RICHARD BURT - NEWS

BURT CALLS FOR MORE COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has called on West Midlands Ambulance Service bosses to recruit more Community First Responders following their decision to close the county’s Ambulance Emergency Control at Bransford.

Mr Burt said there were still public concerns over the closure of Bransford, likely to take place early next year when 999 calls will be transferred to Brierley Hill in the Black Country.

LIB DEM MPS TO OPEN UP EXPENSES FOR PUBLIC SCRUTINY

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has welcomed party leader Nick Clegg’s commitment to public scrutiny of MPs expenses. The pledge came after Labour and Conservative MPs voted down a number of proposals to open up MPs expenses to independent audit and public scrutiny.

BURTCALLS FOR ACTION ON ZIMBABWE REGIME

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt is calling on Worcestershire residents to support an international petition aimed at getting the United Nations Security Council and the Southern African Development Comunity to take action over Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe
He is asking readers to visit www.thepetitionsite.com to sign the Care2 petition and to ecourage as many friends as possible to do the same.

Speaking today, Richard said he had added his name to the petition because he was horrified to hear reports of the violence, rape and torture being carried out in Robert Mugabe's name and felt powereless to do anything about it.

"We cannot remain silent while the political violence gripping Zimbabwe continues to claim thousands of innocent victims. We urge the UN and African nations to do everything in their power to help put an end to the horrific bloodshed and to restore peace and the rule of law.

‘SHEFFIELD HOUSE CONSULTATION A SHAM’ - BURT

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt has condemned County Council Health Scrutiny investigations into the proposed closure of Sheffield House as a sham, saying the views of service users were not heard.

Mr Burt said a summary report of the service users' consultation was not even presented to health scrutiny committee members when they met to discuss the closure last week, but instead was posted out to councillors days later with an instruction to return any individual comments to the chairman.

"I have spoken to service users and they are understandably very upset about this. They feel that they have been treated in a shabby way and that their opinions have not been properly taken into account.

"What is the point of commissioning a survey of the opinions of service users if the meeting goes ahead without a copy of the report in front of councillors?

"It's all very well saying that individual comments can be forwarded and taken into consideration, but there has been no opportunity for committee members to discuss the report's findings together to help them reach an informed view.

"How can they gain peoples' respect when they treat them like this? It just seems as though their opinions have been devalued and not properly taken into account."
ENDS

LETTER TO EDITOR - NHS 60TH BIRTHDAY

Dear Editor,

Next week marks the 60th birthday of the NHS – one of the proudest achievements of post-war Britain. If you look at the shortfall in insurance healthcare for poorer people in countries as diverse as China and the USA, you will know how much we have to be proud of and to be thankful for.

However, despite record spending on public healthcare, raised to the European average over the past years following many years of decline, there will never be enough to guarantee increasingly expensive treatments available for all to benefit from rapid medical advances.

LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg will visit Pershore in July

Lib Dem leader to meet battling care centre parents
By Steve Mather Evesham Journal
LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg will visit Pershore in July where he will meet parents still battling to save a town care centre.

The decision to close Pershore Care Centre was made by Worcestershire County Council in April but parents of the four severely disabled service users have vowed to fight on until the bitter end in order to keep the centre open.

Mr Clegg will be joined by local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Richard Burt, when he visits the town on Thursday, July 10. He is expected to be at Pershore Care Centre from 12.15pm.

‘FINAL PITT REPORT ON FLOODING A WASH-OUT’ - BURT

25/06/08

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt has condemned the findings of the government sponsored Pitt report into flooding protection as a “wash out” and “woefully inadequate” following its publication this morning.

Commenting on the recommendations of the final report, Richard Burt said:

“One year on from the devastating floods that hit the county, Pitt is claiming there is enough government funding to deal with future flood defences.

NICK CLEGG TO DROP IN ON COMMUNITY ACTION AGM AND VISIT COUNTRY INN BEFORE MALVERN THEATRES EVENT

24/06/08

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will drop in for afternoon tea with Malvern Hills district volunteers following Community Action’s AGM when he visits the county on 10th July.

Mr Clegg will be accompanied by local parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt who is a founder member of the Friends of Community Action.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER, NICK CLEGG TO MEET BATTLING PARENTS OF PERSHORE CARE CENTRE

24/06/08

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will meet battling parents from Pershore Care Centre as the latest twist in their fight to save the Centre from closure.

Local parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt has backed the parents’ campaign from the beginning and will accompany Mr Clegg on his visit to the town on Thursday 10th July.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER, NICK CLEGG TO VISIT TENBURY WELLS

24/06/08

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will visit Tenbury Wells with local parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt, on Thursday 10th July.

The LibDem Leader will arrive in Tenbury at 2.15pm and will visit Tenbury Post Office to thank postmasters Malcolm and Sue Chase for their support for Richard’s ‘Save our Post Offices’ petition.