West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Birmingham Liberal Democrats have joined in the celebrations as Lib Dem candidate Simon White won a sensational victory in neighbouring Staffordshire last Thursday, taking a seat from Labour and leaving the Tories and UKIP trailing.

The seat, in the Borough of Newcastle under Lyme, was described in the This is Staffordshire website as "overwhelming". Simon White stood in the same seat last and came second but this year his hard work in his constituency was rewarded with his stunning victory.

Mr Clegg was shown around Peterbrook Primary School in Solihull, which was one of many schools in the area which received money thanks to the Liberal Democrat 'Pupil Premium.'

This week Solihull MP signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging her commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust.

Friday January 27th will mark the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history - and in the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during their Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

Concerned parents who completed Cllr Ann Holtom's road safety survey have also called for school crossing wardens to be provided outside Castle Vale's schools to give additional protection for their children. Currently there are 390 wardens across Birmingham who assist and provide protection to children when crossing the road at the start and end of the school day. Ann's survey highlighted the fact that there are NO crossing wardens on Castle Vale.

Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne hosted a top level seminar with cancer experts on best practice in controlling the disease in older people at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday (Jan 24th).

Among topics on the agenda were the latest reports on a Dutch initiative for comprehensive geriatric assessment for older people diagnosed with cancer and moves to promote healthier, active ageing.

Solihull MP Lorely Burt has welcomed news that Post Offices in Solihull have been saved by Liberal Democrat Business Minister, Ed Davey.

After ending Labour's shameful Post Office closure programme, which saw more than 7100 Post Offices disappear in their 13 years in office, Ed Davey has announce a ten-year deal between the Post Office and the Royal Mail has been reached.

Solihull MP Lorely Burt has attended a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons, organised by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, for the launch of their new report, Preventing Babies' Deaths: what needs to be done.

6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every year in the UK. The charity's report proposes that 1,200 babies' lives could be saved every year through a combination of more research, better care and greater awareness of the risks of stillbirth and newborn baby death.