Coronavirus updates

The Corona Virus epidemic and lockdown is making changes to all of our lives, and following the current advice isn't always easy - but it is important to do so as much as we can, especially as lockdown is being eased.

There are many local organisations gathering to offer help, if you are self-isolating and need help, or simply need to speak to a friendly voice.

We will be publishing details of local organisations as we hear of them:

Teignbridge Council website is a good place to start if you have any questions

and Devon County Council have information about schools and more.

The latest medical advice from the NHS is here.

We have a list of contacts for economic help for Teignbridge residents here.

Local councillors are working with the organisations locally to help, so please contact your local councillor if you need help.

How you can help others

If you would like to help your neighbours, our community and those vulnerable, we recommend the following in the first instance:

Let your nearest neighbours, maybe the nearest 5 - 10 know your contact details so that they can call you if they need help. You will be someone known to them, a familiar face rather than a stranger. (Sadly we must still be aware of safeguarding concerns even at this time).
Set up or join street level or Resident's Association level WhatsApp groups, Google Groups, Private Facebook Groups or email chains to help connect those offering help with those needing help at a micro level. Some have already done this (particularly Residents' Associations), and they are the optimum way of turning offers into action.
Some of the existing facebook groups we know of in Newton Abbot Town are Our Fairways, Hele Park Community, Jetty Marsh Residents Group, Orleigh Cross Residents Group, Buckland Estate and Proud of It, and Newton AbbotCovid-19 Mutual Aid - Other towns and villages have set up similar groups
Do not buy too much produce or goods. Those that are most vulnerable are left even more vulnerable if our stores are bare of the essentials. Several supermarkets have over 70's only shopping hours, check their websites.
Donate to foodbanks. Panic buying has led to a reduction in the number of donations to local foodbanks when they need them more than ever, so please do donate what you can. Many people on lower incomes or zero hour contracts are likely to struggle more now than ever. If you are self-isolating and wish to help you can donate online to both foodbanks.
HITS Foodbank https://hitsfoodbank.org/contact-us/ info@hitsfoodbank.org Tel 01626 906371 (Hits Food Bank are looking for more volunteers especially evening drivers)
THAT Foodbank https://www.thatfoodbank.com/ mailto:thatfoodbank@gmail.com Tel 01626 437310 (THAT need more volunteers and donations)

Helping us to help you

As councillors we want to assist in facilitating resources where we can, by putting together a resource list, but we need your help to do so.

Please send us details of the local street/community communication group or mailing list you have setup, as well as a primary contact for this group so that we can direct people that contact us or known vulnerable residents to it if they are in your area.

you are a community or volunteer group and would like our support in any way;
you are a local business or trader that is helping as part of your business, such as with local deliveries.
Please let us have any information about the community response to the coronavirus, that you would like us to share in our next email newsletter. Please shae this email with others.

We cannot cover everything in this post, so will try to answer any questions on things we have missed as we can, however, please appreciate that some of our councillors are already, or are likely to be self isolating themselves as well.

Please do always take the NHS and Government's advice as the primary source of information and recommendation for how to act in the coming weeks:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

Other help can be found at,

CAB citizensadviceteignbridge.org.uk Tel 0344 411 1444

Federation of Small Businesses https://www.fsb.org.uk/ Tel 0808 20 20 888

We will provide you updates on this as regularly as we can.

Thank you,

News...

Honouring our debt to Afghan interpreters

Article: Aug 7, 2020

During the war in Afghanistan, a number of Afghan civilians served with British troops as interpreters. These brave men and women risked their lives to enable our Armed Forces to do their jobs.

It was our own Paddy Ashdown who fought to ensure that the Government didn't forget the service of these Afghan heroes.

Many of them were no longer safe in Afghanistan, facing reprisals for their service to the UK.

So I was proud that, when the UK began withdrawing our forces in 2012, it was our own Paddy Ashdown who fought to ensure that the Government didn't forget the service of these Afghan heroes.

Back in 2013, he spoke powerfully about the "debt of honour" we owe them, and argued that they must be offered the chance to live in the UK.

Afghan translators put their lives at risk to help British troops. The least we can do is allow them the chance to build their lives in the UK.

It was our own Paddy Ashdown who back in 2013 fought to ensure that the Government didn't forget the service of these brave people. 👇 pic.twitter.com/TECrCZgUyH
- Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) August 7, 2020

Thanks to Paddy's campaign and the efforts of Liberal Democrat Ministers, we secured a scheme to allow interpreters to move to the UK.

However, they faced fierce resistance from Conservative Ministers, who set tight limits on who could benefit from the scheme.

Only those who were still working for the UK in December 2012 were eligible, and they could only bring family members with them if they moved at the same time - spouses and children could not join them later.

This left far too many interpreters stuck in Afghanistan and at serious risk of violence, or in the UK but separated from their families.

So we kept campaigning and, in 2018, the Government promised to expand the scheme to include all interpreters who have served on the frontline with British troops since May 2006.

It claimed that up to 200 more people would be able to benefit from the changes - but, two years later, just two translators have been able to come to the UK under the new rules.

Afghan translators put their lives at risk to help British troops. The least we can do is now allow these brave people the chance to build their lives in the UK.@Jamie4North has led a cross-party letter demanding we fulfil our debt to these brave translators 👇 pic.twitter.com/mSs5PN89A5
- Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) August 4, 2020

The Government also promised in March last year that interpreters who have relocated to the UK would now be able to bring family members to join them.

Brave individuals in Afghanistan who put their lives at risk for our country deserve the right to stay in the UK.

Sadly, however, not a single family member had been relocated to the UK under the new rules more than a year after that change came into force.

These failures represent an appalling breach of the debt Paddy spoke of back in 2013.

These courageous interpreters must not be left to live in fear of reprisals for their service, nor must they be cruelly separated from their families.

So, along with my Liberal Democrat colleagues and a number of MPs from other parties, I have written to the Defence Secretary and the Home Secretary, urging them to put this right without further delay.
Returning Officer's Ruling 5th August 2020

Article: Aug 5, 2020

A complaint has been made about Ed Davey's campaign's conduct in its communication with members as to their voting intentions, specifically that they instructed canvassers not to disclose the identity of the campaign they were actually calling on behalf in calls made on the 11th and 14th of July 2020.
5 ways we have fought to protect jobs during coronavirus

Article: Aug 5, 2020

Throughout this terrible disease, people have not only faced heartbreaking loss of life, but also crushing anxiety over their livelihoods.

Lockdown has been necessary to prevent an even greater catastrophe, but the economic shutdown has thrown millions of people into financial hardship.

Liberal Democrats have been fighting to make sure people do not feel left behind as the country slowly recovers. We cannot allow this to create a new wave of inequality in Britain; the damage done to businesses and jobs falls harder on some than others.
Students

Article: Aug 5, 2020

By Layla Moran

Like many young people and students in the early 2000s, I first joined the Liberal Democrats because of Charles Kennedy's brave stance on the invasion of Iraq.

Charles played a courageous role in steadfastly opposing military intervention, putting both his and the party's reputation on the line. I joined a million others marching on the streets in protest, pleading with Blair's Government to change course.
Leadership Election

Article: Aug 3, 2020

Voting is now open in the Liberal Democrat leadership election - read the candidate's election addresses here.
Pot Luck!

Article: Aug 1, 2020

By Mark Wooding

In the surveys we've conducted of local people's concerns the one that nearly always tops the list of worries is the state of our roads, and, specifically potholes.

We've been campaigning hard (read article) to get Conservative run Devon County Council to get the roads repaired. It's especially important now given that many more people have taken to bikes during the COVID-19 crisis and potholes are a very serious threat to cyclists.
Returning Officer's Ruling 31st July 2020

Article: Jul 31, 2020

A complaint has been made about Layla Moran's campaign's use of data gathering tools ('Cookies') in their official website.

The Party has considered carefully and has taken representations from the Campaign.

The party's found that a technical breach had occurred in relation to the specific consents relating to these Cookies.
Why we're fighting to give NHS and care staff the right to stay

Article: Jul 31, 2020

By Liberal Democrats

What are the Liberal Democrats calling for?

We're calling on the Government to grant indefinite leave to remain in the UK - the right to stay - to all foreign nationals currently working in the NHS and social care, and their families.

How many people from other countries work in the NHS and social care?
New restrictions in northern England

Article: Jul 31, 2020

By Munira Wilson

Throughout this crisis, the Government's communications have been an utter disaster.

Yet more mistakes reveal how necessary it is for an inquiry to be launched now

To announce a regional lockdown of millions of people not only just hours before it's enforced, but with no clarity on the new rules coming into place, is beyond comprehension.
Eid al-Adha

Article: Jul 31, 2020

On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, I would like to send best wishes to all Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha.

Eid al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith. It also marks the end of Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

I hope that all of us will take this opportunity to reflect on those values of selflessness, charity and community which are at the heart of Islam