Happy New Year
Happy New Year to all our subscribers and readers.
1 Jan 2011
National News
Liberal Democrats – our manifesto in practice
The Liberal Democrats have been in government for only eight months, but we have already implemented many of our manifesto policies.
1 Jan 2011
New Year cheer for community pubs following confirmation of restrictive covenants review
Norwich South MP Simon Wright has welcomed a pledge made by the pubs minister Bob Neill to review rules that prevent some closed community pubs from reopening as pubs. A public consultation will review restrictive covenants, which are used in the sale of a building to restrict the use by new owners. Large pub companies have used covenants to limit competition, which has resulted in some pubs being closed with no hope of re-opening. Mr Wright said: "Pubs play a vital part in building strong communities, and New Year's Eve will have demonstrated that in pubs across Norfolk. But we're losing pubs at a dreadful rate, and that damages our communities. "The practice of some pub companies in restricting the use of pubs after sale through covenants is scandalous. It deprives communities of assets and denies the opportunity to prospective alternative landlords to develop a thriving business. The motivation of using restrictive covenants by large pub companies is to avoid competition, and often results in pubs bei
31 Dec 2010
Over half of Lib Dem manifesto is now Government policy
The Liberal Democrats have published research showing that very many policies on which they fought May's election are now Government policy. Commented Stephen Robinson (who was the Chelmsford candidate), "The Lib Dems won less than 1 in 10 of the seats in the House of Commons. However over half of our manifesto is now Government policy. That is a huge achievement for our party.
31 Dec 2010
Nick Clegg's New Year Message
Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's New Year message to Liberal Democrat party members and supporters can be viewed at http://www.libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Nick_Clegg's_New_Year_message&pPK=88e4be65-2e82-425c-b797-f5410c30523f
31 Dec 2010
New Year's Free Parking Boost for Sales Shoppers and Town Centre Traders
The prolonged period of snow and freezing temperatures was damaging to local businesses in range of ways, with town centre retailers hit, for example, by reduced numbers of people being able to get into town. To support traders and give local shoppers a boost, we offered free parking on Boxing Day in all town centre multi-storey car parks, with the offer to be repeated on New Year's Day.
31 Dec 2010