Glenn Goodall

With Labour generally making a dogs dinner of the UK, how can people seriously believe that the Tories would be any better:

So, Cameron was meant to have come to Reading last week (7 January 2010) but decided it was too snowy to make the 25 minute journey from London. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Cleg managed to make it to all the way the Bath to have a one of his open town hall meetings in the same week (8 January 2010).

Apparently, Cameron has now rescheduled for this Thursday.

Nick Clegg also came to Reading last year (October 2008) and it’s quite interesting to compare the two meetings in there set-up.

Nick’s October Meeting:

• Traditional public meeting format (modelled on original Gladstonian Liberal principle!)
• Venue and details advertised in the press well in advance
• Held on a Saturday evening - so as any one could turn up
• No invite required (no vetting of people attending)
• No need to send an e-mail

Cameron Direct:

• Held during the day so many working people can’t attend
• Email required - no open access (airbrushed to perfection I’m sure)
• Secret venue “at a west Reading location”
• When criticised on the planning a Tory activist stated, “This is a rearranged meeting, in his already full diary, better he comes at 5:15 than not at all” (see Twitter).

Well, I was so wrong about twitter at first - shame on me! Clearly it has been used to great effect by my Lib Dem colleges, especially during the snowy period. Daisy and Kirsten posted updates from the council and investigated the issues posted on twitter, Warren fed the live updates from Reading buses (route suspensions and diversions), and I updated resident on the bin collection status.

This proved to be a popular and useful service, and was noticed my Ann Diamond.

Check out this interview on BBC Radio Berkshire:

Yesterday the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg outlined the principles behind the party’s General Election Manifesto.

There has already been cries from other parties of the Lib Dems “dumping polices” but, in fact, the new Manifesto is a bit more realistic. Much was  made of the national party not pledging to scrap tuition fees about a month ago.  But this just wasn’t true, the policy was just made more realistic. Actually, we will still phase out tuition fees over 6 years, instead, as this is far more affordable and realistic.

So what are the Four steps to a Fairer Britain?

Fair taxes for all

• Close loopholes for the richest
• Introduce a tax on mansions to fund tax cuts of £700 for everyone else
• Bring back the 10p rate.

A fair start for children

• Cut class sizes so children get the individual attention they need to thrive
• Put £2.5 billion into schools to pay for more teachers
• Funded by taking above-average earners out of the tax credit system and cutting wasteful programmes at the Department for Education

Fair and transparent local politics

• Real change of our political system
• Get big money and corrupt donors out of politics (Ashcroft!)
• Reduce the number of MPs by 150
• Give power over the police and NHS to local communities
• Change the voting system to abolish safe seats and giving you the right to sack corrupt MPs

Neither Labour or the Conservatives will ever offer change on this scale!

A fair and sustainable economy

• Shift the economy away from the traditional over-reliance on the City of London and on financial service
• promote green technology and creates lasting jobs
• Put an end to the casino banking
• Councils will regain control of business rates, reconnecting local enterprise with local politics
• Set-up a National Infrastructure Bank to bring in private money to build the transport links, energy grid and public buildings we need for a sustainable, low carbon economy in every part of Britain.

Lib Dems have held the seat at Harrogate BC, in Woodfield ward by 688 votes (Compared to the Tories 246). Labour came fourth in the this election - seems the sins of the past are catching up with them!

But this must be great news of Lynne Featherstone, who must now be set to retain her Parliamentary seat gained at the last general election - good luck Lynne!

They’re at it again! West Berkshire Council are to hear an application for a “replacement” of a uranium enrichment storage and handling facility on AWE’s Aldermaston site. This is known as Project Pegasus.

The detail for the planning application are:

Replacement facility for the storage and handling of enriched uranium covering 18,489 sq m gross floor space on a 10, 496 sq m  footprint, including office accommodation , storage facilities, material handling areas and ancillary support services. Construction related infrastructure is also proposed including access roads, construction compound, fencing, gates and ancillary facilities.

The consultation was originally going to run until 23 December 2009, but thanks to the Nuclear Information Service this was extended until 15 January 2010.You may remember that the last planning application made by AWE was applied for over the Christmas period. This would appear to be there tactic, i.e. throw in planning applications whilst everyone is distracted!

Despite this a good number of people and groups have managed to object to this application - which could directly effect Reading via the prevailing winds. Including the women’s peace campaign.

It is Lib Dem policy to not replace Trident, Nick Clegg came out in June 2009 to state this which made us the first mainstream party to state this intention. This application clearly flies in the face of that.

Slough and Basingstoke councils, as individual entities, have managed to put in objections to this and I hear that Reading BC have as well based on the impact on the roads. Yet the majority of people in Reading seem to have been kept in the dark… Again!!!

It’s interesting to note that the vast majority of Conservative MP’s voted with Labour on Trident and so do not oppose it’s replacement much less scrapping it. Yet all Lib Dem MP’s voted against Trident replacement in Parliament.

I have objected, but you only have until the 15th January 2010 (Friday) to do the same.

Comments can be sent by email to planapps@westberks.gov.uk

Addressed to Mr Clive Inwards of the Planning Department

Or you can follow this link and object online via CND’s site.

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Also see Adrian’s blog for further info.