INEQUALITY continues to widen across the UK. The rich get richer, while those who struggle to make ends meet find life harder.

If politicians fail to combat widening inequality, they fail in their duty...

...as well as risk opening the door to the cynical politicians of the far-right, who would exploit the justifiable anger of those whose lives are blighted by this unfairness but don’t have the slightest interest in their struggles, nor have any plausible answers to the problems they face.

I've just returned from a busy time at the Liberal Democrats’ Conference in Brighton. Words from the preamble to our Constitution adorned the stage - "...No-one shall be enslaved by poverty...". Fine words. I'm pressing my fellow Liberal Democrats to do much more to show we mean what we say.

Announcing we'd again raise tax thresholds, taking the million+ on the lowest pay out of income tax altogether, is again welcome, but is only a start. We can and must do much more.

Admittedly, there's little we can do if we’re not in government, but we should prepare responsible policies, attempt to persuade those who are in government to take onboard, or implement ourselves when we get a chance.

During conference I spoke and answered questions on panels at many meetings with health, housing, food policy and other experts from industry, academia, think-tanks and sector organisations. I’m also planning to again submit a raft of parliamentary motions to combat widening inequality, for consideration by the Chancellor prior to the Autumn Budget in a month’s time.

Our local hospitals and health services face change. The government wants to “shift” money and resources from our acute hospitals (like Treliske) to the ‘community’ (ie our GP services, community nursing, and health services closer to home). In doing this the NHS is setting up “Integrated Neighbourhood Teams”. Will this be for the better?

If you want to find out more come to West Cornwall Healthwatch’s Annual Meeting on Friday, October 2, at Penzance YMCA, at 7pm.

West Cornwall Healthwatch has been a magnificent campaigning voluntary group, now in its 30th year – championing our NHS, successfully protecting NHS services, challenging plans when they threaten or weaken local services.

It’s free event. And there’s an excellent panel of speakers, and me!

Our farmers were let down again this week. The government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (a programme which helps fund farmers seeking viability in a competitive world market, while supporting nature restoration) was opened and closed in just a few hours.

And no wonder. It’s a minuscule budget, and operates on a “first-come, first-served”, survival of the fittest system, where sharp-elbowed managers of landed estates with superfast, sophisticated IT systems prosper while small family farms get trampled in the stampede. I’ve called on Ministers to learn lessons, review the budget, and to allocate based on need.