I believe that the time has come that our representatives should no longer be allowed to eat at subsidised private restaurants, and that the food they consume should be brought into line with food the general public can buy at the same price point. Our MPs, having just given themselves a 25% pay rise, are still able to eat subsidised food at these exclusive restaurants, often for less than the cost of a full english breakfast at a greasy spoon cafe, or a McDonalds "meal deal". Please refer to the cost they pay for meals as shown in the freedom of information request from 2012, as linked below for some indication of the (sarcasm alert !) outrageous costs they have to pay. http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-responses/foi-disclosures-2012/foi-disclosures-july---september-2012-/house-of-commons-restaurants-and-bars/ Example: Grilled rump steak with Diane sauce and parmentier potatoes £4

Since it opened a year ago, The Bohemia has become a much-loved and popular local pub. It has quickly become a valued part of the local community, hosting a range of events from film nights and music to stand-up comedy. Along with its good food and great range of real ales, The Bohemia attracted people from all parts of the community. It has also supported an event organised last Christmas to promote local businesses in North Finchley. Unlike the previous pub on The Bohemia’s site, The Bohemia is a genuine community pub that has not attracted any police complaints and is a real asset to our high street. We want North Finchley to be a thriving and successful town centre where people want to live, work and visit for business, shopping and leisure. The Bohemia was part of this and its closure is a set back.

Victims of Caste based discrimination deserve immediate legal protection to avoid continued suffering. The Government is proposing an unacceptable delay in bringing what is already law, into force. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/caste-discrimination-legislation-timetable Here are just some of the many hundreds of cases showing that caste-based discrimination is a fact in the UK in 2013. - Mr G endured intimidating, hostile and degrading environment at the hands of so called Upper Castes at his work place. He was forced to resort to hunger strike action to draw attention of his employer to his plight. - An elderly lady is not given attention in a care home in accordance with her care plan due to discriminatory actions of Upper Caste care administrator. - Children in schools routinely face caste labelling and name-calling resulting in Bullying and harassment in Schools. A Pupil endured Caste bullying where he could not complete GCSE projects due to negativity and violence of those around him. - A professional couple at a law firm endured caste based bullying, intimidation and harassment as a consequence of inter-caste marriage. Superiors at work did everything to dissuade them from marrying resulting in harassment, snide remarks and denial of pay hike and promotion, eventually culminating in his dismissal after several years in service and her resignation. This discrimination is confirmed not only by the many victims but also by Government-commissioned independent research from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (2010) and other sources (see http : //niesr.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publications/caste-discrimination.pdf). We therefore demand the following: 1 The Government must act quickly to give effect to Parliament’s intention and to protect actual and potential victims of caste discrimination; 2 The Government must act immediately to set a new and prompt timetable for any further consultation; 3 Any consultation must start as soon as possible and must last no longer than 12 weeks; and 4 Any consultation must in any event end in sufficient time for the making of an Order under the terms of s.9(5) of the Equality Act 2010 by June 2014 at the latest.** ** petition still active due to government procrastination

The evidence of the effects of existing Unconventional Gas Extraction operations around the world is a serious cause for concern. The potential exists for toxic and radioactive water contamination, severe air pollution, tens of thousands of wells, pipelines and compressor stations devastating the countryside and blighting communities. The geological stability implications are also well documented. This form of unconventional gas extraction is short lived , whilst the environmental impact would last for generations. Fresh water supply requirements is another area of concern, potentially causing widespread drinking water shortages, reduced water quality and driving up prices. Without full disclosure of the long term risks, enabling the people to determine the costs and benefits, licenses cannot and should not be granted. Many European countries and others further afield have issued blanket bans on unconventional gas extraction operations. The reasons for this need to be evaluated in order to decide whether 'we' in the UK are prepared to take the risk. The only way this industry can take hold in the UK is if we allow it, in an open and transparent debate and being aware of the risks. There are many alternative methods of energy generation which can be researched and developed. The environment and our communities must take top priority over all else!

Smithfield General Market is under threat. A major London landmark, the buildings are part of one of the greatest market parades in Europe built by Sir Horace Jones, the architect of Tower Bridge. Proposals from a group of investors and developers have been approved by the City of London Corporation. These involve major demolition of the buildings only leaving 3 stretches of street frontages standing. The plans will see the interiors, including the great market halls, completely demolished to make way for offices that will rise up above the remaining facades. There are already too many empty office buildings in London - there is no need to build more. Moreover, the City has hundreds of thousands of square metres already in the pipeline not far from Smithfield. These proposals will cause substantial harm to the conservation area and will break up a complete group of protected historic market buildings. These buildings have been standing empty for too long. We are backing a fully-funded, viable, conservation-led alternative that would preserve the General Market and Fish Market in their entirety and allow them to open within months as a food market and a place for cafes, retail, bars and restaurants. The City of London Corporation was advised to put the site on the open market following a public inquiry five years ago, to allow a conservation-led scheme to come forward. The City, who own the freehold, never did this. We are asking the Secretary of State and his Planning Minister to call the application in for a full public inquiry, to ensure that this important site is saved for the nation. The campaign already has the support of all the National Amenity Societies, many local businesses and residents, and notable names such as Michelin-starred chef Fergus Henderson, author and playwright Alan Bennett, and MP Glenda Jackson. “If you go to St Bartholomew’s and then walk through Smithfield, it is like walking from one cathedral to another. You wouldn’t pull down St Bartholomew’s, nor should you pull down Smithfield. Smithfield was the scene of many martyrdoms – this would be another.” Alan Bennett “You can’t stop change but you should be able to recognize when something is extraordinary which Smithfield General Market is! This is the time to say no.” Fergus Henderson For more information please see SAVE's website: http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/news/campaigns.php Link to the most recent press article, in the Financial Times, August 2nd. ‘Smithfield: Alternative option for Reviving historic London Market.’ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1510ebfa-f83f-11e2-b4c4-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2bBXyYs6d

Since the unfortunate and sad end of GuilFest last year, organisers have been inundated with requests and offers of support in helping to reinstate the festival. Organisers have been busy and in continuing discussions with each other throughout this year looking at as to how and whether the festival could reinstate itself again next year (2014) . Organisers want to bring back the experience that has been appreciated locally by both young and old for 21 years. The festival provides an important role in the community and it is invaluable with regard to businesses and employment, not to mention local artists and performers. It is felt that 21 years of hard work in building this yearly family focussed independent event, which has seen a vast array of the world’s finest musicians and performers visit Guildford, cannot just be lost. Please show your support in bringing back the local treasure that is GuilFest by signing this petition.

Since the Wheatsheaf has been refurbished the pub has become a real magnet for local people, showing that in the right hands it is very much a viable business. On Friday 19th July rumours were circulating that the lease had expired and the present tenant Gregarious (formerly Antic) were on 24hr closure notice. There was also concern that whilst Gregarious want to buy the lease they were being outbid by Tesco. On Saturday 20th July this petition was launched. Some 10 days later, over 8,000 people had signed the petition. Early wins - but there is still work to do: Sadiq Khan MP received a letter from Enterprise Inns (the owner of the freehold) on Tuesday 30th in the afternoon stating that they are no longer selling the pub. Tesco have also, via our MP, confirmed that they are no longer looking to purchase the pub. There are a few on-going actions to ensure that we can secure the pub should Enterprise Inns change their minds. An application to get the pub listed as a community asset has been made, an application to get an article 4 listing has been made, and we are also looking to get the building listed as a 'Wandsworth Borough Council Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest'. Tooting is fortunate to have a diverse range of shops, and a lot of independent traders. We need to show the council the amount of support that exists to keep this community asset. On the blog you can find out more about how you can help to make sure that we win this battle. Tweet: #SavetheWheatsheaf and link to the petition please.

Local & Live has become a fixture in the town over the last six or seven years. It encourages and empowers young, emerging artists and gives them the opportunity to perform their own original compositions to a large and appreciative audience. By refusing the necessary level of assistance TWBC has killed a vibrant and necessary arts event that benefits local musicians & performers, provides a rich cultural event for thousands of local people and over £250,000 in revenues for local businesses. Instead, the council has granted permissions to a few local businesses to operate a sub standard 'Entertainment' event featuring covers bands and tribute acts, the purpose of which is to benefit the businesses involved financially, regardless of the wishes of local people. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council must be made to understand that the town has a vibrant and exciting arts community which it should be encouraging and supporting. They must not be allowed to let croneyism and business interests override local opinion.

SAVE Britain's Heritage and The Victorian Society took this case to the High Court and then the Court of Appeal in order to prevent a dangerous precedent in the misinterpretation of the new National Planning Policy Framework (Paragraph 133). They established that the public benefit achieved by demolition per se, needs to be considered, not just the overall 'public benefit' of a scheme. We are quite certain that this particular question was not properly considered by Sheffield University or Sheffield Council. English Heritage guidance states that "Grade II buildings are of special interest warranting every effort to preserve them". So far there has been no sincere effort to consider the public benefits of including the Grade II listed building in a new engineering building scheme and the option to keep the building was dismissed in six paragraphs of the University's 'Heritage Statement', as it did not meet the University's 'brief'. Façade retention would have lost a mere 5% to 10% space, yet this option was considered too much of a compromise. The most eloquent letter of objection to the scheme was written by the planning officers involved in the application themselves. This letter and other documents referenced here can all be viewed from the campaign website (link to side of this page: www.jessophospital.org.uk). Months later, their views had not changed and three weeks before that planning meeting, the Council's own Head of Urban design and Conservation advised the first author of the planning report: "As you are all too aware my view (reflected by that of Conservation Advisory Group, the Design Panel and fellow officers) is that the proposals for Jessop east have both serious conservation implications and constitute poor design and should therefore be refused in accordance with the NPPF... I've done my best to think of some positives but have come up with very little." We now know that the draft City Development Plan, which had been adopted, contained a clause (unchallenged since 2010) which expressly forbade the University from harming the listed Jessop buildings or their settings, given the "economies of scale" offered to the University by the site. English Heritage had been involved in tightening up the wording of this clause. This clause was silently removed by Sheffield City Council. Some University representatives have spread misinformation about the building, denigrating its status as a worthless extension. Yet this is in marked contrast to an independent historical report, commissioned by Sheffield University in 2008, which leaves no doubt about the architectural and historical merits of the building, reflected in its listing. The Jessop Women's Hospital takes its name from a great Sheffield philanthropist. Yet it is the architect, John Webster, who designed both Victorian and Edwardian buildings, who is the unsung hero of this story. Webster devoted his life to charitable causes and his role was pivotal in the development of Sheffield hospitals, which had a strong influence on what was to become the National Health Service. At the time that Jessop founded the women's Hospital, Webster co-founded and was chair of committee of Sheffield Children's Hospital, another great institution, at first located across the road from Jessops on Brook Hill. When the Children's Hospital moved to Western Bank, it was Webster who designed the new building. The Jessop's Hospital for Women is how both of these figures will be remembered. The two buildings, side by side, designed by the same notable architect 25 years apart and in different eras are a treasure which should be cherished and preserved together. They would long outlive the new building which is being proposed. Historic buildings have the power to connect us tangibly with our past. This building should be protected to enable our children to value and learn from a time when a sense of progress and Civic duty, not simple profit, was foremost in the minds of our nations' prime movers. This application began as an initiative to gain the University's Engineering facility every possible advantage. No one is against a New Engineering Building, but given all that has since come to light, we ask that the council of Sheffield University take the opportunity which is now available to urgently re-evaluate the demands of the original planning proposal. With the University now one year ahead of schedule, and English Heritage still to be offered an opportunity to record the building (a statutory requirement) this is a vital chance to seize the initiative and avoid untold and unnecessary damage.

The National Railway Museum in York is a cultural treasure-house of railway trains, railwayana and railway ephemera. In short, the greatest and largest collection of such in the world. A veritable three-dimensional encyclopaedia of travel and transport history. It has, over the years, proved its ability to show diverse and ever-changing exhibitions such that the public and tourists do not treat it as a 'once-and-once only' experience. It branched out to host an award-winning production of E. Nesbit's 'The Railway Children', teaming up with The York Theatre Royal Company to do so, to great acclaim. It is a hands-on museum that caters for those who want to be involved, every bit as much as those who merely wish to stand and admire the stunning collection of engines and rolling stock. The Railway Museum appeals to all ages, as a place of entertainment and serious education, and as such acts as a research and study centre for universal railway history. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This campaign will be running in co-operation with the '38 Degrees' campaigns to save the Manchester Museum Of Science and Industry and the Bradford Media Museum. http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-mosi http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-national-media-museum-bradford Three powerhouses of technology in the north of England; with campaigns that form a three-pronged trident which, it is hoped, will prick the conscience of central government regarding the folly of losing these museums, There is also a local York campaign to save the Railway Museum: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/indepth/savethenrm/?ref=mmnsp which is being run by The York Press, and has the active support of Hugh Bayley MP. Please support all these campaigns to save the nation's heritage in the north.

On the basis of a rule from the 1500s, 'Bury Markets' management has the power to decide on whether to allow any trading which is made up of more than 4 stalls in the whole local area. Bury Markets' manager Andrew Hayes has refused to allow Manchester Vintage a license to hold a monthly fair in Ramsbottom despite the fact that this has the support of the public, local businesses and even local councillors. We're not the only ones, many other local events and traders have also been turned down for licenses. We have even been told we have no right of appeal. The argument seems to be that these are the rules and that it could affect Bury Market local traders but our event would be on a Sunday when the market is closed and we don't sell the same products. We'd also be paying 'Bury Markets' for a license so bringing them an income. A monthly vintage fair would be an event for local people to enjoy and would support the local economy. Over 800 people enjoyed our first event and we want to continue. Please sign and share the petition urge Bury Markets to change their decision. Watch our video to see the Vintage Fair in action. http://youtu.be/7_jKNSm0FrE

Boris Johnson wanted to cut £45 million over two years from the fire service. To save £28.8 million in 2014, on 9 January 2014 he decimated the London Fire Brigade, closing Belsize, Bow, Clerkenwell, Downham, Kingsland, Knightsbridge, Silvertown, Southwark, Westminster and Woolwich Fire Stations. As part of this austerity drive, he also cut 552 firefighter positions, 14 fire engines and 2 FRUs. Westminster for example has lost its 109 year old fire station - and now uses Lambeth’s instead, over the river. Is it fair that Lambeth taxpayers fund a service used by Westminster? And that world heritage sites, like Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Cathedral as well as tourists and taxpayers are left without emergency protection, with only two bridges into Westminster from Lambeth? Five of the ten closed by the Mayor are Grade 2 listed buildings. And a 6th is just behind Harrods. Others, like Kingsland and Silvertown, are located in areas where property values are rising dramatically (due to to projects like Crossrail and the Mayor's Royal Albert Docks development). This is not about saving money, as the Mayor has found public money to fund vanity projects such as the 'not so public' Garden Bridge (£60 million in public money), the Emirates Air Line and the Barclays Bike Scheme. Closing and selling these fire stations is like selling the family silver to gain a one-off windfall. Southwark Fire Station alone was valued at £10 million in 2010. Once they are sold into private ownership, taxpayers will never be able to get them back. We won’t be able to afford them. And we can’t afford to lose them either. Boris Johnson stated that fire incidence is down (which is disputable). Firefighters do more than fight fires. Recent events like the gas explosion in Marylebone remind us of that. They educate us (and save lives as a result). They assess risks in our homes (for free).They are the ones who will cut you out of your car when you have a road traffic accident. They are our first response when terrorists attack as was the case in 7/7 in 2005. They rush in to the underground or train stations when smoke is pouring out. They have an arson investigation unit. They do voluntary work within the community. They train locally and have local knowledge, like learning where the disabled live or knowing their way around housing estates; all this local knowledge has been dispersed through the closures. Response times have increased and insurance premiums with them due to the reduced fire coverage. All to save the price of a few cups of coffee. An annual increase of £5 on council tax would have prevented the closures. Our communities will be poorer and more vulnerable if we lose these fire stations forever. Please do not let that happen. Please sign and share the petition. And let the Mayor know that what he is doing is dangerous...