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Welcome to the website of Darlington Liberal Democrats.
Here in Darlington, Liberal Democrats work hard all year round - campaigning for local people. You may have seen our regular Focus newsletters which help us to keep in touch with you. Liberal Democrats believe in openness and accountability. This website reflects that. It will keep you up to date with our local and national campaigns. It also enables you to contact us about local issues and problems.
There must be a General Election before June, 2010. Our candidate in Darlington will be local campaigner, Mike Barker. Mike is a local councillor, representing North Road ward. He led the "Say No to Tesco" campaign which fought successfully to protect our town centre and market. Mike has achieved great results for local residents during his time on the Council. With your support he can get things done for the whole of Darlington.
Mike Barker Supports Darlington Storysack
Fri 5th Feb 2010
Yesterday, Mike Barker visited the Darlington Storysack and Toy Resources charity, based at Corporation Road School. It is faced with possible closure, and certainly a massive reduction in the service it can offer, thanks to the Labour Cabinet's proposed budget cuts.
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Read "Mike Barker Supports Darlington Storysack" in full (475 words).
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Durham Police Biggest Losers
Wed 3rd Feb 2010
Mike Barker has revealed that Durham Constabulary has lost more officers, as a percentage of its total, than any other police force in the country. Between March 2005 and September 2009 Durham Constabulary slashed its number of police officers by 193, that's a whopping 11.1% of its 2005 total (1738 down to 1545).
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Read "Durham Police Biggest Losers" in full (251 words).
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Lib Dems Support Early Years Inclusion Service
Tue 2nd Feb 2010
The Darlington Early Years Inclusion Service has been the subject of two special Budget consultation sessions over the past couple of days. Lib Dem Councillors have been to both, to try and find out what the real issues are here.
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Read "Lib Dems Support Early Years Inclusion Service" in full (450 words).
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Mike Barker accuses Labour candidate of thoughtless scare-mongering
Tue 19th Jan 2010
In his blog today, Mike Barker writes on the latest twist in the debate about the provision of acute stroke services in Darlington. The Council's Health and Well-being Scrutiny Committee met this morning and heard from the local Health Trust's Chief Executive that there was no short-term threat to the provision of these services in Darlington.
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Read "Mike Barker accuses Labour candidate of thoughtless scare-mongering" in full (114 words).
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Mike Barker slams Council's failure to fill front-line position
Thu 14th Jan 2010
Darlington Council employs a Welfare Rights Manager whose job it is to help vulnerable people in the community access benefits to which they are entitled. Figures released recently show that, against a target of £600,000 in the six months to September 30th, 2009, the Council recovered just £516,000 for residents. The elderly, single parents and others on low incomes have lost out on crucial payments.
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Read "Mike Barker slams Council's failure to fill front-line position" in full (365 words).
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Mike opposes proposal to close Stroke Unit after high level leak to Labour Councillor
Wed 13th Jan 2010
In a statement to a Special Darlington Council Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday evening, the Chief Executive of the Council said she had been informed late last week, by the Chief Executive of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, that consideration was being given to the possible closure of the Stroke Unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital. This information was shared with Labour Councillors and leaked to the Labour Party's Parliamentary candidate. She took it to the Echo, which blazoned her across its front page. The Echo chose not to approach opposition parties for their views.
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Read "Mike opposes proposal to close Stroke Unit after high level leak to Labour Councillor" in full (308 words).
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Council Tax Freeze "Pre-election gimmick" says Mike Barker
Tue 12th Jan 2010
Since Darlington became a Unitary Authority in 1997, Council Tax in Darlington has risen by 132%, one of the largest increases in the whole country and well above the national average figure for Unitary Authorities of 87%, This year, which just happens to be General Election year, the Labour Council are proposing to make almost 80 Council employees redundant and make significant cuts in Council services, in order to impose a one year freeze on Council Tax.
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Read "Council Tax Freeze "Pre-election gimmick" says Mike Barker" in full (126 words).
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Haughton West Lib Dems report on Green Lane Survey
Sun 10th Jan 2010
Darlington Council has made proposals for improving the Green Lane bridleway. These include spending £100,000 on tarmacing, installing new drainage to prevent flooding and cutting back the undergrowth. They also plan to erect bollards at a central point to restrict motor vehicle access. This would require the construction of a turning area for vehicles.
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Read "Haughton West Lib Dems report on Green Lane Survey" in full (249 words).
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Archive of earlier news stories.
 News Story Feed (v1.0).
Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Published and Promoted by Ian Barnes, 5, Lauriston Close, Darlington DL3 8TU, on behalf of Mike Barker and the Liberal Democrats.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.
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Fiona Hall MEP meets local Lib Dems and cycling campaigners at Darlington Railway Station.
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Lib Dem councillors Martin Swainston and Fred Lawton join the High Row demonstration against the Council's policies for Hurworth School and the Town Centre.
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Fiona Hall, Liberal Democrat MEP, with local Lib Dem members, campaigning about the Council's failure to meet energy-saving targets.
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Expensive, intrusive, inffective. Join the campaign against ID cards.
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