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Liberal Democrats, Putting People First!

In the local elections this year you delivered a loud and clear message to the Liberal Democrats here in Manchester. We have heard that message and are listening to what you have to say.

Changes being made to this website are just one of the many ways in which we are moving to deliver the local service and action that you want from us, challenging the waste and innefficiency at the Town Hall and challenging this Government when it gets things wrong.

Recent updates

  • ELDR Council: between a rock and some very hard places indeed…
    Article: May 20, 2012
    By Mark Valladares

    "When your neighbours are Turkey (border closed due to genocide), Azerbaijan (border closed due to war), Iran and Georgia, the temptation towards authoritarianism is strong."

    A review of the ELDR Council in Armenia, by Mark Valladares

    Read the article here: http://www.libdemvoice.org/eldr-council-between-a-rock-and-some-very-hard-places-indeed-28572.html#utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email

  • ELDR Council Meeting
    Article: May 17, 2012
    By Carol Weaver

    Members of the LDEG executive including George Dunk, Carol Weaver and Jonathan Fryer took part in the ELDR Party Council meeting in Yerevan last weekend soon after Armenia's parliamentary elections. LDEG chair Phil Bennion MEP also spoke at a fringe event on 'Making Liberal Climate and Resource Policies Work'.

  • Sarah Ludford MEP (left) with Evelyne Paradis, Europe Executive Director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)
    Ludford: International action needed on Homophobic Bullying and Discrimination
    Article: May 17, 2012

    On International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has given her support to young LGBT people suffering from bullying or discrimination at school.

    Sarah has taken part in a video message from European leaders to gay and lesbian youngsters, telling them how they are working to 'make things better.' She commented:

    "Growing up is difficult enough, but for those coming to terms with being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender it is made much harder by bullying or isolation at school. Many are at greater risk from mental and physical health problems and some even attempt suicide.

    "Liberal Democrats scored a significant success by getting our 2010 manifesto commitment to tackle homophobic bullying included in the Coalition Agreement. The Government has made anti-bullying guidelines clearer and stronger, and is involving LGBT organisations such as Stonewall in promoting equality and diversity in schools. The more children can be educated about difference, the fewer victims there will be."

  • Issan Ghazni
    Issan Ghazni - Stop racialising the Rochdale child grooming crimes
    Article: May 15, 2012

    Continuing to focus on race and ethnicity is fanning the flames of far right recruitment and hatred while the real underlying issues are about class, weakness, vulnerability and a desperate void in community leadership.

    Media reporting of the Rochdale "sex grooming trial" and the brutal exploitation of vulnerable young teenage girls raises many troubling questions, and has so far concentrated largely on the fact that the men were of Pakistani background while all 47 victims, were from white and working class backgrounds.

  • European Movement EU News Round Up
    Article: May 10, 2012
    In European Movement
    1. Decision by EU ministers to raise the lending power of EU bail-out funds to €700 billion prompted the IMF dig deeper as well.
    2. Almost half of Irish people have refused to pay a household tax imposed as part of EU-IMF-mandated savings measures.
    3. The European Parliament is trying to cultivate a "European identity", with top officials saying that it is needed to ensure a lasting union.
    4. Polish foreign minister Sikorski has said the EU could unravel and the US might quit NATO, leaving Poland alone to face Russia.
    5. No absolute majority emerged from the Greek Parliamentary election on Sunday 6 May, with only 18.85% for New Democracy and 13.18% for PASOK. The ultra-nationalist party Golden Dawn obtained 6.97% wining 21 seats in the Parliament.
    6. The EU's top scientist chairing a panel on new medicines has resigned after being fired from France's national regulator, itself under fire over unsafe diabetes drugs and breast implants.
    7. ECB chief Mario Draghi on Wednesday 04 April said talk of an exit strategy from the one-trillion-euro cheap loans programme was "premature", but warned that this was no substitute for reforms.
    8. France, Germany and Italy have jointly forecast the eurozone recession will end in spring, with meagre growth in summer.
    9. Eurozone unemployment reached 10.8 percent in February 2012, the highest level since the currency was introduced in 1999. Youngsters remain the most affected, with every second Spaniard under 25 unable to find a job.
    10. The MEP charged with scrutiny of the 'Acta' treaty has called for a boycott, raising prospects that Parliament will kill it in June or July.
    11. Austrian centre-right MEP Othmar Karas has called for an end to massive bankers' bonuses, which in some cases amount to 10 times the basic salary.
    12. Leading NGOs and the Council of Europe all spoke out against the 'Acta' anti-counterfeiting pact at a European Parliament hearing on Wednesday 18 April.
    13. Spain's plan to cut €10 billion more off its budget has failed to stop speculation it could be next in line for a bail-out.
    14. Socialist Francois Hollande won on Sunday 6 May the French presidential elections with 51.63% of votes, against Nicolas Sarkozy who obtained 48.37%.
    15. Talks on budget cuts have collapsed in the Netherlands, creating the likelihood of snap elections after the summer recess.
    16. The Spanish government approved €10 billion worth of spending cuts and increased fees for education and health.
    17. MEPs grudgingly voted in favour of a new air data agreement with the US, ending what had become a major security-versus-privacy debate.
  • Once again Lib Dem MEPs show strong support for single seat of the European Parliament
    Article: May 10, 2012

    In a vote to clear the EU's budget for 2010, MEPs have today sent out another strong message of support for a single working location of the European Parliament.

    EU Member States continue to veto a single seat for the European Parliament despite the fact that it would achieve estimated savings of € 180million (£145million) a year.

  • Boost for regional airports key to ensure EU cohesion policy
    Article: May 10, 2012
    By Corlett Neil - Tel:+32 2 284 20 77

    Today the European Parliament approved a report on the future of regional airports. The text sets out for the first time a framework and a definition for regional airports, which are increasingly proving to be key in boosting competitiveness and in promoting European regional development.

    MEP Giommaria Uggias (Italia dei Valori, Italy) ALDE spokesperson on this dossier said: "With this report the European Parliament stresses the vital role that regional airports can play in reinforcing European cohesion policy and EU territorial continuity. In addition, regional airports can act as catalysts for the creation of new jobs, especially in the most depressed and less developed areas of Europe ".

  • Lib Dems Support Out4Marriage
    Article: May 9, 2012

    LGBT+ Lib Dems are delighted to support a new web campaign "Out4Marriage".

    In a similar way to the 'It Gets Better' viral video campaign to give hope to bullied LGBT+ teens, Out4Marriage is encouraging people to record short YouTube videos about why they support equal marriage - in particular right now the Coalition Government's plans to open civil marriage up to same-sex couples.

  • Lynne: No U-Turn On Marriage
    Article: May 6, 2012

    Following misleading press reports about what will or will not be in the upcoming Queen's Speech, LGBT equality minister Lynne Featherstone has blogged reassuring readers that the plans for same-sex civil marriage are still going ahead.

    She writes:

    In the aftermath of a tough set of election results for both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats - I couldn't help but notice a few naysayers popping up in the media and uttering dire warnings about a government that needs to concentrate on core issues rather than same sex civil marriage.

    For goodness sake - it's not either / or.

    The economy is clearly the No 1 priority - but the Coalition can multi-task!

    There will be no u-turn on equal marriage - we are committed as a government to legislate by 2015

  • LD Working Group National Curriculum response out for comments
    Article: May 3, 2012

    "AMBITIOUS FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN"

    Draft Summary: Version 3

    Response of LD Working Group to the Expert Panel on the National Curriculum

    Headlines

    - An overall framework for curriculum promoting breadth and balance to apply to all publicly-funded schools

    - Support for diagnostic and sample testing, and internal testing moderated by 'chartered assessors': rejection of old-style SAT-type testing and league table publication of results.

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