A proposal to develop missing child alert mechanisms across Europe, sponsored by Conservative Vice-President of the European Parliament Edward-McMillan-Scott and supported by Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of Madeleine, missing since May 3 2007, has received a million Euros (GBP 900,000) of funding from the European Commission.

McMillan-Scott launched a cross-party sponsored Written Declaration at a press conference with the McCanns in Brussels last April. It called on the EU to improve cooperation on missing children, particularly by setting up a missing child alert system which would immediately forward relevant details such as a photo to all news media, border authorities and law enforcement agencies. The child alert would be modeled on the ‘Amber Alert’ system in the USA which has caused over 400 children to be recovered.

The Written Declaration received 413 MEP signatures by September 2008. As over half the MEPs signed, the declaration therefore became a formal resolution of the whole parliament.

The Commission has put a pilot project out to tender. It is seeking proposals for child alert mechanisms and to improve cooperation between EU member states. Although the total budget is €1 million, it will be used for between four and ten projects aimed at improving child abduction procedures.

Mr McMillan-Scott said:

“When a child goes missing, the first 72 hours are crucial. Currently European countries fail to cooperate effectively when recovering missing children.

“We need a system in place that will transmit the picture and details of an abducted child into every conceivable place. Experience of those countries that have alert systems in place, such as the USA, is extremely positive. 

“The response from MEPs to our Written Declaration was phenomenal. We sent a strong signal to the European Commission that we need action and to their credit the Commission has responded.

“We need some technical solutions to this tragic problem. Kate and Gerry McCann have been fantastic in supporting this initiative which will hopefully stop other parents from going through their heart-breaking ordeal.”

David Cameron wrote:

Last Wednesday was Budget Day. The borrowing figures got the headlines – and rightly so. We’re in a new age of austerity yet this Government is trapped in the old age of irresponsibility. Sitting there in the House of Commons listening to the Chancellor tell us he was planning to borrow more in the next two years than all previous governments combined left me open-mouthed. I used to say this Government seems intent on saddling future generations with debt. I was wrong. After this week, they’re going to crush them.

But, as ever, the real story of Labour’s Budgets comes after the Chancellor sits down and you get to unpack truth from fiction. And this year, there was more fiction than normal. Within an hour the IMF had rubbished his growth forecasts, suggesting Labour’s Debt Crisis will be even worse. Then their claim that only the rich would carry the burden of their mistakes was dismissed – their tax rises will hit the many, not the few, with everyone earning over £20,000 worse off. And by Thursday it became clear that there’s an even bigger black hole in their figures – which will be plugged by guess who? Yes, all of us – in even higher taxes. This Budget can be summed up in one word: dishonest.

Adam, candidate for Pensby, Barnston and Thingwall and Wendy, Candidate for Greasby, Frankby and Irby.

 The Conservative Action team have been meeting with local residents, many concerned about their pensions and severly reduced interest on their life’s savings, which they rely on to live off.  After a life of saving  and acting responsibly many feel they are being penalised.

Conservatives are urging the Government to abolish income tax on savings for basic rate taxpayers and to raise the personal allowance for pensioners by £2,000. These changes could be made in tomorrow’s Budget.

Pensioners have suffered from a decade of Labour’s pensions tax, introduced by Gordon Brown in 1997, which has cost pension funds £5 billion per year.

What we’re calling on the government to do in tomorrow’s budget would not only help those who are suffering now, it would also help build a more responsible saving culture and help end Britain’s addiction to debt under Gordon Brown

Lisa Pover with mum at her 'Daring to be Different' Exhibition

This week sees the start of a new photo exhibition at the Dickens Gallery, St Georges Hall, Liverpool.

The Exhibition is called ‘Daring to be Different’ and that’s exactly what my friend Lisa is.  Here her life is displayed in a series of pictures and videos as she went from taxi driver on the streets of Liverpool to  round the world yachts woman.

Feisty, gutsy and one heck of  a laugh Lisa is not only planning on going round the world again, but she has also set up a trust to help kids sail and like Lisa dare to do something different with their lives. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (Chairman of Clipper Ventures and the first man to solo sail around the world non stop) has agreed to be patron. For more information see Lisa’s blog www.Lisapover.com

2007/8 money spent on consultancy in the Wirral was £863,506.

Up until Feb 2009 alone this year £328,848 has been spent.

And for the full year 2008/2009 £867,900 is to be spent.

How can the council justify spending nearly £1M per year of Wirral taxpayer’s money on consultants and to tell us what exactly?

Could it be implausible findings of the SAR and the need to destroy services on Wirral?

Or how about the consultancy report on the impact of retail on Wirral at a cost of nearly £50K, only to discover that the report forgot to take into account Liverpool One, one of the biggest retail developments in Europe, so now the consultancy firm has been given nearly another £30K to get it right. What on earth is going on in Wirral Council?

This is a shocking waste of Wirral taxpayer’s money that would be better spent on front line services and front line jobs.

Last night I attended the cabinet meeting, along with hundreds of care staff , to see what the cabinet decision would be. Earlier this year the cabinet proposed a 5% cut in funding as well as the removal of the promised 4.75% index link rise (and that was after a cut in funding in Nov of 3%).

Care staff, managers and owners said such cuts were not possible. Not only were the cuts impossible to cope with over the time frame proposed, the process by which the cuts were being forced through were unacceptable too.

 Last night’s meeting left people reeling. Many people questioning had the result been settled prior to meeting – the vote fizzling out and the verdict given. Those who attended and spoke to me afterwards were in shock – here is what some had to say ‘what was the point of attending if the decision had already been made? ‘ ‘Was that meant to be democracy in action?’, ‘they totally dismissed what Lynn had to say’ , ‘They didn’t listen to us’.

A decision was reached last night, but from what was said afterwards, I don’t think that’s the last we’ll be hearing about these Care Cuts on Wirral.

As chairman of the Friends of Meol Park – I handed a cheque of £50 on behalf of us all – to Jacquie Hall and the Friends of Hoylake and Meols in Bloom. This £50 is to go towards their bulbs bill!  Thousands of bulbs have been planted in tubs and along the grass verges and new  trees have been planted at the Quadrant too making the whole area look absolutely magnificant. 

 If you’re interested in gardening, then why not get along to the Friends of Hoylake and Meols in Bloom AGM on Sat 9th May at 10am as Mr Kevin Smith, commissioning editor of ‘Gardeners World’ , will be there  as guest of honour and will be giving a talk at 11am.

Under this Labour government I see not only the financial system crashing around us but the political system too. Trust in the political system is at an all time low and general disregard of politicians along with their expenses at an all time high.

When the gap between public and politicians gets so wide, society falls down the middle and we all end up the losers. That is why we need to come together, stand strong for what we believe in and stand firm for what we want our communities to be. To fragment or to disengage is to be weakened, our voice and our power to be lost.

I watch with alarm at the rising number of people dissatisfied taking to the streets, whether that is in London or here on Wirral. The ‘noise’ is loud, but the message is getting lost and the solution is nowhere to be seen. In Wirral thousands took to the streets to save our libraries but the Labour Liberal Council would not listen, on Friday the Secretary of State  made a a monumental U turn and has agreed to investigate. However we must continue to lobby to ensure the closures stop. Fire-fighting and headline grabbing in itself is not enough we need future solutions.

So far this Labour leadership has made much noise but has provided no solution. Nationally and locally it is fragmented with Labour Councillors still wanting closures. We need coherent thinking, consistency of thought and action. The Conservative Councillors voted to keep the services open, we believe in local services for local people, nationally we are fighting to save our services and in addition the Conservative council pledge to reopen serves closed. We can provide the future vision as well as the current noise. It is no good holding conferences and making headlines if you can’t provide for future action.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has stepped in at the 11th hour to order a rethink over Wirral library closures – some of which were due to close forever tomorrow.

Mr Burnham has today intervened in the public dispute about proposed library closures in Wirral, calling for a local inquiry to test whether the council’s plans are consistent with their statutory duty to provide all residents with a comprehensive public library service.

I’m delighted that due to the constant pressure of local people on Wirral, Mr Burnham had stepped in to force the council to rethink its closure programme.  It is a victory for common sense for the people of Wirral after months of fighting to have their voices heard

Spearheaded by our campaign through Ed Vaizey, Shadow Libraries Minister and Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Culture Secretary, continual pressure and lobbying was applied on Andy Burnham, Culture Secretary through an Early Day Motion beginning in January 2009, and continual pressure from local residents, prominent local writers, library and community groups led Andy Burnham to a dramatic u-turn in announcing that he will look into the shambles that has been the strategic asset review.

This is a step in the right direction after months of going in the wrong one. However, we need to continue applying pressure to ensure our libraries are saved.