Reacting to the formal decision taken on Wednesday of the Tory MEPs to leave the centre right European People\'s Party (EPP-ED) after the European elections in June, Andrew Duff MEP, Leader of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party, said:
Chris Hall and Maryfield Liberal Democrats would like to thank everyone who supported Chris at Thursday's by-election.
Spelthorne's budget for 2009/10 is under great pressure largely due to falling interest rates, but this is only part of the story. Many years of financial incompetence by the ruling Tory administration has led to a reliance on asset sales and high interest rate income - both of which have been hit by the economic recession.
Cllr David Kendall, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Brentwood & Ongar, has reacted with dismay at press reports that Conservative MP, Eric Pickles, is canvassing ex-pat residents in Majorca, with further trips planned across Europe as well as Dubai and the US.
The agenda of Shepway Council's cabinet meeting on 18th March is now available online - but possibly the most controversial part of it is to remain secret. Item 16 on the agenda (available at http://www.shepway.gov.uk/webapp/service/query/cads/doc/cabinet/Agendas/acabt20090318.doc?download=download) lists the item as "Leas Lift Lease Termination". Apparently its supporting report (C/08/106) sets out the background of the Leas Lift lease and the proposals for its termination - but members of the public, are not allowed to see that report, or even listen to the debate at the meeting if they wish.
New figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have today revealed that the Government spent £853 every time a police cell was used to house a prisoner.