East Midlands Liberal Democrats

"When your neighbours are Turkey (border closed due to genocide), Azerbaijan (border closed due to war), Iran and Georgia, the temptation towards authoritarianism is strong."

A review of the ELDR Council in Armenia, by Mark Valladares

Read the article here: http://www.libdemvoice.org/eldr-council-between-a-rock-and-some-very-hard-places-indeed-28572.html#utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email

Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, the leader of the Lib-Dems on Broxtowe Borough Council.

May I give a special welcome to the new readers that we have this week.

I'm afraid that this edition of the newsletter will be slightly truncated as my computer died on me during the week, taking all the notes that I'd already made for this week's edition with it. (That's not half as bad as the fact that it also took the text of a new book I've been writing which is nearly finished. Thankfully the computer engineer - Mark from Fixed at Home Computers in Stapleford - has been able to retrieve that file for me so all is not lost!)

Information seen by the Liberal Democrats has uncovered further scandal within Leicestershire Tories. Following investigations into Mr Sprason's scurrilous attack on Liberal Democrats at the 18^th April special Council Meeting, show that Mr Sprason has misled Council.

In a detailed letter received from the County Council after a request for information, it is clear that Mr Sprason joined discredited Leader Mr Parsons in his luxury chauffeur driven car to attend a Cecil Club Dinner widely believed to have been a Conservative Party fundraiser.

Frustrated at the time that has passsed since they first raised their concerns about the felling of trees in Great Bowden, Lib Dem councillors Phil Knowles, Sarah Hill and Barbara Johnson have called for an urgent meeting with senior officers at Harborough District Council.

"We should have received some answers by now. It's important that the correct proceedures are followed, but residents want answers and we will be pushing for them to be provided without any further delay," the three councillors say.

A motion from the Liberal Democrat Official Opposition calling for Northamptonshire County Council to work with the police and switch speed cameras back on, after a rise in deaths on the roads, has been voted down by the Conservatives.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, said "I am appalled at the cavalier attitude of Northamptonshire Conservatives when it comes to the impact of the removal of speed cameras and the switch off of streetlights on deaths on our roads. The Conservative Leader of the Council was openly laughing during the debate. That is disgraceful."

Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman Councillor Chris Lofts has condemned the Conservatives after they voted down a Lib Dem call to help young people with transport costs to get to job interviews and training.

Cllr Lofts said "I'm really disappointed by the actions of Northamptonshire Conservatives today. They had a chance to stand up for local young people and help them get into work and training opportunities. Instead they turned their backs on Northamptonshire's young people and let them down."

Members of the LDEG executive including George Dunk, Carol Weaver and Jonathan Fryer took part in the ELDR Party Council meeting in Yerevan last weekend soon after Armenia's parliamentary elections. LDEG chair Phil Bennion MEP also spoke at a fringe event on 'Making Liberal Climate and Resource Policies Work'.

On International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has given her support to young LGBT people suffering from bullying or discrimination at school.

Sarah has taken part in a video message from European leaders to gay and lesbian youngsters, telling them how they are working to 'make things better.' She commented:

"Growing up is difficult enough, but for those coming to terms with being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender it is made much harder by bullying or isolation at school. Many are at greater risk from mental and physical health problems and some even attempt suicide.

"Liberal Democrats scored a significant success by getting our 2010 manifesto commitment to tackle homophobic bullying included in the Coalition Agreement. The Government has made anti-bullying guidelines clearer and stronger, and is involving LGBT organisations such as Stonewall in promoting equality and diversity in schools. The more children can be educated about difference, the fewer victims there will be."

Business Secretary Vince Cable has called for companies to end the secrecy surrounding remuneration consultants

After the commitment in the Queens Speech to end the link between casino and high street banking, and the after the biggest shareholder revolt against excessive executive pay deals in living memory instigated by the Business Secretary's consultation programme, Vince Cable is now demanding more transparency from companies over the use of secretive remuneration consultants who are blamed for encouraging fat-cat pay.

Ian Swales MP for Redcar is continuing his campaign on behalf of ME sufferers by hosting a drop-in event for MPs and Peers today in Parliament. The event, in conjunction with the charity Action for ME, will give Parliamentarians the chance to learn more about the condition and to meet some people affected by the disease.