A word from Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Cllr. Farooq Qureshi

9.00.00am GMT Sat 24th Jan 2009

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Cllr. Farooq Qureshi

The Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman Cllr. Farooq Qureshi says: "We have given billions to our banks but they are failing to lend money for mortgages and businesses. Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has challenged the Prime Minister to use one of the part nationalised banks as a state bank to lend money directly to struggling British businesses. Locally many people and families are wondering how they will cope, with the ever deepening crisis, to make ends meet. To help out, the local Lib Dems have asked the Council to look at ways to help people with the financial problems they are facing. Well, good news! The Council is planning to keep Council Tax down to below 2 per cent next year. They will also increase the instalment time to pay from 10 months to 12 months and the Council will settle their bills with local businesses within 10 days. Action is better than words".