Nick Clegg comes to Newcastle to launch 'green jobs' pledge |
 | Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg came to Newcastle to launch the party's manifesto pledge to create 57,000 jobs by investing £400million upgrading disused shipyards to enable the production of off-shore wind turbines.
The proposals would enable firms to manufacture off-shore wind turbines in the UK, instead of seeing them built abroad due to out-of-date facilities.
Current plans to expand wind farms in the North and Irish seas could see every one of the 6,400 turbines needed brought in from abroad, as there are currently no turbine manufacturers in the UK. Analysis by the North East Regional Development Authority shows attracting wind turbine manufacturing to the region could bring economic benefits worth as much as £1.9 billion. |
British ports and especially those in the North East are ideally located to host turbine manufacturers due to their proximity to the off-shore wind farms; however, they are currently unable to invest due to the lack of appropriate docks with suitable space.
The Liberal Democrat proposals to invest in physical infrastructure to support a greener economy also include a pledge to invest £100million in training and testing facilities, including at universities in the North East with specialist engineering research facilities such as Durham and Newcastle.
Commenting, Nick Clegg said: "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 many shipyard 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 modern docks, 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 new technology.
"Investing in infrastructure for a new green economy not only helps create jobs now but will allow the North East to take 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 but government must play its part in supporting this." |
Watch on you tube ... |
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Nick Clegg & Carol Woods launch plans for safer streets with more and better police |
 | Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne visted Durham to launch the party's General Election plans to put 3,000 more police out on the beat to cut crime.
Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Durham, Carol Woods, who has been campaigning for more police officers in Durham, introduced Mr Clegg and Mr Huhne to the Durham Constabulary which is successfully running several projects, such as the Eddy Project, to engage with young people and to prevent youth crime.
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Durham County Councillor Carol Woods said "Durham Constabulary has led the way with its Eddy Project in engaging with young people across County Durham. Many young people at risk of being drawn into crime have benefitted from these projects. The Liberal Democrats believe that these types of preventative projects help keep our communities safe and this is why we would expand them.
"Under the Labour Government, last year Durham has suffered the biggest cuts in police numbers in the country. Yet, our Labour MP has never spoken out against these cuts or raised the issue in Parliament.
"I have campaigned for years to get more police on our streets. I am delighted that Nick and Chris chose to launch this policing promise in Durham. It is clear that the Lib Dems are the party for effective action on crime." |
Read the Lib Dem proposals to put 3,000 more police on the beat and to cut crime (pdf document) |
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North East could lead international energy industry says Fiona Hall MEP |
Lib Dem renewable energy expert, Fiona Hall MEP, has called for the foundation of an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Fiona Hall supports calls by Germany, Spain and Denmark for the establishment of an international agency on renewable energy, similar to the two agencies that have been representing fossil fuels and nuclear energy for many years.
Fiona said: "We can't keep relying on conventional energy such as oil. I cannot stress enough the importance of renewable energy sources. |  |
"We need fast action now and an international agency to promote the development of new renewable energy sources. The provision of energy is an international challenge and calls for international solutions and co-operation.
The North East, in particular, is set to profit from the growing renewable energy sector. Thanks to the presence of many new and renewable energy companies and research centres in the North East, an expanding renewables sector has the potential to create thousands of green-collar jobs in the region. |
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Carol Woods says "Time to come clean on school cuts" |
Lib Dem schools campaigner Carol Woods, in Durham City, has called on the Government to come clean over their plans to cut funding for rebuilding schools.
Carol said, "Though they tried to hide it away in the small print of the Budget, it is clear that the Government has watered down its promises on rebuilding schools. |  |
"Some of our schools are in desperate need of this funding and I am seeking guarantees that they will get it. In these difficult financial times we all accept that savings have to be made, but this funding for schools is essential.
"The Government must come clean on this issue. An urgent statement is required to assure parents, staff and pupils that the planned investment in schools will proceed beyond 2011." |
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Alan Beith MP demands more help for North East fishing industry at Westminster |
 | Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has called for more help for the north east fishing industry, particularly smaller boats based in ports such as Amble, in the Fisheries debate held in the House of Commons in November.
"The main problem that the local fleet has faced this year in Northumberland is the enforced discarding of prime white fish because of lack of quota availability. The fish that the fishermen are out to catch are effectively swamped by the fish that they cannot land and have to discard. |
"They regard discarding as an unethical practice, damaging to fishing stocks and to the housewife who could buy the fish. That is not what local fishermen, and their forefathers, went into the industry to do."
Alan has called on Ministers to show that they understand the problem and will give it proper consideration he said "The Minister said that fisheries are best managed by people with local knowledge. That is the situation in Northumberland, and it is a situation that we want to carry into new, stronger and better arrangements." |
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