http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Simon James en-GB Simon James http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Simon James 2010-09-07T21:18+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000016/undecided_voters_swing_to_lib_dems_following_final_leaders_debate.html Last night was the final of the three televised Leaders' debates. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, debated with Gordon Brown and David Cameron about the economy. Subjects discussed included breaking up the banks, creating more jobs and reinvigorating the British economy. 2010-04-30T18:09+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000015/third_and_final_party_leaders_tv_debate_the_economy.html On Thursday 29th April from 8.30pm, BBC One will host the final live Prime Ministerial Debate of the General Election from the Midlands. Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron will again be going head to head in the run up to the General Election next Thursday. 2010-04-28T14:25+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000014/clegg_scores_second_win_in_party_leaders_debate.html An average of five polls conducted immediately after the Sky TV Leaders Election debate on Thursday night put Nick Clegg as the winner, with all instant polls showing him ahead of Gordon Brown. After the Foreign Affairs-led debate from Bristol dominated by issues like Iraq, immigration and climate change, Nick Clegg won 3 of the 5 polls on the night, building on his position after the first debate. 2010-04-23T15:06+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000013/second_party_leaders_tv_debate_foreign_affairs.html The second Party Leaders Debate is taking place this Thursday starting at 8pm on Sky News. Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron will again be going head to head in a TV debate in the run up to the General Election on May 6th, this time leading on Foreign Affairs. 2010-04-21T11:08+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000012/nick_clegg_storms_first_ever_party_leaders_debate.html The polls following the first ever Party Leaders General Election debate on ITV are showing that Nick Clegg has won a convincing victory over David Cameron and Gordon Brown. The debate was the first ever Leaders debate during a UK General Election campaign, and the pollsters are giving it as a big victory for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats. 2010-04-16T00:01+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000011/first_party_leaders_tv_debate_domestic_affairs.html Tonight on ITV, Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron will be going head to head in a TV debate. This is the first of three debates that will be taking place in the run up to the General Election on May 6th. 2010-04-15T00:01+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000010/fairness__the_liberal_democrat_manifesto_launch.html Nick Clegg has launched the Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto. The manifesto sets out four clear priorities of fair taxes, a fair chance for every child, a fair economy, and a fair deal by cleaning up politics. 2010-04-14T10:24+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000009/apply_for_a_postal_vote_now_deadline_20th_april.html With the General Election on 6th May, there is still time to arrange a postal vote. Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station on polling day - for any reason. 2010-04-12T19:38+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000008/victory_vince_cable_wins_channel_4_chancellors_debate.html The first ever TV debate between the three candidates to be the next Chancellor has seen Lib Dem Vince Cable win a clear victory. In a Channel 4 on-line poll carried out immediately after the debate, Vince out-polled both Alistair Darling and George Osborne. 2010-03-29T22:32+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000007/ask_the_chancellors_live_debate_on_channel_4.html At 8pm on Monday 29th March, Channel 4 will stage a live debate between the would-be Chancellors, Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, Labour's Alistair Darling and Conservative George Osborne. Krishnan Guru-Murthy will be asking the questions. 2010-03-28T10:38+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000006/constitution_or_amending_treaty.html With the European Council meeting going on in Lisbon at the moment the debate continues to rage over whether or not the amending treaty under discussion is really still the old Constitution. The fact is that the two are very similar. What has been abandoned is the idea of replacing all the previous treaties with a new one and some of the symbols of statehood. However regardless of this it does remain true that this is one of the most minor amending treaties in the history of the EU so should we have a referendum on it? 2007-10-19T08:20+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000005/eu_action_to_cut_car_carbon.html As part of the drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector the EU is to make €470 million available for research into hydrogen powered vehicles. The move follows pressure from the European Parliament after 420 MEPs put their names to a written declaration demanding more action in this area. However in order for this to have the desired effect on our greenhouse gas emissions this hydrogen has to in future be produced without carbon dioxide emissions (at present it is generated from fossil fuels but it can be produced from water using carbon free electricity). 2007-10-12T15:53+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000004/new_seats_for_old.html The European Parliament has now confirmed the new allocation of MEPs for each country following EU expansion. This leaves the UK with five less seats which is likely to mean that London will lose a seat going from the current 9 to 8. The reduction is necessary because the parliament is limited to 750 MEPs regardless of the number of member states. While this does make it more difficult for the Liberal Democrats to gain a second seat here in London with good campaign looking to build on our traditional strengths in community politics and the environment we can still do it. While the new deal still leaves the smaller countries over represented overall the new seat allocations more broadly represent the size of each Member State which is to be welcomed. 2007-10-07T08:54+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000003/dont_forget_the_hustings_for_the_selection_of_londons_european_candidates_and_mayoral_candidate.html The hustings are today (6 October 2007) at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG. The hustings start around 1:30pm and will last until about 6pm. I hope as many Lib Dem members as possible are able to be there. 2007-10-05T22:32+01:00 http://www.simon4europe.org.uk/news/000002/environmental_accounting__improving_local_councils_green_performance_across_europe.html Environmental accounting sounds like a bizarre concept but its something that can help organisations such as local councils to improve their environmental performance. The system basically provides a way to put a monetary value on an organisation's actions and systems so that in times where reducing the cost of services is the priority the environment doesn't get forgotten. The UK lags behind the rest of Europe both in implementing systems such as this but also we have one of the most financially restricted local authority sectors in Europe. This is the reason I was keen to take a resolution through the Congress of the Council of Europe on this. I'm now working to try to get Councils in the UK to start taking some of these ideas up. Contact me if you want more information on this. 2007-10-03T09:00+01:00