Inflation's Still Sky High - And Our Wallets Need a Parachute!

MIKE Prendergast, Leader of the Conservative Group on Sefton Council and Spokesperson for Southport Conservatives, has warned that ongoing high inflation at 3.8% is continuing to hit households across Southport and the Northern Parishes, making it harder for families to make ends meet and businesses to plan for the future.

Mike Prendergast said:- "Inflation at almost 4% is the silent tax that Labour has delivered, 1 of the few things they've actually grown, and for local families it's a stealth tax on everything they buy. People across Southport and the Northern Parishes are paying more for their weekly shop, higher energy bills, and ever increasing Council tax, while wages and pensions can't keep up. It's no wonder so many people are feeling worse off. Labour have utterly failed to tackle inflation, most of the things they have done have actually made things worse. From giving inflation busting pay rises to their union mates to maxing out the country's credit card with huge levels of borrowing, they continue to have the Midas touch in reverse."

Inflation remains at almost double the Bank of England's 2% target. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by:- 3.8% in the 12 months to September 2025, remaining unchanged from:- 3.8% in the 12 months to August.

Unemployment has reached:- 4.8% under Labour's watch. Borrowing during the 1st 6 months of the financial year reached:- �99.8 billion - �7.2 billion more than the forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in March 2025.

Mike continued:- "We need a credible economic plan for growth, as opposed to Labour's plans to grow our taxes, grow debt and grow unemployment. We have to learn to live within our means, that means reducing Government spending and borrowing less. Households across Southport and the Northern Parishes deserve better than being left to struggle with rising prices and falling consumer confidence. It's time for real action to bring inflation under control and support those who keep our local economy going."

Liverpool Lib Dems concerned for local residents as GP waits of over 2 weeks reach record high in England

LEADER of the Opposition, Cllr Carl Cashman has called for an:- "emergency package" to save the Family Doctor.

It comes after new research revealed that, since January, 45,993 appointments in Liverpool have had waits of over 28 days, up from 23,057 at the same point 5 years ago, an increase of 99%.

Local waits of over 2 weeks have increased from:- 99,597 in 2020 to 198,357 in 2025, an increase of 99%.

Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats, has called for an emergency package to end the crisis, and for the Government to deliver a new right to a GP appointment within:- 7 days, or 24 hours, if urgent, by recruiting thousands of extra doctors.

The emergency measures would include a strategic fund to reopen surgeries, dedicated local initiatives to ensure nowhere becomes a:- "GP desert," and the introduction of a 24/7 GP booking system to end the:- "8am scramble," with 111 call handlers trained to become GP receptionists.

The House Of Commons Library research, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, found that nationally, since Labour have been in power, patients have seen the highest number of:- 2 week and 4 week waits to see a GP since 2020. It follows previous record numbers of:- 2 and 4 week waits under the last Conservative Government.

The data also found that there has been a 50% increase in patients waiting over 14 days for a GP appointment since the same period in 2020 across England, rising from:- 19.7 million appointments that took this long to 43 million appointments. There has been a 67% increase for those waiting over 28 days, from:- 5.8 million 5 years ago to 12.9 million today.

Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats, said:- "Patients here in Liverpool are finding it really difficult to get a GP appointment and I am deeply appalled by the fact that they are having to wait such a long time to see their doctor. The Conservatives completely failed our NHS, but Labour are just not providing any real answers to this ever growing crisis. Together with Liberal Democrat colleagues I am calling for an emergency package to save our GP services: with a dedicated fund to reopen surgeries, a 24/7 booking system via:- 111 and a recruitment and retention drive to secure thousands of extra family doctors. The Government should deliver a right for every patient to be seen within :-7 days, or 24 hours if urgent, so that no 1 is denied care when they need it."

The research can be seen by downloading the XLSX file here.

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Inflation's Still Sky High - And Our Wallets Need a Parachute!

Liverpool Lib Dems concerned for local residents as GP waits of over 2 weeks reach record high in England