Lib Dem commitment to local parents

As Lib Dem candidate for Sevenoaks and Swanley, I recognise that becoming a parent is a life changing experience. I fully support the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge National Childbirth Trust pledge to guarantee high quality maternity services and support for all those expecting a baby, as well as offering choice at these crucial times.

A Liberal Democrat government will give fathers the right to time off for antenatal appointments and allow parents to share the allocation of leave between them in whatever way suits them best. We would also aim an increase to 20 hours free childcare for every child, from the age of 18 months. We would also seek to extend the period of shared parental leave up to 18 months when resources and economic circumstances allow.

We would empowering local communities to improve health services through elected Local Health Boards, which will take over the role of Primary Care Trust boards in commissioning care for local people, working in co-operation with local councils.

Over time, Local Health Boards should be able to take on greater responsibility for revenue and resources to allow local people to fund local services which need extra money.

We would give every patient the right to choose to register with the GP. We would also reform payments to GPs so that those who accept patients from areas with the worst health and deprivation scores receive an extra payment for each one they take.

We would give Local Health Boards the freedom to commission services for local people from a range of different types of provider, including for example staff co-operatives, on the basis of a level playing field in any competitive tendering – ending any current bias in favour of private providers.

As a member of the Campaign to End Child poverty we fully support the ending of Child Poverty in the UK and call for this in our manifesto.

Alan Bullion
Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Sevenoaks and Swanley