Easington Liberal Democrats

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.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

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 Coalition Government has this week unveiled a new £24million fund to rejuvenate coastal areas.

The Coastal Community Fund has been established to help seaside communities to grow economically and develop new and sustainable jobs. Applications for the funding are open to a range of organisations - charities, private companies and local councils for activities to support local growth including; training initiatives, tourist infrastructure and apprenticeships. Bidding opens this month.

MEPs today voted for new rules which will further reduce the cost of mobile phone calls whilst abroad.

The rules also impose a cap on the cost of data roaming for the first time. North East MEP Fiona Hall was among those who voted in favour of the new price caps, which will replace existing limits when they expire in June.

A Government investment of £95.8 million will help create and safeguard more than 25,000 jobs across the north east, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced.

The second round of the Government's £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund (RGF) will support 49 bids from north east businesses and local partnerships with projects to expand their operations, create new jobs and attract private investment.

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."

International epilepsy organisations have moved to recognise Fiona Hall's support for better recognition and treatment of the disease.

The International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy have presented a certificate to Fiona in "acknowledgment of her committed support for people with epilepsy".

Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the bosses of the largely nationalised bank RBS to abandon plans that would see thousands of customers unable to use cash machines operated by other banks.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which is 83 per cent owned by the taxpayer, will soon stop its 'basic' RBS and NatWest account holders from using other banks' ATMs. RBS has ATMs in Hide Hill and at Morrison's in Berwick, as well as in towns just over the border including Eyemouth, Duns and Kelso.

Local Lib Dem campaigner Tara Saville has welcomed news that the UK Payments Council has reversed its decision to scrap cheques.

The campaign to save the cheque was led by Lib Dem MPs and was backed by thousands of people across the UK.

Tara said, "I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who signed the Lib Dem petition to save the cheque.