Woking and Surrey local news

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  • Danny Alexander F34 speech to the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference
    Article: Sep 17, 2013
    Video to be live here soon

    Check against delivery
    "Conference, it's great to have you here in Scotland. In Glasgow or, as we like to call it in Inverness, 'the deep south.'
    This great city has many claims to fame: its industrial heritage, culture, football, it's even the home of the new Doctor Who. So, let take me you back in time. It's spring 2010. We're in the depths of the economic storm. Greeks rioting on our TV screens.
  • Defending the Future - UK Defence in the 21st Century
    Article: Sep 17, 2013
    This motion asserts that the Government must provide a secure UK in a stable neighbourhood and maintain strong international relations.
    Key proposals include:
    • Ending Continuous-at-Sea-nuclear-Deterrence and adopting a realistic, credible 'Contingency Posture'
    • Tightening the UK's arms export regime by implementing end-user certification on all future arms export licences and enacting legislation to control the re-export of British arms
    • Lengthening period between resigning from the civil service and working in the industry, in line with rules applied to politicians leaving office
    • Looking to rectify the situation in which Gurkha veterans in the UK have a pension entitlement for pre-1997 service of only one quarter that of other veterans.
  • Lib Dems will not be silenced on the positives of being in Europe
    Article: Sep 17, 2013
    She told the Conference:
    "Europe!
    Not long ago I was at a coffee morning in the village hall just around the corner from where I live. I was sitting at a little table with the vicar and an elderly lady from the village. Suddenly she put down her cup and gave me a hard look. "Europe!" she said, and something inside me clicked automatically into Euro myth buster mode.
  • Fiona Hall F31 speech to the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference
    Article: Sep 17, 2013

    She told the Conference:
    "Europe!
    Not long ago I was at a coffee morning in the village hall just around the corner from where I live. I was sitting at a little table with the vicar and an elderly lady from the village. Suddenly she put down her cup and gave me a hard look. "Europe!" she said, and something inside me clicked automatically into Euro myth buster mode.
  • Extra Government support for self-build surge
    Article: Sep 17, 2013
    Self-build is an important element of the Coalition Government's housing strategy, and supports action to help building firms and get empty and redundant buildings back into use. The scheme has been supported by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud.
    The measures announced will complement steps already taken to dismantle barriers that hold back self-build projects: limited land availability, reluctance by lenders to provide finance and red tape.
  • Fiona Hall F31 speech to the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference
    Article: Sep 17, 2013
  • Fairer Taxes
    Article: Sep 16, 2013
    Under Nick Clegg's leadership the party have focussed on the old liberal principle of favouring taxation on unearned wealth over hard work.

    The motion explores ways in which we ensure those with the broadest shoulders carry the largest burden.

    Key proposals include:
    • Raising the income tax threshold further to a level equivalent to a full time job on the National Minimum Wage (approximately £12,300 at current rates).
    • Making personal tax returns simpler by HMRC pre-populating them based on information they hold and make contacting HMRC more straightforward.
    • Tightening corporate tax rules to prevent large companies reducing their tax bills by paying excessive interest to related parties overseas.
  • Cohabitation Rights, a fairer society for all
    Article: Sep 16, 2013
    English law currently provides extremely limited legal protection for cohabiting couples upon the breakdown of a relationship. This can have an adverse effect on the individuals and any children.

    The motion includes proposals based on reports by The Law Commission in 2007 and 2011.

    Key proposals include:
  • Making Housing Benefit Work
    Article: Sep 16, 2013
    The motion expresses concern that the Government's extension of Labour's policy of reducing housing benefit entitlements for private rented sector tenants considered to have spare bedrooms to the social housing sector is discriminating against the most vulnerable in society.

    Key proposals include:
    • An immediate evaluation of the impact of the policy, establishing the extent to which larger homes are freed up, money saved, the cost of implementation, its impact on vulnerable tenants, and the impact on the private rented sector.
    • A redrafting of clear housing needs guidelines in association with those representing vulnerable groups including the disabled, elderly and children which are responsive to local circumstances.
    • A review of the amount allocated to local authorities for the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund and the guidelines on the use for these funds and appeal processes.
  • A New Liberal Democrat Approach to Race Equality
    Article: Sep 16, 2013
    Liberal Democrats reject all prejudice, discrimination and inequality and are committed to helping Britain's ethnic minority communities to achieve their full potential.

    Key proposals include:
    • Requiring Ofsted to reinstate their inspection framework in which schools will be judged on their work to promote equality of opportunity and community cohesion
    • Implementing the Children's Commissioner's report into the prevention of and alternatives to exclusion
    • Taking action to improve race equality in the private sector and third sector organisations in receipt of public money
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