Liberal Democrat Conference - weekend report
Yesterday Conference saw three consultative sessions take place at Liberal Democrat Conference. The sessions were on - Climate Change, Crime, the European Union.
17 Sep 2006
News
Liberal Democrat Conference starts today
Thousands of Liberal Democrats are today heading to Brighton for their annual conference. The two centre-pieces of the week are expected to be the tax reform paper, to be debated on Tuesday, and the report of the Meeting the Challenge Working Group - 'Trust in People: Make Britain free, fair and green', which will be debated on Wednesday.
16 Sep 2006
Labour threaten to expel Clare Short
Birmingham MP Clare Short may be disciplined for calling for a hung Parliament after the next election. Ms Short said she would not stand again for the Commons and attacked the Labour government's policy. The MP could lose the Labour whip as a result. She shrugged off the threat of punishment and said that it would be fine if that happened.
15 Sep 2006
Christine McHugh launches on-line petition to Save Our Hospital
Christine McHugh is campaigning to Save Bedford Hospital from the savage cuts that are being proposed. Please sign Christine's petition to help the campaign.
14 Sep 2006
Labour MP fed up with Blair will stand down
Birmingham Ladywood MP and former Cabinet minister Clare Short says she will be stepping down as an MP at the next General Election. Ms Short blamed Tony Blair's foreign policy and said: "I have reached a stage where I am profoundly ashamed of the government."
14 Sep 2006
Wealthy have "Moral Responsibility" to pay more tax - Campbell
Sir Menzies Campbell has said that he sees it as a "moral responsibility" to make the wealthy pay more in tax in spite of his plan to drop the Liberal Democrats' commitment to a new 50p top rate of income tax. In an interview with the Financial Times, the Lib Dem leader said the proposals to be put to next week's conference made up a firmly redistributive programme of tax cuts for the low paid and increases for the rich. But instead of a new higher rate of income tax, Sir Menzies wants to raise an extra £10bn from the wealthy by raising capital gains tax and cutting some tax relief. The proposals have been described as 'the most progressive policies proposed by any party in recent history'. [FT - Campbell interview]
12 Sep 2006