Local MP, Tim Farron used Health Questions in parliament today to ask the Health Minister Ivan Lewis the Department of Health's opinion on the regulations designed to prevent elder abuse. Mr Farron asked the Minister if in light of a Help the Aged report which claims up to half a million pensioners are being abused, the Department consider the guidelines to be stringent enough to prevent such abuse.
The Chinese Lib Dems today organised a visit to Westminster with reception hosted by Simon Hughes MP in honour of Anna Lo (Alliance Party) of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Following this there was a tour of City Hall courtesy of Mike Tuffrey, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the GLA, and an afternoon visit to Camden Chinese Community Centre and Chinese National Healthy Living Centre.
Leading local health campaigner, Serena Tierney has written to Gordon Brown asking him to make good on his pledges as he becomes Prime Minister.
Tony Blair will today reject Tory calls in the Commons to stage a referendum on the proposals agreed by EU leaders on Saturday. In his last full statement to the Commons, Mr Blair will claim Britain achieved all its aims at the summit. The Prime Minister has given ground on some aspects of the fourth of his four red lines, a foreign policy in which a foreign affairs 'high representative' will have access to the Commission's civil servants. Mr Brown and Mr Blair reportedly had several last-minute telephone conversations after the chancellor expressed his unhappiness at a concession to France which had removed a treaty objective of "free and undistorted competition".
Oscar Pistorius can compete against the world's best able-bodied athletes while researchers decide if his prosthetic legs give him an unfair advantage. In March, athletics' governing body introduced a rule banning any runner deemed to benefit from artificial help. But it now appears it has changed its stance, to the benefit of Pistorius. The 20-year-old South African runs using carbon fibre curved blades after his legs were amputated from below the knee when he was just 11 months.
A charity which offers disabled people the chance to explore canals in Essex has been given a £13,000 funding boost. The Canal Boat Project, based in Burnt Mill, Harlow, is one of 12 groups in the district to share £94,598 of grants Essex County Council. The grant will help complete the charity's £50,000 project to build a reception cabin and pumping equipment.
