Lib Dem Folkestone Councillor Tim Prater has welcomed Michael Howard's conformation that he was going to vote against the Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009. The Order, which was intended to allow MPs a Freedom of Information loophole not to fully publish their expenses, was withdrawn after concerted opposition from the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has reacted angrily to a refusal by Ofwat to support charities hit by the change in the way surface water drainage is being charged by water companies, including United Utilities.
Shadow Secretary of State for DEFRA Tim Farron MP has described today's announcement that Hilary Benn has agreed to accept all 26 of the main recommendations made by Sir Iain Anderson as a "smokescreen" to cover up the Government's failure to accept overall responsibility for the initial outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in 2007.
The Liberal Democrats' Shadow Chancellor has written an article for the Guardian newspaper calling for action against tax avoiders. He wrote, " The British government isn't bankrupt. But it can ill afford to lose tax revenue through large-scale avoidance. There is a substantial structural budget deficit caused by the loss of income from a now depressed and disgraced City over and above the growing deficit born of recession. An important starting point in this crisis is to establish a tax base that is robust and fair, in which everyone is seen to be paying their share.
It has emerged today that Kent County Council chiefs have proposed a 2.44 per cent council tax increase for the next financial year - 0.41 per cent lower than was originally put forward by the authority last month.
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has backed local building societies who are being forced to pay a disproportionate price to bailout reckless banks.
