Lib Dems want to keep Town Hall
At a stormy Full Council meeting last night the Liberal Democrats spelt out their position on the Town Hall, confirming that they want to see the current Town Hall kept.
16 Dec 2010
National News
Anti-social behaviour by students
Following some serious examples of unacceptable behaviour by Newcastle University students in North Jesmond ward in September 2010, the Registrar was asked by ward councillors to explain the University's stance on anti-social behaviour. Here are some extracts from his statement.
16 Dec 2010
Liberal Democrats fulfil policy to end child detention
Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg, has confirmed that the Government will end child detention by May next year.
16 Dec 2010
Tuition Fees
I read with interest Mark Eriera-Guyer's letter (BFP 10/12/10) on Tuition Fees. Residents will not have forgotten that before he was a Green Parliamentary Candidate, he was a Labour PC supporting the party that introduced Tuition Fees so he has has undergone quite a change of view himself. He also mentioned the abolition of the Educational Maintenance Allowance. This was a typical nanny state Labour measure in which the government took tax off all of us and give it back to pupils staying on in education whether their parents needed it or not. It was one of the reasons taxpayers debt had risen to £160 billion under Labour. It has been replaced, not abolished, with the Learning Support Grant given to students from families with lower incomes to ensure they don't feel the need to leave school and get a job, but stay on to gain a better chance for themselves in the future.
DC
16 Dec 2010
Nick Clegg's message on Higher Education
Today's vote on Higher Education funding was one of the hardest things we have had to do in politics. I know that there are strong and passionately held views on all sides of the debate, which I very much respect.
15 Dec 2010
Scores on the Doors Puts Knowledge in the Hands of Local Restaurant-Goers
This week I signed the document to confirm the launch of the 'Scores on the Doors' food outlet rating scheme in Bedford Borough. Scores on the Doors is a scheme set up by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), involving the publication of a food hygiene rating for restaurants and other food outlets in a local authority area. All inspection gradings and further information is made available online, allowing restaurant-going local residents to make an informed choice about where to go when eating out.
15 Dec 2010