News archive 2003
December 2003
MP enters shark infested waters
Disabled people should get winter fuel payments – Barrett
Child Trust Funds must not become expensive gimmick – Barrett
Scrapping Pension Book leaves Edinburgh Post Offices with 15
Barrett calls for action on jobs outsourcing
Barrett welcomes Scottish postal vote decision
Barrett supports Carers’ Rights Day
Government can learn a lot from Scotland’s experience on Universities – Barrett
Barrett secures debate on foreign jobs drift
Disabled Report confirms postal vote doubts – Barrett
Local MP to attend Corstorphine lights switch-on
November 2003
Scout Post celebrates 20 years of success
Barrett calls for car insurance discs
Green issues must be at the heart of air transport plans – Barrett
Barrett calls for inquiry over text message costs
Barrett calls for Commons debate on Edinburgh Airport security failure
Barrett takes pension book petition to PM
Barrett to join West Edinburgh in remembrance this Sunday
Barrett calls for debate on looming debt crisis
Barrett welcomes fall in energy transfer errors
Government must avoid Equitable cover-up – Barrett
October 2003
Barrett calls for fairer trade rules
Barrett backs fair-trade campaign at Edinburgh University
Barrett warning on all-postal ballots
Government must oppose EU children’s clothes VAT plans – Barrett
“Time to scrap Council Tax” – Barrett
Action needed to tackle lying parents – Barrett
Barrett secures Parliamentary debate on student visa charges
Pension Credit take-up ‘lower than worst expectations’ – Barrett
Barrett slams massive new charges on international students
Barrett launches community Christmas card
5,000 back Barrett pension book campaign
Pension Credit risks falling into a shambles before it’s even begun – Barrett
Corstorphine set for broadband upgrade – Barrett
Government must now ensure pensioners get the money to which they are entitled – Barrett
Barrett backs campaign to save Stenhouse Cross Post Office
Scottish Power’s charging by the back door cannot be justified – Barrett
September 2003
Barrett slams Council veto on school voting consultation
John Barrett MP calls for Referendum
Edinburgh Post Office decision merely a ‘stay of execution’ warns Barrett
Barrett gears up for Forth Bridge charity abseil
John Barrett launches new campaign over pension credit
Barrett demands Commons debate on DVT following constituent death
Barrett demands tax change to boost energy conservation
August 2003
Time to scrap compulsory retirement ages – Barrett
Citizens’ Advice report confirms case for tax credit compensation
Time to stengthen disabled discrimination laws – Barrett
4 down and 1 to go with Maybury broadband success says Barrett
Barrett condemns Iceland whaling decision
“Edinburgh’s disabled lose out on £2 million a year” – Barrett
Barrett welcomes Ratho and Kirkliston broadband campaign success
July 2003
Cash machine decision is only “a step in the right direction” says Barrett
Edinburgh's share of lottery cash at its lowest level since game began – Barrett
Barrett launches second annual report
Parents of twins and triplets still lose out under tax credit system
Barrett launches campaign to save pension books
Barrett welcomes Telewest fair billing decision
Barrett slams massive rise in passport costs
Commons report confirms consensus on second runway in Edinburgh – Barrett
John Barrett MP comments on death of Dr David Kelly
Government must make pensioner poverty a higher priority
Treasury must reverse decision over travel insurance – Barrett
Barrett backs ‘Keep mail on Rail’ campaign
“Risk of moving US Fleet through Scottish waters must be fully considered” – Barrett
Lib Dem MP in Forth Bridge charity abseil
“Blair must resign if no weapons of mass destruction are found” – Barrett
One quarter of callers give up on Tax Credit helpline
Barrett calls for Commons debate on pensioner poverty
Millions of women to receive derisory State Pension
Scrap convenience cash machine charges – Barrett
Barrett calls for Commons debate following Equitable Report
June 2003
Thousands of Edinburgh pensioners have incomes below basic level
Barrett given key role in new cross party Zimbabwe group
Barrett supports ‘24 Hours for Trade Justice’ campaign
Barrett and Smith launch response to air transport consultation
Government admits to poor air consultation with six days left
Barrett challenges Darling over Waverley development
Two weeks left to claim backdated Child Tax Credit warns Barrett
Money lost in Road Tax evasion ‘enough to double road repair fund’ – Barrett
Stamp Duty hitting Edinburgh hard – Barrett
Response rate to air consultation “less than 2.5%” with two weeks left – Barrett
Barrett secures debate on impact of Stamp Duty in Edinburgh
Scotland has a lot to offer and even more to gain from London Olympics – Barrett
Barrett demands tax change to boost energy conservation
MPs get less than 14 seconds a page on Euro Assessment – Barrett
Barrett challenges Chancellor to reform Stamp Duty
Report shows Scottish Executive is right on top-up fees – Barrett
Tax Credit System ‘a shambles’ says Barrett
Edinburgh’s voice must be heard in GM debate - Barrett
May 2003
Barrett welcomes reopening of West Pilton Post Office
Barrett calls for Shareholder Power Laws
“Action needed to stop disabled prejudice” says Barrett
Barrett backs ‘National Day for Post Offices’
“Reduce tax on whisky” says Barrett
Barrett calls for extra consumer protection over travel insurance
Barrett backs ‘better billing’ campaign
Urgent action required to sort Tax Credit fiasco - Barrett
Barrett in ‘race against debt’
April 2003
Medical care outside Iraq for critical civilian cases urges Barrett
“Peace threatened by lack of UN involvement in post-war Iraq” - Barrett
March 2003
US and EU must work together to rebuild Iraq - Barrett
Minimum wage should be extended to younger workers - Barrett
House of Commons Votes on Iraq
Lib Dems would fund key Edinburgh rail projects - Barrett
"Rail bridge will go over my dead body” says Barrett on eve of bridge’s 113th birthday
February 2003
Barrett delivers Firework Petition to Prime Minister on eve of Commons debate
The case for war has not been proven - Barrett
Barrett welcomes Lib Dem pledge for pensioners
Urgent action needed to stop Post Office closures – Barrett
“Tobacco Advertising Bill a major step forward” says Barrett
Barrett to march in Anti War Rally
January 2003
Airport rail link ‘critical’ - Barrett
Barrett raises concern over Equitable Life after meeting with Chief Executive
“Action needed to engage voters” - Barrett
Government must back film industry - Barrett
Barrett slams Child Support shambles
“No military action in Iraq without UN approval” - Barrett
“25p pension addition insulting” says Barrett
Barrett launches Iraq poll during visit to Prime Minister’s former school
“Extension to Air Consultation has failed to increase response rate” - Barrett
“Pension deduction after hospital delay disgraceful” says Barrett
Massive increase in support for LibDems in latest student poll - Barrett