http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Rutland & Melton Liberal Democrats en-GB Rutland & Melton Liberal Democrats http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Rutland & Melton Liberal Democrats 2010-03-11T05:59+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000181/local_forum_a_huge_success.html The Rutland and Melton Liberal Democrats held a very successful Forum aimed at engaging local people in political debate. Held at Voluntary Action Rutland, on the evening of March 3rd, the meeting, chaired by local LibDem Chairman Peter Beanland, covered a vast array of issues. 2010-03-07T19:19+00:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000179/local_liberal_democrats_pledge_their_support_for_the_save_raf_cottesmore_campaign.html Local Rutland and Melton Liberal Democrats, Grahame Hudson and Marc Oxley, have pledged their support for the Save RAF Cottesmore campaign. 2010-01-30T12:30+00:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000178/local_liberal_democrat_renewable_energy_expert_features_in_harborough_mail_wind_turbine_debate.html Local Liberal Democrat renewable energy expert, Professor John Twidell, puts the case for wind energy in this week's Harborough Mail. The Great Wind Turbine debate covers two pages in the popular local paper and features arguments for and against the siting of wind turbines in Harborough District. Professor Twidell, who lives in Horninghold, and is a member of the Rutland and Melton Liberal Democrat Executive Committee, argues that wind power is the most cost-effective renewable technology and offers us a sensible alternative to electricity generated by the combustion of fossil fuels. You can read his argument in the article via web link attached to this story. 2010-01-25T20:46+00:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000177/king_edward_vii_school_consultation.html Local Liberal Democrat members and voters are being encouraged to submit their views on the Leicestershire County Council consultation on the future of King Edward VII school in Melton. The link to the LCC web site is attached below. Grahame Hudson, the Liberal Democrat PPC for Rutland and Melton, attended the public consultation meeting at the school on the 13th January and is keen that members and voters express their views to the Tory County Council Cabinet. 2010-01-21T11:18+00:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000176/sign_up_to_the_save_raf_cottesmore_petition_on_the_number_10_downing_street_web_site.html Local Liberal Democrats and voters are signing up to the Save RAF Cottesmore petition on the Number 10 Downing Street web site. The link to the petition is attached below. 2010-01-05T13:02+00:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000175/local_liberal_democrats_condemn_closure_of_raf_cottesmore.html Local Rutland Liberal Democrats, Grahame Hudson and Marc Oxley, have condemned the Labour Government's announcement of the closure of RAF Cottesmore. 2009-12-16T14:25+00:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000174/local_lib_dem_councillor_promotes_the_new_rutland_card_in_uppingham.html Local Liberal Democrat Councillor, Marc Oxley, who represents Uppingham and Beaumont Chase on Rutland County Council, has a pioneered an exciting idea that he encountered on holiday in Cornwall. He has got together with local businesses in Uppingham and introduced the Rutland Card which encourages local residents to shop locally by offering discounts. The Rutland Card is now being trialled in the Uppingham area and has gained the support of the Town Council and Rutland County Council. Local press coverage and public response to the idea has been very positive. If it proves successful, it could be rolled out throughout the county. Further information is available from the Rutland Card web site at www.therutlandcard.co.uk or via Marc's web site at www.marcoxley.me.uk. 2009-10-31T14:28+00:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000173/local_liberal_democrats_make_their_presence_felt_at_the_party_conference_in_bournemouth.html Local Liberal Democrats from Rutland and Melton were actively involved in the recent Liberal Democrat Autumn Federal Conference in Bournemouth. Grahame Hudson, who is Vice-Chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of the Armed Forces and a former Royal Navy Officer, supported the Federal Conference motion on reaffirming the Military Covenant and took part in the Royal British Legion Fringe event launching the Legion's General Election Manifesto. He also attended the BBC World at One Fringe Event and was questioned by the World at One presenter, Martha Kearney, on his views on the party's tuition fees policy. His response was broadcast on the World at One fringe debate highlights. 2009-10-04T16:46+01:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000172/grahame_hudson_pledges_to_do_his_bit_for_british_armed_forces.html Grahame Hudson, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for Rutland and Melton constituency, has pledged to do his bit for the British Armed Forces family. 2009-10-04T16:17+01:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000171/liberal_democrats_campaign_for_improved_pay_and_conditions_for_the_armed_forces.html Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg, has launched a new campaign for better pay and conditions for the armed forces. The forthcoming Liberal Democrat Party Conference later this month will feature a debate on the military covenant between the nation and its armed forces. Years of neglect by successive Tory and Labour governments have left the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force overstretched, undermanned and deprived of much needed equipment. 2009-09-10T02:52+01:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000170/rutland_and_melton_mp_criticised_for_his_comments_on_expenses.html Rutland and Melton Tory MP, Alan Duncan, has been heavily criticised for his ill-judged comments about MPs living on rations to an activist from the web site "Don't Panic". The Rutland Times, Melton Times and the Rutland Mercury have all printed a number of letters from furious constituents complaining about Mr Duncan's latest outburst made while sipping wine on the terrace of the House of Commons. Grahame Hudson, Liberal Democrat PPC for Rutland and Melton, has accused the Tory MP of offending an entire generation who lived through the Second World War surviving on rations and insulting the service men and women serving on the front line in Afghanistan. You can read Grahame's letter on the Rutland Times web site at the link below. Mr Duncan has subsequently apologised unreservedly for his comments and has been rebuked by Tory party leader, David Cameron. 2009-08-21T13:23+01:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000168/liberal_democrats_form_opposition_on_leicestershire_county_council.html The Liberal Democrats are now the official opposition to the Tory controlled Leicestershire County Council following the June 4th elections. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Simon Galton, was re-elected as County Councillor for Launde in Rutland and Melton by a large majority defeating the Chairman of Rutland and Melton Conservatives. Labour has been wiped out in Rutland and Melton after former Labour leader, Matthew O'Callaghan, lost his Melton North division to the Tories. Simon has recently announced the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet. Led by Simon with Bill Boulter as his deputy, the Shadow Cabinet includes Liberal Democrats from Market Harborough and Oadby and Wigston in the Harborough Constituency. The full list is available on Simon's web site. 2009-07-18T11:30+01:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000167/pennbury_ecotown_not_shortlisted.html Following an intensive cross-party campaign by local residents and councillors, the proposed Eco-Town development at Pennbury has not been shortlisted. Local Liberal Democrats led by Simon Galton have joined forces with their Conservative counterparts to mount a vociferous campaign against the development, which was supported by the Labour administration on Leicester City Council. The development on prime agricultural land in both Rutland and Melton and Harborough parliamentary constituencies made no sense whatsoever and was opposed by local residents and politicians across the board. Simon Galton joined other protestors, including Conservative County Councillor, Kevin Feltham, in Downing Street to present 15,000 name petition at Number 10. The next step in the campaign is to persuade the principal developer, the Co-Op to withdraw the plans altogether. The battle continues and local Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign against this development. 2009-07-18T11:20+01:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000166/why_your_vote_counts_on_thursday_4th_june_2009.html WHY YOUR VOTE IS ESSENTIAL ON THURSDAY 2009-06-02T21:01+01:00 http://www.rutlandlibdems.org.uk/news/000165/melton_mowbray_south_leaflet.html You can read Grahame Hudson's latest campaign leaflet for Melton Mowbray South as a pdf attachment. 2009-05-31T13:47+01:00