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The Northern
Democrat
no. 48no. 48no. 48no. 48no. 48February February February February February 20102010201020102010
The newsletter for Liberal Democrats in the North of England
Produced, printed and promoted by Jonathan Wallace, 7 Laburnum Grove, Sunniside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 5LY
The Sage, Gateshead, is to host the Lib Dem national conference in March 2012.
Liberal Democrat Leader NickClegg has used a visit to theNorth East to set out a pledgeto create thousands of newjobs by investing in disusedshipyards. The plan is to usethem to produce turbines forBritain’s off-shore windenergy industry.
The plan will see £400 millioninvested and 57,000 jobscreated.Nick launched this latestplank of the Liberal Democrats’economic stimulus and jobcreation package whilst visitinga Shepherd’s Offshore shipyardin Newcastle. The proposalswould enable firms tomanufacture off-shore windturbines in the UK, instead ofseeing them built abroad due toout-of-date facilities.Current plans to expand windfarms in the North and Irishseas could see every one of the6,400 turbines needed madeabroad, as there are currentlyno turbine manufacturers in theUK.Analysis by the North EastRegional Development Agency
Nick launches green jobspledge on Tyneside
shows attracting wind turbine manufacturing to the region could bring economic benefits worth as much as £1.9billion.British ports and especially those in the North East are ideally located to host turbine manufacturers due to theirproximity to the off-shore wind farms; however, they are currently unable to invest due to the lack of appropriate dockswith suitable space.The Liberal Democrat proposals to invest in physical infrastructure to support a greener economy also include apledge to invest £100million in training and testing facilities, including at universities in the North East with specialistengineering research facilities such as Durham and Newcastle.
See Page 2 for Nick Clegg’s comments at the launch of the policies for green jobs in Newcastle
Freddie Shepherd meets Newcastle North candidate Ron Beadle, NewcastleCity Council Leader John Shipley and Nick Clegg MP on the site ofShepherd’s Offshore shipyard in Newcastle. Nick launched Lib Dem plans forgreen jobs during the visit.
Manifesto News
Nick announces green jobs for North
Speaking about the party’s plans for green engineering jobs, launched in Newcastle (see p1), Nick Cleggsaid, “We need to make sure we come out of this recession with a rebalanced and green economy.
“Our plans would act as a huge boost for Britain’s budding wind industry and create nearly 60,000 jobs in manyshipyard cities where unemployment is a huge problem.“New off-shore turbines, with blades the size of the London Eye, need to be built and launched from moderndocks, so we need to upgrade our shipyards to take advantage of this massive opportunity.“Just imagine the docks and shipyards in the North East coming to life and leading the world in this newtechnology.“Expanding off-shore wind will create jobs but unless we act now, these jobs won’t be British jobs. It’s a scandalthat 90% of the £1.75bn contract for a wind farm off the coast of Kent is going to foreign contractors, with theturbines being manufactured in Germany.“Investing in infrastructure for a new green economy not only helps create jobs now but will allow the North East totake its place at the cutting edge of this growing industrial sector for the future.“Britain clearly has the manufacturing and engineering expertise to lead the world in this green technology butgovernment must play its part in supporting this.”
Party Leader Nick Clegg MP has been in the region twice in February to launch important LiberalDemocrat policies - on policing and on green jobs. The visits highlight the growing importance ofthe North East, Cumbria and Yorkshire to the party. Strategists in the party, and political punditsoutside, are looking ahead to Lib Dem gains in the general election in the North.
During a visit to the Durham Constabulary, Liberal Democrat LeaderNick Clegg and Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, ChrisHuhne, set out the party’s General Election plans to put 3,000 morepolice out on the beat to cut crime.
Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Durham,
CarolWoods,
who has been campaigning for more police officers in Durham,introduce Nick and Chris to the Durham Constabulary which is successfullyrunning several projects, such as the Eddy Project, to engage with youngpeople and to prevent youth crime.Carol said, “Durham Constabulary has led the way with its Eddy Projectin engaging with young people across County Durham. Many young peopleat risk of being drawn into crime have benefitted from these projects. TheLiberal Democrats believe that these types of preventative projects helpkeep our communities safe and this is why we would expand them.“Under the Labour Government, last year Durham has suffered thebiggest cuts in police numbers in the country. Yet, our Labour MP has neverspoken out against these cuts or raised the issue in Parliament.“I have campaigned for years to get more police on our streets. I amdelighted that Nick and Chris chose to launch this policing promise inDurham. It is clear that the Lib Dems are the party for effective action oncrime.”Nick Clegg said, “The Liberal Democrats are the only party that wants tocut crime by putting more police on the street.
Liberal Democrat Leader launches GeneralElection plans on policing in Durham
“When only one in a hundred crimes ends up with a conviction in court, it is time for things to change. Labour andthe Conservatives may talk tough but they are unwilling to make the crucial decisions to cut crime.”Chris Huhne added, “With so many forces seeing cuts in numbers, this is the right time to be promising a longerarm for the law.“The Liberal Democrats would rather have more police officers and catch more criminals than continue withunnecessary and expensive ID cards. Getting more police on the beat and reforming the way they work is the onlyway to create safer streets.”
A Durham Constabulary officertalks to Chris Huhne and Nick Cleggabout the Eddy Project during theirvisit to the North East
Andrew Duffield, the Liberal Democratcandidate for Hexham, has opened anew campaign office on Watling Streetin Corbridge in readiness for theGeneral Election.
Cutting the ribbon at the openingceremony, Lib Dem MEP for the NorthEast,
Fiona Hall
, said: “Andrew is makinggreat strides in ensuring voters can accessour message of fairness and change.Hexham is clearly a winnable prospect forthe Liberal Democrats.”Andrew said: “I am delighted with ournew HQ. Constituents are welcome to visit,learn more about our policies over a coffeeand perhaps even help us campaign forthe real change we need - locally as wellas nationally.”The Lib Dem Election Office is now
Hexham campaign steps up a gear
Cutting the ribbon: Fiona Hall MEP opens the new HexhamConstituency HQ in Corbridge
Northern news
open on Monday, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. Andrew can be contacted at any time through theoffice number, 01434 632309, or via the local party website at
www.hexhamlibdems.org.uk
.
Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith has claimed that the TransportMinister is creating total confusion on future north east trainservices, with the Government-owned Network Rail and EastCoast companies proposing cuts in the services from Berwick,Alnmouth and Morpeth while the minister himself is consultingon increased services.
“On the one hand we have Lord Adonis claiming that there will beextra services for Alnmouth, Berwick and Morpeth,” said Alan.“Yet at the same time the proposed timetable for December 2010shows fewer services calling at our stations and a reduction in thenumber of through trains to and from Glasgow.“The proposed new timetable doesn’t properly meet the needs ofBerwick and Alnmouth because some of the attempts to speed uptrains are taking away stops at our stations and creating gaps in theservice.“Yet Lord Adonis has said that the franchise from 2011 will requirethere to be more services as well as a non-stop service fromNewcastle to London. We need clarity on what is being actuallybeing proposed.“I am putting pressure on Ministers and the train operatingcompanies to ensure that any changes to the timetable, and to therequirements of the franchise for the East Coast Main Line, retain orimprove the services we currently have.“It is very important that people in Northumberland do not lose agood train service in order to save a few minutes on the journey fromEdinburgh to London. I am pressing ministers and the traincompanies to get this right.”
Beith demands clarity on train proposals
seeking answers on train timetables -Alan Beith MP
Sir Alan has also added his backing to a Parliamentary motion calling on the Government to ensure that that therewill continue to be regular direct services from London King’s Cross and north east stations to Glasgow.
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