Breaking Britain returns, this time it’s the schools
Why is so much of Britain’s infrastructure literally falling apart?
Why is so much of Britain’s infrastructure literally falling apart?
Lib Dems condemn “chaotic and incompetent” budget
The sheer quantity of raw sewage being dumped into Britain’s rivers and coastal areas is a scandal and a disgrace.
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake called for tougher Freedom of Information legislation when he introduced a ten-minute rule bill in Parliament this afternoon. The bill seeks to remove the veto which allows ministers to overrule the Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal. It will also introduce a time limit for responses to public interest FOI requests, and try to bring school academies and large private contractors working for public authorities within the scope of the FOI legislation. The bill passed its first reading and joins the queue for a second reading debate.
Last week I attended the premier of Taking Liberties. It's a new feature film about how Tony Blair and New Labour have been steadily taking away our civil liberties. Love it or loathe it, it's very thought provoking and led to a heated panel discussion between myself, Shami Chakrabati, Ken Loach, Clive Anderson and others after the screening. You can see the trailer at http://www.noliberties.com/trailer.htm
The Prime Minister, Tony Blair gave hope to the campaign to oppose the bid to form a unitary authority for the whole of Cumbria during Prime Minister's Question Time today. In a response to a question from fellow Liberal Democrat Phil Willis, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough about the proposals to create a unitary authority in North Yorkshire, the PM conceded that the fact that all the North Yorkshire MPs were opposed to the bid was 'very powerful'.
Local MP and member of the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee Tim Farron today asked the government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King to advise the Prime Minister to be, Gordon Brown to provide incentives for people to work nearer or even at, home where it is possible and practical.
Local MP, Tim Farron has today written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and neighbouring MP John Hutton to demand that the Job Centre in Ulverston is kept open. The Job Centre is seen by local people as a vital resource in what is a very rural area.
Local MP Tim Farron has secured a promise from Treasury Minister John Healy that his Department will look into scrapping Vehicle Excise Duty on all Mountain Rescue vehicles. Mr Farron wrote to the Treasury after meeting with local representatives of the Mountain Rescue Service.