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.
Disadvantaged primary school pupils in Surrey are set to receive £28.6 million to boost attainment, the Liberal Democrats have announced.
Nurseries, childminders and other early years providers in Surrey are set for a £535,845 cash injection to help three and four-year-olds from disadvantaged families.
The announcement by the Conservative administration at Surrey County Council that they want close down the six residential homes they still own and run; Brockhurst in Ottershaw, Cobgates in Farnham, Dormers in Caterham, Longfield in Cranleigh, Park Hall in Reigate and Pinehurst in Camberley; came as little surprise to some councillors but must have been a shock to the elderly people who live there and their families.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have welcomed the decision made yesterday by the Conservative administration at County Hall to re-think undemocratic proposals to change the council's constitution.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have pressed for more funding and action by the county council to prevent flooding since long before the floods of last winter.
Surrey County Council's Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision by the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Glasgow to oppose expansion of Gatwick Airport.