Cornwall deserves a fair share from Johnson’s magic money-lending tree

 

Andrew George has joined his fellow Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaign team to call for Cornwall to get a fair share of Government investment in its services and economy from the new Johnson Government.

Andrew said, “This Government is led by a man who can’t tell truth from fiction. There’s going to be an almighty train crash on or around 31st October. So while he’s promising largess to everyone from his magic money-lending tree Cornwall deserves to get ahead of the queue.

Turbo-charged train-crash

“There isn’t a painless way out of the chaos and humiliation the Conservatives have visited upon our country. Mr Johnson is a primary culprit. But while they talk in surreal terms about “turbo-charging” their ‘No Deal’ preparations it’s clear the collision course is going to be even more cataclysmic than many of us fear.

“The Government plans to spend a massive £4 billion on Government adverts and on no deal preparations.
It would be far better spent on our NHS and schools instead.

“However, it’s impossible to reason with these people. So we’ll just have to treat them with the same cynicism and disrespect as they are treating the country. So let’s extract as much from them while they still believe they have money to spend.”

Attached is a copy of a letter sent today to Downing Street and a news release from the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary team for Cornwall.

 

 

 

Press Release from Cornwall Lib Dems

Embargo 00.00 Monday 29 July 2019

Cornwall demands fair funding and a final say on Brexit, Cornish Liberal Democrats tell new PM

Prime Minister Johnson has only just taken office, and the six Cornish Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates are making sure that issues facing Cornwall are at the top of the new Prime Minister’s in-tray.

The six would-be MPs have written on open letter to Mr Johnson to highlight challenges particular to Cornwall, the need for more funding for health and public services, and investment to make up for the loss of funding from the EU.

In the letter, they tell the Prime Minister:
“The 2016 referendum result was based on your lies. Now we know the truth, it’s time to let the people have the final say. If you believe you can get a good deal, you should be prepared to let the people vote on whether to accept it, or cancel Brexit altogether.”

Recently selected Truro & Falmouth Lib Dem candidate Ruth Gripper said:
“Cornwall needs and demands a fair deal on funding and investment and a final say on Brexit.
“Mr Johnson has spent his life working in Brussels and London. He doesn’t know Cornwall or the issues that affect communities like ours.
“The Liberal Democrats will always stand up for Cornwall. That start with holding the Prime Minister to account and fighting for investment and a fir deal for our public services.

Ends

Open letter to Prime Minister follows below.

For more information:

Tim Styles – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for St Austell & Newquay –
Ruth Gripper – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Truro & Falmouth –
Andrew George – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for St Ives –
Colin Martin – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for South East Cornwall –
Florence MacDonald – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle –
Danny Chambers – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for North Cornwall –

Dear Prime Minister,

As you and your new Cabinet assume office, we look forward to an early general election which will give the other 99.9% of the electorate the opportunity to have a say in the governance of our country.
In the meanwhile, and in the knowledge that you have a long to-do list, below we set out some of the most important and urgent issues affecting Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Cornwall needs and deserves investment
Cornwall is one of the poorest regions in Northern Europe and has received more economic aid from the EU than any other part of the UK. As you will know, Cornwall has benefited from over £1 billion in European funding since 2000.
You promised that Cornwall would not lose a penny of this funding. Before you try to take us out of the EU (with or without a deal), you must honour this promise by setting up a fund of at least £50 million per year, to be controlled by the people of Cornwall so that we can close the gap with richer areas such as your own in London and the South East.

Cornwall needs and deserves fair funding for the NHS
The Government’s own funding formula shows that Cornwall’s NHS has been underfunded by £14 million this year, with the gap widening in each of the next five years to £29 million per year. This underfunding is putting lives at risk: brand new Cornish ambulances are still parked by the docks in Bristol because of lack of funds to employ paramedics to drive them.

Cornwall needs and deserves fair funding for public services

The Government has cut hundreds of millions of pounds from Cornwall Council’s funding. Central Government funding to the Council has been slashed by 84% since 2015. This at a time when demand for social care is rising dramatically and which is causing further knock-on damage to NHS services. School budgets have been cut, just at a time when we need to build a highly skilled workforce. Cornwall Council urgently needs extra funding and a fair funding formula to meet the increasing needs of its population.

Cornwall deserves a final say on Brexit
You began your “Leave” campaign tour in Cornwall, holding a Cornish pasty on the steps of your big red bus. You told us that Brexit would provide £350 million per week for the NHS and give us control of our fishing waters. You told us that a good deal with the EU would be easy and would be delivered in just two years. A majority of Cornish voters believed these promises and voted to leave the EU, but three years later, none of this has been delivered.

Brexit has already cost Cornwall badly. Seasonal workers in agriculture have stopped coming and crops have been left to rot in Cornish fields. Health and social care staff from the EU have left, at a time of great staff shortages, further damaging our NHS and care services.

The 2016 referendum result was based on your lies. Now we know the truth, it’s time to let the people have the final say. If you believe you can get a good deal, you should be prepared to let the people vote on whether to accept it, or cancel Brexit altogether.

Prime Minister, you started your ‘leave’ campaign in Cornwall three years ago. We ask you now to act to support and protect the people of Cornwall to make it a better and more prosperous place to live and work.

Yours sincerely,

Tim Styles – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for St Austell & Newquay
Ruth Gripper – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Truro & Falmouth
Andrew George – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for St Ives
Colin Martin – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for South East Cornwall
Florence MacDonald – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle
Danny Chambers – Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for North Cornwall