Lib Dems Outline Plans to Support Families

Improving the life chances of children has always been central to Nick Clegg's beliefs. The new taskforce, which includes Liberal Democrat education minister Sarah Teather, will look at ways in which the Coalition Government can make a real difference to children's lives.

Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today announced a Government taskforce to look at ways to support families and give every child a fair start in life.

The full text of Nick Clegg's speech can be found here:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Nick_Clegg's_speech_on_supporting_families_and_children&pPK=6d739b75-08a1-4262-9309-39b0fc8fc45c

Brocklebank Road Success

I am delighted to confirm that your Liberal Democrat team have now secured funding to plant replacement trees on Brocklebank Road.

These trees will be planted at the beginning of this years planting season rather than immediately. The decision to plant the trees at the end of November or beginning of December will mean the trees planted have the greatest chance of establishing themselves and are least likely to need removal and replanting.

This action follows contacts made by residents on Brocklebank Road contacting your Lib Dem team with concerns regarding the proposed removal of 8 trees along Brocklebank Road.  We have contacted the Trees and Woodlands Department on your behalf to confirm that these trees must be removed.  We did ask if the removal could be phased with the trees being removed over a 2 year period however we were told that the trees pose a potential Health & safety risk and as a result must be removed together.

A key concern of residents was the lack of any replacement trees which the Council said was down to a lack of funding.  Again we have checked with the Trees & Woodlands Department to confirm that this is actually the case.  Normally funding for trees can be obtained from Section 106 money I.e. Money paid by developers as part of a new build or development in an area however this source of funding has been reduced since the amount of development in the area has lessened.

Blog launched for Southport Liberal Youth

During the recent General Election, the biggest increase in members for the Liberal Democrat party came from students and young people who felt motivated and engaged by our manifesto for a "Change that works for you".  To capitalise on this in Southport and to encourage young people in our town to become actively involved in politics both nationally and locally, we have launched Southport Liberal Youth which is run by young people for young people.


Liberal Youth is the youth and student wing of the Liberal Democrats, representing the interests of all members aged 26 and under, and everyone registered as a student. They campaign, train members, run events, recruit new members and develop policy, amongst other things! If you are a member of the Liberal Democrats aged 26 or below, or you're registered as a student, you are automatically a member of Liberal Youth too.


For more information on Liberal Youth in Southport please follow the Southport Liberal Youth link or click on the title in the Other Lib Dems Sites list.

Simon Hughes is new Lib Dem Deputy Leader

Simon Hughes, 8 term MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has won the contest to be deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats beating Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron.

Mr Hughes replaces Vince Cable, who stood down from the deputy leadership role last month to concentrate on the job of business secretary in the new Liberal Democrat-Conservative Coalition Government.

He said he would ensure the Lib Dems "seize the moment" provided by the coalition government.

Deputy Prime Minister outlines plan for Political Reform

In his first speech to Parliament as Deputy Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg today outlined his radical plans for political reform.

The plans include:

• A referendum on the Alternative Vote
  
  
• The right to recall MPs who break the rules
  
  
• Fewer, more equal-sized constituencies
  
  
• Making the House of Lords wholly or largely elected
  
  
• Fixed five-year parliaments
  
  
• Devolving greater powers to the Scottish Parliament by implementing the recommendations of the Calman Commission
  
  
• A referendum on devolving more powers to the Welsh Assembly

Liberal Youth Southport

Liberal Youth is the youth and student wing of the Liberal Democrats. It is open to all party members under the age of 26 and all registered students. We represent the interests of young people and campaign on the issues affecting them the most including;

• scrapping tuition fees and unfair student debt
• save Darfur
• the abolition of the ContactPoint database
• climate change

Liberal Youth is coming to Southport.

We are starting a branch here, in Southport for any and all under 26 who are interested in the Liberal Democrats and want to get more involved.

Watch this space....

ID cards to be scrapped within 100 days

The Liberal Democrat- Conservative Coalition announced this week that ID cards are to be scrapped for all British Citizens within the next 100 days and which will make this intrusive system "a thing of the past", says local Lib Dem Councillor Sue McGuire.

Commenting on the announcement, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

"The wasteful, bureaucratic and intrusive ID card scheme represents everything that has been wrong with government in recent years.... Cancelling the scheme and abolishing the National Identity Register is a major step in dismantling the surveillance state - but ID cards are just the tip of the iceberg. Today marks the start of a series of radical reforms to restore hard-won British freedoms."

Your Local Lib Dem team have been opposed to ID cards and the 'database state' since it's inception under the previous Labour Government. Cllr McGuire says, "this is a victory for all those who voted Liberal Democrat, we are finally getting rid of these dangerous systems- a win for anybody who believes in civil liberties. Scrapping ID cards will also save the British economy almost £900million, money that can be put to much better use by the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Ministers in Government"