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Tuesday, 03 April 2012

Nick Clegg to launch Lib Dem campaign

Nick Clegg will launch the Liberal Democrats English local elections campaign by saying the party is "delivering for ordinary people".

Ahead of the launch in Stockport, the deputy PM said Lib Dem-led councils were freezing council tax and trying to protecting services from cuts.

In last year's local elections the party took a battering - Mr Clegg will be hoping for a better performance.

In the 2011 local elections in England, the Lib Dems lost control of nine of the 19 councils they were defending and 778 councillors, gaining only 30. The defeat prompted calls for some senior Lib Dems in local government for him to quit.

This year they are defending fewer councils - mostly in the south of England.

Speaking ahead of this year's campaign launch, Mr Clegg said it was the time to be proud of being a Lib Dem.<br>

"We've always worked hard and delivered for people locally but for the first time in living memory, we are doing that nationally too."

He said the party was "delivering for ordinary people" as part of the coalition government - pointing to the rise in the amount of money people can earn before they start paying tax, which was again raised in the Budget.<br>

"Over the next week, our policies will mean nearly 25 million people will get a £130 tax cut on top of the £200 tax cut we gave them last year.

"Schools will get over £1bn more througt our Pupil Premium to help the most disadvantaged children and pensioners will see the biggest ever cash rise in the state pension of £5.30 a week."

While the government is stressing the record pension rise, linked to inflation, critics point to the chancellor's decision to freeze age-related tax allowances for the over 65s, and scrap them altogether for those turning 65 next year.

The Lib Dem leader will also argue that Lib Dem controlled councils are working to protect local services from cuts and freezing council tax, while trying to "clear up the economic mess Labour left behind".

Read more:BBC

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Saturday, 20 August 2011

Cameron - will mend "broken society" after riots

Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday his government would mend Britain's "broken society" to prevent a repeat of the country's worst riots in decades. More than 2,800 people have been arrested since a protest over the fatal shooting of a suspect by police prompted rioting and looting in Tottenham, which spread across the capital and sparked violence in other English cities. Cameron, who returned from holiday in Italy last week at the height of the unrest, is seeking to tap into widespread public anger over the protests, which occurred 15 months after he took office at the head of a cost-cutting coalition. "This has been a wake-up call for our country. Social problems that have been festering for decades have exploded in our face," Cameron, leader of the Conservatives, will say in a speech on Monday. "Now, just as people wanted criminals robustly confronted on our street, so they want to see these problems taken on and defeated. Our security fightback must be matched by a social fightback," he will say, according to advance extracts of his speech. The stakes are high for Cameron. Any repeat of last week's lawlessness, in which shops were smashed up and set on fire and five people were killed, will sap public confidence in his government. However, analysts say Cameron, a slick former public relations executive, could benefit politically if he provides the tough law and order response some voters are seeking. Cameron has responded to the crisis by taking a hardline stance and his speech on Monday will refer to the dangers of indiscipline in schools and family breakdown, succour to traditional Conservatives who feel their young leader is too liberal on social issues.
More information on reuters.com

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Friday, 10 September 2010

Mayor Boris Johnson to stand for re-election in 2012

Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to stand for re-election in 2012.

There had been speculation Mr Johnson might choose not to run in protest at the funding cuts being made by the coalition government.

He has raised concerns about the threat to the £16bn Crossrail project.

Mr Johnson said "he wanted to knock the speculation on the head" and is "determined to keep fighting for London".

Speaking on LBC Radio, Mr Johnson pledged to defend London against spending cuts which he believes could damage the city's ability to generate economic growth.

More information on bbc.co.uk

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Friday, 19 March 2010

Newly added polls - UK politicians and personalities

Adrian Johns The current Governor of Gibraltar and a former senior officer in the Royal Navy.

Salma Yaqoob The leader of Respect – The Unity Coalition and a Birmingham City Councillor.

David Ford UK politician - member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) since 2001.

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

UK's Darling says committed to cutting spending-FT

LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - British Finance Minister Alistair Darling said on Tuesday there should be no doubt about the government's commitment to reducing the country's record budget deficit.
Worries about the 178 billion pound deficit and the risk of a downgrade to Britain's sovereign debt rating have sent shivers through bond markets in recent weeks.

Darling's reluctance to set out immediate plans for reducing public spending over the next four years has fuelled concerns over the government's intentions.

But Darling told the Financial Times in an interview he had been telling his ministerial colleagues for a year that the deficit had to be reduced.

More information on reuters.com