The Tories are pledging to hand day-to-day control of the NHS to an independent board, as part of reforms aimed at making it more autonomous. They say the board should allocate billions of pounds to primary care trusts across England, and oversee the commissioning of services. Ministers would appoint board members, set objectives and hold it to account.
Shepway Lib Dems have been amongst the first to assist in a key Kent County Council by-election in Maidstone, caused by the sad death last month of County Councillor Margaret Featherstone. The by-election for the Maidstone North East Division will be held on 12 July.
Dundee LibDems have today (Wednesday 20th June) slammed the latest news about the digital television switch that, in the words of a Dundee LibDem councillor makes "a nonsense" of the government "targeted assistance" scheme.
At Prime Minister's Questions today Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ming Campbell asked if private equity executives should pay tax "at a lower rate than those who clean their offices". Tony Blair responded by saying that these issues should be examined in the pre-budget report. Sir Menzies followed up by pointing out that, while this review was taking place, "we are giving a tax break of £6 billion per annum to some of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom. Would it not be much fairer to give tax cuts to lower and middle-income families, who have suffered most under this government? Would that not be an illustration of governing for the many, and not the few?"
Liberal Democrat councillors at North Yorkshire County Council are demanding that people are consulted properly on changes to bus timetables.
The MP for Ealing Southall, Piara Khabra, has sadly died aged 82. He had been the Labour MP for Ealing Southall since the 1992 General Election. The oldest member of the House of Commons, Mr Khabra, was reported as having been been undergoing treatment for liver problems.
