http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Dumfries Liberal Democrats en-GB Dumfries Liberal Democrats http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Dumfries Liberal Democrats 2010-03-09T21:21+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000022/copenhagen_blog__cop15_turns_into_cop_out_by_world_leaders.html What was heralded as the last chance to save the planet has become a rushed attempt by world leaders to save face. 2009-12-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000017/copenhagen_blog__slogans_and_pressure__what_can_obama_expect_at_cop15.html "Global justice now", "COP15, big failure", "One world, one consequence, one will?" 2009-12-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000018/copenhagen_blog__obamas_speech_moves_us_position_by_inches_when_we_need_him_to_go_the_extra_mile.html What did we learn from President Obama's address to the Copenhagen conference? The answer to that has to be 'not much'. 2009-12-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000019/copenhagen_blog__eu_red_lines_in_negotiations.html A little bit of behind the scenes information for you. I just had a meeting with the EU delegation, which is headed up by the Swedish Presidency. I asked them what their 'red lines' were in the negotiations. They told me: 2009-12-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000020/copenhagen_blog__there_will_be_no_climate_deal.html I've just come from two separate briefings, one with the EU delegation and one with their Indian counterparts. Different briefings but the same message - there will be no climate deal. 2009-12-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000021/copenhagen_blog__face_saving_not_planet_saving_agreement.html As talks in Copenhagen continue this evening, at least for the moment, spirits are rather low. 2009-12-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000016/copenhagen_blog__clinton_puts_figure_on_developing_nations_fund_for_first_time.html Conferences like this are always consumed by rumour and speculation, claim and counter claim. Today I heard, from my MEP colleagues, that the EU was considering only putting 25% on the table, instead of the expected 30% that the Parliament were pushing for, in hope of kick starting a deal as the final day of negotiations approaches. 2009-12-17T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000015/copenhagen_blog__finally_arrived_on_the_train_but_will_negotiations_stay_on_track.html I've just arrived at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen for the United Nations climate change conference. After a nineteen hour train journey across the snow covered tracks of northern Europe it is a welcome relief to arrive at the destination I've been building up to since the European elections in June. 2009-12-17T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000014/to_regulate_or_not_to_regulate_that_is_the_question.html My focus heading into 2010 is still, without doubt, the economy. This is the overriding concern for thousands of Scots as we continue to struggle out of the grips of recession. In the next year the European Parliament's focus must be on better cross border financial regulation so we do not reach these depths again. 2009-12-07T13:24+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000013/scotland_in_danger_of_being_sidelined_by_snp_on_cap_reform.html The latest QMS farm profitability survey makes pretty sober reading. 2009-11-27T00:00+00:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000012/one_step_away_from_president_blair.html If the title "President Blair" doesn't send a shiver down your spine I don't know what will. With Poland following Ireland in ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, we are now only one step away from that disturbing prospect. 2009-10-14T09:00+01:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000011/cameron_must_be_praying_for_czech_no_after_irish_yes.html One question the Conservatives have studiously avoided answering during their party conference is what will happen to their hallowed referendum on the Lisbon Treaty after Ireland's resounding 'yes' vote. 2009-10-08T06:00+01:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000010/everyone_needs_friends_but_you_must_choose_them_carefully.html Scotland has always been an outward looking country. Whether it was the 'auld alliance' with France or less successful ventures like the Darien scheme, Scots have looked beyond our own borders in search of global partners and prosperity. 2009-08-21T00:00+01:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000009/april_2009.html March drew toward an end with a visit to Milburn Academy in Inverness to meet with the winners of the UK section of the Charlemagne Youth Prize, awarded for their project helping disadvantaged children in Romania. 2009-04-29T00:00+01:00 http://www.dumfrieslibdems.org.uk/articles/000008/march_2009.html When I wrote my piece for February, I promised that I would explain why I had to do so early. Actually, the last week turned out not to be as hectic as expected, since an event in Inverness was cancelled. But I did still have meetings with farmers in Ayrshire and in Perth and accompany the Commissioner for multilingualism on his visit to Scotland, taking in Edinburgh, Dundee, Stirling and Glasgow and looking at language education (including in Gaelic at primary level) and the provision for people from the newer member states coming to work in Scotland. 2009-03-30T00:00+01:00