Darlington and Sedgefield Liberal Democrats

Local Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather has welcomed reports that Labour-run Brent Council have temporarily put a halt to the ransacking of Kensal Rise library, but added that the situation should never have got this far.

Earlier on Wednesday, removal men turned up to empty the building of its books and its equipment. They were soon met by over 50 local campaigners, including Councillor Paul Lorber, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Brent Council and a long standing library campaigner.

Sarah Teather, Member of Parliament for Brent Central, has expressed her disappointment at Brent Council's decision to clear Kensal Rise Library building of books and IT equipment today.

Commenting, Ms Teather said:

"This is another sad day for Brent's libraries. Campaigners have tried to work with officials to keep Kensal Rise library open, but have been ignored at every turn.

Commenting, Stephen Williams said:

"This is a very popular idea which would give the public something back for bailing out the banks.

"I welcome the Treasury Select Committee's review into what to do with the Government's holding in RBS and Lloyds and hope that it furthers the case for giving the public their share."

Sarah Teather announced today that the Coalition Government are extending the system of support for young people with special educational needs up to the age of 25, so that young people will get the support they need wherever they are taught. You can find more info in the next steps document, which you can find here.

In response to Southwark council's Draft Open Spaces Strategy consultation, Simon Hughes MP has called on council officers to develop and nurture working relationships with interested individuals and groups in order to ensure the best possible day-to-day care of Southwark's open spaces.

The consultation asked for people's views on what the vision and objectives for the borough should be and to identify key needs and priorities for the different types of open space throughout Southwark.

Today (Saturday, 13th May) Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark received the Honorary Freedom of Southwark, along with actor Sir Michael Caine and six others at a Civic Awards Ceremony at St George's Cathedral. Speaking after the event, Simon said:

"It was a great honour for me to be one of those who received the honorary freedom of our borough at the splendid ceremony in St George's Cathedral today. I am very grateful to Southwark council for agreeing to give me this honour.

Long lasting reforms

Key Liberal Democrat initiatives were announced in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday including banking reform, a single tier pension, energy reform, strengthening shareholder power and House of Lords reform.

The Coalition government's next term will focus on helping families, supporting growth and jobs, and delivering long-standing reform to our banking sector. Long lasting reforms are proposed to put the UK on a stable footing and offer help and support to families, small businesses and communities, protect the environment, as well as reaffirming the commitment to helping the poorest nations.

The key themes from the 2012 Queen's Speech are economic growth, justice and constitutional reform.

Main Lib Dem initiatives include:

MEPs have again called for an end to the 'traveling circus' which costs taxpayers millions of pounds a year.

The European Parliament is currently based in both Strasbourg and Brussels, forcing politicians and staff to relocate every month at an estimated annual cost of £145 million. MEPs' have now voted to back calls for the adoption of a single location, further raising the pressure on national governments to push through reform.

Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has received assurances from Southwark council that the Open Door Day Centre on Jamaica Road will stay open.

Following concerns raised by local residents who had heard that the day centre was to close, Simon Hughes MP sought assurances from the council that this important community organisation would not be lost.

Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has raised in a meeting with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner residents' concerns about the level of helicopter noise over Southwark at night.

Following several complaints by residents living in the north of the borough near the Thames, Simon Hughes MP raised the issue of noise disturbance with both the Civil Aviation Authority and Bernard Hogan-Howe, Metroplitan Police Commissioner.