http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Birmingham Liberal Democrats en-GB Birmingham Liberal Democrats http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Birmingham Liberal Democrats 2010-09-09T06:52+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000960/commitment_to_tackle_climate_change.html Birmingham Lib Dems have welcomed the decision by the Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne to allow local councils to sell renewable energy to the grid, overturning a ban on this activity by the previous Government. The Coalition Government was congratulated for its positive commitment to tackle climate change in a motion proposed by Lib Dem councillors at a meeting of Birmingham City Council. 2010-09-07T22:41+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000959/mep_welcomes_eu_aid_to_pakistan_and_supports_plan_to_look_at_debt_restructuring.html The EU and the international community should look at the benefits of restructuring Pakistan's debt to stop flood aid donations being swallowed up by rising interest payments, says Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne. 2010-09-02T14:10+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000958/newtown_baths_reopens_this_month.html Newtown Baths will re-open to the public this month following vital repairs totalling £170,000 to safely remove the asbestos and provide new structural supports. 2010-08-04T23:08+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000957/birmingham_charges_ahead_with_electric_vehicle_network.html Electric car drivers in Birmingham and Coventry can now use a new network of easy-access charge points in the latest stage of the UK's largest ultra low carbon vehicles trial. The network of charging points has been installed by E.ON on behalf of the CABLED project, a trial of 110 vehicles being tested by 'real world' users over the next 12 months. 2010-07-27T11:14+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000956/coalition_has_done_more_for_equitable_life_victims_in_10_weeks_than_labour_did_in_10_years__williams.html Commenting on the Coalition Government's announcement that it has introduced a Bill to compensate Equitable Life policyholders, Stephen Williams MP, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Treasury Policy Committee, said: 2010-07-23T14:14+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000955/birminghams_shahjalal_housing_coop_is_a_model_for_community_inclusion__mep.html Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne has praised the Birmingham-based Shahjalal Housing Co-operative as a model example of a community initiative for affordable housing. 2010-07-22T11:50+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000954/liz_lynne_welcomes_tougher_eu_cap_on_mobile_roaming_fees.html Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne has welcomed even tougher rules to limit charges for using a mobile phone in another EU country, which came into force on 1st July. 2010-07-03T16:29+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000953/free_swimming_continues_in_birmingham.html The national free swimming initiative for under-16s and over-60s may have been scrapped but Birmingham residents of all ages can still continue to swim for free. The Be Active scheme, a partnership between Birmingham City Council and the NHS, offers all Birmingham residents free swimming, group exercise classes and gym sessions until 31 March 2011. 2010-06-30T22:31+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000952/liz_lynne_hails_victory_in_campaign_to_scrap_compulsory_retirement_age.html Treasury documents released with the Budget confirm that the Coalition Government is to scrap the compulsory retirement age, a change long championed by MEP Liz Lynne and Age UK charity campaigners. 2010-06-24T14:31+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000951/birmingham_welcomes_investment_in_a_green_economy.html Birmingham Lib Dems have welcomed the new Government's commitment to developing a green economy, even while the deficit is being addressed. "The greening of our economy is a key issue for the Lib Dems," said Councillor Roger Harmer. Investment in a green economy, and a significant increase in energy efficiency measures for homes and businesses, was welcomed in a motion proposed by Lib Dem councillors at a recent meeting of Birmingham City Council. 2010-06-17T21:39+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000950/governments_must_act_to_fight_growing_agebased_unemployment.html Lib Dem MEP Liz Lynne has backed a cross party call in the European Parliament calling for action to tackle growing youth unemployment and the difficulty for workers over 55 to get new jobs. 2010-06-10T11:04+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000949/good_progress_in_cutting_birminghams_carbon_emissions.html Good progress has been made in cutting Birmingham's carbon emissions during the past year. A total of 120,745 tonnes of CO2 recorded savings were made in the 2009/10 financial year, up from recorded savings of 103,039 tonnes in 2008/9. With current energy prices, the Carbon Trust estimates that saving a tonne of CO2 equates to a cost saving of £100, so last years carbon emission cuts have saved Birmingham's residents, businesses, voluntary and public sector organisations around £12 million. 2010-06-07T21:34+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000948/sparkhill_pool_and_fitness_centre_consultation.html The Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre development is a priority in Birmingham City Council's Pool Strategy and a public consultation in the proposed development has now been launched. Members of the public are being encouraged to contribute views and ideas for the future development of the Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre. A special survey is now on the City Council's website at www.birmingham.gov.uk/hallgreen until the end of the month. 2010-05-17T12:27+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000947/liberal_democrat_conference_approves_coalition_agreement.html The Liberal Democrat Special Conference in Birmingham today overwhelmingly approved the party's Coalition Agreement with the Conservative Party. Speaking after the vote, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said: 2010-05-16T18:39+01:00 http://www.birminghamlibdems.org.uk/news/000946/a_new_kind_of_government_statement_from_nick_clegg_leader_of_the_liberal_democrats.html "Tonight the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party and the Federal Executive of the Liberal Democrat party have overwhelmingly accepted my recommendation that we should now enter into a coalition government with the Conservative Party." 2010-05-12T09:17+01:00