SLASH AND BURN, SAY THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

There is a mythology in UK politics that the Liberal Democrats are to the left of the Labour Party. No doubt there are certain Lib Dem MPs who ARE a little more radical than my omrades in Westminster but that certainly can't be said of the Liberal Democrat group in Hebden Royd Town Council.
Last night I presided over a budget meeting where they they voted down moves to appoint a new youth worker to improve life for young people in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd. They also cut thousands from the grants budget and opposed a move by Labour group leader Dave Young to put £40,000 into the budget for Central Street. At the end of the meeting, they looked very pleased with their "prudence." This clearly marks the end of consensus at a local level. Shame.

THE BIG ISSUE ROUND HERE....

I have just done an interview on local democracy with The Big Issue. And I have said lots of nice, positive things about Labour locally because there are lots of positive things to say. Our work on the environment, fair wages, Fair Trade, our involvement in the anti-war and peace movement marks us out from the run-of-the-mill. We're about to start a campaign for social housing too. The results of this interview will be in the Big Issue In The North April 28. Now I am off to get ready for a civic dinner with the outgoing Mayor and my fellow Labour councillors, who include two other LRC members.