News

Have your say on Scotland going it alone

Although the question of Scottish independence has been simmering in the background for some years we are finally waking up to the fact it is well and truly upon us and real debate is here. The negotiations last week between the First Minister for Scotland Alex Salmond, The Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore and the Prime Minister, David Cameron have indeed made headlines over the past few weeks. What is certain is that we have to confront the situation and there will be a referendum but how and when is still to be decided. Alex Salmond and the Scottish National Party (SNP) want to delay until 2014 whilst the UK Government want to go ahead with the referendum next year. Salmond also wants a second option to be included in the referendum, the offer of 'Home Rule or Devo-Max' whilst the government favour one 'in - out' simple question. Currently there are public consultations going on to inform the resolution of these issues. This is an important chance to have our say and we must take it.

Press Freedom and Phone Hacking

If there is a complaint that the West likes to level at China on an ongoing basis, it is that of Human Rights, including that there should be less state control over the press and over freedom of expression. So it should be of interest that there is an inquiry currently under way investigating whether the press in Britain should be more highly controlled, after it appeared that some individuals working at the News of the World had broken the law, intercepting the voicemails of apparently hundreds of individuals including royalty, politicians, sports stars and celebrities, as well as apparently a murder victim, in order to find stories to sell in its newspapers.

Sarah Yong makes her maiden speech at Spring Conference

Federal Conference Committee accepted an amendment moved by Sarah Yong at Spring Conference on the motion "Giving Young People a Future" (Combating Youth Unemployment) with the insertion of the following paragraph after line 8 of the motion:

Chinese Lib Dems working with BC Project on Crime Survey

The All Party Parliamentary Chinese in Britain Group have launched a national Crime Questionnaire to gather evidence on Chinese communities' relationship with the Police.

UK Chinese Times reports on Lib Dem Spring Conference

Chinese Lib Dems work with Schools Minister Sarah Teather MP

LIBERAL Democrat MP Sarah Teather is urging the Chinese community to take up the government's offer of free school meals (FSMs) for children from low-income families.