Steven Lambert

As part of the first national Interfaith Week, I went to the Aylesbury-based ‘Learning Together, Living in Harmony’ conference at the Aylesbury Vale Academy(Quarendon School site). The point of the conference was to bring people together from a multitude of religions and cultures to learn more about each other and debate the question; are we living in harmony?

The guest speakers gave a five minute presentation from speakers from nine different faiths: Buddhism, The Baha’i Faith, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Quakerism and Sikhism. I learned more in that session than I think I did at any RE lesson in school and I was really pleased to be there and to take part.

One thing that struck me is that all the faith’s represented (and they were the mainstream faiths) all had similar views, similar beliefs and, in many cases, customs. This is not very different to life as a politician. I strive to seek harmony, peace and goodwill in our community and this is not a million miles from the faith groups I met on Saturday. If we can break down barriers in a multi-faith and multi-cultural community by learning about different faiths removing prejudice and suspicion, we will have achieved more than we can imagine. I really hope that the conference organisers can take this type of event to local communities and that it becomes an annual event.

Following our recent success at Conference at getting a free Universal Health Visitor Service as a Lib Dem policy (see earlier posts), to support families as their children grow up, me and my colleagues are now calling for free childcare for every family and are supporting an online petition set up by Lib Dem MP Susan Kramer.

Life is a real struggle for many parents. The Government has not made things easy and the Tories look set to make things worse if they win the General Election. Parents who need to go back to work must be properly supported. I believe that parents should be entitled to 20 hours of free, high quality childcare for each child from the age of 18 months to when they start school. Successive Labour and Tory governments have failed our families. It’s time to change this once and for all.

My friend and colleague Lib Dem County Councillor Jenny Puddefoot, said “the campaign for free high quality child care is very much linked to the Lib Dem plans for a Universal Health Visitor Service which will see help and advice given to all families by a qualified professional Health Visitor from when a baby is born to the age of five. It’s been proven beyond doubt that the more you invest in a child in their early, the better life chances that a child will have.”

I couldn’t agree more with her! Why not join us and sign the petition for free child care at this link FREE CHILDCARE CAMPAIGN

One thing that really annoys me is when the Government sneaks things in that make people’s lives harder.

Recent changes to the Local Housing allowance sneaked through by Labour in the last budget mean that once again, Aylesbury’s residents will feel the brunt of Labour’s failed economic policies.

The government is destroying the original intention of Local Housing Allowance which was to bring choice and flexibility to the benefits system while also combating poverty. Anyone who has had to get by on a low income or manage a household budget will know that every penny counts and a £15 is a significant amount to lose from your family budget without any warning. How many people who qualify for help because they need it are now going to lose out.

The people who are going lose out under this proposal are poorer than those who would have been hit by the 10p tax debacle, and will be hit even harder. Worse still, the government will not actually save any money by clawing back these £15 payments. I’m supporting the Lib Dems in Parliament and calling on local Tory MPs David Liddington and John Bercow, to protect low income families by signing the Early Day motion in Parliament.”

Last week, Nick Clegg challenged Gordon Brown directly over the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions and the Liberal Democrats in parliament will continue to do all they can to oppose this latest government assault on some of the very poorest families in the country.

Join me in protesting at this shameful kick in the teeth of ordinary people by Gordon Browns’ Labour Government, by getting our MPs to sign the Early Day motion in Parliament.

On Saturday I was lucky enough to be invited by the Indian Cultural Society to join the celebrations for India’s children’s day celebrations (find out more here) and I had so much fun.

The programme was put together solely by the children and presented by two very well presented young ladies who managed to keep up with a couple of last minute changes and even a re-run of a fab Bollywood routine! The programme included dancing (some really good Bollywood tributes), musical recitals on the drum, guitar, violin and piano, plus some very well put together speeches.

This was truly an unconditional celebration of childhood and their achievements.  I hope I can go along next year!

After attending the reception for returning armed forces personnel at Judge Lodgings on Monday, I signed up to the Royal British Legion’s manifesto for the next election. I also laid a wreath at the ceremony on Remembrance Sunday in Aylesbury’s Market Square alongside South East MEP Sharon Bowles.

I think it’s crucial that we honour the commitment and sacrifice of our armed forces. Too often they have been let down by our government. Labour has sent our brave young men and women into battle without adequate kit with which to do their jobs. The average wage for a private in the army is below that of other public service workers. And, of course, sending our troops into Iraq was a massive blunder that cost so many lives. We must take better care of those who are prepared to put their lives on the line for their country.

The Liberal Democrats have an ongoing campaign to get the Government to stop short changing our armed forces. To find out more, follow this link. Don’t short change our Armed Forces.