• Lib Dems: Dishonest of PM to say technical education is a priority
• Extension of no-fly zone will not prevent future drone chaos
• Radical changes are afoot in UK politics – Cable
• Davey: Sajid Javid has big questions to answer on Shamima Begum decision
• Lib Dems indicate hazards for driving abroad after Brexit

Lib Dems: Dishonest of PM to say technical education is a priority

The Association of Colleges has warned that there is a “real risk to the long-term economic prosperity of the UK” if the Government’s flagship ‘T-Level’ policy is not implemented correctly.

T-Levels, which are due to be introduced in September 2020 will be equivalent to 3 A-Levels and it is hoped that they will provide a skills based education to enable people to go straight into work within our industries.

Over half (58%) of small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the UK are warning that the country risks being ‘left behind’ if the Government doesn’t address skills gaps through education.

Commenting on the warning from the Association of Colleges, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said:

This is a stark warning about the dire consequences of continuing to chronically under fund our colleges.

It is nothing short of dishonest for the Prime Minister to claim she prioritises technical education, while at the same time her Government is starving the sector who deliver it, of funding.

The Chancellor must sit up and take notice ahead of the Spending Review or the consequences for the UK’s economic growth, and for young people who are relying on these courses to give them the skills they need to thrive in their careers, will be catastrophic.

Extension of no-fly zone will not prevent future drone chaos

Responding to the Government’s announcement that the no-fly zone for drones around airports is to be extended following the disruption at Gatwick, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Jenny Randerson said:

Extending the no-fly zone to prevent further drone incidents is futile on its own. The drone chaos in the run up to Christmas was caused by someone deliberately flying a drone in the current no-fly zone, showing that what is needed is a complete wholescale reform to regulate the Wild West drone market.

The Liberal Democrats are clear that there must be compulsory registration for all those owning a drone. It is good that the Conservative Government are finally taking some long overdue action, but a piecemeal approach is not the answer.

Extending the no-fly zone for drones will not prevent future chaos. We have been raising the dangers that drones pose for years; it is now time the Government did not rely on the airports preparing themselves but enacted significant change with sufficient resources behind it.

Radical changes are afoot in UK politics – Cable

Responding to news that three Conservative MPs have left the party to sit with the Independent Group, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said:

There is clearly some very radical changes now afoot as both the Conservatives and Labour have being taken over by militant groups, driving out more moderate MPs.

We will hold out the hand of friendship to the independent MPs with whom we already have a good working relationship.

In the short term we will be concentrating on securing a People’s Vote, with an option to stay in the EU.

Davey: Sajid Javid has big questions to answer on Shamima Begum decision

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey has secured an Urgent Question in the House of Commons this afternoon on the Home Secretary’s decision to deprive Shamima Begum’s British citizenship.

Responding to the Speaker’s decision to grant his application for an Urgent Question, Ed Davey said:

The decision to strip someone of their citizenship is a very serious one, and the Home Secretary has big questions to answer.

It’s hard to see how a 19-year-old mother and her new-born baby boy constitute a serious threat to national security. Simply making her somebody else’s problem is an appalling abdication of the UK’s responsibility.

Ms Begum should be prosecuted in the UK for her crimes and interrogated so that we can learn exactly how ISIL recruits young British people like her.

Lib Dems indicate hazards for driving abroad after Brexit

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a regret motion to the Government’s Statutory Instrument on Compulsory Insurance for Motor Vehicles, which will be debated later today in the House of Lords.

Currently, if a UK resident is injured in a traffic accident in the EEA and the injury was caused by the negligence of another person, they can pursue a claim for compensation in the UK.

However, if the Conservative Government does not secure a reciprocal agreement with the EEA or the UK leaves the EU without a deal, motorists abroad will be left to fend for themselves.

Commenting on the motion, Jenny Randerson said:

Access to justice is a right and should never be treated as a privilege to be gained in a negotiation.

British holiday-makers in Europe are currently protected and can claim compensation with their local solicitor, in English, from the UK, even in the event that the motorist abroad does not have insurance.

However, this is now at risk. If a UK citizen is injured abroad in a road accident they will potentially be left to make a claim for compensation in a foreign country, paying for their own legal advice and representation abroad.

Brexit is putting British holidaymakers at risk. The only way out of this chaos is to put the final say back to the people, with the option to remain in the EU.