Britain's democracy is at a turning point. Not in living memory has confidence in politicians, trust in the system, or faith in the government's capacity to change things been as low as it is today. The expenses scandal has exposed a culture of arrogance and secrecy that has long been at the heart of our democracy.
The Liberal Democrats' Manifesto for Bedford Borough has identified 'Six to Fix' for Bedford Borough. The Six to Fix priorities include the Environment, which the Council must protect by pursuing a Zero Carbon Growth policy with carbon neutral developments.
This is a good moment to be a Liberal Democrat. Constitutional reform grips Westminster. The bigger parties are being discredited by expenses - the double departure yesterday of Labour's Margaret Moran and the Tories' Julie Kirkbride symbolising shared disgrace. Lib Dems have been tainted, too, but not on the same scale, and the party can claim to have championed reform when it was unfashionable. Nick Clegg's proposal yesterday for a 100-day revolution was eye-catching, but most of the ideas in it have been backed by his party for years. The difference is that other parties are now competing to match them.
Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England, says that only a truly European solution will save Vauxhall at Luton. In a statement today (Friday) he says:
Bagnall residents were astounded to find that their recently won 40mph signs in Bagnall Road had been covered with 60mph signs by City Council contractors. County Councillor Christina Jebb supported residents in their 18 month campaign to win the lower limit in March. She said she was baffled by the 'ineptitude' of the contractors and the waste of taxpayers' money: "Why on earth didn't the workmen ask any questions when they were saw they were installing 60mph signs on top of 40mph ones?!"
