National News

Terrorism Bill passes into Law as Conservatives give in

The Government has finally won its battle of wills with the House of Lords over proposals to outlaw the "glorification" of terrorism. In the sixth round of parliamentary "ping pong", peers yesterday rejected a Liberal Democrat amendment and accepted the government plans. Conservative spokesman Lord Kingsland asked Tory backbenchers to abstain this time because otherwise, he argued, the Government would use the Parliament Act to push through the Terrorism Bill, which would cause a nine month delay. Peers voted against a Liberal Democrat amendment to the bill omitting any reference to glorification by 172 votes to 60, majority 112. The bill will now become law.

23 Mar 2006
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Lib Dem logo bird projected on blockwork

Brown's budget speech 'silence' on NHS criticised

Gordon Brown is facing criticism for not doing enough for the NHS in his Budget after a hospital announced job cuts - the fourth to do so in a week. On Wednesday the Royal Free Hospital in London said it was cutting 480 jobs and 100 beds in a bid to save £25m. Over 2,000 job cuts have been announced at UK hospitals in the past week.

23 Mar 2006
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Lib Dems Call For Greater Clarity On Youth Service Proposals

The Liberal Democrat Group on Surrey County Council has called for greater clarity from the Conservative-run Executive after the Council announced its proposed plans to close 18 youth centres county-wide were being "revised". The Lib Dems had been opposed to the closures ever since they were first proposed in the Business Delivery Review, designed to cut £50 million from the Council's budget. Together with voluntary and community groups, the Lib Dems have been urging the Council to rethink the proposals.

23 Mar 2006
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Family

Today's budget - a missed opportunity

Today, Gordon Brown delivered his tenth budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer. "The Chancellor is trying to boost his image before, he hopes, taking over as Prime Minister, but more and more people are feeling let down by New Labour," says Chelmsford Lib Dem campaigner Stephen Robinson.

22 Mar 2006
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