IDAHOBIT: How Lib Dem Councillors are fighting for LGBT rights

The recent Supreme Court judgement on the definition of a women by “biological sex”, a concept described by BMA resident doctors as “scientifically illiterate” has caused real anxiety amongst trans people whilst not making women any safer. In fact, with the current media focus on toilets and changing rooms, it’s likely to lead to all women being less safe and subject to challenge if they don’t conform to gender stereotypes.

It’s a lose-lose if ever there was one. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued interim guidance regarding the use of single sex facilities which is about as extreme as they could manage. It’s interesting to note that one of the judges who wrote the Supreme Court judgement said that these issues were beyond its scope, yet the EHRC has taken the cruellest approach that it could.

However, the Guardian reported this week that staff at the EHRC have expressed concern about the guidance and the fact that two weeks consultation was given. This is likely to be extended to six weeks.

One EHRC source said there had been significant disquiet among staff about the interim guidance and the way it was drawn up before being published on 25 April.

They said: “Most people, including some fairly senior ones, had no idea the interim guidance was coming until it was published late on the Friday evening.

“They woke up to texts from family members and friends saying: ‘What’s going on?’ Staff working on sex and gender issues hadn’t been told, and nor had the duty press staff who were meant to explain it to the media. It was completely shambolic.

“This is, understandably, a fairly inclusive workplace and quite a few staff have trans friends or even partners. They suddenly had to try and explain this guidance which made no sense.

All of this will affect Councils as they will have to look at they provide services. Lib Dem Councillors across the country will soon be able to access suggestions for their own trans-inclusive motions to submit  for debate in their areas. Lib Dem Women has been working with LGBT+ Lib Dems and ALDC to put together a draft for Councillors to use. it will be circulated to their members very soon.

In Edinburgh, Lib Dem Councillor Euan Davidson was instrumental in ensuring that the Council passed a motion recognising that trans people were anxious and re-affirming its position that LGBT people should feel welcome in the city.

Here is his speech in full, which you can watch here.

I want to start by saying that whilst we accept the Supreme Courts ruling let us be clear: trans people have been quietly and respectfully using the facilities that match their gender for over two decades. Without incident. Without uproar. Without chaos. What has changed is not their conduct—but the temperature of the national debate and the fear being sown in its wake by politicians pitting two vulnerable groups again one another.

And that fear is real. I have heard from LGBTQ+ constituents who are frightened to go about their daily lives. Who now feel they must look over their shoulders. Who feel less safe, due to the confusion and chaos left in the wake of the court’s rulng.

Let’s also be clear on this: trans rights are human rights. The Equality Act still protects people from discrimination on the basis of gender reassignment. The Supreme Court ruling affirms this. But in the absence of leadership from the UK Government—indeed in the presence of active confusion and hostility—too many public bodies are retreating. They are excluding. And they are, in some cases, going further than the law ever intended.

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IDAHOBIT: Christine Jardine “I will fight for entire LGBT community

Editor’s Note: This first appeared on the party website:

As we mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia this year, I am sadly reminded of how much more still needs to be done.

The past few years have been difficult and worrying, particularly for trans people. They have been targeted by divisive culture wars, too often stoked by the Conservatives and right-wing media. It’s more important than ever that the Liberal Democrats stand up for trans people – including by pushing the Government to ensure the Supreme Court ruling doesn’t lead to a roll back of trans rights.

Today gives us an important opportunity to acknowledge the violence and discrimination that too many LGBTQ+ people face, and reflect on what we can do to help change it.

Because far too many LGBTQ+ people face discrimination, prejudice and abuse, just for being who they are.

The statistics paint a sobering picture. Two-thirds of LGBTQ+ people report that they have experienced anti-LGBTQ+ violence or abuse. The number of hate crimes recorded against trans people have more than doubled in the last five years.

The LGBTQ+ community deserves so much better than this – and I believe that us politicians have a responsibility to help push for that positive change. Not just in the language we use, but also in the policies we push for.

I’m delighted that our party reaffirmed its commitment to LGBTQ+ rights at our Spring Conference. That includes bringing forward a clear plan to tackle anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime. Like ensuring that hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people are counted as aggravated offences, and delivering better training for police on preventing and prosecuting anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime.

It’s not just about hate crime, either. Homophobia, biophobia and transphobia touches on every aspect of people’s lives. We want to see a world where nobody’s life chances are limited by their sexual orientation or gender identity.

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IDAHOBIT: Jamie Greene MSP: If SNP won’t ban conversion practices, they should let me do it

Our newest MSP Jamie Greene has hit the ground running since he joined us last month. Since being appointed as Economy and Finance spokesperson by Alex Cole-Hamilton, he has been holding the SNP to account on such issues as their spectacular ferry failures.

He knocked it out of the park on Debate Night (BBC Scotland Question Time equivalent which, unlike its UK counterpart, you can often watch without losing the will to live) on Wednesday. Here he is challenging Labour’s Melanie Ward about Keir Starmer’s disgraceful language on immigration:

The SNP Government recently announced that it was lobbing its promise to legislate to ban conversion practices into the very long grass. This week, Jamie challenged them to let him take the Bill through Holyrood if they won’t.

He said:

All political parties promised to back change in the law in their 2021 Holyrood manifestos. The SNP made an explicit promise if they got into government to introduce this Bill and haven’t.

It’s no wonder political parties were banned from taking part in this year’s Pride events. Organisers say they are sick of warm words of encouragement to the LGBT+ community and want action.

It might be politically unappealing in an election year to have difficult conversations and debates of this nature, but backing down from promises and shying away from the argument is an insult to those affected by this abhorrent practice

I’ve made a simple offer to the SNP government: introduce the legislation this year, and if you can’t, or won’t, give the Bill to me and I will introduce it.

The only blockage now is the Scottish Government. So it’s over to them: do they say you support the LGBT community in words alone or will they take action?”

The text of Jamie’s letter to Equalities Minister, Kaukab Stewart, is as follows:

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Lib Dems mark IDAHOBIT 2025 – we support you, we stand with you

The sun is shining, it’s Brussels Pride (where Lib Dem Women chair Donna Harris is today),  Doctor Who Eurovision (the Interstellar Song Contest featuring Rylan) and Actual Eurovision from Basel and it’s IDAHOBIT, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Could a day be any more fabulous?

The LGBT community needs a moment of respite. Life for them, particularly our trans colleagues, is fairly unremittingly awful at the moment. I don’t know a trans person who isn’t scared about doing something as fundamental as going to the loo when they are out.  The UK is sliding down the international rankings as a good place for LGBT+ people to live at an alarming rate.

It’s not long after 10 as I write this, and already there have been a fair few good things from Liberal Democrats. Way too much to fit into one post, so there will be a few throughout the day.

First up, is Ed Davey’s video message which sends an unequivocal message to the LGBT+ community: the Liberal Democrats will never stop fighting to build a country where you are truly free to be who you are.

LGBT+ Lib Dems said:

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Observations of an ex pat: Middle East

The Middle East has been called Byzantine, a snake pit and a political cesspit. It is a land where there are said to be no national interests, only interests. Where today’s enemy is tomorrow’s bedfellow and vice versa.

The region’s many leaders have changed horses so many times that the horses are dizzy.

All the above is especially true today when the region’s faraway overlord—the President of the United States—is likely to change his mind at the drop of a bitcoin, especially if the coin drops into his account.

This week Donald Trump has been touring the region and it has changed. The Arabs and the Turks are very happy with America. The Iranians may be coming around. The Israelis are—surprise, surprise—unhappy with the mercurial president.

One of the reasons that the Turks and Arabs are pleased is that the US is lifting sanctions on Syria. This became a certainty when Trump met with Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and pronounced: “I think he has got potential.” Not so many months ago the US had a $10 million dead or alive bounty on his head.

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ALDC By-election Report, 15th May

This week saw 4 by-elections with 3 Liberal Democrat candidates – an improvement on last time these wards were up for election. These were two Labour defences, with one each defended by the Conservatives and the SNP.

The Lib Dems were new onto the ballot in Whetstone ward in Barnet, as Luigi Bille secured 6.1% of the vote in a crowded field. Thank you, Luigi, for entering us into the race!

Barnet London Borough Council, Whetstone
Labour: 965 (33.4%, -18.0)
Conservative: 818 (28.4%, -7.8)
Reform UK: 592 (20.5%, new)
Green Party: 208 (7.2%, -5.1)
Liberal Democrats (Luigi Bille): 176 (6.1%, new)
Rejoin EU: 65 (2.3%, new)
TUSC: 47 (1.6%, new)
Independent: 13 (0.5%, new)

Labour HOLD

 

Another place we were new onto the ballot was Clydebank Waterfront in West Dunbartonshire. Lib Dem candidate Cameron Stewart finished ahead of both the Conservatives and the Greens. Thank you, Cameron.

West Dunbartonshire Council, Clydebank Waterfront
SNP: 1039 (35.6%, -16.7)
Reform UK: 768 (26.3%, new)
Labour: 739 (25.3%, -12.1)
Liberal Democrats (Cameron Stewart): 138 (4.7%, new)
Conservative: 84 (2.9%, new)
Green Party: 76 (2.6%, new)
Alba: 47 (1.6%, new)
SFP: 25 (0.9%, -1.7)

SNP HOLD

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Registration open for Conference – with new Day Passes

Registration has now opened for the Autumn Federal Conference which will be held in Bournemouth from 20th to 23rd September.

As usual Early Bird registration rates are available until 12th June. You can find all the categories and prices here.

There is one change this time which will benefit members who are unable to attend for the whole conference. A Day Pass will now entitle the member to vote and speak in debates. In the past Day Visitors were not allowed to vote, which always surprised me. Mind you, Day Passes are not cheap at £60, and you can only book one. If you want to attend for 2 or 3 days out of the four you should book a Weekend or a Full Pass.

Here are the deadlines for submitting motions for debate.

Drafting advice: 13:00, 11/06/2025
Motion deadline: 13:00, 25/06/2025
Drafting advice (amendments, emergency motions): 13:00, 26/08/25
Amendments, emergency motions, topical issues, questions deadline: 13:00, 08/09/25
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Joan Walmsley writes… We need to remove nitrites from our food

It’s time to fact facts- the UK’s food system is broken, and the food industry is to blame. In addition to failures by successive governments over the last 30 years to reduce obesity rates, get a grip on the advertising of healthy foods, and stop food companies from using misleading labels, there is one major failure which has gone unaddressed for too long – the failure to protect the public from the carcinogenic chemicals being added to our everyday foods. 

A clear scientific consensus has developed which shows that nitrites, chemicals which food companies add to processed meats such as bacon and ham to enhance their flavour, colour and shelf life, cause cancer. Globally, around 34,000 cases of colorectal cancer could be prevented each year if these chemicals were phased out of our food chain. Europe has already started doing this, but the UK is falling behind.  

With more than 7 million people currently waiting for NHS treatment and cancer care targets continuing to be missed across the board, the UK desperately needs relief from avoidable external factors like nitrites. And given new technologies are now available to produce cured meat products without nitrites, turning a blind eye to this issue is simply not an option – especially at a time when our NHS is facing severe challenges.  

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How the Liberal Democrats can benefit from the rise of Reform UK

In the 1950s and 1960s, the leader of the Liberal party, Jo Grimond, believed our long-term aim should be to supplant the Labour party as the main party of the left in Britain. Over half a century later, our current leader, Sir Ed Davey, has said that it is the Tories that we should push into third party status.

Both these strategies assumed that the Labour-Conservative duopoly was too strong to be completely removed. Over the past couple of years, this assumption has been put to the test by Nigel Farage and Reform UK (RUK). Now the old duopoly is weaker than ever before, as support for Labour and the Conservatives crumbles. RUK’s rise to prominence should alarm liberals, given their policies on taxation, immigration, renewable energy, and flags, but there is a silver lining to this large cloud. The rise of RUK presents a golden opportunity for the Liberal Democrats to eclipse both Labour and the Conservatives in terms of political power and relevancy.

During the recent local elections, only RUK and the Liberal Democrats exhibited any material amount of growth, with the Conservatives reeling from a wipeout and Labour sliding backwards. As such, in many places, a RUK-Liberal Democrat contest for power will be the defining lens through which politics is viewed. In Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and Devon RUK is likely to be the official opposition to a Liberal Democrat led administration. The Liberal Democrats are also now the second largest party in many areas where RUK is the largest party, including Durham, Warwickshire, and Kent. These sorts of contests will be very beneficial for us. According to YouGov, the Liberal Democrats stand to benefit more from tactical voting against RUK than either Labour or the Conservatives.

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15 May 2025 – today’s press releases

  • Lib Dems say shocking hospital wait stats should “shake us to our core”
  • GDP: Govt must now use UK-EU summit to boost growth
  • Sneaky Kemi needs to “take head out of the sand” on EU
  • Lib Dems move to quash sell-out law allowing foreign stakes in UK newspapers
  • Cole-Hamilton to First Minister: SNP have failed social care and NHS

Lib Dems say shocking hospital wait stats should “shake us to our core”

Responding to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimating that there were more than 16,600 deaths of patients linked to long waits in A&E for hospital beds last year, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

These figures should shake us to our core. People are dying needlessly in corridors and glorified cupboards as staff are stretched to breaking point, working in conditions that resembling the stuff on nightmares.

This is where we must draw a line in the sand. The Conservatives led us to this point – an NHS on its knees and countless preventable deaths – but it is up to this Government to make sure that this never happens again.

The Health Secretary must step up, free up much-needed hospital beds by overhauling social care as he has pledged to do and back our campaign to end corridor care by the end of this Parliament. That is what the public deserves.

GDP: Govt must now use UK-EU summit to boost growth

Responding to GDP growth of 0.2% for March and 0.7% over Q1 of 2025, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

This is positive news for the economy but this is no time for complacency.

These figures are from before the Chancellor’s jobs tax came into force and Trump’s trade war began.

The government needs to use the UK-EU summit on Monday to boost businesses and cut red tape, including by immediately starting talks on a bespoke customs union.

Sneaky Kemi needs to “take head out of the sand” on EU

Following Kemi Badenoch’s speech to the International Democracy Union, James MacCleary MP, Liberal Democrat Europe Spokesperson, said:

Kemi sneaking off to Brussels to talk down Britain: I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. It’s a well-rehearsed act.

She’s wrong on Europe: standing stronger together with our EU allies makes us stronger at home, not weaker.

It’s time for Badenoch to take her head out of the sand and wake up to the huge potential for growth that a proper deal with the EU could unlock.

Lib Dems move to quash sell-out law allowing foreign stakes in UK newspapers

Following the revelation that the Labour Government will legislate to allow foreign states to own up to 15% of British newspapers, the Liberal Democrats will move to dismantle the new rules via a Fatal Motion – a rare parliamentary device that would permanently halt the law’s progression.

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Excellent news from Plymouth

Councillor Dylan Tippetts (left) with Stuart Bonar, Chair of Plymouth Liberal Democrats

Plymouth City Council has been without a Lib Dem councillor for over 20 years – until this week, when Councillor Dylan Tippetts joined the Lib Dems.

When he resigned from Labour last Friday Dylan stated that the party “has thrown transgender people under the bus and has taken us back decades.” The Guardian has the story here: Labour ‘throwing trans people under the bus’, says transgender councillor.

Dylan said:

I first got into politics to give people a voice who may not otherwise have one. For me, that means always standing up for equal rights for all.

In the face of rising far-right populism, the Liberal Democrats are not running away from the battle for equal rights for all. They are the party of fairness, even when the going gets tough. I’m proud to be joining the Liberal Democrats and joining the battle for the future of our city and the future of our country.

I meant what I said to the trans community when I got elected. Your voice matters. I will always make sure trans voices are listened to and valued in this period of turbulence and division our country faces.

In Compton ward, I am proud to have stood with residents on difficult planning issues, when the buses got cut, and when basic services haven’t been delivered. Thank you to the wonderful people of Compton, Mannamead, Mutley and Hartley Vale for your support over the past three years. I look forward to continuing to stand with you and working to make things better for you until the end of my term.

Welcome to Dylan!

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Challenging the complex visa application process for African citizens

I am concerned about the persistent and systemic challenges faced by African nationals in obtaining visas to enter the United Kingdom. Despite longstanding diplomatic and trade relations between the UK and numerous African countries, the visa application process for African citizens remains disproportionately complex, opaque, and frequently unsuccessful, particularly for those travelling for business, academic, or cultural exchange purposes.

African applicants must navigate a rigorous and often burdensome visa application system. This includes submitting extensive documentation, providing certified translations of any non-English materials, proving financial solvency for the duration of their stay, and paying significant fees to the UK Home Office. In many cases, applicants must travel to neighbouring countries simply to attend visa interviews or access Visa Application Centres—an additional logistical and financial barrier that citizens of many other countries are not required to endure.

Empirical data from the UK Home Office substantiates claims of systemic bias: African applicants are over twice as likely to be refused a UK visa compared to applicants from other regions. A 2019 report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Africa, facilitated by the Royal African Society, revealed that refusal rates for African visitors applying for short-term visas to the UK stood at 27%, compared to a global average of 11%. These disparities are particularly stark for individuals invited to the UK for professional engagements or partnerships with British institutions. As the APPG report concluded, “The problems are real, they are systemic, and they are avoidable.”

The consequences of these inequities extend beyond individual applicants. There is growing evidence that the UK’s visa policies risk undermining its soft power, trade potential, and academic diplomacy in Africa. Increasing numbers of African professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, and scholars are choosing to engage with more welcoming nations, redirecting their collaborations and investments away from the UK. This not only disadvantages British institutions but also contradicts the UK government’s stated ambitions to strengthen relations with African partners post-Brexit.

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A letter to Pride

I sent this letter to the Pride organisers yesterday.

I was proud to be described as an LGBT+ ally some years ago at a Pride event – indeed I have been supporting LGBT issues all my adult life at both a personal and institutional level.

I have also been proud of what my party, the Liberal Democrats, has achieved in this area – from opposing Section 28 to proposing the Alan Turing Law, bringing in equal marriage and championing trans rights.

I was therefore deeply shocked and unhappy that political groups are being banned from Pride marches this year. In our case LGBT+ Lib Dems have been in the forefront of the party’s campaigns. It feels like a terrible snub for them to be banned from an event that they have always enthusiastically supported. Without the Lib Dems some of the freedoms that are now enjoyed by people on Pride marches would not have happened.

I should also add that all of us, of whatever political party or none, should also be encouraging LGBT+ groups within other less supportive parties. For some it is a deeply uncomfortable place to be, but their groups are essential to bring about a change of culture from within.

I would therefore ask you to reconsider the decision to ban political groups from Pride events this year.

They have just replied to say:

“We are currently in talks with your colleagues on the way forward.”

Let’s hope the ban is lifted.

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Starvation in Gaza

This is the text of a speech I delivered at a demonstration in London on 11 May 2025 organised by ‘We Democracy’.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against the Israeli PM Netanyahu and the then defence minister Yoav Gallant. Among the many charges, one egregiously stood out: the war crime of starvation: already then, there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and his government have been ‘intentionally using starvation of civilians in Gaza as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies’.

We stand here over two long months since Israel imposed a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip. The hunger and food shortage situation in the Strip is worsening. However, for Israeli ministers and members of Parliament, what we have is a Schrodinger’s starvation: they would tell you, sometimes in the same interview or Knesset hearing, that there is no starvation, it’s all fabrication; but that if there is starvation, it is Hamas’ fault for stealing supplies; and that even if it is not the result of stealing, Hamas is ultimately responsible for the outcome because it continues to hold hostages. The latest ‘creative’ explanation, comes from a UK charity, UKLFI: they claim Israel is helping tackle obesity, which was one of the biggest health issues in Gaza prior to October 7th.

To state the obvious: hostage-taking is a vile, horrendous crime. Hamas’ behaviour is morally depraved. But there is never, ever, justification for a deliberate policy of starvation. It is never, ever, permissible to use civilians as bargaining chips, starving them in order to pressure an armed group to surrender. The fact that, in 2025, this is something that needs to be said; that, in Israel, saying it will be met with considerable hostility, shows how low we have sunk.

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Dog whistles and panic about immigration

Nigel Farage can congratulate himself. His party did well in recent local elections; but so did the Liberal Democrats and Reform’s support may not last.  What he can be especially pleased about is to have reduced the leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties to quivering jelly: terrified that their supporters will abandon them unless they are fed a diet of dog-whistle slogans and impractical but draconian-sounding immigration policies.

The Conservatives’ odd Soviet era obsession with planning targets for net immigration comfortably meets Einstein’s definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. They somehow fail to have noticed that the statistics on net migration are largely meaningless: massively inflated by overseas students who are wrongly counted as immigrants.

The Labour government’s proposals by contrast have some perfectly sensible bits. Who would seriously quarrel with the idea that policy should aim to maximise the contribution immigrants make to the UK? Or with the idea that employers should cease regarding immigrants as an excuse for not training their British labour force. There are no numerical targets: good. But why spoil it with demagogic dog-whistles about ‘an island of strangers’ or Brexit bromides about ‘taking back control’ or – worst – denouncing liberal immigration as ‘squalid’.

The political debate would benefit from more reflection on the history of immigration politics, survey data on public attitudes and rigorous research on the impacts of immigration.  I have tried to pull together this material in a Working Paper for ODI/Global.

Immigration panics are not new. At the turn of the 20th century, the populist Tory MP, William Evans-Gordon, led a movement to stop Jewish immigration from – mainly – Russia.  Crime, disease, stealing jobs: the usual.  The Balfour government was panicked into the 1905 Aliens Act whose institutionalised antisemitism so disgusted Winston Churchill that he left the Tories for the Liberals.

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14 May 2025 – today’s press releases

  • PAC medical negligence report: staggering sums lay bare a health service that is “not functioning”
  • Lib Dems call for a critical incident to be declared after unsafe maternity unit in Somerset forced to closed
  • Cole-Hamilton: Social care being doubly failed by Labour and SNP
  • Cole-Hamilton: Both governments neglecting social care

PAC medical negligence report: staggering sums lay bare a health service that is “not functioning”

Responding to the Public Accounts Committee report, which condemned the ‘astronomical’ fees paid to medical negligence lawyers, Liberal Democrat Hospitals and Primary Care spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller MP said:

These sums are absolutely staggering and symptomatic of a health service that simply is not functioning, leading to frankly dangerous situations.

The Conservative Party’s shameful neglect brought us to this point, but the Labour government’s embrace of dither and delay on social care, maternity reforms and rebuilding our hospitals is prolonging the misery.

To turn this situation around, we need to see ministers move at speed by wrapping up their social care review by the end of the year, implementing the Ockenden report in full and rescuing our crumbling hospitals. To fail on this front condemns more patients to these horrific outcomes.

Lib Dems call for a critical incident to be declared after unsafe maternity unit in Somerset forced to closed

Maternity services in Yeovil are to close for at least six months after a warning from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), a situation that has prompted local Liberal Democrat MP Adam Dance to call for a critical incident to be declared warning that it will leave families in “turmoil”.

The Somerset NHS foundation trust has announced that it will be closing the Yeovil Maternity Unit for six months, including the Special Care Baby Unit. The unit serves more than 1,200 births a year.

These women will instead be sent to Taunton, a maternity unit over 25 miles away and already over capacity in Musgrove Park Hospital, one of the hospitals facing delays following the Government pushing back many projects in the New Hospitals Programme.

The step was taken after the CQC served a warning that maternity services were “failing to meet the regulations related to staffing and governance systems”. Yeovil MP Adam Dance asked a question about the closure at Prime Minister’s Questions today in which Keir Starmer committed to securing a meeting for the local MP with a relevant minister to discuss the issue.

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Lisa Smart on standing up to divisive politics

Earlier this week, Liberal Democrat MPs forced a vote on an amendment which would have allowed asylum seekers to work if they had been waiting on their decision for more than three months. Of course Labour, Tories and Reform voted against it.

Here is our Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart introducing this in Parliament.

Allowing asylum seekers to work has long been an aim of our party. In the last Parliament Christine Jardine attempted to bring in a private members bill which would implement this.

Lisa  has been writing on the party website about this week’s vote and why we need to stand up to divisive politics:

The UK has a long, proud history of welcoming newcomers – whether people seeking to build their lives here, or refugees fleeing war and persecution.

People from all over the world have greatly enriched our economy, our culture and our communities. For me, I’m immensely proud that our country took in my Nan aged 18 when she was fleeing the Nazis in 1939. I’m also really pleased the surgeon who performed my Dad’s kidney transplant brought his skills and talents to the UK having been born elsewhere.

We must do everything in our power to protect this legacy – not least after everything the Conservatives did to trash it.

They closed down safe and legal routes for refugees, putting more power in the hands of traffickers. They allowed the asylum backlog to balloon on their watch, trapping asylum seekers in limbo for months or even years. And they threatened the fundamental right to asylum with their cruel Illegal Migration Act and failed Rwanda scheme.

Now, the Labour government has a real opportunity to fix this mess and start building a more compassionate, effective system. But sadly, they have so far failed to bring forward the positive change that people deserve.

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Churches and chapels, Liberalism and faith

Liberals will have followed the papal Conclave with mixed feelings.  Liberalism was forged in opposition to state power and state churches, their enforced orthodoxy and suppression of dissent.  On the European continent that gave early Liberalism a strong anti-Catholic tinge, which hasn’t entirely disappeared.  In England and Wales the alliance between Whigs and nonconformists became central to the 19th century Liberal Party, with campaigns to disestablish the Anglican church and to remove its control over schools and universities.  The high point of nonconformist influence in the party was between the 1880s and the first world war. In recent decades, some active Liberal Democrats have become hostile to faith and religion as such – in some cases intolerant of those in the party who hold to a faith and belong to a church.

I grew up as a Protestant Anglican.  I learned what I now understand as social liberalism from the sermons of Canon Marriott, preaching the ‘social gospel’ in Westminster Abbey (putting down my Biggles book, which choristers were allowed to take in to keep us quiet during sermons),   I had instinctive anti-Catholic prejudices, probably from the English history I was taught and the children’s histories I read.  I was shocked when, as a student, I first met an active Liberal who said he was also a Catholic.  His name was Geoff Tordoff, and he later became a key player in holding the party together during the last years of Jeremy Thorpe’s leadership and the Lib-Lab pact.  Then I worked throughout the 1966 election campaign for Pratap Chitnis, educated by the Jesuits and a practising Catholic, and learned to admire his intellectual as well as campaigning skills.  My prejudices evaporated as I worked with a succession of liberal Catholics whose faith and values went together.

What Liberals (myself included) dislike about religion is the claim to certainty that fundamentalists assert, the hierarchical structure of the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and (often) Evangelical churches, and the corruption of authority when priests defend their institution instead of their faith.  Popes 150 years ago condemned liberalism and the separation of church and state; the Church of England was a pillar of social order and Tory rule.  As institutions, both have fallen a long way short of the faith they proclaim.  Both these ‘establishment’ churches have struggled to adapt to open and democratic societies, and to the uncertainties of reasoned debate and honest doubt that such societies depend on.  But both have adapted, to the point where right-wing media in the USA are bitterly criticising the new pope. 

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Championing gender equity in healthcare

Gender inequity is pervasive in healthcare. Between stigma, delayed and incorrect diagnoses, gender bias, not being taken seriously, under-representation in clinical trials, and insufficient funding for health issues impacting women and gender diverse people, women face numerous barriers to high-quality care and equitable outcomes in healthcare. These issues are just the tip of the iceberg, and racism, classism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia further shape women’s experiences of healthcare.

This week is Women’s Health Week, which was started by the U.S. Department of Health to help raise awareness of women’s health issues. Here are three areas we as Liberal Democrat Women would like to draw attention to for this week.

Abortion

With the Trump administration continuing to attack the right to abortion and reproductive healthcare, now more than ever we as Liberal Democrats must be firm in our support for the right to choose, and in our solidarity with those who have lost that right.

Women across the globe are impacted by the actions of the Trump administration. For example, the global gag rule was reinstated in January, which prevents NGOs who provide abortion services or advocate for abortion rights from receiving aid from the US. Billions of dollars of foreign aid are affected by this, and 690 million women of reproductive agelive in countries impacted by the global gag rule. This is denying women and gender diverse people safe access to healthcare.

In the UK, Liberal Democrat Women will continue to advocate for the decriminalisation of abortion, because nobody deserves to be criminalised for accessing healthcare and making decisions over their own body. Abortion is healthcare.

Healthcare in pregnancy and the neonatal period

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13 May 2025 – today’s press releases (Scottish edition)

  • McArthur makes his final pitch to MSPs to support assisted dying bill
  • SNP failures all over decline in housebuilding and supply
  • Local campaigner Neil Alexander selected to take on Emma Roddick in key Lib Dem target seat
  • Greene demands statement on Glen Rosa news
  • McArthur welcomes victory for Assisted Dying bill at stage one

McArthur makes his final pitch to MSPs to support assisted dying bill

Speaking ahead of the vote on his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, Liam McArthur MSP said:

This is an issue on which an overwhelming majority of people of Scotland believe a change in the law is required. Public polling is consistent across age range, political affiliation, disability status, geographic area and religious belief: Scots want to see dying people in this country given more choice at the end of life.

Drawing on international evidence, my bill would ensure people who meet the strict eligibility criteria are able to exercise that choice in a way that is robustly safeguarded.

Indeed, my bill would put in place safeguards that don’t currently exist, a situation that leaves many terminally ill people more vulnerable and more likely to take matters into their own hands. This shows that not taking action has serious consequences too, with more deaths that are painful and undignified, despite the best efforts of palliative care, and more traumatised families left behind.

Scotland cannot put off this conversation. And parliament cannot continue to leave this issue in the ‘too difficult’ box. It must, at the very least, allow time for amendments to be considered to see if a bill can be agreed that commands majority support and public confidence.

To my MSP colleagues, I say, if you have not yet made up your mind, my door is always open but most importantly I would urge you to listen to the voices of terminally ill Scots desperate for more choice, control
and dignity.

This bill has been a long time coming but it does now offer the chance to provide that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it.

SNP failures all over decline in housebuilding and supply

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today said that SNP decisions have made the housing crisis significantly worse after statistics confirmed dramatic falls in new housing supply and new build completions in the year to March 2024, despite an increase in the number of people seeking housing.

Official figures published today show that:

  • Between 2022/23 and 2023/24, new housing supply decreased by 16.4%, or 3,984 homes.
  • In the same period, new build completions decreased by 16.1%, a drop of 3,835 homes.
  • As of 31st March 2024, 177,264 applications were recorded on 26 local authority or common housing register housing lists. This represents 2,172 more households compared with March 2023.
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13 May 2025 – today’s press releases

  • Thames Water is “putting profit before public good” as CEO reveals they received a staggering 156% bonus
  • Vet MP meets rescue animals at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home as PMB on track to become law

Thames Water is “putting profit before public good” as CEO reveals they received a staggering 156% bonus

Responding to Thames Water bosses’ appearance before the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee today, the Liberal Democrats have said that the company is “putting profit before public good” and branded their executive bonuses “outrageous”.

Today, executives from Thames Water, Chris Weston (CEO), Sir Adrian Montague (Chair) and Steve Buck (CFO) were grilled on their company’s performance from sewage dumping to financial mismanagement.

Recently, Thames Water acquired an additional £3 billion of debt whilst data shows the company was responsible for almost 300,000 hours of sewage leaks last year.

Despite these failures, at the committee hearing today CEO Chris Weston admitted that he gets paid a bonus of a staggering 156%, which the Lib Dems have said is “unjustifiable”.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Tim Farron said:

It is outrageous that whilst Thames Water are accumulating seemingly exponential debt, they are choosing to give themselves enormous bonuses. In the meantime, they are passing the buck to customers who are being slapped with eye-watering bills.

As Thames Water continues to dump sewage into our precious waterways, it is clear they are putting profit before public good. The Government must act now and replace Ofwat with a new regulator who can properly hold water companies to account on environmental pollution and unjustifiable bonuses.

Vet MP meets rescue animals at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home as PMB on track to become law

Winchester MP and veterinary surgeon, Dr Danny Chambers, visited Battersea Dogs & Cats Home today to discuss his Animal Welfare Bill and meet rescue dogs who have suffered from the abuses his bill aims to stop.

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History at Holyrood as Assisted Dying Bill passes first stage

Since this session of the Scottish Parliament started in 2021, Lib Dem MSP for Orkney has been working diligently through many consultation stages to bring in a Members’ Bill which would allow terminally ill adults with capacity a choice to have an assisted death. Today, the Bill passed its first parliamentary stage by 70 votes to 56.

This is the first time an assisted dying bill has reached this stage. Previous attempts, led by then Lib Dem MSP Jeremy Purvis (now Lord Purvis of Tweed), and Margo Macdonald had fallen at this hurdle.

After the vote, Liam said:

This is a landmark moment for Scotland. I am pleased that after four years of careful and diligent work, the Scottish Parliament has backed the general principles of my bill.

I understand that for many colleagues this has been a difficult decision but I believe the quality of debate today has shown our Parliament at its finest.

Over the coming months, I will continue to have discussions with my parliamentary colleagues, medical bodies and legal experts to ensure that this bill is robustly safeguarded so that terminally ill adults can have the choice of accessing assisted dying, alongside other palliative care and support at the end of life.

This bill has been a long time coming but, at long last, it can offer that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it.

Earlier he had asked the Parliament to support the general principles of the Bill, saying that they would then have the chance to debate specific amendments at the next stage.

There’s a lot of work to do to get this through the next few parliamentary stages.

Liam has been incredibly gracious, wise, inclusive and considerate in the way he has taken this forward. He could not have done a better job and, whatever our views on the Bill, we can be very proud of the way he has led on this.

Here’s his opening speech in full:

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All 72 LibDem MPs sign letter to Wes Streeting expressing concerns about the delivery plan for ME/CFS

Tessa Munt MP has organised a letter from all 72 LibDem MPs to Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, expressing concern about the viability of the forthcoming delivery plan for combatting ME/CFS. Here is the text of the letter (see also photo above):

As World ME Day on Monday 12™ May approaches, we — all 72 LibDem MPs — write to raise our concern about a lack of funding for the forthcoming Final Delivery Plan for ME/CFS and to request a meeting to discuss this further.

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Confront Farage – or do our own thing?

Embed from Getty Images

A lively debate is going on in our local borough party about how the Lib Dems should deal with the Tories and Nigel Farage, following Reform UK’s big advances in the Elections held on 1 May.

One view, held by some senior figures whom I respect, and who know how to win elections, is that it is important not to amplify your opponent’s message. They consider the first rule of politics to be `Never allow yourself to be lured on to your opponent’s territory.’.

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Time for a Co-Presidency: Making the Liberal Democrat Presidency fit for the future

As Liberal Democrats, we are rightly proud of our commitment to pluralism, participation, and fairness—not just in policy, but in the way we run our own party. Yet our system for electing and supporting the Party President falls short of these values. The role is unpaid, heavily time-consuming, and increasingly inaccessible to the very members we say we want to empower. It’s time to consider reform—and a co-presidency model is a logical next step.

Unpaid and Unsustainable

The President chairs the Federal Board, sits on multiple key party committees such as the Federal Policy Committee and Federal Conference Committee.

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12 May 2025 – yesterday’s press releases

  • Lib Dems table humble address to force Government to publish impact assessment of UK-US deal
  • Care Workers: Change is urgently needed to fix the mess the Conservatives made
  • Liberal Democrats call on Government to “futureproof” infrastructure following reports of Underground failures
  • Rennie to push amendments to housing bill

Lib Dems table humble address to force Government to publish impact assessment of UK-US deal

The Liberal Democrats will table a humble address in Parliament this week to force the Government to publish its impact assessments of the agreement with the US announced last week.

The Government has so far not published documents such as impact assessments on key British industries following the deal, leaving many in the dark as to what ministers have given up in exchange for Trump’s lowering of tariffs.

The deal allows more American beef into the UK market, as well as setting a limit on the number of British cars that can be exported to the US before being hit with 25% tariffs. It is not yet clear what impact this will have on these sectors as the Government has not published the relevant analysis.

The Liberal Democrat motion aims to force the Government to publish these details. Humble Address motions have been successfully used in the past, including in 2017 when the Government was forced to publish an impact assessment of Brexit on the economy.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling on the government to prepare plans in case Trump reneges on the deal or imposes further tariffs in the future, given his record of doing so to other countries he has signed trade deals with, including Canada.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

The Government needs to publish the details behind this agreement so those impacted aren’t left in the dark, from Britain’s world-class farmers to all those working in businesses still being hit by Trump’s tariffs.

People are deeply worried about Donald Trump’s attempts to bully the UK and his record of breaking his own deals.

We’ve seen how Trump has trampled over deals he signed with our allies like Canada. We cannot allow him to do the same to Britain. The Prime Minister needs to recognise this and prepare a plan B if Trump tears up this agreement or imposes new tariffs in future.

The Liberal Democrats will keep standing up for Britain and holding this Government to account over their dealings with Trump.

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10-11 May 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

  • Davey creates ‘Reform Watch’ team to keep Trumpian councils honest
  • Lib Dems call on Government to ‘step up’ and pay care workers properly
  • Cole-Hamilton comments on Edinburgh cyberattack

Davey creates ‘Reform Watch’ team to keep Trumpian councils honest

Ed Davey has established a new national “Reform Watch’ scrutiny board, bringing together local Liberal Democrat leaders in areas where Reform has taken control to take a coordinated approach to opposition and holding them to account.

The Liberal Democrats came second to Reform at last week’s local elections, winning more councillors than both Labour and the Conservatives for the first time ever.

The Board will be chaired …

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“Are you kidding me?” – A Response to the Lib Dem Home Affairs Spokesperson’s Response to the Labour Government

I joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016, when then party leader Tim Farron made clear that the Liberal Democrats would continue to fight for the UK’s place in the EU. A place in the EU that would have preserved freedom of movement and allowed for us to remain a vibrant and multicultural society which recognises that foreign workers strengthen our economy and industries, not weaken them.

I have since stayed in the party, a party which I believe reflects my feeling that immigration is not a bad thing. I have supported and spoken up for calls such as Christine Jardine’s to …

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Immigration: Clear plan needed to make it easier to recruit British workers for vacancies instead

Normally, this would be published later in the day but, as it has already drawn a response from one of our readers, it seems appropriate to publish it now…

Responding to the Government’s new immigration policy, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, Lisa Smart MP:

After the previous Conservative Government’s dire mismanagement, our immigration system has been left in tatters and public trust has been shattered. It’s right that the government is taking steps to fix our broken immigration system to ensure it works for our country.

However, this must be coupled with a clear plan to make it easier to recruit

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Dear Keir, there are other options than pandering to prejudice

I feel absolutely sick to my stomach this morning.

I really need to get out of the habit of thinking that Labour Ministers will somehow have more sense, or that their values will align more closely with mine even if they get stuff wrong sometimes. That mindset only leads to crushing disappointment.

We have had decades of the right wing press drip-feeding prejudice against immigrants. All political parties, including ours to a certain extent, have failed to stand up against this and unashamedly make the positive case for immigration. This has been remarkably stupid given that we are living in a world that has been getting smaller. People fall in love with people from other countries. If every country pulls up the drawbridge on immigration, that has a huge impact on their freedom to live their lives as they please.

It’s been incredibly depressing to see, particularly over the last decade, politicians in parties who should know better taking on board the talking points of the far right. Rather than, you know, invest in public services so that everyone can have a decent standard of living, they blame immigration for all the country’s ills, poisoning the minds of the public.

We reached a new low this morning.  I’ve heard Labour referred to as the Red Tories before. Today they are basically Red Reform. Starmer is no better than Farage. A couple of weeks ago, Farage had a go,  out loud in our Parliament, about “cultures alien to ours.” This was a comment that Christine Jardine said made her blood run cold in her Scotsman column last week. 

This week I heard the leader of Reform proclaim confidently in the Commons that the problem with immigration was that it was bringing people here with cultures not compatible with our own. I felt my blood run cold.

That sort of language used to be, and should be still, unthinkable. We cannot accept it, we cannot run from fighting for the rights of minorities. It’s time for us to stand up to be counted. Like our grandparents did.

Why does it take an opposition MP to make this point? Why did our Prime Minister not make mincemeat of Farage and his horrible agenda right there, right then?

It’s the least we could expect.

But, no, this morning, he apes it, saying we are:

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