Staring at the Stars
As I write, it's a few days into the New Year, and there is a load of media and Party gossip whether Charles Kennedy should continue to lead the Lib Dems.
As I write, it's a few days into the New Year, and there is a load of media and Party gossip whether Charles Kennedy should continue to lead the Lib Dems.
Congratulations to Di Matra of Dunes Road who entered the Shepway Lib Dem Christmas 2005 Quiz on line - and won! Di got 15 out of 16 answers correct, and won a DVD player which was delivered by Peter Carroll - a nice surprise just before Christmas!
At this time of year, we need to remember those worse off than ourselves. This Labour government keeps telling us that Britain is getting better; but it's not getting better for everybody. Unfairness divides our society. Inequality is worse than under Margaret Thatcher. We have an unfair tax system which means those on the lowest earnings pay more of their income in tax than the richest. Yet the new economy and the new information society have brought challenges and opportunities which should enable every individual to have the chance to make the best of their lives. These are challenges which I am determined my party will rise to.
Shepway Lib Dems would like to wish all members, supporters and web site users a very happy Christmas and a successful 2006. Many thanks for your support throughout the last year, and we look forward with new optimism to the New Year.
Lynne Featherstone MP has uncovered figures showing a staggering rise of 55% increase of families spending Christmas in temporary accommodation. In the South East, there has been a 29% rise in families in temporary accomodation in the last 5 years.
Shepway Lib Dems have elected their team to lead the Party locally for 2006, with a mix of new faces and experience. Tim Prater will take over as Chair in the New Year, with Neil Matthews as Vice Chair.
In an article in todays Guardian, Lib Dem MP Chris Huhne responds to the recent suggestion from new Conservative leader David Cameron that Lib Dems should consider backing the Conservatives.
You are cordially invited to a public carol service in Parliament Square at 6pm on Wednesday the 21st of December 2005. This inclusive service will contain both Christian and secular verse, and is expected to last no more than an hour. Candles and song sheets will be made available, with donations going to Medical Aid for Iraqi Children.
Cllr Lynne Beaumont has been elected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Shepway District Council. Cllr Beaumont was elected by a convincing margin at a special meeting on Thursday 15th December. She replaces Cllr David Dickinson who is stepping down, as he does not intend to stand for the district council again in 2007.
People in Kent have delivered a resounding 'yes' vote to retain their own county police force. Kent Police Authority was told at a meeting on Wednesday 14 December that nearly four out of five people do not want their police service to merge with others under Home Office proposals to create new strategic regional forces.
New figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that since the beginning of 2003, over 119 million calls to Government helplines and call centres - or 36.6% of all calls - have been abandoned, were met with an engaged tone or went unrecorded by the system.
In a bid to reduce crime over the Christmas period, Kent Police have issued the following advice: