The former Conservative Member of Parliament for Blackpool North, Harold Elletson is visiting Tim Farron's constituency this Friday for a coffee morning with local members of the Liberal Democrats.
Local MP Tim Farron has written to the Competition Commission today asking that they look into the conduct of pub chains in relation to lessees. Mr Farron has tabled a Commons Motion criticising the pub chains that have in many cases been raising rent and other costs, forcing many pub landlords into hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of debt.
Liberal Democrats at North Yorkshire County Council today branded the ruling Tories "callous and irresponsible". This follows the Tories' decision to impose a Council Tax increase of 4.75%, twice the rate of inflation. This means an increase of around £45 per year for a band D household. The Conservatives voted against a Liberal Democrat amendment to the budget calling for a lower increase of 3.75%.
Braunstone resident and campaigner Ian Bradwell was recognised by the City Councils Licensing Department for his work in getting taxi drivers to accept guide dogs into their taxis.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable, has today written to Alistair Darling calling on him to explain why the Government is not planning to nationalise Northern Rock's Granite fund, which holds many of the bank's best assets. During yesterday's debate on the bank's nationalisation Dr Cable said the separation of the best mortgages from the nationalised parts of Northern Rock had the appearance of "an asset-stripping operation". The Lib Dems abstained at the bill's third reading, with Dr Cable warning that "we need to build into the Bill provisions to create much more transparency than has existed so far." At today's PMQs Nick Clegg said Gordon Brown seemed to be "jeopardising the interests of British taxpayers all over again by hiving off the bank's best assets elsewhere." He also called on the PM to admit that "if he had acted sooner, he could have saved the taxpayer the tens of millions of pounds frittered away on bidders' costs and prevented the untold damage done to this country's reputation as
Too many families in Wolverhampton are losing their homes because of difficulties over mortgage payments, claims leading local Liberal Democrat campaigner and Park Ward candidate Claire Darke.
