Newcastle Continues to Fall Down the Council Tax League Table
Newcastle's Council Tax has fallen to 85th highest in the country, reflecting the Lib Dems' promise to keep Council Tax rises below inflation.
3 Apr 2008
Save our green belt
The Government has doubled the housebuilding target for Stockport, weakened the protections on a third of our precious green belt, and is forcing the Council through Ministerial Directives and threats to adopt a Local Plan which will let developers target green belt first.
We oppose this government’s ‘developers charter’ and need your voice. Do you agree with us that the green spaces that make our area special need to be preserved, and new housing should first be built on brownfield sites, after the infrastructure is provided with schools, improved transport, and GP places guaranteed? Help us send a message to Government and make Labour listen to local people.
Find our more about the local plan on our frequently asked questions page.
Save our green belt
Do you agree with us that the green belt needs to be preserved, brownfield sites prioritised, and schools, transport, and GP places guaranteed?
Cable anger over procedures after Speaker bans Queen question
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable has attacked "ridiculous" Commons procedures after he was banned from asking a question about the Queen. Mr Cable mentioned the Monarch in a question on the economy to Harriet Harman, who was standing in for Gordon Brown at PMQs. He said: "It was reported this week that Her Majesty the Queen had cancelled her diamond wedding celebrations because it was judged to be inappropriate to engage in extravagance at a time of economic gloom and recession. Do you share my view that this demonstrates Her Majesty's unerring instincts for the public mood, or does the Government think she was overreacting?" But Speaker Martin would not let the question be answered.
3 Apr 2008
Good response to bus petition
Residents on Costead Manor Road and Greenshaw have contacted the Brentwood North Lib Dem Team concerning the frequency of their 71 Bus Service. The service links Costead Manor Road with Brentwood High Street and Stondon Massey. Upon examination of the timetable, Brentwood North candidate Ross Carter and Cllr Reg Straw found that not all of the journeys serve the estate. The Lib Dem Petition to call for increased journeys has attracted strong support.
3 Apr 2008
Incapacity benefit claimants abroad cost UK taxpayers £1m a week - Alexander
Since 1998 over 109,000 people have claimed incapacity benefit while living abroad, at a cost of £1m a week to UK taxpayers, according to new research revealed by the Liberal Democrats. The cost to the taxpayer in the past ten years has been almost half a billion pounds.
3 Apr 2008
DWP losing the plot on tackling fraud - Alexander
Responding to the news that the Department for Work and Pensions has mistakenly published a report detailing the security lapses of Luton council's benefits system, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Danny Alexander said:
3 Apr 2008
Vulnerable 'need more protection'
Cornwall County Council must do more to protect people with learning disabilities, a report has found. The Commission for Social Care Inspection's findings (CSCI) come after the murder of Steven Hoskin, who had learning disabilities, in 2006.
3 Apr 2008