QUESTIONS TO OUR GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES

QUESTIONS TO OUR GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES

As candidates reply we will add their responses.  We thank them for allowing us to share their responses with all our parishioners.

As of 29th June we have received responses from Sam Gorst,  John Hyland, Jane Lawrence and Alan Tormey  (Click on the links below to read their responses)

Response  from Sam Gorst - Liverpool Community Independents

Response from John Hyland  - Liberal Democrats

Response from Jane Lawrence  - Independent Vote Life

Response from Alan Tormey - Liberal Party 

As of 02/07/24 we have so far received NO response from

Maria Eagle - Labour
Danny Bowman - Conservative
Frank Tierney - Workers Revolutionary party
Muryam Saffia Aminah Sheik - Green Party
Kiera Alice Hubbard - Reform UK

QUESTION 1

The number of people using foodbanks in Liverpool is at record levels. What are your plans to tackle the cost-of-living crisis in our area and nationally?

QUESTION 2

The UK has slashed its International Aid budget, turning its back on the fight against global poverty. If there was a proposal in the next parliament to restore the budget to the historic level of 0.7% of GDP, would you vote in favour, Y or N?

QUESTION 3.

Where does ‘tackling the global climate crisis’ feature on your personal list of priorities?  As our MP, what would you do to ensure that the UK, and we as Liverpudlians, play our full part to protect the future of our planet?

RESPONSE FROM JOHN HYLAND OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS 

Good evening,

Thank you for writing to me about fossil fuels, poverty and food banks.  

Like you I am deeply concerned about rising hardship and the need for food banks in our community and across the country.  

Under this Conservative Government, households experienced the biggest fall in living standards on record. Living standards will be worse at the end of this parliament than they were at the start.

Soaring energy bills, food prices and housing costs are overwhelming millions of families and pensioners. We need a Government with a plan to tackle this cost-of-living crisis, but instead the Conservatives have made it so much worse because they just don’t care. 

Their cost-of-living crisis has plunged a million more people into poverty – many of them children. Tens of thousands of families have been made homeless. Many more families are relying on foodbanks – including some of the hardest working people in our country and people are seeing their living standards plummet at a faster rate than ever before.

Liberal Democrats have set a target of ending deep poverty within a decade, and will establish an independent commission to recommend further annual increases in Universal Credit to ensure that support covers life’s essentials, such as food and bills.

We are the only party that is serious about tackling child poverty. Children do not choose to be born to parents who already have other children and it is unfair to design the system that punishes them.  We would remove the two child limit and lift half a million children out of poverty.  Liberal Democrats would also remove the benefits cap as it disproportionately affects people with higher housing costs, larger families, and those who have family-members with additional needs.

Read more: Response from John Hyland - Liberal Democats

RESPONSE FROM JANE LAWRENCE, INDEPENDENT - VOTE LIFE

You will have realised that I am standing as an independent candidate under the Vote Life banner. As such we seek to see the protection of unborn babies right to life under law, supporting women in challenging pregnancies through redirected funds and reparations for women harmed by the abortion industry.

I am now considering how to answer your specific questions.

1: Cost of living crisis

We must first give consideration to protecting the most vulnerable lives in our society , if we cannot do this what hope do we have of meeting the needs of the hungry and the homeless? Many people may not realise but in 2022 £100 million of tax payers money was spent on Early Medical Abortions. Government statistics inform us that the lives of 1 in 4 babies are intentionally ended in the womb. Quite apart from the intrinsic value of these lives, which cannot be measured in economic terms, very obviously we are not replenishing our workforce, which leads to loss of productivity.

2:International aid budget

My answer would be Yes, with the proviso that the money would be used for Biblically consistent projects. I would not be supporting, for example, sterilisation projects, abortion provision or anything outside that which is promoted by the teaching of the Church. We always need to guard against the allocation of funds through a 'backdoor', whereby funds are diverted and the original intention of doing genuine good is thwarted.

3:I agree that we are tasked with being good stewards of our planet. To that end we should care for our environment , being careful to avoid needless waste of resources.

However, as a general principle people are more important. 

In the UK  in 2022 more than 250,000 babies in the womb were intentionally killed. Should we not be concerned for the tens of thousands of tiny babies bodies that end up in the sewage system every year as a result of the Pills by Post home abortions in which women are instructed to flush their babies in to the toilet?

RESPONSE FROM ALAN TORMEY OF THE LIBERAL PARTY

Thank you for this

Q1 Increase the tax threshold to £20k so families can better afford the essentials. I have heavy involvement in this arena.

Q2 Personal choice but I supported its restoration.

Q3 Solar panels on all new builds, retrofitting where possible, adequate feeder tariff to support people connecting renewals to the grid, investment in battery storage.

RESPONSE FROM SAM GORST - LIVERPOOL COMMUNITY INDEPENDENTS

Thank you for reaching out to me with your important questions regarding the pressing issues of the cost-of-living crisis, International Aid budget cuts, and tackling climate change. As a parliamentary candidate for Liverpool Garston, I am committed to addressing these challenges and working towards a more just and sustainable future for our community.

1. TACKLING THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS:

The increasing number of people relying on foodbanks in Liverpool is deeply concerning, and I recognise the urgency of addressing the cost-of-living crisis in our area. I co-founded St Mary’s Food Pantry in Grassendale and volunteer at a Food Bank in Garston Children’s Centre. They are important fixtures but they simply should not exist in one of the world’s richest countries. My plans to tackle this crisis include advocating for policies that support working families, protect the most vulnerable members of our community, and ensure that everyone has access to affordable housing, healthcare, and nutritious food. I will work to promote fair wages, strengthen social safety nets, and invest in local initiatives that provide support to those in need.

2. RESTORING THE INTERNATIONAL AID BUDGET TO 0.7% OF GDP:

I firmly believe in the importance of international aid and solidarity in the fight against global poverty and inequality. If there is a proposal in the next parliament to restore the UK's International Aid budget to the historic level of 0.7% of GDP, I would wholeheartedly vote in favor of this measure. It is crucial that we fulfill our moral obligation to support those in need around the world and work towards building a more equitable and sustainable global community.

3. TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE:

Tackling climate change is one of my top priorities. The climate crisis poses a significant threat to our environment, economy, and way of life, and urgent action is needed to mitigate its impacts and transition to a more sustainable future. I am committed to supporting policies that promote renewable energy, sustainable practices, and environmental conservation. I will work to champion initiatives that reduce carbon emissions, protect natural habitats, and build a greener and more resilient Liverpool Garston. I will always advocate for our beautiful planet.

I am dedicated to representing the values and concerns of our community and advocating for policies that prioritise social justice, environmental sustainability, and global solidarity. Your engagement and support are essential as we work together to create a better future for Liverpool Garston and beyond.

Thank you for raising these important issues, and please feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or suggestions.

ARCHBISHOP MALCOLM ON THE GENERAL ELECTION

TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD PODCAST

As we prepare for the General Election Together for the Common Good have launched a new podcast series exploring the common good as a catalyst to spiritual and civic renewal.  

Together for the Common Good is a national Christian charity dedicated to the renewal of the civic ecology by bringing covenantal thinking into church and civic life.

Visit https://togetherforthecommongood.co.uk/t4cg-podcast  to learn more about their p

GENERAL ELECTION JULY 4th 2024

ST MARY’S AND BISHOP ETON PARISHES.

A YEAR OF ENCOUNTER

“I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor!”  Pope Francis.

SVP and CAFOD nationally have agreed on a campaign for the General Election. The Action will be carried out in parishes across the country.

Why ‘A year of Encounter’? The word Encounter has been taken from Pope Francis ‘If I do not look, - seeing is not enough, no: look – if I do not stop, if I do not touch, if I do not speak, I cannot create an encounter and cannot help to create a culture of encounter’. So within the spirit of a culture of encounter, we will engage with our local candidates in this year of a General Election, speak of our concerns and listen to their responses. Politicians often say they know what people in their constituencies are concerned about. We will let them know some of the things WE are concerned about.

Read more: General Election July 4th 2024