteers at Torquay Shopmobility, in the car park of the Town Hall at 10.30am.  Photographers welcome.

 

The Shopmobility scheme is used frequently by residents and holidaymakers who have mobility problems to get around Torquay but it is under threat from the Mayor’s plan to build a new £36million town hall on the site.  At present the Mayor has not spoken to Shopmobility about providing an alternative site and there are fears that the service will be lost; having a devastating impact upon users of the service.

Torbay Advice Surgeries Continue As Usual

Throughout the General Election campaign Torbay MP Adrian Sanders will continue to hold his regular advice surgeries in Torquay and Paignton.

Any Torbay constituent who has problems with pensions, benefits, the local authority or any other public body can attend one of the surgeries with no appointment necessary.

The next surgeries are as follows:

Friday 9th April 4:00pm-5:30pm

Citizens' Advice Bureau, Tower Road, Paignton

Friday 16th April 4:30pm-6:00pm

The Windmill Centre, 106 Pendennis Road, Torquay

Friday 23rd April 4:00pm-5:30pm

Connections, Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay

Saturday 1st May 10:00am-11:30am

St Martins Church Hall, Barton Hill Road, Torquay

Good News for Torbay’s Self Catering Businesses

Bay MP Adrian Sanders has welcomed the U-turn by the Government on the abolition of tax reliefs for self catering businesses.

Following pressure from the Liberal Democrats, the Government has abandoned its plans to change the rules for Furnished Holiday Lettings.  Ministers had claimed that the tax relief self catering businesses currently receive could be against EU law.  They had, though, provided no evidence why this would be the case.

The abolition of the tax relief could have put severe financial pressure on several businesses and put dozens of jobs in Torbay at risk.  Adrian raised this issue with Treasury Ministers when it became apparent in the Pre-Budget Report last year.

Adrian said: “This is very good news for Torbay self caterers.  I have voted against these proposals consistently in Parliament and it is heartening that Ministers have finally listened to reason and changed their policy.”

Uncertainty Remains Over Job Evaluation Process

Having pledged to look into the wide range of concerns surrounding the Job Evaluation process for Torbay Council staff, Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has today written to local trade union branches and a number of staff who contacted him with the results.

The evaluation process, which stems from an agreement between trade unions and local councils over 10 years ago, has been widely criticised for cutting the pay of some of the lowest paid council workers while ignoring soaring salaries of top managers.  The nature of the original agreement has seen councils under threat of legal action if they have not acted appropriately.

Despite some general assurances from Torbay Council, there remain serious concerns from workers that appeals have ignored new information put forward, that staff were denied proper access to the documentation surrounding their evaluation and that many evaluations failed to match staff members’ current roles with their new job descriptions.

Adrian said: “The response from the council on this is far from convincing and rather patronisingly blames their own staff for the uproar by not being able to understand the process.

My discussions with the Local Government Minister have unfortunately revealed that the Government has absolutely no interest in the mechanics of job evaluation and if the council continues to ignore the reasonable concerns some staff have, it may unfortunately result in costly legal action.”