http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Birmingham Liberal Democrats en-GB Birmingham Liberal Democrats http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Birmingham Liberal Democrats 2010-03-12T06:49+00:00 United Kingdom http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000925/liz_lynne_welcomes_ban_on_mobile_phone_companies_extortionate_data_roaming_charges.html Local Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne has welcomed a ban on mobile phone users racking up huge Internet roaming charges while using their phones in another EU country. 2010-03-09T12:17+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000924/nick_clegg_four_priorities_for_a_fairer_britain.html Nick Clegg has spoken to the Birmingham Post about the Liberal Democrats' priorities for a fairer Britain: "Fair taxes, which means no tax on the first £10,000 you earn. Smaller class sizes. A complete change in the way we run our economy. And cleaning out the rotten state of politics in Westminster, giving people for instance in Birmingham the right to sack their MPs if those MPs have been shown to be corrupt." 2010-03-05T21:16+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000926/manufacturing_week_highlights_need_for_more_government_action_to_help_midlands_firms.html UK 'Manufacturing Week' from 1-5 March highlights the crying need for more proactive policies to help West Midlands firms climb out of the recession, says Euro MP Liz Lynne. 2010-03-03T18:02+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000922/eu_commission_must_speed_up_plans_to_cut_the_124_billion_euro_cost_of_red_tape__liz_lynne.html The European Commission must accelerate progress on stripping away unnecessary red tape for small businesses which is seriously hampering efforts to beat the recession, says Midlands Euro MP Liz Lynne. 2010-02-27T10:53+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000923/birmingham_shortlisted_for_uk_city_of_culture.html Lib Dem Councillor Martin Mullaney has welcomed the announcement that Birmingham has successfully made the shortlist for the first UK City of Culture title in 2013. Responding to the news, Cllr Mullaney said: "To have got so far against tough opposition from across the UK is a fantastic boost for Birmingham. But this is just the first stage and we're not getting carried away." 2010-02-25T13:33+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000921/welcome_for_below_inflation_council_tax_increase.html "Our priorities are to protect the vulnerable people in the city whilst providing a clean and safe environment for everyone and making sure everyone who wants to work can work," said Cllr Paul Tilsley, Leader of Birmingham's Lib Dem Council Group. He was speaking as Birmingham City Council agreed its budget for 2009/10, including a 1.9% increase in Council Tax, earlier this evening. 2010-02-23T22:47+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000920/tough_talk_on_kraft_takeover_melted_away_says_vince_cable.html "Government should not be in the business of picking winners and planning industry but neither should it be this permissive," said Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor. 2010-02-11T16:41+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000919/birmingham_supports_1010_green_challenge.html Birmingham City Council has backed the 10:10 campaign to cut carbon emissions by ten per cent in 2010. "Birmingham is a genuine heavyweight when it comes to the sustainability agenda, meaning we fully support 10:10, which aims to make a rapid short-term cut in carbon emissions," said Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council. 2010-02-08T09:21+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000918/privacy_safeguards_must_not_be_ignored_in_rush_for_airport_body_scanners_says_euro_mp.html Full body scanners now being installed at Birmingham Airport must only be used if privacy is properly protected, local Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne has warned. 2010-02-05T10:37+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000917/equality_commission_is_right_to_call_for_compulsory_retirement_age_to_be_scrapped__liz_lynne.html Liberal Democrat Euro MP Liz Lynne, a long time campaigner against age discrimination, has welcomed a call by the Equality Commission to abolish compulsory retirement ages. 2010-01-31T00:00+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000916/green_housing_revolution.html A Green New Deal that could eventually see all homes in Birmingham retrofitted with energy efficient improvements is being launched. Initially a pilot project within Aston, Lozells, Newtown and Northfield, up to 25,000 homeowners and 1000 businesses will be offered the chance for significant energy improvements to their properties. As well as saving homeowners money and cutting carbon emissions, the pilot project will also create or protect 111 jobs and 170 apprenticeships. 2010-01-26T10:09+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000915/lib_dems_blast_brown_after_news_that_cadbury_takeover_was_financed_by_taxpayers_through_rbs.html Allowing a taxpayer-owned bank to lend money so Kraft could take over Cadbury's is 'plain wrong', Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told Gordon Brown at Prime Ministers Questions today. 2010-01-20T18:23+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000914/ministers_urged_to_publish_hs2_report_on_high_speed_to_the_midlands_before_election.html Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne has urged ministers to publish the detailed report from HS2 on a £60 billion high speed link from London to the region as soon as possible, to allow for public debate on the proposals well before a general election. 2010-01-19T10:07+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000913/saying_no_to_identity_cards.html Lib Dem councillors have persuaded Birmingham City Council to maintain its opposition to ID cards. Concerns about the scheme included its enormous cost, the erosion of civil liberties and the absence of any proof that it would help to reduce crime and terrorism. 2010-01-15T21:11+00:00 http://birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000912/staffordshire_hoard_appeal_launched_in_birmingham.html An appeal has been launched to save the Staffordshire Hoard for the West Midlands. Historian Dr David Starkey joined was among those at the launch by The Art Fund charity of the campaign to raise the £3.3m needed by 17 April to save the Anglo-Saxon treasures for Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent. 2010-01-13T19:02+00:00