Commenting on today's agreement by the richest fifteen EU member states to set a new spending goal in the fight against world poverty, Andrew George MP, Liberal Democrat International Development Spokesperson, said "The new spending goal of 0.51 % is by far not ambitious enough. Four EU countries have already achieved the UN target of 0.7%."
New Leader of the Opposition on Rochdale Council Cllr. Alan Taylor has responded to Labour and the Tories joining forces by vowing to lead the party into control of Rochdale Council.
The BBC reports that plans to exhibit a boring machine used to build the Channel Tunnel are causing controversy in Shepway. Planners at Shepway Council want to put the machine, which was sold on the internet site eBay, on display in Folkestone near junction 13 of the M20.
Paul Rowen (Rochdale, LDem)
Lord Dholakia, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesman in the House of Lords today set out his response to the Queen's Speech. He welcomed proposals in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to tackle the sale of replica firearms and ban the sale of knives to juveniles. He also welcomed the "long overdue" Corporate Manslaughter Bill. However, Lord Dholakia criticised the Government's decision to press ahead with plans for compulsory ID cards.
Lord Rennard, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on electoral reform in the House of Lords, will today call for widespread reform of the voting system and for votes to be cast at weekends to boost turnout. Lord Rennard will say "People did not vote for Labour to be given 55% of the seats in the House of Commons. Our political system has moved on from the nineteenth century, but our electoral system has not."
