Crawley Liberal Democrats - Working for Crawley the whole year round

Urban derelict land should be transformed for the community

Tue 8th Jul 2008

Derelict land in urban areas should be transformed to meet the need for more quality public spaces that foster community bonds and reduce anti-social behaviour, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said at an event hosted by the think-tank Demos.

Nick Clegg

Lib Dem commitment on MP expenses

Mon 7th Jul 2008

Crawley Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg that his party is to unilaterally introduce many of the expenses proposals that were rejected last week by MPs at Westminster.

Westminster Clock Tower  Big Ben / Houses of Parliament [Photo: Emma Cooley]

Deposit protection scheme must be responsibility of the banks and not the taxpayer

Tue 1st Jul 2008

Commenting on Alistair Darling's proposals aimed at protecting savers' deposits, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said "The run on Northern Rock has made it clear that the system of deposit protection must be improved to prevent future runs on banks."

Vince Cable

Take the Neighbourhood Watch Quiz

Sun 22nd Jun 2008

The Neighbourhood & Homewatch Network (England and Wales) web-site (www.mynhw.co.uk) is now up and running with lots of useful tips and advice on home and neighbourhood safety. They also list events and training guides you can download to find out about all aspects of Neighbourhood watch.

Neighbourhood Watch scheme sign. (photography: Matt Raines)

Lib Dems plan green firms' rebate

Fri 20th Jun 2008

Speaking at a joint press event with Greenpeace, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said that companies that "green" their premises with energy-saving improvements should be offered a rebate or reduced bill.

Solar panels. (photography: Courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at the United States of America's Department of Energy)

Don't go without your card warns Lib Dem MEP!

Fri 20th Jun 2008

Holidaymakers should make sure they have a card that entitles them to free medical treatment across Europe. In 2006 the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) replaced the old E111 form needed to get medical treatment in the EU.

Europe flag (flag of European Union)

If China, Russia and America don't need it, why do we?"

Thu 12th Jun 2008

Lib Dem MP, Jenny Willott has presented to parliament a Bill in parliament to remove DNA records for individuals who are not charged or are acquitted of crimes in an attempt to stem the flow of personal data held by government agencies on British citizens.

Jenny Willott - MP for Cardiff Central

Laura Moffatt fails to defend freedom in Commons vote on 42 days

Thu 12th Jun 2008

Sir Menzies Campbell used his first parliamentary speech since resigning as the Liberal Democrat leader to issue a rallying call to MPs to accept that their duty to protect freedom "transcends all of our other responsibilities". Crawley's Labour MP, Laura Moffatt failed to respond to that call and allowed the Government's 42 days detention without trial bill to get through the House of Commons by just nine votes.

NHS should be transformed into a People's Health Service

Tue 10th Jun 2008

Speaking ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the NHS, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has criticised the Government's record of waste and inefficient centralised control in the health service, which has led to widening health inequalities.

National Health Service

ID cards 'could threaten privacy' - Select Committee Report

Mon 9th Jun 2008

The Home Affairs Select Committee has called for proper safeguards on the plans for compulsory ID cards to stop "function creep" threatening privacy. It wants a guarantee that the scheme will not be expanded without MPs' approval. The government says that the scheme would not be used as a surveillance tool. However, the Committee's report said "We seek the further assurance that any initiative to broaden the scope of the scheme will only be proposed after consulting the information commissioner and on the basis that proposals will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny in draft form,". Committee chairman Keith Vaz said there could be "potentially disastrous consequences" if data was mishandled.

No 2 ID Cards

World Environment Day: Government wasting time on climate change

Thu 5th Jun 2008

Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson has marked World Environment Day by criticising the Government for wasting time in the fight against climate change. Figures produced this week by the Office of National Statistics reveal that the UK's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by just 0.4% since 1999.

LibDems highlight Westminster Government's "appalling" record on environment

Tory come lately

Sun 25th May 2008

The Conservatives have recently been making a great deal of noise about the need to compensate people who lose out as a result of Labour's decision to double the 10p income tax starter rate. But they refused to support a compensation package when one was proposed last year!

The 10p tax abolition will hit local people hard

Strasbourg chaos for another year.

Fri 23rd May 2008

One of Crawley's Lib Dem MEPs, Sharon Bowles, reports that on one day MEPs voted on dates for next year's Strasbourg calendar and the next they get stranded.

Sharon Bowles MEP with some of the trunks that are taken to Strasbourg once a month containing papers and other office items the MEPs need

Lib Dem candidate no longer a "Fire Hazard"

Wed 21st May 2008

Darren Wise, Lib Dem candidate at the last local elections in Southgate and previously in Furnace Green, is celebrating the fact he is no longer classed as a "Fire Hazard" by UGC Cinemas. Darren, who is a wheelchair user, has been prevented for the last 10 years from going to the Cinema on his own as he was deemed a "Fire Hazard" by them - and they insisted he could only go if he was accompanied.

Darren Wise, Lib Dem candidate in Crawley (photography: Gordon Seekings)

New database an Orwellian step too far

Tue 20th May 2008

Ministers are to consider plans for a database of electronic information holding details of every phone call and e-mail sent in the UK, it has emerged. The plans, reported in the Times, are at an early stage and may be included in the draft Communications Bill later this year, the Home Office confirmed.

Telephone

Nick Clegg's Speech on the Liberal Democrat approach to taxation

Tue 20th May 2008

Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg today called for tax cuts for low and middle-income earners after a decade of tax hikes and unprecedented public spending rises.

Nick Clegg

Clegg voices Afghan campaign fears

Sun 18th May 2008

Failure in Afghanistan would be "devastating" while the Nato mission was "hanging in the balance", Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said on a visit. Speaking during his first trip there, Mr Clegg warned that without lasting peace and stability Afghanistan could revert to a "pariah state. The consequences of failure would be devastating," he said.

Nick Clegg

New Hospital for Crawley

Sat 17th May 2008

Northgate Councillor, Gordon Seekings, was the representative of the Liberal Democrats at today's rally for a new hospital for Crawley. The text of his speech is below:

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Gordon Seekings

One million still losing out despite Chancellor's by-election budget - Cable

Tue 13th May 2008

Commenting on the Chancellor's plans to compensate low paid workers who lost out when the 10p income tax rate was abolished, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said "This Government's tax policy has descended into a complete farce."

gordon brown looking glum (photography: Joseph Carter)

Government Departments failing to make Green travel choices

Thu 8th May 2008

Government departments are failing to reduce unnecessary travel or investigate green alternatives to air travel. The Tandberg report, published today, found departments are failing to adequately record travel and rarely ask civil servants to justify their journeys, for example by asking if they had considered tele or video conferencing as an alternative.

Norman Baker MP
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Henley By Election Result

Turnout: 34915 (51%)

56.7%
 
Conservative: 19796 (+3.2%)
27.7%
 
Liberal Democrat: 9680 (+1.7%)
3.8%
 
Green Party: 1321 (+0.5%)

View the results in detail.

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Liberal Democrats : All News Feed

Nick Clegg launches 'Make It Happen'
Thu 17th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats launch proposals to tackle youth crime - Huhne
Mon 14th Jul 2008

Road statistics reveal catalogue of failures - Baker
Thu 24th Jul 2008

Road statistics reveal catalogue of failures - Baker
Thu 24th Jul 2008

Housing shortage has left 130,000 children homeless - Clegg
Thu 24th Jul 2008

More Liberal Democrats : All News Feed...

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Quotes of the Week

"Holding someone without charge for 42 days adds nothing of value to the investigation, prosecution or conviction of terrorists."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General Lord (Martin) Thomas

Comment ahead of the Second Reading of the Counter-Terrorism Bill in the House of Lords - 8 July

"Opponents of Mugabe's regime are at serious risk of being tortured or killed if they are sent back to Zimbabwe. I am dismayed that the Home Office seems intent on pushing ahead with deportations at the earliest opportunity."

Chris Huhne, Lib Dem Home Affairs Spokesman

www.libdems.org.uk - 8 July

"Schools' performance in recognising and tackling homophobia should be an assessed criterion in Ofsted school inspections."

Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg

www.bbc.co.uk/news/ - 7 July