Author Archives: Mark Valladares

17 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 17th October 2019 - 11:56 pm

Welsh Lib Dems: Brexit deal must be put to the people
Record high knife crime offences shows Tories failure to act
Lib Dems: Brexit deal must be put to the people

Welsh Lib Dems: Brexit deal must be put to the people

Commenting on reports that a deal has been agreed between the EU and the UK Government, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds, said:

It is remarkably clear that Boris Johnson’s deal would be bad for our economy, bad for our public services, and bad for our environment.

His deal will create a hard border down the Irish Sea, hurting Welsh farmers

…

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, christine jardine, jane dodds, Jo Swinson and knife crime | 10 Comments

17 October 2019 – the overnight press release

By Mark Valladares | Thu 17th October 2019 - 7:15 am

Lib Dems: Brexit will limit the horizons of college students

The Association of Colleges has today published a survey revealing that 94% of colleges would be unable to fund student and staff mobility programmes outside of the EU’s Erasmus+ programme.

Responding to the figures, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Layla Moran MP said:

Brexit shuts the door on students and staff studying, training and working across Europe. This survey shows that colleges simply can’t afford their student exchange programmes without the funding that the EU provides through Erasmus+.

Colleges are wary about replacing Erasmus+ with a British-led alternative because they know

…

Posted in News | Tagged erasmus, layla moran and students | Leave a comment

16 October 2019 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Wed 16th October 2019 - 11:52 pm

MP launches “Save Our Rural Banks” Campaign

Jane Dodds MP has launched a new campaign aimed at protecting existing rural banking services and restoring banking services to communities across Brecon & Radnorshire.

Over the past few years, many communities across Brecon and Radnorshire have seen bank branches in their towns close. Recent announcements by Barclays also reveal plans to reduce banking services available through the Post Office.

At present towns like Knighton, Crickhowell and Hay-on-Wye both do not have any bank branches in the towns, while towns like Ystradgynlais are reliant upon a single branch.

Jane Dodds, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, …

Posted in News | Tagged banks, jane dodds, rural communities and Wales | 3 Comments

15 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 15th October 2019 - 11:53 pm

Car firm job losses show Johnson’s disregard for British business
Welsh Lib Dems: Poll shows we are now third party for Westminster
Lib Dems call for urgent action to tackle rising hate crimes
Lib Dems table People’s Vote amendment to Queen’s speech

Car firm job losses show Johnson’s disregard for British business

Responding to the reports that one in three car firms are cutting jobs, Liberal Democrat shadow Brexit Secretary Tom Brake said:

It is time Boris Johnson woke up to the fact that the manufacturing sector, and the automotive industries in particular, are suffering badly from Brexit-related uncertainty. Jobs are being lost, investment is down

…

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, car industry, christine humphreys, christine jardine, hate crime, Jo Swinson, opinion polling, peoples vote, tom brake and Wales | 7 Comments

14 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 14th October 2019 - 11:15 pm

Jane Dodds: TV License changes detrimental to dementia sufferers
Swinson: Queen’s speech is a charade
Fifa and UEFA must take action against racist abuse of players

Jane Dodds: TV License changes detrimental to dementia sufferers

Jane Dodds, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, is calling on the Government to restore BBC funding in order to protect free TV licenses.

The BBC recently announced that, due to budget cuts from the UK Government, they are moving to scrap the blanket free TV licenses for over-75s and instead only offering them to people claiming Pension Credit.

These licenses have been provided by the BBC since 2000 and approximately 4.5 …

Posted in News | Tagged football, jane dodds, Jo Swinson, layla moran, queen's speech, racism and TV licence | 6 Comments

14 October 2019 – the overnight press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 14th October 2019 - 7:15 am

Labour’s renationalisition plans set to cost billions

Responding to the analysis by the CBI that the cost of Labour’s renationalisation plans is estimated to be £196 billion, Liberal Democrat MP Chuka Umunna said:

The Tories are pursuing an ideological hard Brexit, depriving the Exchequer of much needed revenue, whilst Labour plans to do the same with a Labour Brexit in addition to spending billions of pounds with no idea how they will pay for it.

The only sensible alternative to these two broken parties is to stop Brexit and use the resulting Remain bonus to invest in people and public services – the

…

Posted in News | Tagged chuka umunna, labour and public spending | 48 Comments

12-13 October 2019 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 13th October 2019 - 11:45 pm

Lib Dems: Compulsory voter ID is an attempt to rig our elections
Lib Dems: Govt must ban arms sales to Turkey

Lib Dems: Compulsory voter ID is an attempt to rig our elections

Responding to the reports that the Government are set to announce it will be compulsory for voters to show identification at the next election, Liberal Democrat shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, Tom Brake said:

The move by the Government to make voter ID compulsory is a thinly-veiled attempt to rig the results of future elections. We know from the pilot back in 2018 that voter fraud was inconsequential, whilst what

…

Posted in News | Tagged arms sales, chuka umunna, tom brake, turkey and voter suppression | 8 Comments

11 October 2019 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Fri 11th October 2019 - 11:32 pm

New figures show prison overcrowding crisis getting worse

The Liberal Democrats are calling for an end to short prison sentences, as new figures show the number of overcrowded prisons is rising.

The latest prison population statistics, published today by the Ministry of Justice, show that 73 of the 117 prisons in England and Wales were overcapacity at the end of September – up from 69 at the end of August. Nine prisons are overcapacity by more than 50%.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Christine Jardine said:

Prisons are in crisis. They are stuffed full of people on short sentences, which we know don’t work

…

Posted in News | Tagged christine jardine, prison reform and sentencing | 7 Comments

10 October 2019 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Thu 10th October 2019 - 9:48 pm

Govt threats to deport EU citizens are appalling – Jardine

Responding to comments by Branden Lewis that EU citizens living in the UK could face deportation, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Christine Jardine said:

I am absolutely appalled. I have just been at a school where a Hungarian-born pupil told me she was scared about Brexit, and now I learn that the Conservative Government is threatening to deport people like her.

Brandon Lewis has finally confirmed what we’ve known all along: Boris Johnson has no intention of keeping his promise to automatically guarantee the rights of EU citizens living

…

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, christine jardine and windrush 2 | Leave a comment

9 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 9th October 2019 - 11:50 pm

New figures show 2.7 million EU citizens without Settled Status
Swinson: Millions in Britain value our place in the EU

New figures show 2.7 million EU citizens without Settled Status

The Liberal Democrats have warned that the Government is failing to guarantee the rights of all 3.6 million EU citizens in the UK, as new official figures show that fewer than 1 million people had been given Settled Status by the end of September.

The latest EU Settlement Scheme Statistics, published today by the Home Office, show that 929,600 people had been granted Settled Status by the end of September 2019 – meaning …

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, christine jardine, Jo Swinson and settled status | 3 Comments

8 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 8th October 2019 - 11:32 pm

Davey: Brexit would mortgage our children’s future
Jane Dodds Calls for Pledge to Maintain Last-in-Town Banks
Blame for the Brexit mess sits with the Tory Govt

Davey: Brexit would mortgage our children’s future

Following reports from the IFS that a no-deal Brexit will push UK debt to the highest levels since the 1960s, Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor Ed Davey said:

This new analysis is a body blow to Boris Johnson’s election spending plans – as it shows the cost of Brexit is much higher than thought.

Brexit would mortgage our children’s future, plunging Britain into the red and threatening years of new austerity.

There is simply no

…

Posted in News | Tagged banks, brexit, chuka umunna, economy, ed davey and jane dodds | 25 Comments

7 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 7th October 2019 - 11:59 pm

Lib Dems: Govt grovelling over food standards to try and secure US trade deal
Swinson: Corbyn could be the block to stopping a No Deal
Heidi Allen joins the Liberal Democrats (see here)

Lib Dems: Govt grovelling over food standards to try and secure US trade deal

Responding to the reports from a leaked document stating that the Department for International Trade will try to lower the UK’s food standards to secure a trade deal with the United States, Liberal Democrat shadow Foreign Secretary Chuka Umunna said:

The promises made by Boris Johnson and the Conservative Government that the UK would have a whole

…

Posted in News | Tagged chuka umunna, food safety, government of national unity, jeremy corbyn, Jo Swinson and us trade deal | 5 Comments

7 October 2019 – the overnight press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 7th October 2019 - 7:52 am

Cable: Psychiatric vacancies demand annual workforce plan

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Vince Cable has called for the Secretary of State for Health to produce an annual workforce plan following a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists which reveals one in ten consultant psychiatric roles are unfilled.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Vince Cable said:

With children not accessing treatment and with psychiatrists under huge amounts of pressure due to staff shortages, the Conservative Government does not have a grip on the serious situation in mental health services.

Today’s survey is another example of how the Conservatives plans for the NHS are fundamentally

…

Posted in News | Tagged mental health and vince cable | Leave a comment

4 October 2019 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Fri 4th October 2019 - 11:40 pm

Commonwealth Games organisers fears over Brexit impact revealed by Lib Dems

For the first time the Commonwealth Games organisers deepest fears about the impact of Brexit have been laid bare as a result of a Liberal Democrat investigation.

The Games’ organisers state that there is a risk that the UK’s EU Exit will negatively affect Games deliverables, by changes to Government policy, economic impacts across markets and industries. This could result in potential workforce attrition and cost inflation. They count this risk as the highest possible, 20 out of 20.

In another document, marked ‘sensitive’ from February, the organisers in a meeting …

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, commonwealth games and layla moran | 1 Comment

3 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 3rd October 2019 - 11:40 pm

Jane Dodds: Politicians must right WASPI Injustice
Jane Dodds: Irish border plan designed to fail

Jane Dodds: Politicians must right WASPI Injustice

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has responded to the WASPI campaign’s defeat in the High Court, claiming it is the responsibility of politicians to right the injustice suffered by WASPI Women.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MP commented:

This ruling will undoubtedly be disappointing for all those women affected. Women who have campaigned tirelessly to reverse the unfair change to their pensions. My thoughts are with all these women today.

This ruling must remind us politicians that it is our responsibility to

…

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, jane dodds, naomi long, northern ireland and waspi campaign | 5 Comments

2 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 2nd October 2019 - 11:35 pm

Jane Dodds: Mid Wales Growth Deal funding insulting
Swinson: ‘Getting Brexit done’ puts lives and jobs at risk
Lib Dems: Johnson’s plans to create two borders ‘ludicrous’

Jane Dodds: Mid Wales Growth Deal funding insulting

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and MP for Brecon and Radnorshire Jane Dodds has called the UK Government’s £55m funding for the Mid Wales Growth Deal insulting.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns used his speech to Conservative Party Conference in Manchester to announce £55m of funding for the Mid Wales Growth Deal over 15 years.

The UK Government are contributing £500m to the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and £241m …

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, Irish border, jane dodds, Jo Swinson, mid wales and tom brake | 13 Comments

1 October 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 1st October 2019 - 11:30 pm

Rise in homeless deaths demands end of Vagrancy Act
UK govt must not be silent on situation in Hong Kong
Tories cannot call themselves the law and order party
Cable: End ‘weaponising’ of social care

Rise in homeless deaths demands end of Vagrancy Act

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has renewed her call for the Vagrancy Act to be scrapped following the publication of new ONS statistics revealing a rise in the deaths of homeless people in 2018.

The ONS data shows that there were an estimated 726 deaths in 2018, an increase of over 20% on the previous year. The highest numbers of deaths were …

Posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, christine jardine, homelessness, hong kong, law and order, layla moran, social care, vagrancy act and vince cable | 4 Comments

30 September 2019 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 1st October 2019 - 11:07 pm

I allowed myself to be distracted yesterday… you know how it can be sometimes, so it’s time to catch up…

‘Out of touch’ Tories plough money into roads despite people and planet crying out for public transport investment
Brexit renders spending promises impossible – Davey

‘Out of touch’ Tories plough money into roads despite people and planet crying out for public transport investment

Following Sajid Javids announcement of £25bn investment in roads, Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport, said:

Just as people are starting to become aware of the damage we’re doing to our planet, the Conservatives have committed to spending £25

…

Posted in News | Tagged climate change, ed davey, public spending, public transport, roads, sajid javid and wera hobhouse | Leave a comment

Party President, internal elections update

By Mark Valladares | Mon 30th September 2019 - 8:24 am

Today is the deadline for nominations for the Party Presidential contest, for the various Federal committees and for the ALDE Party Council delegation so, if you haven’t got your forms and artwork in, time is running out (the deadline is 5 p.m., just to save you looking it up).

As far as we know, there remain six candidates for the Party Presidency, and you can click on each name to see their initial statement.

And, for a view on what the Party Presidency entails, here are my thoughts from …

Posted in News | Tagged internal elections 2019 and party presidency | 5 Comments

30 September 2019 – the overnight press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 30th September 2019 - 7:16 am

It’s been very quiet over the past few days, but I tend to put that down to the convention not to distract from other political conferences. However, our Press team are still working away…

Lib Dems: ‘School Cuts’ data shows funding still an emergency

Responding to the relaunch of the National Education Union’s ‘School Cuts’ website, which reveals that more than 15,000 schools will have less money per pupil in real terms in 2020 than they did in 2015, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Layla Moran said:

The Conservatives continue to fail our children. This data removes the wool that Boris Johnson

…

Posted in News | Tagged education spending and layla moran | 1 Comment

Party Presidential election update – Prue Bray and Richard Kemp withdraw

By Mark Valladares | Fri 27th September 2019 - 12:45 pm

Liberal Democrat Voice has been advised by Prue Bray and Richard Kemp that they are withdrawing from the contest to succeed Sal Brinton as Party President. Prue writes;

This is confirmation that, with regret, I am withdrawing from the election for Party President, despite having been successfully nominated. Unfortunately, the amount of work I am having to do as English Candidates Chair to prepare for the coming General Election simply does not allow enough time for me to simultaneously commit to campaign to become Party President.

Richard has sent us a statement as well;

I have announced that I am no

…

Posted in News | Tagged party presidential election 2019 | 6 Comments

26 September 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 26th September 2019 - 11:40 pm

I’d like to start by thanking TonyH for his comment. I’ve generally provided a list at the beginning of these pieces when there are three or more press releases, but he’s right to note that, given how pieces are prevented on our “front page”, it’s better if I do it if there’s more than one. So, I will going forward. We’ve only got one today though…

Lib Dems welcome NHS England’s Cross-Party Plans for Reform

The Liberal Democrats have today welcomed NHS England’s plans to reform the NHS and significantly curb the privatisation of NHS care.

The plans, agreed on a consensus …

Posted in News | Tagged NHS reform and vince cable | 1 Comment

25 September 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 25th September 2019 - 11:00 pm

Lib Dems: Johnson rides roughshod with the law again

Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture Secretary Layla Moran today questioned Ministers on payments made by the Government to Hacker House, a company owned by Jennifer Arcuri.

The Sunday Times alleged that the company was incorrectly registered in the UK.

The paper also alleges that Ms Arcuri, a friend of Boris Johnson, benefitted from preferential treatment for public money and access to overseas trade missions when the Prime Minister was Mayor of London. These are now subject to an investigation by the London Assembly’s Oversight Committee.

Speaking after her Urgent Questionn in the House …

Posted in News | Tagged boris johnson and layla moran | 18 Comments

24 September 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 24th September 2019 - 11:00 pm

Chancellor must answer for black hole in the country’s finances

Responding to news that part of Corporation Tax revenue has been double-counted by HMRC, revising down the take for 2018-2019 by more than £4bn, Liberal Democrat shadow Chancellor Ed Davey said:

Today’s data from HMRC reveals a concerning black hole in the country’s public finances. Since this Conservative Government took office, an astounding £12.86 billion was mistakenly accounted for in the exchequer’s books – money that was never actually there. This is a potentially dangerous oversight for which the Conservative Chancellor is responsible.

Moreover, this highlights the Government’s irresponsibility in slashing corporation tax

…

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, ed davey, hmrc, labour and tom brake | 23 Comments

23 September 2019 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 23rd September 2019 - 11:45 pm

Swinson: Corbyn is a Brexiteer at heart

Responding to the news from Labour Party conference that it would not back Remain in a People’s Vote, under the guidance of Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson said:

Jeremy Corbyn has again shown a total lack of leadership on Brexit and settled on yet another fudge on the biggest issue facing our country. Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly had the opportunity to put the full force of the Labour behind a Remain position, but he has once again shown today that he is a Brexiteer at heart.

He is determined to negotiate a Brexit deal if Labour win an election, despite all the evidence that there is no Brexit deal that is good for our economy, our NHS and our security. By refusing to say how the Labour Party would campaign in a second referendum, Jeremy Corbyn is letting down the millions of people who want to see the UK remain in the EU.

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, jeremy corbyn and Jo Swinson | 5 Comments

22 September 2019 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 23rd September 2019 - 8:45 am

Well, I’m not sure what happened there, as I thought that I’d set this for 10.30 yesterday evening. Nevertheless, here are yesterday’s official press releases…

Scrapping Ofsted must be the beginning of the end of teaching to the test – Lib Dems

Responding to today’s announcement by the Labour Party that they will campaign to abolish Ofsted, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Layla Moran MP said:

It is always good to see the Labour Party copying another key Lib Dem education promise, just as they followed us in calling for SATs to be scrapped, here they are trailing in behind again.

The

…

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, labour, layla moran, ofsted and tom brake | 1 Comment

Riding the enthusiasm wave, some thoughts going forward and a Presidential race update…

By Mark Valladares | Mon 23rd September 2019 - 7:30 am

Well, that was a pretty good Conference, wasn’t it? Passion, enthusiasm, and a whole bunch of people I’d never met before. I have to admit that I left Bournemouth rather more enthusiastic than I was when I arrived.

And so, what to do with all of that enthusiasm? Well, I’d like to try a few things.

Firstly, our new members are still feeling their way into the Party, and that offers an opportunity for the various groups withing the Party – Specified Associated Organisations, Associated Organisations, thinktanks, pressure groups and the like, to reach out to new people. So, if you are …

Posted in Site news | 2 Comments

21 September 2019 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Sat 21st September 2019 - 10:07 pm

Labour must come clean about their Brexit plan – Lib Dems

Responding to reports that Labour will only decide which way to vote in a People’s Vote after a general election, Liberal Democrat shadow Brexit Secretary Tom Brake said:

It is totally unfair of Labour not to be clear about their plan in government.

Through choosing whether to support leave or remain after the election, millions of remain Labour supporters could help elect a leave government.

Instead remain supporters must back the Liberal Democrats in a general election. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to stop Brexit.

Posted in News | Tagged brexit, labour and tom brake | 51 Comments

Op-eds

Super Lib Dem Lords on Super Saturday: Dick Newby on the economic impact of the Deal (Caron Lindsay)
Repeated delays to Brexit are down to the failure of Conservative leaders to persuade their own, and partner, MPs (Paul Walter)
Labour MPs surely can’t support the bonfire of workers’ rights in Boris Johnson’s deal (Caron Lindsay)
Lord Martin Thomas writes: Building a justice system that offers rehabilitation and hope (Martin Thomas)
What will MPs be voting on today? (Caron Lindsay)

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Author Archives: Mark Valladares

17 October 2019 – today’s press releases

17 October 2019 – the overnight press release

16 October 2019 – today’s press release

15 October 2019 – today’s press releases

14 October 2019 – today’s press releases

14 October 2019 – the overnight press release

12-13 October 2019 – the weekend’s press releases

11 October 2019 – today’s press release

10 October 2019 – today’s press release

9 October 2019 – today’s press releases

8 October 2019 – today’s press releases

7 October 2019 – today’s press releases

7 October 2019 – the overnight press release

4 October 2019 – today’s press release

3 October 2019 – today’s press releases

2 October 2019 – today’s press releases

30 September 2019 – yesterday’s press releases

Party President, internal elections update

30 September 2019 – the overnight press release

Party Presidential election update – Prue Bray and Richard Kemp withdraw

26 September 2019 – today’s press releases

25 September 2019 – today’s press releases

24 September 2019 – today’s press releases

23 September 2019 – today’s press release

22 September 2019 – yesterday’s press releases

Riding the enthusiasm wave, some thoughts going forward and a Presidential race update…

21 September 2019 – today’s press release

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