The Liberal Democrats have called for the inquiry into the Al Yamamah arms deal to be reopened and not just reviewed. Dick Oliver, chairman of BAE Systems', this morning signalled he would welcome a case review but the Liberal Democrats are urging the government to allow the Serious Fraud Office to fully reopen the case.
Liberal Democrats at Surrey County Council have maintained their strong opposition to the Surrey Waste Plan (SWP), voting against a recommendation to adopt it when it came before the council at its Annual Meeting. The council was being asked to agree to its adoption following a report published by Government inspectors into the public examination of the Plan at the end of 2007. This report declared the plan to be 'sound' but Cllr Sarah Di Caprio, Lib Dem group Environment spokesperson, said the inspectors had pointed to various shortcomings in the plan and they suggested calling for an early review.
Zahid Shah came very close to a sensational victory in St Peter's Ward on 1st May. The election was hard fought and resulted in a larger than ever share of the votes for the Liberal Democrats. I an special Thank You Focus Zahid said "I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported me in my campaign. I intend to carry on the good work for our area. I will continue to campaign against fly tipping and graffiti, to continue to support the Neighbourhood Wardens and to investigate ways to improve parking at places where people gather for important events such as at the Waterloo Mosque. The Focus Team will keep in touch through Focus leaflets and do all we can to help improve local facilities and services. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue."
Cheriton Councillor Tim Prater has reported for replacement the destroyed black and white pavement bollard outside the pavement by The Victoria pub, at the junction of Church Road and Risborough Lane, Cheriton. The bollard has been flattened and is now on the floor, both useless as a bollard and making the street look untidy.
Immediately after Prime Ministers Questions on 7th May Bob Russell, Lib Dem MP for Colchester, will table a '10 minute rule Bill' that would allow Gurkhas who retired before 1997 the right to settle in the UK. This Bill is one of the results of the massive Gurkha protest held on 19th March 2008 during which some 50 Gurkha veterans handed back their medals as a sign of their frustration.
A senior police officer is warning that the billions of pounds spent on CCTV cameras has failed to have a significant impact on crime. Mick Neville, the head of the Visual Images, Identifications and Detection Office at the Met Police said that "no thought has gone into how the police are going to use the images and how they will be used in court."