http://cmld.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Stephen Robinson and Chelmsford Lib Dems en-GB Stephen Robinson and Chelmsford Lib Dems http://cmld.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Stephen Robinson and Chelmsford Lib Dems 2010-03-11T20:38+00:00 United Kingdom http://cmld.org.uk/news/000418/taxpayers_to_cough_up_extra_530m_for_broomfield_hospital.html Figures uncovered recently have revealed that taxpayers will have to pay nearly FOUR times the actual building cost of the Broomfield Hospital extension over the lifetime of the private sector contract. 2010-03-11T11:47+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000415/liberal_democrats_celebrate_international_womens_day.html This annual event, celebrated on 8 March acknowledges the achievements of women across the world while also focusing on the continued disadvantages millions of women still face. Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "I am delighted to pledge my support and that of my party to International Women's Day 2010. 2010-03-08T23:01+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000416/conservative_party_deputy_chairman_lord_ashcroft_estimated_to_have_saved_127million_in_tax_says_huhne.html Conservative Party deputy chairman (and former Chelmsford student) Lord Ashcroft is estimated to have saved more than £127m in British tax since he became a member of the House of Lords, according to Liberal Democrat research. Lord Ashcroft's annual tax saving is conservatively estimated to be £12.76m and he has been a member of the House of Lords for a decade. 2010-03-08T22:43+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000417/110000_women_set_to_lose_10000_each_for_being_born_too_early_says_webb.html Government reforms mean that from 6 April this year, both men and women will need to make 30 years of National Insurance payments to be eligible for the full state pension. The changes mean that a woman who has paid National Insurance for 30 years whose 60th birthday falls on 6 April would be entitled to a full state pension. However, a woman who was born a day earlier and has worked just as long would only be entitled to three quarters of this - or around £75 a week in 2010-11. This could mean women retiring this year before the 6 April cut off could miss out on as much as £10,400 over the next decade. 2010-03-08T21:14+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000414/conservative_plans_will_devastate_schools.html School budgets across the board would be cut if the Conservatives are allowed to implement "unfunded" policies. The figures emerge from a report from independent think-tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson commented: "This report confirms the Conservatives' proposals would be disastrous for thousands of schools, wrecking opportunities for millions of children. 2010-03-04T22:01+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000412/part_nationalised_banks_are_for_lending_not_bonuses_says_cable.html "RBS rewarding individual bankers is like a football team paying their striker for scoring when they've just been relegated," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable. "It's hard to understand why £1.3bn is being paid out in bonuses when RBS continues to make losses. 2010-02-25T16:04+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000413/fuel_bills_should_reflect_fuel_costs_say_lib_dems.html British Gas has announced a huge increase in profits. Lib Dem energy spokesman, Simon Hughes MP, commented, "Liberal Democrats will change the rules so that fuel bills reflect fuel costs and consumers are not ripped off again and again." 2010-02-25T14:32+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000411/twotier_budget_clobbers_towns_council_taxpayers.html Council tax payers in Chelmsford town centre face a much higher council tax rise than in the areas with parish councils. The average increase in Chelmsford Borough's Council Tax is 2.9% but the unparished (town) area - some 40% of the Borough residents - will be hit by a massive 5.9% increase when most people have seen no increase in their incomes. 2010-02-25T10:58+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000410/lib_dem_plans_for_vibrant_local_high_streets_announced.html The Liberal Democrats have set out plans that would keep Chelmsford's High Street and neighbourhood parades thriving, and Leader Nick Clegg stated that high streets are an essential part of the local community. Nick Clegg said: "Twelve thousand independent shops closed in 2009 alone. This is an economic tragedy as well as a social one, as high streets lose their individual distinctiveness." 2010-02-22T17:44+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000409/online_vote_to_get_chelmsford_children_play_equipment.html Children in north west Chelmsford are hoping that an online vote scheme will get them a grant for a five-a-side pitch. Lib Dem MP hopeful Stephen Robinson has voted for it and hopes you will too. 2010-02-18T18:33+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000407/conservative_schools_plans_will_mean_raiding_budgets_of_existing_schools.html The budgets of existing schools could be raided to fund Conservative plans to establish new schools. According to Lib Dem Shadow Schools Secretary David Laws, that is the only possible conclusion, given Conservative plans to cut the Schools budget. 2010-02-16T00:03+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000405/conservatives_abandon_environment_as_a_priority.html The Conservatives today published a list of 'Ten reasons to vote Conservative' but none of the ten included any reference to the environment or climate change. This is despite David Cameron's claim that he has 'sought to push the environment up to the top of the political agenda'. Commented Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson, "Local council decisions on housing allocations have already shown that the Conservatives are not really concerned about the environment. This is just further proof." 2010-02-15T22:53+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000408/county_council_should_concentrate_on_basic_services__not_spin.html Less money for the County Council's corporate image, publicity and spin; more on addressing the serious failings in basic services, such as safeguarding vulnerable children. That was the Liberal Democrat message at the Budget Meeting of Essex County Council today [9 February]. 2010-02-09T22:57+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000404/liberal_democrats_launch_policy_to_end_empty_homes_scandal.html Liberal Democrats in Chelmsford have set out plans to bring empty houses back into use, making homes available for people who need them and creating local jobs. Stephen Robinson, who is bidding to be the town's Liberal Democrat MP, commented: "Allowing houses to sit empty whilst families are waiting for a home is nothing short of a scandal. There are 1,551 empty houses in Chelmsford and 18,170 across Essex. 2010-02-05T00:00+00:00 http://cmld.org.uk/news/000401/government_recklessly_endangered_lives_of_uk_forces_says_harvey.html Britain's military boss Sir Jock Stirrup today gave evidence to the Iraq Inquiry. Commenting, Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary) said: "Sir Jock Stirrup's comments demonstrate that Labour irresponsibly overstretched our forces and endangered the mission in Afghanistan. 2010-02-01T22:48+00:00