News - Mid Suffolk Liberal Democrats

RECORD INSOLVENCIES FUELLED BY SPIRALLING PERSONAL DEBT

More people are going broke than at any time since records began in 1960. Bankruptcies have soared to an all-time high of 40,840 in the past year - a 28 per cent rise on the previous year and nearly 112 a day. Warning the crisis could worsen, debt expert Steve Treharne of KPMG accountants said: "We have a major consumer debt problem. If current trends continue, we could see annual bankruptcy rates at double the present level before there is any improvement. People have too many credit cards and there's too much debt in the system." Individual bankruptcies surged 36 per cent to 12,338 in the last three months, official figures showed yesterday. In addition 3,229 firms went bust, a 45 per cent jump.

8 Aug 2005

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Students due to recieve results Thursday

GOVERNMENT DUCKING MAJOR REFORM OF A-LEVELS - DAVEY

There have been renewed calls for the replacement of A-levels by an overarching diploma after predictions that this year's pass rate, and the number getting A grades, would go up again on Thursday.

15 Aug 2005

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COUNCIL TAX REFORM - LABOUR CONSIDER 'DEATH TAX'

A report in today's Daily Mail claims that Labour has devised a 'death tax' to relieve the huge pressure of council tax on older people. The 'deferred payment' system would remove the immediate burden but allow local authorities to cash in later. Those who own their homes could choose to pay less or avoid the tax altogether. Councils would then claim back all the tax owing when they die from the value of their home. Their children would pay in full, with interest, when they inherit the property.

16 Aug 2005

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A reflection on Chris Davies' drugs policy by Simon Davey, as appearing in 'Liberator' Sept 2005.

I write to you in the wake of comments by Chris Davies, Member of the European Parliament for the north-west of England and the former Scottish Procurator Fiscal David Hingston, who have called for all drugs to be legalised. They have inevitably faced criticism for expressing these views, but I fully and openly support them. I share their views because the current war on drugs is ineffective and is harming drugs users and the wider communities. I have set out below my arguments and hope it goes some way to fuelling debate on this thorny but immensely important issue.

19 Aug 2005

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Save Local Business call from Dr Hirst

Dr Peter Hirst, a Middlewich Lib Dem activist is calling for a change in licencing regulations to help save local coffee shop, Mackerel Sky on St Anne's Road in Middlwich.

22 Aug 2005

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Refunds for Delayed Rail Passengers

Rail passengers can look forward to compensation if their trains are delayed, following a vote by the European Parliament's Transport Committee on 19 April. MEPs are also insisting that compensation - whether cash refunds or vouchers - should be given not just to international rail passengers but also to passengers on domestic journeys, including commuters. And they want cash refunds to be based on a simple, easy-to-understand scale.

13 Sep 2005

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