Worcester Lib Dem’s Mel Allcott has made her speaking debut at the Liberal Democrats Conference in Brighton this week where she spoke about the problem of sewage dumping in the River Severn as well as throwing her support behind the Lib Dem bill calling for a fair deal for Carers.
The City and County councillor for Claines admitted to a few nerves before her debut, but soon brushed that off as she launched in to full and passionate speech detailing the issues that residents in Worcester have faced over the last few years as the River Severn was used as a dumping ground by the water companies.
‘I know from speaking to my residents, they have had enough, of years of conservative inaction, of doing nothing, to put an end to the sewage scandal. Water bosses have been allowed to take huge bonuses, whilst sewage is being dumped, into our rivers and seas’
Labour are now in government and have pledged to give OFWAT more power. We need more than a pledge. We need real change.’
Mel also touched on her personal experience with her own family as she spoke in favour of the motion to get a fair deal for carers in the UK.
‘The carers allowance, the main benefit for carers, remains the lowest benefit of its kind at £81.90 per week and that 1.4 million full time unpaid carers rely on this benefit.
‘Let’s raise the amount carers can earn before losing their carer’s allowance and stop pursuing unpaid carers for difficult to avoid overpayments.
Let’s introduce paid carers leave and guarantee regular respite breaks. Fixing care will not only help carers and their families, it will help the NHS which we know, all too well, needs fixing.’
