First of all may I wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.

In Nick Clegg's new years message he outlined our parties successes. We have taken nearly a million of the poorest workers out of paying tax altogether and given a £200 tax cut, not to the rich but to 23million working people. We gave children extra support to stop them falling behind in school and pensioners the first meaningful rise in the state pension since Thatcher abolished the earnings link.

Residents and supporters fromCentral Devonhad the opportunity to quiz Devon County Council Group Leader Brian Greenslade at Tedburn St Mary at the Local Party AGM in November.

Answering questions from the floor Cllr Greenslade said that there were many similarities in dealing with Tory controlled County Hall as Nick Clegg has to in the coalition government. Many of the policies and decisions such as the unpopular 'on-street' parking charges in small market towns such as Crediton would have been forced through and implemented by now if it hadn't been for Liberal Democrat opposition. Mr Greenslade emphasised the importance of protecting services, something the Conservative leadership seem intent on cutting. Expanding on this issue, the former County Council leader deplored the attitude of many cabinet members, who are happy to 'pass the buck' on difficult decisions by holding inconclusive and simplistic vox-pop surveys around the county and then claiming they have universal support for their unpopular policies.

David Laws MP was guest speaker at the Central Devon Lib Dems Pasties & Politics evening held in Crediton. One of the architects of the present government coalition pact, he pulled no punches in his answers on the Economy, Health, Transport, Tuition fees and Job losses.

Asked about how to deal with redundancies in an area reliant on one or two big employers, he stated that the closure of Bristow's was very sad, adding that in these circumstances help should be requested from the governments 'regional growth fund' which he explained had been helpful in reducing the effect on job losses in his own constituency in Yeovil.

It's that time of year again when political activist pack up their anoraks and make their way to conference venues in exciting places like Liverpool Manchester and, as in my case, Birmingham.

Once upon a time there were photo opportunities for sea side walks (remember Neil Kinnock's walk and fall on the beach?) now we gather behind security fences and extremely bored Policemen. But even though I lament the passing of the good old days, behind the "ring of steel" conference continues on pretty much the same way as others did in the past.

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

Lords Say No to Elected Police & Crime Commissioners

Although the House of Lords has rejected the coalition's proposals to introduce directly elected Police & Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales, the Home Secretary proposes to overturn this decision in the Commons, and hold elections for these positions in May 2012.

Rebel Lib Dem peers joined forces with Labour lords to reject a key part of the Police Reform Bill - the votes went 176 in favour of the changes but 188 against. The nays included ex Liberal leader Lord Steel and two previous Metropolitan Police Commissioners Lord Blair and Lord Condon. Instead they have proposed a Commissioner appointed by a panel similar to the present Police Authorities, which together would form a Police Commission. This proposal has been welcomed by the Association of Police Authorities and especially by those of us who are concerned about political interference in the policing system. The aftermath of the recent riots is a point in question, as is the furore over the News of the World phone hacking.

A View From Bradninch - "Branesh (Bradninch) was a borough town

When Exeter was a fuzzy down"

Bradninch Lib Dem town councillor Luke Taylor gives us a pen portrait of Bradninch

Bradninch lies at the eastern edge of the Central Devon constituency and at the time of William the Conqueror's Domesday Book, was the largest in area of forty-six manors inDevon.

New Plans for Dartmoor

A large chunk of the Central Devon constituency lies within Dartmoor National Park. At the moment the National Park Authority are preparing a Development Plan which sets out two main areas of planning policy for:

• subject related policies (e.g. housing, employment, tourism) to advise and manage development
• site specific policies to set the planning framework for particular areas and land uses

Central Devon Parliamentary Spokesperson Phil Hutty looks back on a momentous week in Parliament

It was Harold Wilson who said "a week is a long time in politics" and the last week in the House of Commons before the summer recess certainly lived up to that. With journalists arrested, newspaper barons hauled up before Parliament you can understand why Prime Minister Cameron dashed back fromAfricato steady nerves in the Chamber. No one of any standing has told the prime minster to go but if there is more to come it might cause him further embarrassment.

Lib Democrat voters came out in force in Crediton to buck the national trend at the district council elections.

The party retained all four of the town's seats in last week's poll. Crediton Mayor Frank Letch, who stood as an independent candidate, came fourth in the Boniface ward.

Two councillors were elected to each of the town's Mid Devon District Council wards. Bob Wright, led the Lib Dem charge inLawrenceward , securing more votes than any other (639) candidate in the town He will represent the seat alongside former Queen Elizabeth's Community College teacher Martin Binks. Councillor Binks secured 582 votes, narrowly beating Conservative Richard Adams, who got 565.