http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Bristol East Liberal Democrats en-GB Bristol East Liberal Democrats http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Bristol East Liberal Democrats 2008-09-08T16:42+01:00 United Kingdom http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000059/tories_play_catchup_on_global_warming.html The Conservatives are to announce that they now think it is a good idea that air travel be accountable for the greenhouse gases airliners emit, contributing to climate change. Philip James, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Bristol East said "The Conservatives are at long last beginning to recognise what the Liberal Democrats have long had policies to counter." 2007-03-11T09:18+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000058/mps_vote_to_increase_democratic_legitimacy_of_parliament.html MPs delivered a historic vote in favour of a wholly-elected House of Lords yesterday. The Commons voted by 337 to 224 in favour of a 100% elected Lords. The motion for an 80% elected house received a smaller majority of 38. While the vote is non-binding, Leader of the House Jack Straw has promised to uphold the decision. Any legislative changes would, however, need to gain approval from the current upper house first. 2007-03-08T22:47+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000057/pcsos__is_labour_really_tough_on_crime.html The Labour Government has shocked local residents after they announced massive cuts in Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) here in Bristol. 2007-02-27T00:30+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000056/jackie_norman_calls_for_cleanup.html Huge quantities of litter have piled up opposite the end of Hillsborough Road near the Sainsbury supermarket in Brislington West, the ward represented by Liberal Democrat Councillors Jackie Norman and Peter Main. 2007-02-27T00:14+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000055/keep_wicklea_for_the_whole_community_says_jackie_norman.html Cllrs Jackie Norman and Peter Main are supporting the Brislington Community Partnership in the fight for the whole community's right to use the Wicklea Centre. 2007-02-27T00:05+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000053/blair_and_blunkett_experience_what_control_order_detainees_have_long_known.html Politicians should be careful about expressing criticism of an ongoing police investigation. If anyone is charged, it is important to consider the possible impact on the chance of defendants receiving a fair trial. A politician can also expect their own motives for commenting on operational matters to be examined. Especially when it is their own political party that is a subject of the investigation they have questioned. It is regrettable to see so many senior Labour party figures publicly criticising operational decisions, and the length of time being taken by the Metropolitan Police as it looks into 'cash for honours' accusations. 2007-02-05T23:26+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000052/they_say_the_best_form_of_defence_is_attack.html Dan Norris, Labour MP for Wansdyke and a former Bristol city councillor has launched a vehement attack against our judges for failing to jail offenders found guilty of sexual offences involving children. Mr Norris has spoken out on child protection matters before, and his views have been listened to with a degree of respect and agreement. However, the question must be asked on this occasion whether Mr Norris's first motive for his attack is to protect children or to defend the government of which he is a member? 2007-01-30T15:11+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000051/pms_national_debate_on_britains_armed_forces_asked_the_wrong_questions.html Far from opening up a "National Debate" on the role of the United Kingdom's armed forces, the Prime Minister's recent RUSI lecture has largely closed debate down. This was perhaps Mr Blair's intention; in starting such a debate by questioning issues that are largely not in doubt, he has attempted to defuse continuing controversy over his role in taking us into an illegal war in Iraq. 2007-01-21T23:00+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000050/russian_act_demonstrates_fragility_of_our_energy_security.html The vulnerability of Europe's energy security was highlighted again today by Russia's act of closing its oil pipeline running through Belarus. This sudden move by Russia is regrettable because, as the latest in a series of such acts, it further reduces Western confidence that Russia is a reliable business partner. The silver lining behind this particular cloud is that it provides a timely reminder of the vulnerability of our dependence on oil and gas sourced from regions of questionable political stability. We still have time to plan measures to deliver greater and more sustainable energy security for our future. 2007-01-09T00:42+00:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000049/liberal_democrats_serious_about_climate_change_tories_need_encouragement.html The Liberal Democrats have suspended their participation in a cross-party approach to climate change due to failure to reach agreement with the Conservatives on the development of specific policies. 2006-06-14T14:07+01:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000048/the_green_tax_switch.html Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell MP has unveiled plans to protect and improve our environment with a major "green tax switch". 2006-06-08T15:00+01:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000047/a_pyramid_of_promises.html June 5th 2006 is World Environment Day. The Environment Agency is asking us to take the pledge - up to ten, actually - designed to ease the stress we humans collectively place on our local environment and to combat climate change. 2006-06-03T11:19+01:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000046/keeping_us_safe_from_crime_liberal_democrats_offer_a_principled_and_practicable_alternative.html Following Ming Campbell's recent speech on crime, the Guardian claimed that we Liberal Democrats were retreating from our liberal principles. Nick Clegg was given a Right of Reply by the newspaper and he made the following response on behalf of our leader, Ming and the Liberal Democrats. 2006-05-31T21:07+01:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000045/arctic_monkeys__another_sign_of_impending_global_warming.html We are reliably informed that Gordon Brown wakes every morning to the music of the Arctic Monkeys and that Dave Cameron can sing-a-long to Benny Hill's "Ernie - the fastest milkman in the West". 2006-05-26T21:01+01:00 http://bristoleastlibdems.org.uk/news/000044/more_nuclear_waste_nuclear_accidents_and_a_plutonium_economy__is_this_to_be_blairs_truly_lasting_legacy.html "Making a comeback with a vengeance is a standard cliché of Hollywood horror and disaster movies. The Prime Minister's words 'Nuclear power … [is] back on the agenda with a vengeance' could perhaps have been chosen more wisely. Reference to revenge is not the best way to persuade a skeptical and worried public that the Prime Minister is being open with us about his reasons for championing nuclear power before his New Labour government has completed its own energy review", commented Philip James, Bristol East Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman, as his first reaction to the speech made on Tuesday to the CBI by Tony Blair. 2006-05-17T06:21+01:00