Wolverhampton Liberal Democrats' successful Park Ward campaign has won the Albert Ingham Award at the Party's conference in Brighton. The Award is in recognition of campaign that saw Robin Lawrence elected in May.
Conference this afternoon debated the Better Governance Policy Paper - For the People, By the People. Conference agreed that there is a serious crisis in British democracy, marked by low - and declining - turnout in elections, widespread disillusionment with politics and politicians, a sense among the electorate of powerlessness to achieve change and public alienation from the political process, particularly among the young and ethnic minorities. Conference welcomed the Green Paper from the Government, The Governance of Britain. Conference noted that major changes both to the structure and personnel of government took place in June 2007 with no recourse whatsoever either to Parliament or to the people.
Conference today debated the issue of excess packaging. Total domestic waste produced in Britain has increased 21% since 1997, to over 26 million tonnes and whilst household recycling in the UK has increased from 6% to 23%, but this has only managed to keep pace with the total increase. A large proportion of this waste, around 5 million tonnes, is made up of packaging and packaging accounts for around 17% of the average household food budget.
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has told transport bosses to, "look no further than Greater Manchester for an example of all-party campaigning for trams." Mr Rowen was speaking at a fringe meeting on the 'Future of Light Rail' at the Lib Dem Conference in Brighton.
Dundee Liberal Democrats today (Tuesday 18th September) backed radical new tax plans that will drop the basic rate of income tax to its lowest level since 1916.
Conference this afternoon endorsed the Poverty and Inequality Policy Paper - Freedom from Poverty, Opportunity for All.