Andrew Duff, as president of the Union of European Federalists is highlighting the necessity of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty to make Europe "more powerful, open and democratic". At a breakfast with the press, on 1 April in Brussels, he explained that ratification of Lisbon is the UEF's top priority. The two other fundamental points of the federalists' manifesto are the response to the economic crisis and the challenges of climate change.
New measures proposed by the European Parliament could help secure the long term future of car manufacturing in the West Midlands. A cross party resolution in the Parliament has called for the European Commission to bring forward new rules making it easier for car manufacturers to secure loans from the European Investment Bank and to encourage manufacturers to continue to invest in research and development projects which will bring about the next generation of green vehicles.
Rochdale's MP Paul Rowen has condemned Government guidelines that suggest jobseekers should have to travel long distances to find work.
Gordon Brown's management of the British economy has been a disaster, his time as Chancellor of the Exchequer sowed the seeds of the recession, light touch regulation of the banks and the building up Government debt even before the current recession. The banks continue to be let off the hook and measures to combat the recession have been half hearted - with government finances wasted on VAT cuts rather than real measures to help the economy.
Newcastle was recently named the second most improved local education authority in the country for sustained improvements to GCSE grades.
