Anita Prabhakar, a highly qualified solicitor with dual master's degrees in constitutional and corporate law, has been a dedicated member of the Liberal Democrats. In an interview with Asian Voice, Anita discussed the pressing issues confronting Nottingham East, her plans to address them, and more about her candidacy.
1) What do you see as the most pressing issues facing Nottingham East, and how do you plan to address them?
The city council faces severe financial difficulties, marked by a section 114 notice due to an unbalanced budget. The collapse of Robin Hood Energy has led to significant service cuts, staff reductions, and decreased funding across various sectors, impacting service quality for residents. Rising homelessness and social housing issues are also concerns. Additionally, the average income in Nottingham East is slightly below the national average. Private enterprise remains the key driver of growth and prosperity in the UK.
We will support a stable business environment by investing in skills and infrastructure, expecting businesses to promote skills, equality, good governance, and community support in return. The Liberal Democrats will partner with businesses to ensure stability and maximise opportunities for investment, growth, and employment. Our industrial strategy will incentivise investment in clean technologies to grow the economy, create jobs, and tackle the climate emergency. The Government has failed businesses and workers with unfair tax hikes. We would boost high street businesses and empower them to create new local jobs including by overhauling the broken business rates system.
We will unlock British business potential by reducing trade barriers and strengthening relationships with key trading partners. To address the skills and recruitment crisis, we will invest in skills development and increase apprenticeships and career advice for young people. We believe education is the best investment in our children’s potential and our country’s future. We would improve the quality of vocational education including skills for entrepreneurship and self-employment.
2)How do you plan to differentiate yourself and the Liberal Democrats from Labour in Nottingham East, and what strategies will you use to win over voters?
Labour's incremental changes won't deliver the reforms we need, from safeguarding local health services to repairing our relationship with Europe and reducing trade barriers. That's why traditional Labour voters are supporting the Liberal Democrats. We pledge to create jobs and prosperity in Nottingham East and across the UK. Liberal Democrats have a good industrial strategy to incentivise businesses to invest and create good jobs across the UK. We will ensure that gigabit broadband is available to every home and business, including in rural and remote communities.
Thousands of green jobs through our plans for warmer homes and focus on the climate emergency. No tax increase for hardworking families. End the sewage scandal. Cut energy bills through emergency insulation programmes and by helping households’ install heat pumps and rooftop solar panels. We want to electrify railways and put communities in charge of when and where buses go. We back local health services, so people get the care they need close to home. Higher minimum wage for care workers (£2 extra). Boost social care so that people can be released from hospital, freeing up beds needed for people waiting in A7E/ambulances. World class mental health services. Everyone can access an NHS dentist. More research funding and faster turnaround times for new cancer treatments. Liberal Democrats champion the Human Rights Act. We support a new right to flexible working for all, accommodating those with health issues or disabilities. Liberal Democrats will move work visa policies to relevant departments and permit asylum seekers to work if awaiting a decision for over three months, boosting the economy and ensuring dignity.
3) What are your views on the current state of the NHS, education, and housing, and what key reforms do you advocate for in these areas, particularly in urban settings like Nottingham?
The NHS faces critical challenges including inadequate funding, staffing shortages from recruitment and retention difficulties, backlog issues, and high demand driven by an ageing population. Liberal Democrats propose an additional £1 billion annually in the next parliament to renovate NHS hospitals and enhance patient care. Our plan includes ensuring everyone can see a GP or appropriate staff member within seven days, or within 24 hours for urgent cases, by recruiting 8,000 more full-time equivalent GPs and assigning a named GP to everyone aged 70+ and those with long-term health conditions. We aim to optimise GP time by expanding prescribing rights to qualified pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and paramedics, and implementing a universal 24/7 GP booking system.
Guarantee access to an NHS dentist for everyone needing urgent and emergency care by bringing the dentist back to the NHS from the private sector by fixing the broken NHS dental contact and using flexible commissioning to meet patient needs. Introducing an emergency scheme to guarantee access to free NHS dental check-ups for those already eligible: children, new mothers, those who are pregnant and those on low incomes.
Enhance access to mental health services by establishing walk-in hubs for children and young people in every community. Implement regular mental health check-ups during critical life stages when individuals are most vulnerable. Additionally, ensure every school has access to a dedicated mental health professional.
State secondary schools nationwide are grappling with severe staffing shortages akin to the NHS, exacerbated by insufficient funding. The NFER's Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2024 highlights ongoing recruitment and retention challenges, compounded by increased teacher workload pressures.
Liberal Democrats aim to address the teacher recruitment crisis by implementing a comprehensive strategy: ensuring every secondary school student is taught by a specialist teacher in their subject, properly funding teacher training with paid trainee posts in schools, and providing high-quality professional development, including effective parental engagement training. Additionally, we propose establishing a well-funded National Body for SEND to support children with high needs.
There is a severe housing shortage with missed government targets and a chronic lack of affordable housing, leading to increased homelessness. Rough sleeping rose by 27% to 3,898 individuals per night in Autumn 2023, underscoring the need for urgent action. Liberal Democrats commit to building 380,000 new homes annually, including 150,000 social homes, promoting garden cities and community-led development. We pledge to end rough sleeping and repeal the Vagrancy Act, while banning no-fault evictions immediately.
4) Is there anything else you would like to share with the voters of Nottingham East?
Every Vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to elect a strong local champion who will fight for a fair deal for you and your community.
A fair deal where everyone can afford a decent home somewhere safe and clean with a comfortable retirement when the time comes.
A fair deal where every child can go to a good school and have a real opportunity to fulfil their potential.
A fair deal where everyone can get the high-quality healthcare they need, when they need it. That’s the fair deal I am fighting for, and Liberal Democrats are fighting for.
Your vote and support are essential in bringing about the positive change we all wish for Nottingham East. Together, we can build a more inclusive and prosperous Nottingham East.
