(Click picture to play video)

It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.

The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto.  And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.

Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.

The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.

This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.

One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/

With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/tag/be-clear-on-cancer/

Until 22^nd June 2012 Bristol City Council and NHS Bristol are consulting on a proposed Autisum Strategy.

The proposed strategy and consultation documents can be found at the following link: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/autismstrategy/

Having considered both sides of the argument, I have decided to support the NO campaign against an Elected Mayor for Bristol.

The Government have still failed to make it clear why an Elected Mayor would be of any benefit to our city, and at times when public finances are already limited, it seems a huge waste of public money having yet another elected official, who in this case could demand a higher salary.

An Elected Mayor would be less accountable to the people of Bristol, with two-thirds of Councillors required to vote for a different proposal to affect decisions on vitally important issues such as the budget, rather than the current simple majority of half the Councillors.

There also seems little need for an Elected Mayor. Bristol already has a strong leader, Cllr Barbara Janke, and whilst critics may comment “He would say that wouldn’t he“, the evidence of this is clear to those who wish to see it… The Council has reached the shortlist of three European Cities for the European Green Capital 2014, has kept Council Tax static despite the economic difficulties, is leading the Country in recycling and waste management, and is investing in items such as much needed extra primary school provision across the city. These things do not just happen, they happen because of strong leadership!

Details of the NO campaign can be found on the Bristol Says NO! website.

Local artist Victoria Smith has an exhibition which runs until Friday 4^th May 2012 at The Farm Pub, Hopetoun Road, St Werburghs. For more information, see the following link and associated website: http://www.wix.com/victoriasmith_art/home#!exhibitions

Official reports have confirmed that no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has increased council tax for their residents. This is unlike both other major parties, many of which are increasing council tax by up to 3.5% this year.

Commenting on Labour and Conservative councils’ record on Council Tax, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

“While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it’s clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax.

“Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing the burden.

“The choice in next month’s elections is clear: vote Liberal Democrat for financially responsible councils that create jobs. Vote Labour and the Tories for waste, mismanagement and tax rises.”

As well as freezing council tax across the country, Liberal Democrat councils are protecting front-line services, fighting to keep libraries and Sure Start centres open. This is in addition to the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government, which after the Budget include a £130 income tax cut for all working families, the largest-ever rise in the basic state pension, an increase in child tax credits for the poorest families, and an increase in the Lib Dem Pupil Premium to £600 for every pupil receiving Free School Meals.

At every level of government, the Liberal Democrats are cutting taxes for low- and middle-earners and better targeting help to those that need it the most. It is a record of financial responsibility of which we can be proud.

Bristol has successfully made it through to the shortlist of the 2014 European Green Capital Award. Nineteen cities entered, and on the basis of their environmental performance in 12 categories, just three were chosen to go through to the next stage.

Bristol is now up against Frankfurt and Copenhagen. At the final on 8^th June, the Green Capital team are required to give a 90 minute presentation to a jury about their communications plan and their proposal for 2014.

Frankfurt and Copenhagen are tough competitors, so it would immensely helpful if people could show their support for Bristol by using the following link to add their name to the list of people for “Bristol Green Capital 2014?.

http://bristolgreencapital.org/european-green-capital-award-2014/

A first look at part of this week’s Liberal Democrat Local Election Broadcast. This clip looks at our key pledge to cut taxes for working families, and celebrates the fact that Liberal Democrats in government have achieved:

• The biggest-ever single uplift in the tax-free personal allowance
• A £3.5 billion tax cut for working men and women
• 840,000 of the lowest earners in the country lifted completely out of paying Income Tax

Next year, the allowance increases again (to £9,205) – within touching distance of our manifesto promise to increase the Income Tax threshold to £10,000.

These are all significant achievements that are already making a difference for millions of hard-working men and women across Britain. Real change for real families in tough times – promised and delivered by the Liberal Democrats.

The Bishopston Community Speed Watch is now up and running and carried out two speed checks at the end of March with PCSO Said and three volunteers from the local community. Speed checks were carried out on Kings Drive and Ashley Down Road. As a result of the checks, several drivers will be receiving warnings about their speed.

Yesterday evening (30^th March 2012), I was invited to the preview of this exhibition which is “A Diamond Jubilee Celebration from the Royal Collection”. 

This free exhibition runs from Saturday 31^st March 2012 to Sunday 10^th June 2012, and is well worth a visit.

For more details, see the Council’s website http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/ten-drawings-leonardo-da-vinci-exhibition