Luciana Berger

Yesterday, along with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Chief Dan Stephens, I co-ordinated a meeting between Merseyside MPs, and Local Government Minster Bob Neil MP. All who attended the meeting told the minster how concerned they were that current and future budget cuts will severely damage the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services.

Over the past two years the Government has made cuts to the fire service’s budget, twice the national average. Worryingly DCLG Ministers are expected to announce further reductions later this year.

Our fire fighters do incredible work, placing themselves in dangerous situations everyday to save lives. Any further budget reductions will severely impact their ability to provide the excellent service that residents across Merseyside have come to expect. There are particular concerns about the damage that would be done to response capability and prevention.

Our fire service is already one of the most efficient in the country and has the lowest cost per incident in the UK. As a result further cuts will hit our Fire Authority much harder than other regions. That’s why yesterday I and the other Merseyside MPs asked the Minister to think again and work with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to protect frontline service.

This week is Scout Community Week. Scout Community Week replaces the well known, and much loved “bob-a-job” week, and will see Scouts out in their local communities, working on community projects and helping deliver community improvements. 

I am delighted to be President of the North Liverpool Scouts Association, supporting the Scout movement in Liverpool. The Scouts are a great organisation, offering activities for young people as well as helping them learn new skills, make friends, and play a positive role in their community.

I’m sure Scout Community week will be a great success, and I’m looking forward to hearing about all the activities that will take place.

You can see more about the Scout Association here

Tomorrow, the Government will set out its priorities for the forthcoming parliamentary session. Liverpool Wavertree desperately needs a Queen’s speech that shows the government is on the side of ordinary hardworking people and families.

Mine, and Labour’s priorities for this week’s Queen’s Speech are measures that would help everyone in Liverpool Wavertree immediately by tackling rip-off prices and creating real jobs for young people.

If Labour was in government we would put forward a set of proposals including:

• A Fair Deal on Tax. Alongside implementing Labour’s five point plan for jobs and growth, Labour’s Finance Bill would reverse tax cuts for people earning over £150,000 a year. We would use that money to help pensioners on fixed incomes hit by the “granny tax” and we would restore cuts in tax credits which have hit families.

• A Fair Deal on Energy. Labour’s Energy Bill would break up the dominance of the Big Six power companies and require them by law to offer 4 million elderly people the lowest rate available.

• A Fair Deal on Transport. Labour’s Transport Bill would stop train operators raising fares by more than one per cent above inflation, stop them exploiting commuters with unadvertised rates and give local authorities more control over bus firms.

• A Fair Deal for Consumers. Labour’s Consumer Bill would give new powers to the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority to stop rip-off surcharges by banks, low-cost airlines and pension firms.

• A Fair Deal on Jobs. Labour’s Jobs Bill would ensure some of the money raised from a tax on bank bonuses is used to provide real jobs, with real wages and responsibilities, to more than 100,000 young people aged 18-24.

After a budget that cut taxes for millionaires, whilst raising them for ordinary people, now more than ever, we need policies for fairness, jobs and growth.

Tomorrow, the Government must show that these priorities are their priorities too.

I’d like to welcome 3 newly elected Labour Councillors to the fold in Liverpool Wavertree, and congratulate 2 more on being returned once again to the City Council.

Helen Casstles in Wavertree Ward, Ruth Hirschfield in Childwall, and Nathalie Nicholas in Picton were all elected with excellent majorities, whilst Gary Millar in Old Swan, and Liam Robinson in Kensington were returned for their second terms with increased support from local people.

Unfortunately, Richard Wenstone was unsuccessful for Labour in Church Ward, despite a very well fought campaign.

I have been working with all our Councillors throughout their campaigns, and I know that they will all be great representatives and advocates for their wards and constituents in the town hall. I’m proud to be part of such a committed and talented team working, and standing up for, the people of the Wavertree constituency.

History was made here in Liverpool early on Friday morning when Joe Anderson was elected the first ever Mayor of Liverpool.

Mayor Anderson won with 59% of first preference votes cast, giving him an overwhelming mandate to drive forward his vision for jobs, schools and investment in our city. By campaigning on the issues that matter most to the people of Liverpool, Joe has won support for his and Labour’s ambitious agenda from every corner of the city.

In addition to 5 strong voices in parliament, we now have a clear, elected, leader and advocate for the whole city – standing up for Liverpool on the national and international stage, helping attract investment, business and growth.

 I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Anderson to deliver the jobs, schools, and bright future for our young people that he promised during the campaign. These are difficult times – but Joe has the vision, experience, passion and commitment to make sure that Liverpool’s best days are yet to come.

Tomorrow two sets of elections are being held across Liverpool. One for the City’s first ever elected mayor and the other for the City Council. These elections are a chance to vote for strong leaders who will stand up against the Tory-Lib Dem cuts and secure a better future for our city.

Labour’s candidate for Mayor is the Council Leader Joe Anderson, who took control of the council two years ago. Since then he has begun to deliver on his promises, putting in place plans to rebuild 8 secondary schools, recruit 1,300 young apprentices and build 2,500 new houses.

Joe is committed to taking our city forward and if elected tomorrow he will use the extra £130 million pounds of funding he secured from the Government to:

• Build 12 new schools;
• Create 20,000 new jobs;
• Build 5,000 new homes;
• Transform Liverpool into one of the most business and enterprise friendly cities in the UK;
• Deliver a new sense of civic pride, making our city cleaner, greener and healthier.

You can read more about Joe’s plans for Liverpool at: http://www.joeforliverpool.com/ and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

The polls will be open from 7am and close at 10pm. If you need more information about how to vote then contact Liverpool electoral services on 0151 233 3028 or visit their website.

Last Friday I visited the Cancer Research Building based at the University of Liverpool and saw firsthand the groundbreaking scientific research being carried out there.

My visit was a great opportunity to see some of the fantastic work Cancer Research UK is carrying out. It highlighted to me just why it’s so important to support the vital research which makes a difference to the 37,000 people who are diagnosed with cancer in the North West every year.

The centre brings together scientists, doctors and nurses in the area. They are using the latest research advances to improve treatment for cancer patients in Merseyside, Cheshire and across the UK.

Liverpool still has one of the highest cancer rates in the country, with around 1,330 people dying from cancer each year.

However, significant progress is being made. The city is host to many world-class researchers, who are working to understand cancer and find new ways to treat the disease. This includes research to improve and refine surgery and develop new treatments. Recent figures from The Office for National Statistics show 63.5% of sufferers in Liverpool were alive one year after diagnosis in 2009 and nationally survival rates in the UK have doubled in the last forty years.

Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of this progress. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend more than £24 million in the North West last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.

For more information on the work of Cancer Research UK visit: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

Saturday is International Workers Memorial Day, when we remember all those killed through work, whilst campaigning to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated. It is commemorated throughout the world, and is recognised by the UK government. 

I have been campaigning in parliament for justice for those who are killed or injured at work. It is vital that we have strong Health and Safety laws to protect workers and to punish negligent employers who ignore these protections. 

In the construction industry there are companies exploiting legal loopholes to avoid punishment for ignoring Health and Safety laws.  I’m proposing a piece of legislation that would give the Health and Safety Executive the power to freeze part or all of a company’s assets when they are being investigated following a suspected breach of regulations resulting in a death or serious injury. This would prevent companies from deliberately going into administration while under investigation. 

On Saturday I will join with Trade Unionists, workers and others here in Liverpool as we gather at the UCATT memorial on Hunter Street at 11.45 a.m. to remember the dead, but campaign to protect the living.

More information on IWMD is available from the TUC here, and information on my 10 minute rule bill is here

Today it has been confirmed that the UK economy is back in recession – the first “double dip” recession since the 1970s.

This news is a terrible blow for hard working people, families and businesses in Liverpool Wavertree, who are already dealing with rising costs, increases in VAT, and a faltering economy.

David Cameron and George Osborne have cut too far, too fast, and choked off the fragile recovery. Their austerity plan and failed policies have plunged Britain back into recession, and ordinary people are paying a huge price.

Liverpool Wavertree desperately needs a government with a proper plan for jobs and growth, instead of one that cuts taxes for millionaires, whilst increasing the burden on ordinary people.

I will continue to speak up for those who are paying the price for this out of touch government’s complacency and arrogance on the economy – and be a voice for those who need a government on their side.

Today the Government announced that it is extending dangerous dog laws so that they cover attacks on private property and that they would begin a consultation on the introduction of compulsory micro-chipping.

I’ve been campaigning for the Government to take action and protect our communities from the menace of dangerous dogs since I was elected. Now, nearly two years since they promised to act and after thousands of dog attacks, I’m glad something is finally being done.

Today’s announcement is long overdue and the measures when they are finally introduced will help the police to prosecute offenders. However, much more needs to be done to prevent dog attacks happening in the first place.

I’ll be keeping the pressure up on the Government to introduce preventative measures like dog control notices – alongside the package announced today – which will actually stop attacks before they occur.

You can read the Government’s written ministerial statement here and you can watch my recent appearance on Newsnight to highlight the issue of dangerous dogs here.