A report commissioned by Gordon Brown on British citizenship has suggested that school-leavers should be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country. Report author, ex-attorney general Lord Goldsmith, says it would give teenagers a sense of belonging. Council tax and student fee rebates are suggested for people who volunteer - as well as a "Britishness" public holiday.
From April, the controversial charge to removed bulky waste will be removed. The controversial £18 charge had been blamed for the number of fly-tipping incidents in the Borough.
DELGA are disappointed to learn that Mehdi Kazemi, a gay Iranian who fears he will be executed if he is deported back to his home country, has had his claim for asylum in the Netherlands overturned. Mehdi fears for his safety if he is returned to Iran, where he says his boyfriend named him as a partner before being executed.
Speaking at the Green Alliance annual debate in London, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has called for a social environmental revolution. Beginning with the formation of a Charter for Climate Change, Nick will set out the rights and responsibilities of businesses, politicians and individuals.
"As this year's Fairtrade Fortnight drew to a close, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to attempts to make Bedford Borough a Fairtrade Borough. The Lib Dems have also repeated their calls for the council to do more to support the volunteer steering group and achieve fairtrade status soon.
Local news items 5-3-08