National News

Time to take back power

The issue of MP's expenses has highlighted the need for constitutional change, the impotency of MP's who are left to rubber stamp government legislation having been paid off by an expenses regime that positively invited them to make outlandish claims that had nothing to do with their work. At the same time the business of government is controlled from outside parliament, with the chamber itself left with only a handful of MP's in attendance, with the Prime Minister hardly ever attending except for Prime Ministers Questions, and party whips ensuring legislation is passed irrespective of its merits.

A 100 Day Action Plan to save Britain's Democracy

Britain's democracy is at a turning point. Not in living memory has confidence in politicians, trust in the system, or faith in the government's capacity to change things been as low as it is today. The expenses scandal has exposed a culture of arrogance and secrecy that has long been at the heart of our democracy.

Private Eye feature Shropshire con

Six to Fix - Environment: Pursue a Zero Carbon Growth policy with carbon neutral developments

The Liberal Democrats' Manifesto for Bedford Borough has identified 'Six to Fix' for Bedford Borough. The Six to Fix priorities include the Environment, which the Council must protect by pursuing a Zero Carbon Growth policy with carbon neutral developments.

Guardian Leader 29 May 2009

This is a good moment to be a Liberal Democrat. Constitutional reform grips Westminster. The bigger parties are being discredited by expenses - the double departure yesterday of Labour's Margaret Moran and the Tories' Julie Kirkbride symbolising shared disgrace. Lib Dems have been tainted, too, but not on the same scale, and the party can claim to have championed reform when it was unfashionable. Nick Clegg's proposal yesterday for a 100-day revolution was eye-catching, but most of the ideas in it have been backed by his party for years. The difference is that other parties are now competing to match them.

LIB DEMS CALL FOR EUROPEAN SOLUTION TO VAUXHALL'S FUTURE

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England, says that only a truly European solution will save Vauxhall at Luton. In a statement today (Friday) he says: