Josh Babarinde, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Eastbourne. Photo: Josh Babarinde
Josh Babarinde, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Eastbourne. Photo: Josh Babarinde
Josh Babarinde, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Eastbourne. Photo: Josh Babarinde
Josh Babarinde, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Eastbourne. Photo: Josh Babarinde

Lib Dems' manifesto puts candidates in position to tear down Tory blue wall


Thomas Harding
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Largely unseen amid the battles between Labour and Conservative is the rising third force in British politics of the Liberal Democrats, who could well have a major impact on the general election.

While they have a modest international profile, the Lib Dems have a powerful election machine, beating the Conservatives to second place in last month’s local elections and overturning Tory majorities of more than 20,000 in several by-elections.

Indeed, their potential to capture seats across southern England, in what is called the Conservative “blue wall”, could lead to a political earthquake where the Lib Dems overtake the Tories in parliamentary seats.

Leading that charge in Conservative-held Eastbourne is Josh Babarinde, a 30-year-old candidate whose likely victory next month could herald the first breach in the blue wall, leading to its collapse.

In a manifesto launch on Monday, the Lib Dems promised higher taxes, focusing on the wealthy, flights, banks, energy companies and tech giants. The extra funds were music to the ears of Baberinde, who is promising better local services on the doorsteps of the south coast town.

In an increasingly upbeat campaign, the Lib Dems are eyeing their best result since taking 65 seats in 2010 under the leadership of Nick Clegg, who became deputy prime minister and is now vice president of Meta.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey falls from a paddle board in Lake Windermere as he highlights Britain's water treatment issues. Reuters
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey falls from a paddle board in Lake Windermere as he highlights Britain's water treatment issues. Reuters

Blue Wall down

If the dominant Lib Dem signs in Eastbourne, which outnumber the Conservatives in the Victoria Road area by about five to one, are anything to judge by, then Mr Babarinde is on course to become MP for the town’s 104,000 residents.

“It would be a catastrophe for the Conservatives if they lose Eastbourne, a real sign that the blue wall is coming down and that they’re on course to get under 100 seats,” he told The National as we walked Eastbourne’s streets.

“I've been knocking on doors, since I was 16 years old and I've never experienced such discontent with a Conservative Party,” said the Eastbourne-born candidate.

Walking alongside him brings mini-celebrity moments as cars horns honk in support and people stop to chat.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Josh Babarinde campaigning in Eastbourne. Thomas Harding / The National
Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Josh Babarinde campaigning in Eastbourne. Thomas Harding / The National

Teacher v pupil

It is perhaps unsurprising that his support is high, as we are just a short distance from Cavendish School, where he was head boy in 2009, popular among both staff and pupils.

That explained why the potential MP respectfully addressed a woman as “Miss” when she opened her door.

“Josh was one of those pupils that you never forgot, absolutely a born leader,” said his former teacher, who did not want to be named.

The current MP, Caroline Ansell, also taught Mr Babarinde, who is now likely to put her out of a job in a constituency where the Conservatives have a majority of 3,205.

If Eastbourne goes Lib Dem it could mean a domino effect across southern England that sees them emerge as the second biggest party in Westminster.

The Electoral Calculus polling company currently puts the Conservatives on a mere 75 predicted seats with the Lib Dems' “high” tally at 73 MPs.

Ebbing blue vote

The Lib Dem charge to seize a swathe of Tory seats was given a boost by its manifesto release on Monday that led on National Health Service funding.

It is neglected local issues that most infuriate voters, especially Eastbourne’s long-promised maternity hospital – a pledge made by Boris Johnson – that has yet to materialise.

Instead, women in labour have to endure the 45-minute car journey over the South Downs hills to the nearest ward in Hastings.

“People see the state of our NHS, the state of our beaches and our rivers and our poverty locally and it's no wonder that many of them tell me ‘I can’t do it this time, I can’t vote Conservative,'” Mr Babarinde said.

“With Nigel Farage’s Reform taking votes, the Conservatives are really struggling to hold on to core support as they've let a lot of people down.”

Save the NHS

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has also caught the public’s imagination with his high-profile publicity stunts to highlight England's sewage problem, such as tumbling into lakes.

But he has also seen support across the political divide following an emotional party political broadcast in which he spoke of his own experiences as a carer for his severely disabled son, John.

The party's key manifesto promise is to “save the NHS” which has a £165 billion budget, with a pledge to recruit 8,000 more GPs funded by a tax raid on the super-rich and banks.

That, said Mr Babarinde, was “getting a lot of cut-through” on the doorsteps, something witnessed by The National, where “there is not a lot of love here for Conservatives”, as one resident put it.

Ms Ansell was contacted for comment but did not respond.

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.

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The Ashes

Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs

Red Sparrow

Dir: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons

Three stars

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What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

Full Party in the Park line-up

2pm – Andreah

3pm – Supernovas

4.30pm – The Boxtones

5.30pm – Lighthouse Family

7pm – Step On DJs

8pm – Richard Ashcroft

9.30pm – Chris Wright

10pm – Fatboy Slim

11pm – Hollaphonic

 

Updated: June 11, 2024, 7:50 AM