....allegedly. The problem is that it seems they are talking about the Royal Charter. But as I explained earlier, the main issue isn't the charter, it is the amendment to the Crime and Courts Bill, which appears to leave tweeters and bloggers open to exemplary damages if they haven't joined one of the self-regulation bodies. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post

Posted by Paul on Liberal Burblings
Mon 18th
21:48

Monday meetings

Earlier today, I attended a briefing by City Council planning officers for elected members about the Western Gateway housing proposals. I raised questions about schooling provision should the housing go ahead at a later stage. The proposed 'catchment' schools (Ardler Primary School and Baldragon Academy) are some distance away and I sought assurances that the building of future housing would not result in large numbers of placing requests for Harris Academy. After my weekly ward surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and at Harris Academy, I participated in City Council meetings. At Policy and Resources Committee, on police and fire ...

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has written to party supporters tonight... Having been in face to face negotiations till nearly midnight last night – followed by calls, texts and emails for many hours afterwards – I am delighted to have stood up this afternoon in the House of Commons to welcome the cross-party agreement on implementing the Leveson Report. It wasn't easy but after a lot of hard work – led on our side by the tireless Jim Wallace, we have got there. The Leveson Inquiry was established after public revulsion at the phone hacking scandal. So, when Lord Justice ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice

Dear Fraser, It was great to see so many in Dundee over the weekend for what was a fantastic spring conference. You can catch up with all the news from conference here or at our new Facebook page. Feedback from members has been positive with the emotional debate on mental health and heated debates on housing benefit reform and secret courts receiving special recognition. Eastleigh by-election winner Mike Thornton made a surprise appearance to the delight of the conference. In my speech on Saturday, I recalled the efforts of Jo Grimond who led this party from the fringes to the ...

Mon 18th
21:16

Six Nations Roundup 2013

 

From the founder of the World Economic Forum to the protesters of the Occupy movement, everyone seems to agree that something's wrong with capitalism as we know it. But what is it, exactly and what can people do about it? Political economist and historian Gar Alperovitz discusses a potential solution in his new film The Next American Revolution, in which he advocates for community-based and co-operative businesses.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

A brilliant speech well worth a watch again even if you saw it live first time round: Also on YouTube here and here. Thanks to Merton Liberal Democrats for drawing my attention to the films.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Not content with their two recent, er, colourful recruits by defection, UKIP says it is to fight every county seat here in Leicestershire in May. The party's 'East Midlands constituency manager' Paul Oakden told the Leicester Mercury: "In 2009, UKIP did not stand a single candidate in Leicestershire. "We don't want a situation this time where people come to us after May 2 and say "I would have voted for you but you didn't have a candidate. "Every day, we are gaining fresh people so it is an achievable goal to have a candidate in every seat. "Will we take ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

Life is not as clear cut as it once was, and the sight of a cross-dresser, emerging briskly from the gents toilets in Ramsgate's Cavendish St. was hardly a shock, particularly not here in Thanet, given that even our councillors are clearly comfortable with their sexuality, still the authenticity was remarkable. On entering the toilet, I realised my mistake, the urinal had been hastily segregated, with a plastic barrier, and above a note from the council stated this "GENTLEMEN" "PLEASE USE CUBICLES ONLY TOILET IS FOR UNISEX USE" until leaving the toilet, I had the weird thought, that maybe Thanet ...

Posted by tony flaig bignews on BIGNEWS MARGATE

So, as I may have mentioned, I'm not a fan of liberals acting casual when it comes to freedoms. These might be the freedoms of those the state has illegally tortured to be able to get justice in fair legal proceedings. Or they might be the freedoms of the press to be as illiberal and moronic as most of it is much of the time as long as it sticks within the laws of the land that govern us all. So, it's fair to say, I'm not especially impressed with a government which includes Liberal Democrats deciding to vote first ...

Posted by Stephen Tall on Stephen Tall
YouGov

Below are recently submitted Planning Applications in the Chorlton area. You can find out more information about any of the proposals on the City Council's Planning Portal at http://tinyurl.com/yv6lex or by contacting the South Area Planning Group Manager - Roger Hall; Tel: (0161) 234 4536; email: r.hall@manchester.gov.uk . You can also make a Planning representation (in support or opposition) to Mr Hall or the designated planning officer for each application. Please feel free to contact me on (07947383740; cllr.v.chamberlain@manchester.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss any application and please also send me a copy of any representation you make. 101559/FO/2013/S1 Soap ...

It doesn't surprise me, but it is nevertheless very pleasant to see some national coverage of what is a well known fact in these here parts - that Cardigan is a beautiful, up-and-coming town with so much going for it and is a great place to live. This Sunday Times 'Top 10 Places in Wales to Live' list didn't only name Cardigan as one of its 10, but the editor actually picked the town as her personal favourite! Quite right too! Every community has its nay-sayers, those 'the fields are always greener on the other side' brigade - that's just ...

Forget the Stones - here is "Piccadilly Circus" by the Reform Club. Think of it as The Kinks go to Penny Lane. More about Norman Baker's band in yesterday's post. Thanks to @abjtal for sending me the link to the video.

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

OMG OMG OMG! I didn't think it was possible to be more excited than I already was but somehow I've managed it. I slept so badly last night, I was such a bundle of nerves. I remember waking up about three or four times, convinced it must be time to get up soon, and then amazed to find it had been less than two hours since my excitable brain saw fit to rouse me last. Still, with the power of caffeine, I survived my first day. Several lectures and talks about what it means to be studying nursing, introducing the ...

Posted on katie writes stuff
Mon 18th
18:00

Fire Cuts

The London Fire Brigade is reviewing how it works. London Mayor Boris Johnson has told it to save money such that they need to cut frontline services. What does this mean? It means closing fire stations, downgrading fire station from two to one fire engine. It means specialist crews being merged into non specialists losing flexibility. You can see the full proposals and give your responses at – http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/lsp5.asp This proposals seems more focused on limiting services than developing them. With a rapidly growing London population with increasing numbers of households and greater threats from terrorism it seems bizarre time ...

Posted by James Barber on James Barber

Boing Boing writes UK press-regulation defines "press" so broadly as to include tweeters, Facebook users, bloggers. It then goes on to show Schedule 4 of the draft Royal Charter which defines "relevant publisher" to include: a website containing news-related material (whether or not related to a newspaper or magazine); The thing is, the term is only used in the body of the Royal Charter, in connection with membership of the recognition panel (see quotes at the bottom of this post). So this means that tweeters or bloggers, or their staff, can't serve on the recognition panel. In itself that is ...

Posted by Paul on Liberal Burblings

A picture says a thousand words.

Posted by Charlotte Henry on Digital Politico

Thames Water have sent us this and we are happy hereby to set the record straight. I am emailing with regards to your article online about Thames Water working in Inkerman Road. Having been contacted by the local newspaper about this, it became apparent that the sub-contractors doing this work have incorrectly stated that they are working on behalf of Thames Water. This is actually not our site. The developers for the new housing project have sub-contracted out to get the sewers built. These sub-contractors, P C Cooney, have put the signs up claiming to be working for Thames Water ...

Posted by chriswhite on Chris White

A lot of people are talking about what the challenge of creating a stronger economy and a fairer society means in practical terms. I'm going to focus here on the latter. As well as implementing key Lib Dem policies such as the Pupil Premium ,raising the tax-free personal allowance, making childcare more affordable and introducing the new single tier state pension, it's important we recognise the role charities and voluntary organisations play in helping people going through difficult times as part of a broader approach to social justice. This country has a proud history of charitable activity to make sure ...

Posted by Claire Tyler on Liberal Democrat Voice

The BBC reports: A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on measures to regulate the press in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter, but views vary over whether it would be underpinned by law. Labour leader Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said this would be the case, but the prime minister denied it. ... Mr Clegg said he had worked "flat out" to get the deal, and was "delighted" with the cross-party agreement. "We've secured the cherished principle of freedom of the press, ...

Posted by The Voice on Liberal Democrat Voice
eUKhost

And in case you've forgotten: here's the last Lib Dem to appear in a pop video...

Posted by Richard Morris on A VIEW FROM HAM COMMON

The secret courts controversy was not the only item on the agenda of last weekend's Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Dundee. Today's Guardian reports that the conference also called for greater independence for Shetland and Orkney: Activists at the Scottish Lib Dems' spring conference in Dundee agreed unanimously that the islands should develop their own relationship with central government - regardless of the outcome of the independence referendum next year. They also agreed that Shetland and Orkney had a separate right to self-determination.This decision is a reminder that demands for independence and self-determination are more complex than is generally imagined. ...

Posted by Simon Titley on Liberator's blog
Mon 18th
16:13

280daily

280daily Those of us used to using Twitter find ourselves using new and creative ways to get our message across. What if the message is just for yourself? A quick record of the day. 280daily is a service that helps us all do this. Click on the link and use the service yourself. Enjoy it. ...

Posted by Michael Carchrie Campbell on Gyronny Herald

From the Council of the European Union: [IMG: European flags] The Permanent Representatives Committee [composed of the ambassadors of the 27 EU member states] ... endorsed a draft Council decision bringing forward the period of the next European Parliament's elections from 5-8 June to 22-25 May 2014. The draft decision's main objective is to ensure optimal conditions for the elections and hereby to strengthen the European Parliament's legitimacy. It also responds to a request by the European Parliament. In 2005 the Parliament asked to bring forward the date of the election to May so that it can better organise itself ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Northern Ireland landscapes, a set on Flickr. Some photographs that I have taken over the last few years of various different landscapes in Northern Ireland. From churches to country houses, to municipal buildings, to places of outstanding beauty. Via Flickr: Some pictures of Northern Ireland. © 2008-10 Michael Carchrie Campbell Filed under: Blogging

Posted by Michael Carchrie Campbell on Gyronny Herald

A month ago, I was fairly scathing about an approach made by a firm who cold-called me about investing in coloured diamonds. And, having heard no more from them since, I assumed that the person who had called me had taken the very strong hint that I wasn't particularly interested.Until today, when I noted that I had received a voice mail (I'm not terribly good at checking my voice mail, for the record). Rather than check it, I returned the missed call, only to find myself talking to a rather polite, but slightly unhappy, gentleman at Rosenberg and Cooper (sorry, ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on The view from Creeting St Peter

A lunch time thought as you can imagine it cannot be easy for public institutions to reach every demographic and I'm not sure that Thanet leisure force is acting in the best interest. The latest edition Thanet Watch has I guess a readership comprising of curious individuals such as myself and diehard lefties who wish for the days of Mrs T and a Labour Party full of earnest socialist instead of social climbing politicians on the make. Anyhoo surely Thanet Watch has a minuscule readership and circulation, so why is an organsation such as Thanet leisure force, part funded by ...

Posted by tony flaig bignews on BIGNEWS MARGATE

Engineers save lives. They should stop swaddling their education in PR fluff from arms manufacturers and oil companies Sitting in the pub with some friends last year, one of them pulled out a toy submarine they'd picked up at a science education event. It was one of those squishy stress reliever things, and had BAE's logo on the side. BAE make a range of products, including real nuclear submarines, not just toys. And drones, fighter planes. That sort of thing. We passed it around the table, poking at it, slightly aghast. The very idea of a nuclear submarine stress reliever ...

Mon 18th
14:56

Cyprus Banking Crisis

Thoughtful piece from Petros Fassoulas of the European Movement on Cyprus, the banking crisis and the EU: 18 March 2013 Is the Cyprus deal the lesser of all evils? In case anyone thought that the bank and sovereign debt crisis that has engulfed certain parts of the eurozone has produced all its dramatic twists, ...

Posted by jonathanfryer on Jonathan Fryer

One of my former work colleagues raised this question, as he works in London, and lives in darkest Hertfordshire... Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat) To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation (ITSO) standard national rail card will be available; whether they have chosen an operator for the card; and why customers cannot use Oyster cards, which are ITSO compliant, for commuter journeys while the national system is being developed. Earl Attlee (Whip, House of Lords; Conservative) There are no current plans for a single, centrally developed ITSO smart rail card. The Government strategy is ...

Posted by Mark Valladares on The view from Creeting St Peter

Firstly, let's be clear; the Royal Charter is definitely going to based on the Lib Dem/Labour proposal... ...or definitely based on the Tory Proposal. Or more likely, both Anyway, lets be clear - there's nothing 'statutory' about the proposals... except there might be... Although as David Allen Green points out - there are lots of different ways of defining statutory anyway... 'All "statutory" means is that a regulatory regime has some basis in an Act of Parliament. It may well be that the statute merely gives legal personality to a regulator, allowing it to hold property and enter into contracts ...

Posted by Richard Morris on A VIEW FROM HAM COMMON

Innovation is not just about science My copy of Metro this morning tells me that "in the dim and distant past, Britain led the world in science and engineering. We invented the reflecting telescope, the steam engine, the glider..." etc. etc. Well done us. The piece refers to a survey, closing at the end of the week, launched by a consortium of science organisations. The aim is to find the top British innovation in order, I imagine, to generate some more news pieces trumpeting our scientific prowess. Leaving aside the pernicious techno-nationalism of this exercise (the UK also typically claims ...

Here's today's hand-picked selection that caught my interest... Leveson debate must be brought back from brink | Index on Censorship Good stuff from Index on Censorship "MPs voting on how the press is regulated are the tools of authoritarian regimes" http://bit.ly/YjHjHs Cameron has folded on Leveson - but there's still an elephant in the room (it's called the internet) LabourList's (pro-Leveson) @MarkFergusonUK notices one of the many downsides of hasty, ill-thought-out legislation http://bit.ly/YjzUrB Leveson's liberal friends bring shame upon the left | Nick Cohen | Comment is free | The Observer .@NickCohen4 on great form > "I bloody despair of ...

Posted by Stephen Tall on Stephen Tall

[IMG: police] The travel arrangements for Hull City fans wanting to attend their team's away trip to Huddersfield later this month probably haven't caught the attention of too many Lib Dem Voice readers. And why should they? Here's why. West Yorkshire Police (WYP) have decided to make the game a "bubble" match. For those of you unfamiliar with this particular policing tactic, it involves forcing all fans to travel on designated coaches, from specific pick up points, to and from the game. If fans want to make their own way to the game, they can't. If you don't go on ...

Posted by Paul Head on Liberal Democrat Voice

I've just been made aware of this story about work going on at Aigburth Station. I don't use the station much myself (using Cressington or Liverpool South Parkway) but these passengers seem to have a point.

Posted by Paula Keaveney on Paula Keaveney - Lib Dem Campaigner

[IMG: British newspapers] In amongst all the talk about Royal Charters, statutory underpinning and the like, there's been an awful lot of talk about how a press regulator should be structured and almost nothing about what rules the regulator should enforce. Yet almost completely unnoticed, at the same time as all that debate, a public consultation is being run on the current press rules. The Code of Practice which the Press Complaints Commission policies is currently up for consultation. A new regulator may decide to change the Code radically, but it's a pretty fair bet that whatever the Code says ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Yes, its true. Norman Baker is indeed bringing out an album - 'a rock album' according to the report I heard on Radio 5 Live last night. Hats off to him. Though you do wonder - how did he find the time? Do feel free to tweet some songs he might like to record in the future using the hashtag #songsforthetransportministersalbum

Posted by Richard Morris on A VIEW FROM HAM COMMON

As readers will know, we prefer election to selection ( see Mother knows best ) but the fact is that the Derwent Valley Partnership public representatives will continue to be selected rather than elected. If you would like to be considered for the role of public representative (and as far as we know readership of this site does not disqualify you from consideration!) expressions of interest are currently being invited. If you want a copy of the form you can email us, or request one direct from dvaap@durham.gov.uk . Making an expression of interest, or applying for the role is ...

Posted by Owen Temple on Owen Temple & Margaret Nealis

Yesterday, at the instigation of a friend who is so far to the left that he quit even Arthur Scargill's party, I attended a "simultaneous" showing of Ken Loach's archive-documentary film "The Spirit of '45". Loach is criticised for jumping straight from the atmosphere of hope and "all-in-this-togertherness" which made the creation of our wlefare state possible, to the selfish individuality and contempt for society which was legitimised under Mrs Thatcher and continues to facilitate its destruction. Loach, who was available to contribute by video-link to a discussion after the showing, pointed our that he is not trying to record ...

Posted by Peter Wrigley on Keynesian Liberal

The honest answer is I don't know – I'm also awaiting a phone call back from the electoral commission – So the blog may have to change depending on the information I receive. What started me thinking about it was ... Continue reading →

Posted by AAEmmerson on DIY Liberalism

In late night Whitehall talks, a deal on implementing Leveson and regulating the press has been done. The very concept should terrify us. Never mind the vagaries of this Royally-Underpinned-Charter, or whatever it now is, or the fact that once again there was a massive internet elephant in the room, just waiting to trample on the ...

Posted by Charlotte Henry on Digital Politico

What comes after post-modernism? I asked a couple of posts ago - and did so partly to encourage people to buy my book which (I modestly suggests) contains the answer. I've had a number of completely contradictory responses - congratulatory messages on Facebook, a cascade of articles about the impossibility of objective truth, and defending the prevailing post-modern culture. For Liberals, these are difficult issues - because I am suggesting there is a lazy, corrosive kind of liberalism, and we need to move beyond it to find a high, more demanding Liberalism, a Liberalism with depth, which has some chance ...

Posted by David Boyle on The Real Blog

...it's their paymasters too. Thanks to LY co-chair Kavya Kaushik for spotting this one.

Posted by Charlotte Henry on Digital Politico

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the invasion by the USA and the UK of Iraq. In an article published in The Independent, Nick Clegg reflects on the decisions made by the last Labour government and the lessons to be drawn. Here's an excerpt: The pretext given by the Blair government for the invasion - Saddam Hussein's possession of weapons of mass destruction - proved false. The intervention led to years of instability, sectarian violence and religious extremism within Iraq and beyond. It strengthened Iran's ability to destabilise its neighbours and it undermined the credibility of the United Nations. ...

Posted by NewsHound on Liberal Democrat Voice
Mon 18th
10:43

Deal struck on Leveson?

Today's Independent reports that last minute talks have led to the on-off cross party deal on the regulation of newspapers being on again. Will the deal hold together long enough for Parliament to actually vote it through? The paper says that the dramatic twist has headed off the threat of an embarrassing Commons defeat for David Cameron tonight: The Prime Minister ended the three-party negotiations last Thursday when he rejected Labour and Liberal Democrat demands for a Royal Charter setting up a new regulatory system to be underpinned by law, and said the issue would be resolved by MPs today. ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

Today's Western Mail reports that bus passengers in Wales' biggest cities and towns could suffer service cuts or further increases in fares because of subsidy changes. They say that the Welsh Government is changing how a key subsidy is calculated, as well as reducing overall funding by 25%: Concerns about the drop in funding have focused on rural areas, where most services depend on subsidy from cash-strapped councils. However, urban networks may also be at risk because companies will no longer receive a grant based on how much diesel their vehicles consume. The replacement grant will be calculated according to ...

Posted by Freedom Central on Freedom Central

Interestingly, Libdem Rail minister Norman Baker's band is releasing an album. The band was re-formed in 1990 and Mr Baker was quoted in the Metro as saying this; I've done it now because I thought I should get round to it before I'm too clapped out. That'll be about ten years hence. I would't write a song slagging the prime minister. I was never going to write about politics. That would be naff. However, that's not the thrust of this post. As I read the Metro the reporter, Fred Attewill, had included a retort from the Tax Payers alliance's Jonathan ...

Posted by Chris Sams on The Ginger Liberal from Medway

A Think BIG Project sponsored by O2. Meet new people, make new friends Share and learn new skills Become invovled in the Community Swap /give away unwanted items Raise awareness of Conservation Help form a Sandgate Youth Group A new magazine for Younger People For more information please contact Adel Wilson, 0779 5511355 thewilsonabout@hotmail.com Published and promoted by Tim Prater, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone, CT20 3BYPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Posted on Tim Prater

The Sandgate Society are holding an exhibition entitled "Sandgate - A Walk Down Memory Lane" on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st March from noon onwards in the Reading Room above the Old Fire Station on Sandgate High Street. The exhibition will feature photographs and documents from the Sandgate Society archive. Coffee and cakes on sale. Extrance free. Published and promoted by Tim Prater, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone, CT20 3BYPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Posted on Tim Prater

Some reality checks re: women. Exploding lots of myths. (tags: ) [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments

Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum recently to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 650 party members have responded, and we're publishing the full results. 66% say party should commit to repealing 'secret courts' legislation The House of Commons has approved legislation extending the use of Closed Material Procedures - also known as 'secret courts' - in any civil proceedings (except, at present, for inquests) in cases where national security is said to be at risk. Do you support or oppose the repeal of this ...

Posted by Stephen Tall on Liberal Democrat Voice

The press is throwing a toddler's tantrum over Leveson Comment from a pro-Leveson journalist - hurray! (tags: media )

Ok, this might be slightly egotistical, but I thought you might be interested in seeing the speech I made proposing the motion opposing the legislation on secret courts at Scottish Conference this weekend. The motion, calling for a repeal of the legislation to be put into our manifesto in 2015, was passed overwhelmingly. There were in fact only two votes against in a busy hall, and one of them was from Jim Wallace. If you scroll to the bottom, you can see a wee snippet of it. Here's what I said: For over four centuries our legal systems have been ...

Posted by Caron Lindsay on Liberal Democrat Voice

Take famous film scenes which feature people holding, pointing, gesticulating and threatening with guns. Replace the guns with a thumbs up. And you have the genius that is Thumbs and Ammo. [IMG: Thumbs and Ammo photo:

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

Surrey County Council have sent every household in the county a booklet explaining how our council tax is being spent. Within it is a highly political comment from Kevin Hurley, the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner. He presents a pie chart showing how the police force spend its money. Take a look at it and ask yourself this question: what percentage is spent on "Employees". [IMG: Surrey Police Pie Chart] Please use this poll to record your guess - answers at the end of this blog. Take Our Poll Pie charts have a long and noble history. They were ...

Posted by Terence Eden on Terence Eden has a Blog

8 weeks today*, Texas' 8th studio album 'The Conversation' will be released. In anticipation, this series will look at each of the proceeding albums in turn - charting the changing sound and developing image of the band. I've conducted this exercise (re-listening to back catalogue in order) in the past but it is still interesting to consider the album as part of a larger body of work - and seek to identify the common features and where the changes in sound occurs. From memory of past exercises, this isn't where it's normally assumed to be. It'll be interesting to see ...

Posted by Andrew Brown on the widow's world

I actually finished these a couple of weeks ago, but am only now getting round to writing them up... After a somewhat uneven first half of the season, we are onto much better stuff in the second half. It was good to come back to Human Nature / The Family of Blood so soon after rereading the book, though inevitably it meant doing a bit of compare and contrast; I won't do this in detail, since Niall Harrison did it back n 2007, but the things that jumped out at me were the following: Positive points On the screen, the ...

Residents contacted me recently concerned at the recent removal of three well-established mature trees on Glamis Road. It is the case that the roots were having an adverse effect on the pavements, although it was disappointing to see the loss of mature trees in the street. Last week, Tayside Contracts (on behalf of Dundee City Council) started to restore the pavements here - see right - although not meaning to create a Bansky in the process! I asked the City Council - on behalf of residents - about replacement tree planting and have been advised as follows: "There are no ...

Not had music on the blog for some time! So ... a rather superb 80s song from Spandau Ballot ... "I'll Fly For You":

Direct elections to the European Parliament every five years have usually been held in Britain on the first Thursday in June, with most of the other EU member states voting on the following weekend. But next year the elections will be brought forward slightly to May (22 May in the UK's case). The EU Council ...

Posted by jonathanfryer on Jonathan Fryer

Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Lib-Dems on Broxtowe Borough Council. May I give a special welcome to the new readers that we have this week. 1. Broxtowe Budget Broxtowe Borough Council met last week to agree a budget for next year, and again it was a near unanimous vote. The headline figures are that Broxtowe council tax will not go up, council house rents are kept down, and there are no cuts to front line services. All the savings are being made by operating more ...

Posted by David Watts on Cllr David Watts