Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats

On Remembrance Sunday and then on Armistice Day today, 11th November, communities across Bedford Borough came together in acts of remembrance for those who have lost their lives in service on behalf of us all.

Mayor Dave Hodgson took part in the Remembrance service at the War Memorial on the Embankment on Remembrance Sunday, giving a reading of Wilfred Owen's Anthem for Doomed Youth. He also took part in the Armistice Day ceremony today in Riverside Square in Bedford Town Centre. You can see photos from both events here.

Today is Remembrance Sunday, when we come together to remember the sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth, and those who have lost their lives in service.

There are Remembrance Day events taking place across Bedford Borough.

Today, Sunday 10^th November, the traditional Remembrance Day Wreath Laying Ceremony will take place at the War Memorial, on Bedford Embankment. The Parade starts at the 'Radhuni' restaurant on The Embankment at about 10.40am and makes its way down towards the War Memorial. A service is held at the War Memorial at 11.00am and includes the laying of wreaths. The service will lasts about an hour after which the Parade makes its way down towards Harpur Square via St Pauls Square.

In order to vote in the General Election on Thursday 12 December 2019, you must be on the electoral register. If you are not already registered to vote, make sure you do it by Tuesday 26 November 2019.

The importance of registering to vote and having your say is the topic of Mayor Dave Hodgson's latest column for the Bedford Independent, in which he writes:

Campaigners and local residents are hailing the impact of new mini roundabouts which have transformed two previously notorious junctions for Bedford road users. The roundabouts were installed on Goldington Road this autumn following a successful campaign by local Liberal Democrats.

Previously, motorists and cyclists turning onto Goldington Road from Goldington Green or Barkers Lane faced an anxious and often extremely long wait for a gap in traffic to turn into, amongst other difficulties.

Daniel Norton, parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in North East Bedfordshire, has been vising local farmers to understand their concerns ahead of the general election.

James Davis from Ouse Valley Dairy near Carlton showed Daniel and Oliver Rubinstein from the National Farmers' Union his herd of Jersey and Friesian cross cows. The herd is kept to high welfare standards and are naturally grass fed, reducing the farm's dependence on imported feed. They also visited the new milking parlour which has significantly improved the efficiency of the farm.

The Liberal Democrats have declared a Liberal Democrat government will Stop Brexit and use the £50 Billion Remain Bonus to invest in public services and tackle inequality.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson said:

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party standing up to stop Brexit and build a brighter future for the UK.

"Brexit has taken far longer and cost far more than anyone said it would. But any form of Brexit will damage our jobs, our economy and our public services, starving them of vital cash as the economy struggles along.

"The Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit and then use the £50bn Remain Bonus to invest in our public services.

"Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to stop Brexit, build a brighter future and invest the £50bn Remain bonus in our vital public services."

Stopping Brexit will generate a Remain Bonus for the public finances because under Remain, the economy will grow faster than under Brexit, leading to higher GDP and consequently higher public sector current receipts.

The Liberal Democrats forecast that the economy will be 1.9% larger in 2024-25 if we stop Brexit than it would be under the Conservative Government's Brexit deal. That means government receipts will be higher too, providing a £50 billion Remain Bonus over the next five years.

The £50bn figure reflects the total extra current receipts over the next five years. In 2024-25, the Remain Bonus will be worth £18bn.

The Liberal Democrat Remain Bonus is based on a conservative forecast of higher growth under Remain - just 0.4% a year higher on average. That is very much in line with -if not more cautious than- forecasts produced by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in their Green Budget 2019.

The Minister Counsellor for Economic & Commercial Affairs in the Chinese Embassy, Ms. Bao Ling, visited Bedford on Tuesday 22nd October to learn more about the town as a destination of choice for Chinese investment.

The visit showcased the ongoing investment and business potential within Bedford. Bedford's unique position within the Oxford-Cambridge-Arc was of particular interest, with regards to technology, research, business and infrastructure.

As part of the strategy to tackle rough sleeping, Bedford Borough Council has extended services for people sleeping rough with the opening of an 'Assessment & Somewhere Safe to Stay' Hub, in the heart of Bedford town centre.

This Hub will be open 24 hours a day, offering emergency homelessness advice and somewhere safe for people who are sleeping rough to stay for a short time. Professional advice will be on offer from a variety of support services to help people find the best way back into a settled home.