Recommended reading for Liberal Democrat councillors and local campaigners from the last seven days:
In general political news, the Tory press have started their pre-conference Lib Dem bashing pretty early. For instance they’ve picked up on:
“Local councils should have the right and ability to raise additional taxes that they see appropriate for their circumstances. Not all places would be able to apply each levy, but this should not block those that were willing and able. Councils could also raise revenues to cover the costs of specific extra costs and services that they bear. For example, a small per drink surcharge in town centre bars and pubs, borne by drinkers themselves, could offset additional policing and health costs that drinkers impose on councils, and therefore residents, in many towns and cities.” from page 13 of our local government finance consultation document going to Birmingham conference.
No matter that it’s only a discussion document – not a policy paper or motion, just one suggestion from a 22 page document full of ideas nor that it merely varies a principle on the under used existing Alcohol Disorder Zones that the government may abolish in its forthcoming Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.
For them it’s the “Tipple” tax, The Sun started, and the Mail followed, even the Mirror had joined in.
Vince has come out fighting for small business against the banks and big business.
This is one of many around the same issue but the tory press seem to think that we’re getting uppity, which is excellent.
In the local government world: Eric Pickles has been trying to reduce bureaucracy at the expense of monitoring…. again.
In Scotland the Lib Dems have been pressing ahead for the completion of the Edinburgh tram system against the “bonkers” proposal from Labour that stopped the trams short of the city centre.
Our sister party, The Alliance Party, in Belfast, bolstered by excellent results in May, have been doing great things.Who would have thought that the “peace” walls would still be up?