Ensure our farming and food system is on an environmentally sustainable footing by: Ensuring farmers receive proper, independent advice about how to transition to new environmental farm payments schemes, with proper funding for advice services. Supporting farmers to reduce the pollution of rivers, streams and lakes.
Ensure Britain continues to be a world leader in animal welfare and standards by:
At least matching the EU’s stricter rules on preventative use of antibiotics,
and introducing a comprehensive plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance in farm animals.
Liberal Democrats know that a home is a necessity and the base on which people build their lives.
So we will ensure that everyone can access housing that meets their needs.
Yet, in Britain today, many people cannot afford to buy or rent a home of good quality where they live.
Too many people live in housing so poor it damages their health.
Government housebuilding targets are regularly missed
and the shortage of affordable and social housing is at crisis point.
Newly built homes are often energy inefficient and environmentally unfriendly.
Too many new houses are built as leasehold and leaseholders still face large bills, not least because of the building safety scandal.
Homelessness remains shamefully high.
Local authorities’ powers to build the kind of homes needed in their areas are inadequate.
making three-year tenancies the default,
and creating a national register of licensed landlords.
Ending rough sleeping within the next Parliament
and immediately scrapping the archaic Vagrancy Act.
In addition, we will: Build the homes people desperately need, with meaningful community engagement, by:
Encouraging development of existing brownfield sites with financial incentives
and ensuring that affordable and social housing is included in these projects.
and ensure that all new homes are zero-carbon, as set out in chapter 5.
and provide accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse.
Protect the rights of social renters by:
People want to live in flourishing communities.
No community can flourish without powers and resources.
Liberal Democrats are committed to allowing communities to take the action they need to improve their areas.
We believe, for example, that given sufficient powers and resources local authorities can play a major role in combating the climate and nature emergencies, whether by insulating homes or improving air quality.
Yet this Government is robbing local communities of their powers and their resources.
The Conservatives have forced councils to do more and more with less and less, plunging many into financial crisis.
In rural areas, the growth of second homes, the lack of public transport and poor broadband connectivity are undermining the viability of our communities.
Liberal Democrats will support local government through these difficult times,
and review the burdens and costs that councils have shouldered as a result of Conservative Government policies.
This includes tackling the social care funding crisis,
giving councils the freedom to set planning fees to reflect the actual cost of delivering an efficient planning service,
and building more homes to relieve the soaring demand for temporary accommodation.
boosting the supply of social housing, and forging a long-term, cross-party agreement on social care.
and scrapping the Conservatives’ voter ID scheme.
Give local authorities new powers to control second homes and short-term lets in their areas by:
and keep DVLA services available at post office counters.
Properly fund local planning departments
Everyone should have convenient, affordable options to get around – whether to get to work or the shops, to go to school or hospital, to visit friends and families or to access other services.
A safe, reliable transport system is vital for economic prosperity in all parts of the country.
And improving transport is essential to combat climate change and air pollution.
Conservative Ministers have badly neglected our transport infrastructure.
Their chaotic U-turns have seriously undermined the rail industry, electric vehicle manufacturing and regional development.
They have failed to rollout electric charging points at anything like the speed necessary,
and they have left local bus routes in rapid decline.
Roads are in a terrible state, with potholes everywhere.
By investing in electric vehicles and clean public transport, as well as encouraging walking and cycling, Liberal Democrats will enhance local, regional and national connectivity