A Fair Deal for Private tenants

Sheffield Liberal Democrats have launched a petition to crack down on so-called ‘revenge evictions’ by private landlords.

Local campaigner Phil Shaddock is backing the campaign. Phil is calling on local people to help by signing the petition.

Some 35,670 households in Sheffield now rent from private landlords – double what it was ten years ago. Across England, nine million people live in private rented housing. One third of the property rented out doesn’t come up to the Government’s standard. Each year tens of thousands of people in England are evicted simply for asking for repairs to be done.

AMAZINGLY THESE ‘REVENGE EVICTIONS’ ARE PERFECTLY LEGAL

“As more and more people rent, rogue landlord’s have greater opportunities to exploit tenants. This means we need to act now to help people whose homes need to be brought up to standard.”

Last week, Liberal Democrat councillors for nearby Graves Park Ian Auckland and Steve Ayris put forward a motion to Sheffield Council calling on councillors to back a private bill in Parliament. Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather’s private members’ bill will target landlords who refuse to maintain properties and try to evict tenants who report poor living conditions. The bill will be discussed in the House of Commons on 28th November.

This will tackle the issue of people forced out of their home simply for asking for vital repairs to be done. Housing charity Shelter is backing the bill. To get this important measure made into law more people need to support the campaign.

Sign the petition here.

See the Lib Dem motion to Sheffield City Council motion here

or to find out more go to http://england.shelter.org.uk.

Clegg v Farage: The Leaders’ Debate

LBC will host the first leaders’ debate on Britain’s future in Europe on 26th March.Leader of the Lib Dems Nick Clegg will go head-to-head with UKIP’s Nigel Farage in a live hour-long programme, hosted by Nick Ferrari in front of a live audience. Iain Dale will be live from the venue from 4pm, bringing you the best previews, analysis and comment.

Although this is a radio broadcast, the debate is being streamed on the internet

Phil Shaddock discusses Gleadless Valley issues with Nick Clegg

Message from Nick Clegg

Last month I challenged Nigel Farage to a debate on Britain’s future in Europe. I did so because an ungenerous, backwards looking politics has emerged in Britain. The politics of blame has found an acceptable face: it wears a big smile and looks like someone you could have a pint with down the pub.

So I’m drawing a line in the sand.

I am going to defend the tolerant and modern Britain we love, and I am going to start by showing people what’s at stake at the upcoming European elections: do you want Britain in Europe, or out?

Thousands have people have already backed our campaign to protect jobs and keep Britain in Europe.

I’m asking you to join them today by adding your name to our campaign.

The Liberal Democrats are now Britain’s only party of IN. The only party out there explaining the clear benefits of Britain’s place in Europe. The only party giving people the facts. Being in Europe creates jobs, helps us fight climate change and allows our police forces to work together to catch criminals who cross borders. These things matter too much for us to ignore them.

The first debate is in just a couple of weeks. By joining the thousands of people who have already added their names to our campaign, you’ll be showing those people who want to pull Britain out of Europe that they aren’t going to have this all their own way.

Click here to join our campaign now, and help protect those jobs.