I have now sat through six Gordon Brown Budgets and the pattern is the same every time. Gordon mumbles through a complex list of technical detail - burying the bad news in boredom. Then he pulls a 'rabbit' or two out of the hat, the press say what a wonderful budget it is and then a week or two later when the details have been analysed they start - too late - to point out the various stealth taxes.
Liberal Democrats in Chesterfield are calling for council tax to be scrapped. The call has been made in response to plans by a government review to revalue homes and add two new bands to the council tax system.
Commenting on today's budget announcements, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said:
Charles Kennedy MP was met by rapturous applause today at the Winding Wheel. The former Liberal Democrat leader came to launch Chesterfield Borough Council's new Manifesto with their vision for the next four years. Charles spoke on the Manifesto proposals along with Chesterfield MP Paul Holmes and Council Leader Ray Russell.
Commenting on today's announcement of 17th October 2007 as the date for the first stage of digital switchover in Whitehaven, Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesman Paul Holmes MP said:
Last November at the end of the Queens Speech, and again on the 4th March, I voted for a Referendum to be held on the simple 'In or Out of the EU' question.
