So, it's confirmed. Voters in the Buckingham constituency will not be able to choose from the full range of candidates from the mainstream parties in this year's General Election.

For a few days in the run-up to close of nominations on Thursday, April 9th it seemed possible. That after all, we, the local Liberal Democrats, would be able to field a candidate, after we were given very late dispensation from our party hierarchy to break the convention that the main parties do not oppose the Speaker. Buckingham constituency is, of course, the seat held by Mr John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons.

(Some background: over the past year a growing number of private and public bodies have announced that they are to stop investing in fossil fuels, such as oil and gas. They range from the British Medical Association and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, to Glasgow University and, most recently, the Swedish city of Örebro.)

We are reviving our Facebook page. Perhaps you would like to give us a look, and a Like. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buckingham-Constituency-Liberal-Democrats/113695815311265 …

It's 3 days and counting to an election no one's heard of.

On Thursday polls open in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. And the whole thing has been a disaster from start to finish.

Someone needs to be held to account. So can you help by sending a message to your local paper?

http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/tell-your-story

For recent news from Councillor Llew Monger's, click on this link -

http://llewmonger.mycouncillor.org.uk/

Avril is county councillor for Ivinghoe division, and district councillor for Pitstone and Ivinghoe.

This is her latest report (summer 2012).

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My faith in Bucks County Council hit another low point when, after not only introducing charges for school transport, they failed to apply the policy correctly causing unnecessary additional stress, anxiety and confusion for parents affected in my division.

John Bercow MP invited Buckingham constituency Lib Dems chairman Julian Newman, together with other local political figures to the State Opening of Parliament on 9^th May, followed by a reception in Speaker's House. I understand that you are the Chairman of the Buckingham Liberal Democrats.

This is a summary of Julian's report. (Left - Sally and John Bercow.)

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.

The shock news that the Department of Transport has given the go ahead to the UK's East-West rail link haas been wamly welcomed by local Lib Dems. It's now almost 20 years since the Lib Dems in the Buckingham constituency first started campaigning for its reintroduction.

In a letter to the East West Rail Consortium, the DoT revealed that the government was "committed to developing the new East West rail link between Oxford, Bicester, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford".