Saturday, May 26, 2007
♪♪You must remember this --- !♪♪
Musical evening
Musical evening
The Musical Evening, held by Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats on Friday 1st. June 8pm at the Vestry Hall, nr. Chingford Green, seemed to be enjoyed and appreciated by the audience. Many thanks to all who came along. Perhaps we should do something similar again - before too long(?!)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
"Things can only get better"?
After more than TEN YEARS now of Labour government, Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP has drawn attention to many disappointments. He has pointed out that people "feel an acute sense of frustration over all the opportunties that the Blair-Brown government has wasted and all the hard-earned taxes it has squandered." He added: "Ten years of chasing headlines means that many of the real problems that we face have got worse."
It all seems far removed from the mood of real optimism that was epitomised in the Labour theme song of "Things can only get better" which we heard so often in the campaign in 1997 when Labour came to power.
It all seems far removed from the mood of real optimism that was epitomised in the Labour theme song of "Things can only get better" which we heard so often in the campaign in 1997 when Labour came to power.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Defending our Green Belt
Plans for Green Belt housing development at The Limes/White Lodge, Sewardstone Road
Despite our objections, Epping Forest District Council is determined to go ahead with a plan for over 100 homes on this site, just over the Waltham Forest border, near the Yardley Lane Estate.
PUBLIC INQUIRY NEEDED Both the Council and Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats made representations to the relevant Government department, known as GO-East. We asked that the plans should be "called in" for a Public Inquiry. Disgracefully, this request was refused.
NEW HOPE ? Now GO-East has informed local Lib Dems that, rather belatedly, the Secretary of State would like "more information on the impact of the proposals on the Green Belt" - one of the key points we raised.
Local Liberal Democrats will therefore make further submissions about the need to protect our Green Belt. If this development were to go ahead it could open the floodgates for more and more housing on this quite rural stretch of Sewardstone Road between Chingford and Waltham Abbey. Also, the implications for local services and traffic would be very serious. We must now await the outcome, but will keep opposing this scheme and will press for a change of plan or at least a Public Inquiry.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
LIB DEMS CALL FOR GENERAL ELECTION
Following the resignation of the Prime Minister the Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion calling for an immediate general election, arguing that the British people should choose the next Prime Minister. The motion comes as a BBC Newsnight poll suggests that most voters back a quick general election, including over half of those who said they voted Labour. [BBC]
Liberal Democrrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP said: "Before the last General Election Tony Blair pledged to serve a full third term and the British electorate voted for him on this basis. Now the Prime Minister is leaving it is only right that the British public have their say on who will be their next Prime Minister."
Liberal Democrrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP said: "Before the last General Election Tony Blair pledged to serve a full third term and the British electorate voted for him on this basis. Now the Prime Minister is leaving it is only right that the British public have their say on who will be their next Prime Minister."
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Election round-up
There were undoubtedly disappointments for the Lib Dems in the elections last Thursday, but there were also some very positive stories to tell which have received little or no attention in the national media.
For instance: in the English local council elections, the Liberal Democrats won more seats than Labour. Also, the Lib Dems in England gained 26% of the votes, just one point behind Labour.
The party gained control of five councils: Eastbourne and Hinckley & Bosworth - both from the Conservatives - plus Rochdale, Kingston-upon-Hull and Caradon.
Lib Dem Holds - the Lib Dems retained control of the following councils:
Newcastle upon Tyne; Durham; Oadby & Wigston; Vale of White Horse; Chesterfield; Watford; Cambridge; Eastleigh; Lewes; North Norfolk; Pendle; Liverpool; Stockport; South Lakeland; Three Rivers; South Somerset; West Lindsey
The losses were Torbay, Restormel, Uttlesford, South Norfolk, Bournemouth, Windsor & Maidenhead, York, St. Albans, North Devon & Carrick.
Also to note:
· Lib Dem gains meant that Labour lost Sheffield, Oldham and Ashfield (in Derbyshire) to no overall control.
· Lib Dem gains meant that the Conservatives lost Solihull, Salisbury and Taunton Deane to no overall control.
· The Conservatives failed to breakthrough in the great northern cities. Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle still have no Conservative councillors, while the only Tory councillor standing in Sheffield - where Labour lost control - was defeated by the Liberal Democrats. In Liverpool the Conservatives came fifth.
· Lib Dems gained two seats from the BNP in Burnley and are the largest party on Burnley Council.
· The Liberal Democrats gained from both the Tories and Labour in Eastleigh, increasing the party’s majority on the council. There were two net gains from Labour in the neighbouring authority of Winchester.
· In Berwick and in Taunton, the Liberal Democrats replaced the Tories as the largest party on the local council.
For instance: in the English local council elections, the Liberal Democrats won more seats than Labour. Also, the Lib Dems in England gained 26% of the votes, just one point behind Labour.
The party gained control of five councils: Eastbourne and Hinckley & Bosworth - both from the Conservatives - plus Rochdale, Kingston-upon-Hull and Caradon.
Lib Dem Holds - the Lib Dems retained control of the following councils:
Newcastle upon Tyne; Durham; Oadby & Wigston; Vale of White Horse; Chesterfield; Watford; Cambridge; Eastleigh; Lewes; North Norfolk; Pendle; Liverpool; Stockport; South Lakeland; Three Rivers; South Somerset; West Lindsey
The losses were Torbay, Restormel, Uttlesford, South Norfolk, Bournemouth, Windsor & Maidenhead, York, St. Albans, North Devon & Carrick.
Also to note:
· Lib Dem gains meant that Labour lost Sheffield, Oldham and Ashfield (in Derbyshire) to no overall control.
· Lib Dem gains meant that the Conservatives lost Solihull, Salisbury and Taunton Deane to no overall control.
· The Conservatives failed to breakthrough in the great northern cities. Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle still have no Conservative councillors, while the only Tory councillor standing in Sheffield - where Labour lost control - was defeated by the Liberal Democrats. In Liverpool the Conservatives came fifth.
· Lib Dems gained two seats from the BNP in Burnley and are the largest party on Burnley Council.
· The Liberal Democrats gained from both the Tories and Labour in Eastleigh, increasing the party’s majority on the council. There were two net gains from Labour in the neighbouring authority of Winchester.
· In Berwick and in Taunton, the Liberal Democrats replaced the Tories as the largest party on the local council.
