The Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Prof. Steve Webb MP., is heading to Shrewsbury on Wednesday 7 October to discuss plans for tackling rising unemployment in a series of discussions with local stakeholders and members of the public.
A report discussed at a public meeting in Bedford on Tuesday night reveals that the Government is proposing a further huge expansion of house building in the region, just weeks after it cut previously agreed funding intended to help Bedford and the Marston Vale cope with existing growth. The report published by the East of England Regional Assembly rejects the Government's proposal for targets of up to almost double current house building rates, stating that it would rely on large scale migration and jobs growth far beyond even the most optimistic projections.
Local Liberal Democrat campaigner, Richard Dunn, came so close to winning in the traditionally safe Tory seat of Laleham and Shepperton Green. The Conservative majority of 618 in May 2007 was reduced to just 72 votes in this by-election.
The Lib Dem Conference in Bournemouth last week saw the party set out clear priorities for the country: Building a sustainable economy, Making society fairer, and Reforming our broken political system.
The Brentwood Gazette reported this week that "factions" had formed in the local Conservative party and a split had been caused by the resignation of Chair Dudley Pound, husband of Warley councillor Jan Pound, and Treasurer Frank Lloyd, father of fellow Warley councillor William Lloyd.
Not liberal: