Liberal Democrats launch manifesto - what's in it for sport and recreation?

Today saw the launch of the Liberal Democrat manifesto. Policy Advisor Hannah Dobbin picks out the pieces that are relevent for the sport and recreation sector.

It’s the week of manifesto launches. We’ve already seen Labour and the Conservatives set out their stall and today it’s the turn of the Liberal Democrats. Beyond the headlines of balancing the budget and building a sustainable economy, there are several commitments that maybe particularly relevant to the sport and recreation sector.

The manifesto states that the Liberal Democrats will deliver ‘genuine equality between mental and physical health in the NHS’. Among the commitments is the publication of a national wellbeing strategy which will include transport and access to nature, as well as developing a clear approach on preventing mental illness which will include a public health campaign – the wellbeing equivalent of the ‘Five a Day’ campaign. In addition there will be continued support for the Time to Change programme to tackle stigma around mental health and support for community service and volunteers working to combat loneliness.

We know the value of sport and recreation in helping people to interact with others and the positive impact it can have on mental health. Last month the Alliance, in partnership with the Professional Players Federation and Mind, launched the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation. Nick Clegg attended our launch and we are now working to support those who have signed-up to the Charter to take positive action around mental health.

Liberal Democrat commitments around health and care include the promotion of evidence-based ‘social prescribing’ of sport, arts and other activity to help tackle obesity, mental health problems and other health conditions, and work to widen the evidence base.

There is also recognition that ‘it is better for patients and the NHS if we keep people healthy in the first place’. The Liberal Democrats propose that one way of doing this is to open up more sports facilities and building more cycle routes we can cut obesity and reduce heart problems. This ties in with our Minister’s To Do List where we ask for every local authority to produce a robust and comprehensive strategy for physical activity opportunities in response to local need.

Unsurprisingly there is a key commitment around education which is to provide an extra £2.5 billion of funding for 2-19 year olds by 2020. Our Minister’s To Do List includes a call for high-quality PE, sport and physical activity from the start of the educational journey with a specific ask around increased investment in Initial Teacher Training for primary school teachers.

Many of our members provide activities based in the natural environment and we are currently working with Government around proposals for a national outdoor recreation strategy. Something we hope to continue with whoever is in power after the election.

There are several points within the Liberal Democrat manifesto relating to the outdoors with commitments to:
• Increase the amount of accessible green space
• Complete the coastal path, introduce a fuller Right to Roam and a new designation of National Nature Parks to protect up to a million acres of accessible green space valued by local communities
• Place the management of public forests on a sustainable footing, in line with the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Forestry
• Introduce a Nature Act which will include placing the Natural Capital Committee on a statutory footing and require Government to set out a 25-year plan for recovering nature

There are also transport commitments which focus on commuting to work but we also know that public transport can be vital for people to access sport and recreation opportunities.

The Liberal Democrats want to update planning law to ensure new developments promote walking, cycling, car sharing and public transport and improve rather than diminish access to green spaces

A spotlight on tourism and heritage - which ‘collectively make up as much as 9% of our economy’ - includes a commitment to give higher status to tourism within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Alliance’s Reconomics report sets out the economic value of outdoor recreation and found that in 2012/13 42.2 million adults in England visited the natural environment and there was a total visitor spend of £21 billion. Reconomics also highlights the contribution the outdoors makes to creating jobs and skills and there is plenty in the manifesto about this.

The Liberal Democrats set out plans around equal rights and a commitment to enact the remaining unimplemented clauses of the Equality Act 2010. Many of our members are working hard to ensure that equality is embedded within the sport and recreation sector, helping to give everyone the opportunity to be active if they want to.

And finally, within the 150 odd pages, there is a specific point around protecting consumers by requiring the Sports Ground Safety Authority to prepare guidance under which domestic football clubs, working with their supporters, may introduce safe standing areas.

So all in all a packed manifesto with little specific reference to sport and recreation but several key areas that our sector can engage with.

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