http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Tonbridge and Malling Liberal Democrats en-GB Tonbridge and Malling Liberal Democrats http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Tonbridge and Malling Liberal Democrats 2010-09-05T01:56+01:00 United Kingdom http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000008/pupil_premium_is_a_real_liberal_democrat_achievement.html I came into politics to make a difference for the most disadvantaged in our society. It is over three years since I, as Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, championed the Pupil Premium as our flagship education policy and debated it at Conference. I never dared imagine a time when I would be unveiling it as Government policy and then actually implementing it. But this week, the Coalition Government announced that a Pupil Premium, funded from outside the schools budget, will be introduced next September. It will mean that from next year, schools taking disadvantaged children will get the additional money they need to provide them with the extra support they deserve, no matter where they are in the country. This could mean more individual tuition or catch-up classes, but it will be for the school to decide, we won't be telling headteachers how to spend the money. 2010-07-27T14:30+01:00 http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000007/winning_fairer_votes_we_need_to_inspire_enthuse_and_persuade.html Today I announced that, for the first time, the British people will have a choice about the system they use to elect their MPs. On May 5th 2011, there will be a referendum on whether to adopt the Alternative Vote. 2010-07-06T10:07+01:00 http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000006/lost_labours.html Today I launched my pamphlet, Lost labours, with Nick Clegg. As somebody who has a long involvement with the Labour party, including editing the New Statesman magazine, I have been able to give a frank and honest appraisal of a decade and a half of New Labour. And in it I explain why I can no longer support them, and am instead turning to the Liberal Democrats. 2010-03-09T18:47+00:00 http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000005/residents_have_a_right_to_know.html It is understandable that KCC is concerned about the leak of a confidential document concerning a top officer's pay to the KM. However, I agree with the view of Caroline Spelman's Tory spokesman on Local Government who said this week that "Residents have a right to know how their council tax is being spent". 2010-02-22T07:35+00:00 http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000004/seize_the_opportunity.html This is an extraordinary moment in British politics. Political and economic crises mean that great changes are possible - and I want Liberal Democrats to seize the opportunity ahead. 2009-06-08T23:43+01:00 http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000003/how_you_can_help_a_vital_bill_get_through_parliament.html If you could pass a Bill in Parliament which could save lives, help the poorest people in Britain, help in the fight against climate change, and what's more create jobs in a recession, wouldn't you think that would be worthwhile? 2009-03-11T11:59+00:00 http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000002/climate_change_march__december_6th.html In these troubled economic times many politicians are all too willing to forget about crucial environmental issues. The Liberal Democrats are standing firm on our principles. In Parliament Square, London on the afternoon of Saturday December 6th I'll be speaking at the National Climate Change March to make it clear that the Liberal Democrats remain the only mainstream party willing to take the tough choices to safeguard our environment. 2008-12-02T14:03+00:00 http://tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/articles/000001/how_to_tackle_crime.html Crime hurts some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, who are least able to withstand its effects. All the political parties want to cut crime. The only question is how. 2008-09-11T10:46+01:00