Campaigners have reacted with disbelief to the latest arrogant decision of the district council. It has been decided to give preferential treatment to senior members of the old council at the vote count to determine who has been elected this time round. Portfolio holders will have their wards counted before other candidates.
Chinese Lib Dems have once again come together with Liberal International British Group to organise a joint event for their members. Martin Jacques, author of "When China Rules the World" will be speaking on China's growing influence and strength and what this may mean for other countries on Monday 23 May.
Our parliamentary spokesman Dr Jon Underwood, also a candidate for the local elections, has attacked claims in Conservative leaflets. "I've been amazed by the stuff the Tories have had the cheek to put out. Their Axminster leaflet explicitly says they Resisted Labour's inflated development targets. Actually the Tories increased the number of houses developers were allowed to build even beyond the massive number the unlamented Labour government required. We guarantee there will be: NO concrete on opens spaces. A lie so blatant it is simply absurd. They have already given permission for massive new developments in Axminster and at West Clyst, both on open green fields. How are these not open spaces exactly?
On Saturday, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg delivered a speech at an AV rally in Norwich in which he set out the deficiencies of our democracy, and the reasons why AV - combined with other political reforms in the pipeline - will start to fix those problems.
In an extremely embarrasing letter to councillors, Tory Leader of the Council Cllr Louise McKinlay has been forced to admit that transferring Brentwood's highways function to Harlow has not worked. The letter admits a number of key failings, including:
