Report Page 7 - Southport, Formby, Liverpool, 2020-10-18

News reports located on this page = 3.

Hate crimes against LGTBQ+ people up nearly 20%, new statistics reveal

THE Liberal Democrats have warned of a:- "systemic targeting of the LGBTQ+ community" as hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community are up nearly 20% this year, new statistics have uncovered. Statistics released by the Home Office, on 13 October 2020, reveals that hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation increased by the largest percentage of any group, 19% from 13,314 incidents to 15,800. Hate crimes against people who identify as transgender also rose by 16% to 2,500. 23% of reported hate crime against gay people included stalking and harassment, whilst this rose to 32% for transgender people. It comes just 3 weeks after the Liberal Democrats revealed that gay people are also four times more likely to fall victim of personal crime, including muggings and pickpocketing. In all four types of common crime analysed by the Liberal Democrats, gay people were at least twice as likely to be affected than heterosexuals. The LGBTQ+ community is twice as likely to fall foul of fraud, including bank and credit card scams and theft, whilst personal theft is four times more likely. Equal rights campaigner John Leech, who is no stranger to the LGBTQ+ community, warned that the country is in desperate need of change and laid the blame firmly at the Prime Minister's door for creating a toxic political and social atmosphere. John Leech, who led the decade long campaign to pardon Alan Turing who was criminally convicted for homosexuality, said:- "These figures show a horrifying backwards trend and point to a systemic targeting of the LGBTQ+ community. It is embarrassing that in 2020 in this country, the gay community has increasingly become the intentional victims of hate crime. But is it really that surprising when Boris Johnson's Government doesn't just tolerate, but actively promotes a toxic political and social atmosphere? The extreme and divisive language from our own Prime Minister is destroying the soul of this country. Politics needs to change; education needs to change this country needs to change. We must be an open minded and inclusive society that doesn't just tolerate the differences in people, but actively celebrates them. We must teach our children to grow up to embrace everyone around them regardless of their background, and that must start with politicians taking a lead. Liberal Democrats have a long and proud history of standing up for the LGBTQ+ community, and the fight for equality can never end. We will always fight for a far kinder, more understanding and welcoming United Kingdom."

MP blasts Government over handling of multi million pound PPE contracts

MP Bill Esterson has blasted the Government for giving a Merseyside based PPE provider "months of the run around" while handing a ₤122m contract to a firm with links to a Conservative peer and no history of producing PPE. The MP for Sefton Central demanded to know why the Government had handed the huge contract, which was not put out to public tender for the supply of 25 million gowns to PPE Medpro, which was set up in May this year by a former business associate of Conservative peer Baroness Mone. PPE Medpro was reported to have been started by Anthony Page on the day he quit as the secretary of the company that was said to deal with Baroness Mone's "brand."

Knowsley based Florence Roby, whose owners live in Formby, within Mr Esterson MP's constituency, had offered to supply 40,000 washable gowns a month to the NHS as early as March 2020, 2 months before PPE Medpro was even set up. After months of struggling to correspond with NHS England, Florence Roby were eventually told thanks but no thanks. Mr Esterson MP said:- "Florence Roby were given months of the run around while friends of the Conservatives seemingly won multi-million pound contracts with no public tender process being carried out. Why weren't established UK firms given the opportunity to bid for these lucrative contracts. Florence Roby 1st contacted the Government in March to offer to supply more than 40,000 washable gowns a month. It took around two months for proper discussions with NHS England to begin, and then there was wrangling over the CE mark, which the company struggled to get approved due to delays. It is hard to believe that a brand new company with no history of supplying PPE, could get a product through the process more quickly. A month later, in June, NHS England told Florence Roby that they had all the PPE they needed and would not be ordering anything. I know the owners of Florence Roby were disgusted by the Government 's actions and felt strung along."

The latest PPE procurement scandal has come to light just months after it emerged that the Government handed a ₤108m contract to a pest control company to source surgical gowns. The awarding of the contract to the company PestFix is subject to a legal challenge. In July, Labour accused the Government of handing out lucrative Covid19 contracts to Conservative friends and warned that equipment has not been delivered. Ministers were urged to explain how deals worth:- "more than ₤830m have been awarded to at least 12 different companies" for PPE which has:- "never materialised."

Mr Esterson MP said:- "The Government has acted appallingly, has failed to support UK businesses and our local economy, and should explain what process was followed when identifying the firms that would benefit from these huge contracts. These sizeable Government contracts could have used to keep people safe by buying high quality PPE from long established, reputable businesses like Florence Roby. And the money spent could have supported British jobs and local economies in those parts of the country in greatest need of support. The UK Government has chosen to reward those with connections to the Conservative Party rather than supporting the economy. It is no wonder that this country has had the worst recession in Europe and 1 of the worst health responses in the world during the pandemic. Ministers have all the wrong priorities and it shows."

Nutcrackers set to return to Southport this Christmas

THE iconic Nutcrackers will make a welcome return to Southport this Christmas with people urged to support local businesses over the festive season. The 6ft tall decorative figures, which resemble giant toy soldiers, will be placed at strategic points throughout the town centre to recreate the popular Nutcracker Trail. There will be more to find this year too with 12 figures instead of last season's 10. Watch out for a superb competition to name them coming soon plus those completing the trail can enter a draw to take home an iPad Mini.

The Nutcrackers, based on the traditional German symbols of good luck, brought real magic to Christmas shopping in Southport town centre last year, with families from across the North West enjoying finding all the figures in between trips to local shops and restaurants. Southport is also set to sparkle this year with the return of the dazzling 60-ft Christmas tree installation. The stunning tree's beautiful LED light shows have drawn families into town for the last two years, proving a hugely popular attraction for all generations. And Southport BID, with thanks to funding from local businesses, will continue to install Christmas lights across the town centre this year with the aim of making Southport sparkle throughout the season.

Work has already begun along Eastbank and more are set to appear along Southport town centre streets including Lord Street, Nevill Street, Chapel Street and London Street. Southport BID is keen to help create a welcoming atmosphere this Christmas to help encourage shoppers to stay local this season and support our independent businesses. The BID has also launched its successful Southport Gift Card, which is already accepted at over 70 venues in Southport. The new Gift Card aims to encourage people to support their:- local shops, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons, hotels and attractions during the festive season, by keeping the seasonal spend local and bringing people back into the high street to spend them.

Southport Business Improvement District CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said:- "We are delighted to be bringing the Nutcrackers back to Southport this year for people to enjoy. They were a huge success in 2019 with families loving exploring Town to complete the trail and find them all. It was great fun. It will also provide a safe experience for families to get out and about without crowds, especially should restrictions get tighter. The Christmas lights in the trees bring real sparkle to Southport throughout the festive season. They are made possible thanks to funding which ultimately is paid for by the local businesses in the Southport town centre area, the BID levy payers. They provide the lights for the whole of Southport to enjoy. Our dazzling, 60ft high LED display Christmas tree in the Town Hall Gardens was a popular sight last year. The multi coloured lights displays were a huge talking point with a huge number of posts about Southport generated through social media, and a positive response from thousands of people in the Region. Business owners are working hard to ensure their shops are safe and we want to make sure people feel positive and comfortable to shop local this Christmas. We want to create a package of measures that will support our high street and encourage everyone to engage with the town centre throughout the festive season. We may not be having a switch on, but with the Nutcracker Trail, the Christmas lights and the dazzling Christmas tree, we have lots in place to make Southport feel festive."

For more details about the Southport BID, please visit their website and to buy the gift card head to:- SouthportGiftCard.Co.UK.