Council Leader Councillor Alan Taylor in a Christmas interview with Rochdale Online reporter Jan Harwood answers questions on the Transport Innovation Fund bid, overcrowded trains, the Town Centre regeneration plans, increases in council service charges and explains what has impressed him most of the council's activities this year.
Immigration officials have "no interest" in deporting foreign prisoners who have served less than 12 months in jail, a memo says. The document also says foreign nationals who are awaiting removal for immigration offences could be moved to open prisons, to create space in other jails. The admission was made by Prison Service deputy director general Michael Spurr to prison governors. Ministers first promised tougher measures in 2006 after it was revealed 1,013 foreign prisoners were not considered for deportation last year. They included serious offenders such as murderers and rapists, and the crisis led to the sacking of former home secretary Charles Clarke.
"If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear." How many times have you heard that tired old phrase trotted out by ID card proponents over the past few years ...but how many times in the last month?
New Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has described education as his "biggest enthusiasm" in politics. He said the UK could look at some of the best practice in Europe for running its education system. These should be any method that "unlocks aspiration, unlocks the potential of children". He told Radio 4's Today programme: "We could look at some of the best practice elsewhere in Europe. "I think the fact we are now condemning, still, despite all the investment from New Labour, thousands and thousands of children who are born into a lifetime of poverty where their education doesn't seem to shift that in any way, I think is an absolute indictment of the way things have been run."
An innocent plea for a bigger Christmas tree led to Rochdale MP Paul Rowen presenting Rochdale School's Music Service with a full size tree. Mr Rowen reacted after former Rochdale 'Man of the Year' Ken Davies complained whilst compering the Music Service's annual 'Christmas Cracker' at the Gracie Fields Theatre about the size of the Christmas tree.
Dundee Liberal Democrats would like to wish everyone in the City a very happy and joyful Christmas!
