The local Conservative party are clearly embarrassed by the Serco debacle, with bins not being emptied reliably. They even suggest in their election material for the Carsington Water Ward by-election that residents should ask other parties what they would do in order to 'improve the service quickly'. This is equivalent to asking someone to sort out your baking when you have mixed all the ingredients and put things in the oven.
It comes after Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis this morning compared Boris Johnson being fined by the police for breaking his own Covid laws to receiving a parking fine.
The statements include a letter from the Prime Minister to UK households in March 2020 which stated that "the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost." On 22 May 2020, two days after a lockdown-breaking party in Downing Street, Johnson published a Facebook post warning that "breaking the rules could put you, your friends or your loved ones in danger."
Another message posted by the Prime Minister on Facebook in April 2020 stated that "if one person breaks the rules, we will all suffer", while other posts warned that "people will die" if lockdown rules aren't obeyed and that "hanging out in parks could kill."
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:
"Boris Johnson repeatedly warned that breaking the rules could lead to more lives being lost, all while holding law-breaking parties in Downing Street. It just goes to show the contempt with which Boris Johnson and the Conservatives hold the British people.
"It is utterly appalling that Conservative ministers are trying to rewrite history by claiming that the Prime Minister breaking his own rules is some trivial issue.
"People missed funerals, weddings and births, making huge sacrifices to protect their communities and loved ones. They will rightly be furious that even now the Conservatives are ducking responsibility instead of doing the honourable thing and getting rid of Boris Johnson."
ENDS
Notes
10 times Boris Johnson told the country to follow lockdown rules
28 March 2020 - UK Prime Minister letter to UK households posted on Twitter: 'the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost'
3 April 2020 - UK Prime Minister post on Facebook: 'Don't meet up with friends - hanging out in parks could kill'
8 April 2020 - UK Prime Minister post on Facebook: 'Anyone can get coronavirus. If you go out, you could spread it. People will die.'
14 April 2020 - UK Prime Minister post on Facebook: 'Rules aren't just for others. Play your part to beat the virus.'
15 April 2020 - UK Prime Minister post on Facebook: 'If one person breaks the rules, we will all suffer'
20 May 2020 (day of Downing Street garden party) - Boris Johnson post on Facebook - 'Let's continue to fight this virus by staying alert and following the rules in place.'
22 May 2020 (two days after Downing Street garden party) - Boris Johnson on Facebook: 'Breaking the rules could put you, your friends or your loved ones in danger.'
20 June 2020 (day after Downing Street birthday party) - Boris Johnson on Facebook: 'By doing the right thing and following the rules set out by the government, you are helping to protect our NHS and stop the spread of coronavirus.'
9 November 2020 (4 days prior to Downing St flat party) - Boris Johnson on Twitter, following initial vaccine news - "the biggest mistake we could make now would be to slacken our resolve at such a critical moment. We must continue to work together to protect our NHS and save lives."
16 November 2020 (3 days following Downing St flat party) - Boris Johnson is told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. In his video message, he states: "I've got to self-isolateā¦it doesn't matter that we were all doing social distancing". He added: "Follow the rules, that's what I'm going to"
Easter is regarded as the most important holy day by Christians. The Easter season in the UK traditionally includes the 40 days of lent and Holy week culminating in Easter Sunday.
There are many traditions surrounding Easter but perhaps one of the largest today is the giving of Easter eggs. Chocolate eggs, often wrapped in silver or gold foil, are given to children on Easter Sunday. Early Easter gifts were originally birds' eggs, painted in bright colours and patterns. Some still celebrate Easter with egg painting as a children's activity. Eggs are considered to be symbolic of new life created during the spring and may have originated from the original pagan traditions surrounding the holiday. (Easter 2022, 2023 and 2024 - PublicHolidays.co.uk)
Time for a radical re-think as Marks and Spencer announces move from the town's market square
Howard Borrell, the Shadow Liberal Democrat spokesman for the Town Centre and Visitor economy, commented about the recent announcement by Marks and Spencer that they will be re-locating to Ravenside.
He felt "it was both a disappointment and a vote of confidence. So many town centres, with much bigger populations than Chesterfield - such as Birkenhead and Bournemouth - have seen their store close completely. Yet here the company has decided to expand and grow their range of products to meet demand, even though it's moving a short distance, to the edge of the Town Centre. However the closure at a key site on the Market Place means that there is now an urgent need to look for new ways to broaden the town's appeal.
Chesterfield Lib Dems would like to send our warmest wishes to all those observing the holy month of Ramadan here in Chesterfield.
Ramadan is a time of sacrifice, devotion, and renewed strength. It is a time to celebrate the strong sense of community as people gather together in mosques and community spaces to share iftar meals ( the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset) with their neighbours and the wider community.
Responding to reports that Boris Johnson is still refusing to accept that the law has been broken over Downing Street parties despite 20 fines being issued by the police, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip and former police officer Wendy Chamberlain said:
"It is completely absurd that Boris Johnson still won't accept that the lockdown parties in Downing Street broke the law.
Boris Johnson broke the law, lied to you and treated you with contempt.
Millions of people obeyed the lockdown rules, often at huge personal cost. They missed funerals, cancelled weddings and said goodbye to dying loved ones on video calls - some on the very day that Number Ten illegally hosted a garden party.
Lots of local parties across the region have mentioned that they'd like to engage more young active members, so we're giving something a bit different a try.
On March 23rd, our brilliant East Midlands Young Liberals rep, Joe Norris, will be joining us for a Zoom session, in which he'll offer advice on how to engage more young people and be available to answer any questions you might have.
This is really brilliant opportunity to pick up some useful tips, but also a friendly informal space to ask any questions.
All being well, this will be the first of these sessions, with a representative from a different party body joining us each time.
Stephen
stephen.lambert@aldc.org
07508070973
WED, 23 MAR AT 19:00
Engaging More Active Young People in Your Local Area