Commenting on the Government's announcement that there will be no exemption from anti-discrimination laws for Catholic adoption agencies, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said: "I believe there is no place for discrimination in a liberal society. The Prime Minister's conclusion regarding the Sexual Orientation Regulation is to be welcomed. Any exemption would have undermined this principle."
DELGA is supporting a petition to the United Nations calling for the universal abolition of so-called crimes of homosexuality, sodomy laws and laws against unnatural acts of homosexuality. Lib Dem MP for Bristol West, Stephen Williams, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons in support of this initiative: we urge all our members and supporters to contact their MP and urge them to sign the EDM. Liberal Democrat, Labour, Conservative and Ulster Unionist MPs have already signed - so even if your local MP is not a Liberal Democrat it is still worth contacting them.
Liberal Democrats in Stockton discussed the Independent Review of Hospital Services last night and expressed delight that the uncertainty which has surrounded maternity and paediatric services at University Hospital North Tees has been removed. We agree wholeheartedly with the report's statement that
A Post Office will reopen on 26th February on Broomfield Parade, off Patching Hall Lane. This follows a long campaign led by the local Liberal Democrats. They collected 1500 signatures on a petition to first try and prevent closure until a new Post Office was in place.
Work has started to end the lorry parking problem in Cheriton High Street in Folkestone after years of campaigning from local residents and Lib Dems. The works should stop lorry parking in the slip road, which disturbed residents in Samian Crescent, Tiber Close and Roman Way.
A poll for the Independent Newspaper by CommunicateResearch found there has been a sharp rise in support for the Liberal Democrats, mainly at Labour's expense. They give the current state of the parties as the Tories on 34 per cent (down two points on last month), Labour 29% (down eight points), the Liberal Democrats on 21 per cent (up seven points) and other parties on 16 per cent (up three points).