According to Henry Bolton, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Runnymede & Weybridge, there is a real need to introduce a pension that ends means testing for the oldest pensioners and removes discrimination against women. He says, "Women should be entitled to a pension in their own right. The LibDems would address this immediately once in power."
A Unite/Mori student survey carried out in January 2004 on voting intentions gives the Lib Dems a leading share of 34%, with Labour on 28% and the Tories third on 19%. Students will have a major impact in 2005, as the elections are expected during the university year, on May 5, unlike in 2001 when the elections fell during the holiday period.
Commenting on the launch of an online map to tell homeowners about flooding risks in England and Wales, Norman Baker MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, said:
Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy today launched the Liberal Democrat Pre-manifesto - the first important stage in the manifesto process, which will take the Party into the General Election.
Under new Liberal Democrat proposals police chiefs would sign contracts with local communities setting out how many officers they would deploy. The "minimum policing guarantees" would set funding levels for local police for a rolling three-year period. The guarantees are part of the party's new plans to tackle crime. The plans include using money earmarked for the government's ID card plan to hire an extra 10,000 front line police and 20,000 community support officers.
Surrey's Liberal Democrat PCC candidate Paul Kennedy is calling on Surrey's Police Commissioner to act, as Lib Dem research reveals 30-40% of non-emergency calls to Surrey Police went unanswered in late summer. In August alone nearly 10,000 callers - representing 32% of total 101 calls - gave up in the face of a 4 minute average waiting time, while nearly 1,000 callers had to wait more than 20 minutes to get through.
Surrey Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Early Day Motion tabled by Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans Daisy Cooper which raises concerns regarding the proposed new M25/A3 junction alongside RHS Wisley.
Last week the Conservative Government voted against extending free school meals for children in need during the holidays, including Angela Richardson, MP for Guildford, Cranleigh and our Villages. This means that during October half term, the Christmas holidays and beyond, there will be many parents struggling to feed their children.
At County Council yesterday, Surrey's Leader, Cllr Tim Oliver ensured his group voted against the Lib Dem motion calling for a much-needed reconciliation with the Boroughs and Districts with whom a relationship of trust had completely broken down. In his speech the Lib Dem Leader Cllr Chris Botten outlined how the recent perceived 'power grab' by the county council, by unilaterally pursuing its ambition of a single unitary authority, had severely damaged relations with the eleven borough and district councils of all colours, who had been side-lined by their action.
Surrey County Council has agreed to move its headquarters to the former Cannon HQ in Woodhatch, in spite of objections raised by the cross party group of Councillors responsible for scrutinising the move.
Following a motion by the Lib Dems, Surrey County Council unanimously agreed to introduce 'school streets' in Surrey with the aim of encouraging active travel, improving air quality and promoting road safety.
