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                           <title><![CDATA[Labour Lead Support for the Avondale Unit]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[The Labour Party in Preston is leading the political reaction to the proposed closure of the Avondale Unit. The chief in-patient mental health facility in Preston has been earmarked for closure by the Lancashire Care NHS Trust with no alternative local provision planned for years to come. Labour MP for Preston Mark Hendrick has nailed his colours to the mast by joining the strategic group of the Facebook campaign SAFE (Save Avondale For Everyone).  Meanwhile, Labour Councillor Martyn Rawlinson won unanimous support from Preston City Council with his motion against the proposal. Preston Labour Party is deeply concerned of...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:37:04</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Labour starts Cadley by-election campaign ]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Many people are puzzled and angry that a unnecessary election has been called on 16th September in Cadley, only 4 months after people voted in the City Council elections.  Caused by the resignation of a Lib Dem councillor it could have been avoided if he had stood down in May, just a few weeks earlier.  So the election is a result of either LibDem incompetence or a total disregard for the council tax-payer (at a cost of over &pound;5,000) or probably both.  Our teams of canvassers, made up of Labour Party members from Fulwood and local councillors,...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:09:06</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[No escape from coalition cuts]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[The Tory/Lib-Dem coalition in Preston are offering no respite from the savage cuts of their Westminster counterparts as funding to the poorest communities in the city is attacked. Tory Leader Ken Hudson claims that &pound;400,000 of Cameron's cuts to funding aimed at tackling unemployment can be managed from current budgets due to 'prudent' spending. However, over &pound;100,000 designed for community projects in the poorest wards has now been frozen too. Four Neighbourhood Management boards have been rendered useless by the inept Tory leadership as resident board members, Councillors and officers have received no indication as to when or if the...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:34:53</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Tories and Lib Dems in 'panic and collapse']]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Preston Council&rsquo;s Tory/Lib Dem coalition has descended into panic, claim local Labour Councillors, following the landslide victory for Labour in the recent Riversway by-election. The Liberal Democrats have suffered another shock resignation, as long standing councillor, Mike Onyon, has resigned his seat, forcing yet another by-election in Preston. The taxpayer will have to bear the cost of the by-election - Riversways' was at least &pound;5000.  Amid further cracks appearing in the coalition, there are reports that the Tories have offered positions on key committees to independent Councillors, in a desperate bid to hang on to power.   The...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:24:11</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Preston Liberal Democrat VAT bombshell]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Preston Liberal Democrats have been accused of betraying their own voters and the poorest people in Preston, after supporting the Tories VAT bombshell rise. Labour councillors were stunned as local Lib Dems, who claimed that they would be the true voice of opposition in Preston at the last election, voted in favour of the VAT tax rise at a recent council meeting. The VAT rise has been strongly criticised, not just by the Labour Party, but also trade unions and business leaders. Pensioners will be hardest hit by the VAT increase to 20% in the Government&rsquo;s June Budget Pensioners have...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:17:57</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[LABOUR LANDSLIDE IN BY-ELECTION]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Preston Labour Party have celebrated a massive landslide victory in the Riversway ward seeing their candidate Linda Crompton elected, and defeating the challenge from the Lib Dem/Tory coalition. The local Tories did not put up a candidate in a blatant attempt to support their coalition partners. Preston Labour saw a significant increase in their vote from the local elections in May, while the Liberal Democrat support collapsed (May figures in brackets) Labour 890 (803) Liberal Democrat 388 (807) Green 56 Turnout 29% Preston Labour Party fought the campaign on local issues, highlighting radical policies designed to help the most needy...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:07:38</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Riversway By-Election: Polling Day!]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Riversway residents go to the polls today to vote in the Riversway By-Election. Preston Labour Party is calling for people to vote for a positive local agenda set out by Labour Councillors and to promote the only local candidate in the campaign - Linda Crompton.   Preston Labour has campaigned positively, unlike the Liberal Democrats, focusing solely on local issues and presenting a radical agenda for Preston Council, based on traditional Labour values.  'We've had a great response on the doorstep.' said Local Labour Councillor Bhikhu Patel. 'But we're not taking anything for granted. The Tories and Liberal...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:12:21</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Tory/Lib Dem coalition grinds to a halt]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[As Preston Labour Councillors were urgently discussing the implications of the cuts being imposed on local services, it became apparent that Preston Council business was grinding to a halt under the current Tory/Lib Dem administration. The City Cente Committee, a key part of Preston Council's role to develop regeneration and investment for Preston, had been cancelled twice in recent weeks due to lack of business. More concerning, that executive meeting of the Cabinet was also cancelled due to 'lack of business'. Preston Labour Councillors voiced their anger that as there was mounting concern at the impact on ordinary people from...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:27:48</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA['Massive black hole' in Preston Council Finances]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Preston Labour Councillors met last night to discuss the savage cuts that seem likely to be imposed on local authorities across the country. With figures in the region of 40% cuts being threatened, the implications for local councils like Preston would be huge. Finance spokesperson, Martyn Rawlinson, explained how the council finances, already battered by several years of inept Tory and Lib Dem financial management, were now facing a much greater crisis.   &lsquo;Preston really is facing a massive black hole from these cuts.&rsquo; Said Martyn Rawlinson &lsquo;What makes it worse is that many of the cuts identified by...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:18:54</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Tories and Lib Dems bring 'misery, misery, misery' to over 65's and disabled]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[The latest stealth tax from the Tory and Liberal Democrat coalition brought rapid condemnation from Preston Labour councillors. 
The Tories and Lib Dems have increased charges for people using bowling greens in the Preston area. Labour councillors have raised concerns that the charges will affect groups such as blind bowling and the over 65&rsquo;s as the main users of the bowling greens. 
The increased charge is yet another increase that has come under the coalition. It follows increases on bin replacements, bulky wastes collection, and increases in crematorium charges.  Leader of Preston Labour Group, John Collins, said &lsquo;It is...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:48:24</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Savage Attack by the Coalition on Preston's Unemployed]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Preston Labour group today condemned the savage cut announced by the coalition government to Preston council's grant for tackling long term unemployment.   The Department for Communities and Local Government announced that Preston would suffer the maximum cut of 2% or a third of a million pounds (&pound;347,000) to it's Area Based Grant (ABG) this year. The grant, part of the former Labour government's 'Worklessness' agenda was designed to help long term unemployed into sustained employment in order to reduce poverty and reliance on the benefits system. Preston received over &pound;10 million pounds ABG for 2008-11 because of it's...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:25:27</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Tory Councillor Attacks Own Leadership]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[A Conservative Councillor in Preston has attacked his own party leadership...for not imposing higher cremation fees at the council owned crematorium! Councillor Tom Davies ( Preston Rural East) told Cabinet Member for Resources Eric Fazackerley that he was to blame for not maximising council revenue on the service, despite massive hikes in fees since the Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition took control in 2007.  The attack took place at a meeting of Preston Council's Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee on Friday 11th June where Councillor Fazackerley was warning of dire budget cuts to local government funding by the coalition in Westminster, including...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:38:11</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Riversway By-Election: Labour select their candidate]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Riversway Labour Party has selected Linda Crompton to be their candidate for the by-election in Riversway on 15 July. Support for Linda was unanimous, with a large number of members coming out to attend the meeting. Local members were confident that they had found their 'street champion' for Riversway; Linda had served 4 impressive years as a local Labour councillor for Riversway ward and is well known in the local community.  Bhikhu Patel, local Labour councillor for Riversway, said 'I'm really pleased that Linda has been selected as our candidate. She was an integral part of the Labour...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:40:16</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Labour to deliver 'Street Champion' for Riversway]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Preston Labour Party has kicked off the Riversway by-election campaign with a promise to deliver a candidate that will be a 'Street Champion' for the local area.  Labour members were out in force delivering leaflets and a survey about local issues to residents in the ward. Spirits were high as local residents approached Labour activists to ask about the by-election - word obviously having spread about the Liberal Democrat's appalling betrayal of trust. Local Labour Councillor Bhikhu Patel said 'We are determined to win this one for Riversway. The Liberal Democrats have shown that they can't be trusted in...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:20:20</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Riversway By-Election: The Fight Is On]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Preston Labour Party members met tonight to discuss their plans for the Riversway By-Election. The by-election was called after the Lib Dem councillor in the ward resigned just 19 days in post. Even though the by-election will cost the Preston taxpayer at least &pound;5000, the Lib Dems have offered no apology to the residents of Riversway and still managed to elect the Tories into power again at Preston City Council. Preston Labour Party is determined to fight for every vote in the ward and deliver the &lsquo;street champion&rsquo; that the people of Riversway deserve &ndash; not an &lsquo;accidental councillor&rsquo;. Local...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:45:38</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Tories stripping away democracy]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Lancashire County Council Labour Group has expressed its concerns over the reduction by the Tories of democratic powers to scrutinise the council's cabinet and leader - positions held by Tory councillors - and call them to account.  Labour Group leader, Jennifer Mein (pictured) commented 'What the Conservatives passed at Full Council amounts to a 40% reduction in the Council's ability to challenge the decision making process. The council will now only cover the bare minimum of its obligations. We fear that many wide&ndash;ranging decisions that will affect thousands of residents will go unchecked'. The Labour Group was also critical...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:00:18</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Gaza Protest in Preston]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Over two hundred people in Preston came out to protest against Israel's actions against an aid convoy. Israel's lethal actions have provoked worldwide condemnation and highlighted to the world the plight of those in Gaza. People from across different communities and backgrounds united in Preston city centre to voice their concern. There were several speakers at the event, which was well attended despite being organised only earlier that day. Mark Hendrick MP was unable to attend as he was in London at the time, but he sent a message that was read out to the crowd in Preston. 'On the...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 09:23:10</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Preston Labour Party: Determined and Defiant]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Members of Preston Labour Party met for a special meeting to discuss the recent election results, the future Labour leadership contest, and the future of the party. Labour had considerable succes in Preston but there was still regret at the general election loss. Despite this, the party members were united in their determination to continue to fight for Preston&rsquo;s interests, with Labour values at heart. Also in attendance was Mark Hendrick MP (picture below with Preston Labour Party Chairperson Carl Crompton), who took questions and comments from party members present. The local party was emboldened by a strong showing for...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Sun, 30 May 2010 09:53:29</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Keeping the deficit in perspective]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[The nation&rsquo;s financial deficit, largely thrust upon us by reckless international banking and underpinned by global neo-liberal economics, is in real terms about one third of that inherited by the 1945-51 Labour government.  In stark contrast to the plans of the present Tory/ Lib Dem coalition Government, the 1945-51 Labour government led by PM Clement Attlee (pictured, speaking in 1950 in Preston) invested in the welfare of its people and the rebuilding of a shattered nation to full employment by 1950. The deficit is also significantly less than that which has existed in the UK for more than two...]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2010 06:51:10</pubDate>
                           
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                           <title><![CDATA[Preston Lib Dems in Chaos]]></title>
                           <description><![CDATA[Chaos and confusion surrounded Preston Liberal Democrats after one of their local councillors unexpectedly announced his resignation this week after just 19 days in post. Liam Pennington, who was elected in Riversway by just 4 votes, cited personal reasons for stepping down. Highlighting the collapse of discipline within the Liberal Democrat group, their leader Danny Gallagher said that he knew nothing about the resignation before it occured.  Despite being in post for only 19 days, Liam Pennington still managed in that time to vote with his Lib Dem colleagues in support of a Tory administration at Preston City Council....]]></description>
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                           <pubDate>Thu, 27 May 2010 02:02:37</pubDate>
                           
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