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the6thestate asked Lynne Featherstone: "You say that Vince Cable warned for years of the dangers of the debt bubble. Was this reflected in Lib Dem manifestos? Will the Lib Dems have the courage to propose a really radical review of gloabl capitalism..." Show more »"You say that Vince Cable warned for years of the dangers of the debt bubble. Was this reflected in Lib Dem manifestos? Will the Lib Dems have the courage to propose a really radical review of gloabl capitalism now?" Show less »
Lynne Featherstone answer: "Vince and the Lib Dem view on the debt issue was clearly outline in our manifesto see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/LD_uk_manifesto.pdf..." Show more»"
Vince and the Lib Dem view on the debt issue was clearly outline in our manifesto see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/LD_uk_manifesto.pdf page 10. There is little doubt that the current global systems need reform. However, this was our view before the current crisis, based on the imbalance between the rich and the poorer countries that forces developing countries to sign up for the 'Washington consensus' exposing them to global financial capital markets without any protection. Unfettered markets never suited them and now others realise it doesn't suit us either.

http://www.libdems.org.uk/assets/0000/8906/economic_recovery_plan.pdf
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0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Nov 10 2008 11:11:29 AM

joerinaldi asked Lynne Featherstone: "Lynne, top-up fees are still a huge issue for many students as the policy is likely to leave them heavily indebted by the time they leave University. However, many students are facing more immediate issues..." Show more »"Lynne, top-up fees are still a huge issue for many students as the policy is likely to leave them heavily indebted by the time they leave University. However, many students are facing more immediate issues especially rising prices on basic commodities and reduced employment opportunities. As a result, many are asking for more immediate government support to help them cope with the impending pinch. How should the government react to support students so that they can cope with the problems arising from the economic downturn?" Show less »
Lynne Featherstone answer: "The Lib Dems have a number of recent proposals to deal with the current financial crisis, which would more or less directly impact on students. One that is especially relevant is the push for the differential..." Show more»" The Lib Dems have a number of recent proposals to deal with the current financial crisis, which would more or less directly impact on students. One that is especially relevant is the push for the differential minimum wage to be abolished (where the pay rate of 16 and 17 year olds is lower than for the 18+), and this will help young people who want a bit more money in their pocket.

From a more general point of view the Lib Dems are pushing for a number of proposals that will help all segments of society, including students. One suggestion is to increased regulation of the banks- ranging from curbing the bonus culture to increasing regulations of certain institutions, like hedge funds, that are not currently under a particularly high levels of scrutiny.

Another Lib Dem proposal is that house prices should be included when setting interest rates to manage inflation. We are also pushing for an energy windfall tax, whereby energy companies would be taxed on their £9 bn profit made from the emissions trading scheme through reduced energy bills. To deal with fuel poverty, we would push for a wider roll-out of social tariffs to over two million vulnerable customers. With regards to unemployment, the Lib Dems would institute personalised help that would suit job seekers’ individual needs.

We are also calling for investment in renewable energy, home insulation and the railway- green measures that will created thousands of jobs. Lastly, finding a resolution to the EU stalemate on agricultural subsidies would ease international trade and as a result a general decrease in food prices. Many of these measures would have a direct positive effect on students’ finances, and create a more stable financial system that would benefit people in the short as well as long term.

If you want to have a look at the policy document, check out this link:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/assets/0000/8906/economic_recovery_plan.pdf "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Nov 01 2008 3:52:35 AM

the6thestate asked Lynne Featherstone: "Re: Haringey Council's vast deposits in Icelandic banks, do you think this shows that there isn't sufficient performance management of senior council execs? Are they accountable enough in general and ..." Show more »"Re: Haringey Council's vast deposits in Icelandic banks, do you think this shows that there isn't sufficient performance management of senior council execs? Are they accountable enough in general and can they be held to account in this instance?" Show less »
Lynne Featherstone answer: "I think this demonstrates glaring problems and gaps in the accountability of all the institutions that invested in Icelandic Banks. That is why we need all councils etc to have an independent ..." Show more»" I think this demonstrates glaring problems and gaps in the accountability of all the institutions that invested in Icelandic Banks. That is why we need all councils etc to have an independent investigation into what each particular authority did - as some clearly had better checks than Haringey as they removed their investments in Iceland as soon as the ratings were downgraded - whereas Haringey invested as late as 29th September. Therefore - it is clear that there is not enough, not just accountability or oversight, but accountability and oversight and basic rules about investments - the first one being don't stuff money into foreigh banks who have been down-rated and are clearly not safe - particularly as the interest rate offered was so much higher than eslewhere. "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Oct 31 2008 3:59:33 PM

nickcranston asked Lynne Featherstone: "A while back you spoke out over the hysteria over the Jerry Springer musical. How can we keep protecting free speech from 'moral outrage' and censorship?"
Lynne Featherstone answer: "Make sure we challenge it on every possible occasion. And it is becoming a battle royal!"
Is this a good answer? 8 1
0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Oct 31 2008 3:47:39 PM

Londontowner asked Lynne Featherstone: "A burglary a day in Crouch End. Will Ian Blair's departure mean this will get better?"
Lynne Featherstone answer: "No - doubt whether Ian Blair's departure will make a difference. He was doing a reasonable job on cutting crime - or rather it was more the financial investment by us the tax-payers into Neighbourhood..." Show more»" No - doubt whether Ian Blair's departure will make a difference. He was doing a reasonable job on cutting crime - or rather it was more the financial investment by us the tax-payers into Neighbourhood Policing that has made a difference. But he was the Commander on whose watch that expansion took place. Doubt whether his staying or going would make any difference. What would make more of a difference would be if the local force could set more local targets rather than have to reach the central ones which are not always appropriate to every location "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: Crime | Email to friends | Oct 10 2008 4:27:44 PM

Londontowner asked Lynne Featherstone: "Is Sarah Palin an American version of Lynne Featherstone?!"
Lynne Featherstone answer: "Given that I am not a war monger, not a hockey mum - and don't wear lipstick - obviously not!" Show more»" Given that I am not a war monger, not a hockey mum - and don't wear lipstick - obviously not! "Show less«
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1 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Oct 10 2008 4:24:41 PM

emery1984 asked Lynne Featherstone: "Hi Lynne,
Did you do your usual 'video diary' at this autumn's LD conference ? If so, when will it be available on YouTube?Thanks,Al,Worthing"
Lynne Featherstone answer: " Hi - no I didn't do the usual video diary this autumn. The Party had a new website go live just a few days before conference - so whether it was that - or they just did other people this year - don't..." Show more»"
Hi - no I didn't do the usual video diary this autumn. The Party had a new website go live just a few days before conference - so whether it was that - or they just did other people this year - don't know.
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0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Oct 10 2008 4:19:42 PM

evenhand asked Lynne Featherstone: "Foot care for the elderly would probably improve a million lives very cheaply and create employment, as you mentioned in your blog. Do your fellow MPs pay as much attention to detail as you do? If so,..." Show more »"Foot care for the elderly would probably improve a million lives very cheaply and create employment, as you mentioned in your blog. Do your fellow MPs pay as much attention to detail as you do? If so, examples please- if not, why not?!" Show less »
Lynne Featherstone answer: "Thanks for your question evenhand. My decision to campaign on getting decent foot care for the elderly initially came from casework, but as I have spent a lot of time locally visiting old people's homes..." Show more»" Thanks for your question evenhand. My decision to campaign on getting decent foot care for the elderly initially came from casework, but as I have spent a lot of time locally visiting old people's homes this summer, I see that this is an issue that affect so many people, and is quite easy to rectify. But despite this, basic foot care is not widely available. It's outrageous and it matters to people, so it matters to me. And Lib Dems I think are particularly good at acting on and caring about these local issues. I think the best way to show you what I mean is to have a look at some fellow Lib Dem MPs websites, and in particular the news section: http://www.vincentcable.org.uk/ http://www.susankramer.org.uk http://www.tauntonlibdems.org.uk/newslist.php
http://www.juliagoldsworthy.org . "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Sep 30 2008 10:43:44 AM

evenhand asked Lynne Featherstone: "Lynne, the price of food and heating is rocketing well beyond the government's control- is this no longer a question of politics and in need a cross party solution, based on prgamatism and long term planning?..." Show more »"Lynne, the price of food and heating is rocketing well beyond the government's control- is this no longer a question of politics and in need a cross party solution, based on prgamatism and long term planning? We can't put up pensions by 15% can we?" Show less »
Lynne Featherstone answer: "I think it's a bit of a myth that taking "politics" out a difficult situation will lead to a better solution. As a Liberal Democrat I do believe more in consensus and political systems that force compromise...." Show more»" I think it's a bit of a myth that taking "politics" out a difficult situation will lead to a better solution. As a Liberal Democrat I do believe more in consensus and political systems that force compromise. But, and this is a big but, you can have as many pragmatic quango councils as you like, but they will amount to nothing until someone has the courage of conviction to follow it through. The New Deal and the setting up of the State Pension are good example where politicians have succeed in making difficult long term decisions in very political situations. The government ignores the plight of pensioners struggling with bumper rise in energy and food at its own peril. I have little doubt people will not be backwards in coming forwards when it comes to the ballot box and punishing anyone who fails to respond to their needs. "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: Politics | Email to friends | Sep 30 2008 10:39:22 AM

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Brian Barwick Jeff Winter Hazel Blears Adam Crozier James Purnell Trevor Philips David Miliband Gordon Brown GILLIAN PARKER QPM, BSc.(Hons), MSt.(Cantab) John Hemming Douglas Carswell Paul Hudson Tony Blair Banksy Inzamam ul Haq