National News 
Elizabeth Shenton stands for Crewe Nantwich
Elizabeth
Shenton is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Crewe & Nantwich
by-election.
She has had a successful career working for two of
the country’s largest banks, where she has also played a leading role in
ensuring effective trade union representation for staff.
Elizabeth
Shenton has a strong record of achievement both as a councillor and as an active
supporter of animal welfare and community groups.
As the new MP,
Elizabeth Shenton will work to cut crime, improve schools and protect the
character and environment of Crewe and Nantwich.
You can find out more
about Elizabeth Shenton on her website, www.elizabethshenton.com and on Facebook.
You can also follow her on Twitter.
To help her campaign,
please come to the Campaign
HQ or make a donation
online.
Elections 2008: results summary
Results
summary:
Projected national share of the vote
(BBC)
Conservative 44%
Liberal Democrat 25%
Labour
24%
Council control
The Liberal Democrats retained
control
of:
Cambridge
Eastleigh
Liverpool
Newcastle
Rochdale
South
Lakeland
Stockport
Three Rivers
Watford
Liverpool was Labour’s
number one target. The council composition is now Lib Dem 46, Labour 39,
Liberals 3, Greens 2 (total 90).
The Liberal Democrats gained
control of:
Burnley
Hull
St Albans
Sheffield
The Liberal
Democrats lost control in Pendle and West Lindsey.
Following these
elections Liberal Democrats are just one seat short of overall control in Oldham
(4 gains), Warrington (1 gain) and Cheltenham (3 gains).
Liberal
Democrats will continue to be the largest party in Cardiff (2 gains), Sefton (1
gain), North East Lincolnshire (1 gain) and are now also the largest party
in Derby (5 gains), Wrexham (3 gains), Exeter (1 gain) and on the new
Northumberland unitary authority.
Councillors
elected
Liberal Democrats made 137 gains in these elections four
years ago and have successfully defended those gains. We will have over
4,200 council seats.
The BBC's figures for seat changes are::
Conservative +256
Liberal Democrats +34
Labour
-331
London
Brian Paddick finished third, with 10% of
the first preferences, and three Liberal Democrats were elected to the London
Assembly (down two).
Other coverage
Highlights of the
results are available on Liberal
Democrat Voice.
Map and comments
Visit our interactive map page for highlights from
around the country and the chance to send us your views (a selection of which
appear below).
Your comments
Government failing to grasp the seriousness of flooding - Webb
Commenting on today’s [Wednesday] Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on last summer’s flooding, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said:
"This report shows that the Government is failing to grasp the seriousness of the situation. With severe floods likely to become more common due to climate change, we need a real strategy and real investment to protect high-risk areas.
"Current funding is totally inadequate. The ABI, the Government’s own Foresight report and the agency responsible for flood defences are all calling for spending to be increased to £1bn, but their advice is falling on deaf ears.
"The £200m increase the Government announced last year does not stand up to scrutiny when inflation and rising costs in the building trade are taken into consideration. It is too little to cope with the increasing risks the country faces, and doesn’t even come fully into effect for another two years.
"The £34.5 million the Government has set aside to implement the recommendations in the interim Pitt Review looks like the money they’ve got left over. The Government has failed to provide any details about how this money will be spent, or about how the Pitt Review will be funded in the future.
"The report also reveals that no one is responsible for protecting people and properties from surface water, which caused around two-thirds of the flooding last summer.
"It is time for the Government to clarify who is responsible and ensure that all sources of flooding are properly addressed, so that thousands of people are saved from a repeat of the misery still being suffered by so many after last year’s floods."
Government's strategy on data protection a shambles - Alexander
Commenting on reports that staff at the Department for Work and Pensions have been sending out highly sensitive data in packages that include the passwords, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Danny Alexander said:
"The Government’s strategy for protecting citizens’ personal information is a shambles.
"We’ve had mislaid CDs, lost laptops and now passwords are being circulated with the information they are supposed to protect.
"Data protection is being undermined across Whitehall - the very idea that this Government could be responsible for an ID card database is a joke."