Lib Dems' Penny for NHS would raise £14.9million for the NHS and Social Care in Windsor & Maidenhead

In their first major manifesto commitment of the election campaign, the Liberal Democrats have announced they would plug funding gaps for the NHS and social care by putting a penny on Income Tax.

The tax would raise an additional £14.9 million for The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, with an extra £10million for the NHS and £4.9million for social care each year.

This is the party's flagship spending commitment and its first major policy announcement for the election. The Liberal Democrats' manifesto will also set out a 'five-point recovery plan' for NHS and social care services.

At least 70% of Brits would happily pay an extra 1p of Income Tax in every pound if that money was guaranteed to go to the NHS, an ITV poll found last October.

We're thrilled to announce that the Lib Dems have hit our highest ever number of members, smashing our high watermark of 101,768 members in 1994.

It's fantastic timing, as our leader Tim Farron is in Oxford today, rallying activists in the local election campaign.

The Liberal Democrats have selected long-term local campaigner, Julian Tisi, as their parliamentary candidate for the forthcoming General Election on 8th June.

Julian has been involved in numerous campaigns in Windsor over the past 15 years, including:

• Four Lib Dem campaigns to save fire services in Windsor

• Campaigning to save vital local bus services

• Opposing the Conservatives' huge 98% increases in councillor allowances at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

• Campaigning to keep services at Heatherwood Hospital

• Campaigning against Heathrow's third runway

• Successfully stopping a multi-storey car park being built at Alexandra Gardens

• Campaigning to improve armed forces housing

The Liberal Democrats have gained 1000 new members since Theresa May announced a snap General Election.

In the first hour following the announcement the party saw a surge in membership as people flocked to support the party and change the direction of the country away from the Conservatives' disastrous hard Brexit.

Membership of the party has boomed and the number of members is the highest of this Century.

President of the Liberal Democrats, Sal Brinton, said:

"This is a time when liberals must stand together, and people across the country are doing just that.

"The surge in our membership proves that the Liberal Democrats are seen as the real opposition to this Conservative Brexit Government.

"While Theresa May is seeking to divide the country, the Liberal Democrats are the only party fighting to keep Britain Open, Tolerant and United."

Windsor Liberal Democrats have chosen local resident and Baby Bank Windsor co-founder, Amy Tisi as their candidate for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Clewer North By-Election on 4^th May.

Amy has lived in Windsor for 6 years and lives in the ward just off Parsonage Lane with her husband and two young daughters.

Background

The 2015 Conservative General Election Manifesto promised to protect our precious Green Belt and prioritise development on "Brown Field" sites.

Sadly Conservatives in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have betrayed their own election manifesto with plans to build on the Green belt around Windsor and Maidenhead.

The Liberal Democrats' 2018 Windsor Resident's Survey.

The Liberal Democrat Group on Wokingham Borough Council are delighted that Ian Pittock has left the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrats.

Ian announced the move at the end of the Full Council Meeting last Thursday evening (23rd March).

In his statement Ian gave his reasons for moving to the Liberal Democrats. These included his concerns over Brexit and how the Conservatives are running Wokingham Borough Council

Lindsay Ferris (Leader of the Lib Dems on Wokingham Borough Council) expressed his delight that Ian had the courage of his convictions to join the Liberal Democrats and welcomed him to their Group.