Conservative and Labour councillors at County Hall today joined forces to defeat a Liberal Democrat motion which would have allowed North Yorkshire's school pupils to directly elect their "Young Peoples' Champion". The Liberal Democrat councillors think that it should be the young people who vote for the councillor they want to represent them and not left to the Executive of the Council.
At the party's Spring conference in Llandudno, Welsh Lib Dem youth wing MIDR Cymru is calling for an end to homophobic prejudice when it comes to a major branch of the health service. The National Blood Service currently bars some men from saving lives - based entirely on their sexual orientation.
Wolverhampton City Council has revised its criteria for considering new pedestrian crossings. Consequently, Springvale Lib Dem Cllr Richard Whitehouse has asked the Highways Department to take a fresh look at his request that was made a few years ago for a crossing at Biddings Lane/Shaw Road. Richard said, "The residents of the sheltered scheme at Hinchliffe Avenue particularly need this crossing and because they are unable to cross Biddings Lane/Shaw Road. They are now becoming prisoners in their own complex. I have been told the new guidelines will take this into account. I really hope that we may now be successful in getting a crossing."
One of the most important topics discussed in Parliament this week has been the legislation to nationalise Northern Rock. This has been a long and tortuous process which has so far cost the taxpayer £100 billion in loans and millions in fees to lawyers and firms advising both the government and the two private consortiums that bid to run the bank.
Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Chesterfield was today due to address a public meeting Defending Public Services in Chesterfield, unfortunately owing to parliamentary votes on the Prevention of Terrorism Act and on emergency legislation to nationalise Northern Rock he is now unable to attend.
The Liberal Democrats today revealed figures showing that the declining value of the Winter Fuel Payment means it only just pays for a quarter of a pensioner's fuel bills.
