News

Tories abandon Green Taxes

Tory shadow chancellor George Osborne has rowed back from environmental policies that have enraged the right as the Tories geared up for their annual conference. The shadow chancellor said that proposals to tax supermarket car parks and to give air passengers a "green miles" allowance, under which they would be taxed if they took more than one short-haul flight a year, would now be abandoned. The green plans were drawn up by a policy commission under John Gummer and Zac Goldsmith, but have proved controversial among more traditional Tories. The Conservatives have been accused of retreating into a right-wing comfort zone.

30 Sep 2007
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WWF Handbook on Funding for Environmental Projects

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has published a useful guide to EU funding sources for environmental projects. The guide covers the funding period 2007-2013 and deals with topics ranging from nature conservation to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and sustainable transport.

30 Sep 2007
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Free Competition to Win a Job in Europe

EURES, the European job mobility service, is running a competition that will give 50 Europeans the opportunity to work in another European country for a period of at least four months. Anyone who is over 18 and has not previously worked, studied or done an internship abroad can apply.

29 Sep 2007
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Autumn General Election now odds-on

Odds on an autumn general election at betting exchange Betfair have now moved 'odds on', indicating punters believe an election this year is likelier than not. Most high street bookmakers are no longer taking bets on the possibility. According to The Guardian Gordon Brown will hold a 'council of war' with his closest allies this weekend at which he is expected to make a final examination of the polling data before deciding whether to call an autumn election. If Mr Brown decides to go for an election on October 25, he would have to declare his intentions by Tuesday - the day before Mr Cameron's make-or-break speech at the Conservative conference in Blackpool. Most commentators view a November 1 polling day as more likely. This would enable parliament to return for two days, potentially enough time for an Iraq statement, an NHS review statement and the long-planned three-year spending review and pre-budget report before Parliament is dissolved

29 Sep 2007
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Michael Headley looks left

Lib Dems Keep Focus on Key Issues for Town Centre Development

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have responded to the awarding of outline planning permission for the Town Centre West Redevelopment with a clear message that the core issues of local housing and town centre car parking must be resolved in order to ensure the success of the development for the town and surrounding area.

28 Sep 2007
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Fall in Teacher -Pupil ratio in early years education is shocking

Teacher-pupil ratios in early years education have fallen across England according to official figures released yesterday and analysed by the Liberal Democrats. There are 40 local authorities where the ratio of qualified teaching staff to pupils in primary schools has fallen, and 50 authorities where the ratio has fallen in nursery schools.

28 Sep 2007
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