Almost a quarter of A-level entries were awarded the top grade this year, results published on Thursday show. Pupils and teachers have worked extremely hard for these results and deserve to celebrate. Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP said "The annual carping of backward-looking commentators who always want to claim standards were better 'back in their day' is unproductive and frankly boring."
Students starting university this year will pay record bills for their degrees, figures revealed yesterday. Undergraduates now expect to pay an average of £33,152 to fund a three-year degree course, a 17 per cent increase on last year, according to the latest Nat West Student Money Matters survey. These costs will leave them with average debts of £14,779 by the time they complete their education. Most of the rise is due to the introduction of top-up fees, which allow universities to charge up to £3,000 a year.
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."
