104 Prospective Parliamentary Candidates have signed a petition to urge Liberal Democrat MPs to vote against the rise in student fees. The Liberal Democrat PPC for Devizes, Fiona Hornby, explains why she has signed the petition:
Colchester MP Bob Russell has urged the Coalition Government to "think again" at proposals to axe School Sports Funding as part of the wide ranging cuts in public spending to deal with the massive deficit left by the former Labour Government. Speaking in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat Mr Russell twice referred to the success of the School Sport Partnership operated by the Colchester Academy (formerly Sir Charles Lucas College) which supports sports activities at primary schools in the north of the town.
Equalities Minister, Lynne Featherstone, has a new video online today talking about HIV and AIDS. "In this country HIV is more common in some groups of people than in others including men who have sex with men," she says. "Men who have sex with men remain the group who are most affected but this has led to a stigma against gay men that is both unfair and dangerous. It stops many other people from realising that they too are at risk."
Brentwood West Liberal Democrat Cllr Karen Chilvers has asked for a review of the signage at Brook Street roundabout in a bid to make the junction safer.
Lib Dem councillors Barry Aspinell and Vicky Davies have been out and about in Pilgrims Hatch in the last couple of days checking on their residents in sheltered accommodation to see that they are coping in the severe weather.
Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert has chosen World Aids Day today to call on the Government to end the ban on gay and bisexual men, and their partners, being blood donors. He has tabled an Early Day Motion which calls on the Government to 'introduce an evidence based approach to allow as many people as possible, regardless of their sexuality, to safely donate blood'.