Blair's 'Frenzied Law Making' - A new offence for every day spent in office
Tony Blair's government has created more than 3,000 new criminal offences during its nine-year tenure, one for almost every day it has been in power.
Tony Blair's government has created more than 3,000 new criminal offences during its nine-year tenure, one for almost every day it has been in power.
Today the Liberal Democrat tax commission unveiled its proposals for a fairer, greener and simpler tax system.
Jim Sheridan, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to the defence team in protest at the UK Government's policy on the Middle East
The Liberal Democrats are key signatories to a cross-party letter to be delivered to the Leader of the House of Commons calling for a recall of Parliament. Liberal Democrats Leader, Sir Menzies Campbell said "If Parliament had not been in recess the Prime Minister would have been expected to make a statement on the current crisis in the Middle East. Given the uncertainties and worsening situation in the Middle East, Parliament needs to be recalled as a matter of urgency."
The Liberal Democrats have welcomed the backing of Green Taxes by the Commons Environmental Audit Committee. The Committee has said taxes on air travel and "gas guzzling" cars should be raised to cut greenhouse gas emissions. A new report criticises the Department of Transport for adopting a "fatalistic" attitude towards cutting emissions caused by increased travel and said transport is the only sector of the UK economy where carbon emissions have risen consistently since 1990.
Tackling the rise in the number of empty homes could help cut carbon emissions equivalent to 16 million cars, according to new research by the Liberal Democrats. Figures show that there has been a 10% rise in the number of empty homes since 1997. If more empty homes were re-used, sparing extra housing development, as much as 25 million tonnes of CO2 could be saved.