European Union
It was good to see the letters from Ian Smith and David Wedgwood (BFP 20th February) as having a good debate on Europe is long overdue and with the elections due this June this year it is timely.
DC
22 Feb 2009
National News
Clegg: Brown's complacency has cost thousands of families their homes
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today accused Gordon Brown of wasteful complacency following figures released today showing that the number of homes repossessed last year rose by 54% to 40,000.
21 Feb 2009
Secularist of the Year awards presented to leading Lib Dems
The National Secular Society's annual award for Secularist of the Year has been awarded jointly to Dr Evan Harris MP and Lord Avebury for their success in getting blasphemy laws abolished.
21 Feb 2009
Hazel Blears urged to come to Hinckley & Bosworth
Liberal Democrat Regeneration Spokesman Cllr Stuart Bray (Hinckley Castle) has written to Communities and Local Government Secretary the Rt. Hon. Hazel Blears MP to invite her to come to Hinckley & Bosworth.
21 Feb 2009
Gay Asylum Seeker Unlawfully Deported by UK Border Agency
A High Court judge has found that the UK Border Agency have illegally deported a gay asylum seeker. The man comes from a country where discrimination against homosexuals is rife, and claims that he fears persecution and violence. Sir George Newman has ordered the Home Secretary to "use her best efforts" to bring him back to the UK so he can make an effective asylum claim. However, the Home Secretary's legal team claim it is pointless to return him as he will lose his claim.
20 Feb 2009
Children need more opportunities to learn
The Cambridge Review of Primary Education today claims that children's education is being impoverished by rigid testing. Professor Robin Alexander's team describes a rigid testing regime, with more than half of all class room time spent on the core subjects of maths and English, with virtually all other topics squeezed out. "The most conspicuous casualties are the arts, the humanities and those kinds of learning in all subjects which require time for talking, problem- solving and the extended exploration of ideas."
CW
20 Feb 2009