"I am delighted at Edward's re-election. He has proved a passionate, determined and highly effective campaigner for human rights and democracy.
"As the British Foreign Minister responsible for human rights and a fellow Liberal Democrat, I am greatly looking forward to working with Edward to pursue this agenda, which is so central to the enlightened interests of the UK and Europe as a whole.
"With the Arab Spring continuing and tentative steps towards political reforms in Burma, the presence of strong and credible voices, fighting for human rights and democracy at home and abroad, is absolutely essential.
"I am convinced Edward is the right man to help ensure that we maximise the collective weight of the European Union in defending and promoting human rights and democracy."
Local campaigners joined together with community volunteers along St Peters Rd to re-instate the hedgerow habitat. Supported by the Woodland trust http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk and its free tree pack.
Pictured are Councillors Neil Sandison, Jerry & Sue Roodhouse along with Dale Keeling, Dave Merrit, Clare sandison and young James.
"Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are committed to delivering a tax system which is fair and progressive for everyone, why should working people who are not married pay more tax?
"Our commitment to increasing the income tax threshold to £10,000 has already resulted in an extra £200 in take home pay for millions of workers last year, with an additional £130 coming this April.
"Tax breaks for married couples would only help 4 million couples to the tune of around £150 year.
"This year, thanks to the Liberal Democrats, over 1 million people will have been lifted out of paying any income tax, rising to 4 million by 2015.
"Giving low earners a tax cut is exactly the kind of policy the Coalition Government should and is prioritising at a time when money is tight and people are feeling the pinch."
The following is statement to be made by Jerry Roodhouse at the start of the public interest debate on the future of health in Warwickshire.
Warwickshire's health economy is changing. This is in part due to the demographics of a growing older population; the extra pressures on social, mental and community care services; and matched with advances in technology that are being used in medical and social care. Recent reports also go towards demonstrating the challenge facing Warwickshire's residents as evidenced in the Dilnot review and the NHS Futures Forum.
Thousands of companies received a letter this week from the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg calling on them to play their part in getting young people earning or learning.
Nick is urging businesses to sign up to the government's flagship £1bn Youth Contract so that they are ready to offer the jobs to young people in April. He announced details of how employers can access cash to help cover the cost of taking on fresh talent through a 'wage subsidy'. The subsidy will be paid to companies for taking on young unemployed people and is designed to cover costs like National Insurance contributions.
The wage subsidy will pay £2,275 to employers for every 18 - 24 year old unemployed person they employ from the Work Programme and is open to all businesses, voluntary organisations and charities.
Payments for the majority of business will be made after the young person has been employed for 26 weeks. For smaller enterprises these payments will be staggered, with the first payment after eight weeks and the rest after 26. This recognises that smaller businesses need a boost to their cashflow to make the jobs viable.
The wage incentive will also be available for part time positions, with a rate of £1,137.50 if someone is employed between 16 and 29 hours.
Senior Liberal Democrat MEP and Vice President of the Parliament's Budget Committee, George Lyon, who is pushing for the EU budget to be radically restructured and independently evaluated to find further savings, commented after the vote:
"At a time when people across the country struggle to make ends meet, it is important that MEPs show some leadership in keeping the Parliament's costs under control.
"Freezing allowances and travel expenses is a good start. But I believe that we can make many more savings. In order to ensure that taxpayers are getting maximum value for their money, we need to have an independent evaluation of the EU budget to get rid of any inefficiencies and waste.
"I am very pleased that once again MEPs have also voted to push for a single seat of the European Parliament. It is an outrage that Member States still insist that the House travels between Brussels and Strasbourg each month. MEPs are quite right in calling for an urgent evaluation of this situation."
Commenting ahead of a vote on the 2013 EU budget guidelines in the European Parliament in Strasbourg tomorrow, Mr Lyon said:
"At this time of national austerity and budget consolidation, the EU budget needs to be shaken up and restructured to get rid of inefficiencies and waste.
"MEPs need to lead the way in identifying and making important savings. All MEP allowances should be frozen until 2014 and we must cap the travel budget at its present level. We must make our money travel further!
"It is also time we had an independent and thorough evaluation of the European Parliament's budget to make sure that it delivers value for money. For the time being, I want to see a freeze in administrative spending of all EU institutions."
The Staffordshire farmer and economic policy expert takes over from Liz Lynne who stood down from Parliament earlier in February after more than 12 years due to the extensive travelling required in the job. Phillip Bennion was elected to second place on the Lib Dem list of candidates at the last European elections in 2009.
The Staffordshire farmer and economic policy expert takes over from Liz Lynne who stood down from Parliament earlier in February after more than 12 years due to the extensive travelling required in the job. Phillip Bennion was elected to second place on the Lib Dem list of candidates at the last European elections in 2009.
