Recommended reading for Lib Dem councillors and local campaigners from the last seven days: Nick Clegg and Vince Cable to demand major banking reform (Independent)
Mr Clegg and Mr Cable, the Business Secretary, will press David Cameron to implement in full proposals to restructure the banks to be published on Monday.
Vote referendum: Clegg dubs AV ‘a very British reform’ (BBC)
Nick Clegg spoke at the Lib Dems’ London Regional conference on Saturday. He said that changing the electoral system to the Alternative Vote will make MPs work harder and end the scandal of safe seats for life. [Read the full speech]Two views from the campaign trail:
Lib Dem Voice – LibLink: Chris Davies – Be angry, be proud – and campaign hard
Lib Dem Voice – Andrew Stunell writes… We will have a greener, freer and fairer country than when we startedIn Local Government:
“A survey of 117 town halls revealed that 59 per cent have switched to fortnightly collections. They are acting in clear defiance of Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who said it was ‘a basic right’ for the public to have their rubbish collected every week.” – Daily MailIn a leader the Mail accuses Mr Pickles of falsely raising local people’s hopes: “If Mr Pickles was unwilling to force councils to reinstate weekly collections — and he is not, on the basis that he believes in local decision-making, or ‘localism’ — he should not have falsely raised people’s hopes.” Survey counters Pickles’ bins guidanceFrom Lib Dem Voice Rob Blackie looks at how councils are making savings without cutting front line services
Opinion: How are councils making savings?Regional Growth Fund funding goes northLib Dem Voice reported on how we are doing well in Hull:Clegg can’t walk on water (Olly Grender blogs at the New Statesman)
“The Lib Dem leader could perform miracles and still not get a fair hearing from the press. He should ignore them”