Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have called for all children's play areas to be declared alcohol free zones. The Lib Dems want to see the council use its powers to impose a ban on the consumption of alcohol in play areas in order to make them safer places for children to play.
Zahid Shah, the Lib Dem candidate in St Peter's Ward in the election on 1st May, has challenged the local Labour councillors at least to make an effort to get fly tipping and graffiti near their own homes cleaned up. There was graffiti on walls near one Labour Cllr's house for years until Zahid intervened. And an area of open public land near a second Labour Cllr's home is a regular fly tipping site yet he takes no action. Zahid Shah asked "If they even neglect of their own immediate area how can we expect them to care for the whole Ward?"
Gordon Brown was warned that he will face an unprecedented rebellion by Labour MPs if he does not do something to help the five million people who are losing out from the abolition of the 10p starting rate of tax. The Prime Minister last night managed to persuade Angela Smith, a parliamentary aide to the Treasury minister Yvette Cooper, to withdraw her threat to resign over the issue. Brown took time out of his US engagements to talk to Ms Smith personally on the phone.
Suffolk CC, Stowmarket North
A new petition to convince the European Commission and Member States to bring forward a European anti-discrimination directive has been launched today by Lib Dem MEP Liz Lynne. Current EU anti-discrimination laws outlaw discrimination in the workplace on all grounds but only provide protection against discrimination in access to goods and services on the basis of gender and race while disability, age, sexual orientation and religion are excluded.
Liberal Democrats have warned that a traveller encampment that appeared at Berry Farm in Wootton Green will be the 'first of many' if the council does not take action to protect the site. Lib Dem Councillors have previously highlighted the need for a height restriction barrier at the Berry Farm car park to prevent such encampments, and are now stepping up their calls for immediate action. The Lib Dems have also criticised Bedford Borough Council for leaving the site for over a week before clearing up the mess left by the encampment.
