I’m a veteran Party bureaucrat, having joined the old Liberal Party at university. And, perhaps not entirely surprisingly, I’ve held a range of positions since then - everything from Secretary-General of the Young Liberals to being a member of the ALDE Party‘s Financial Advisory Committee. Returning Officer, Presidential consort, committee secretary, you name it, I’ve probably done it.
These days, I’m the Chair of the Parish Council for a (very) small rural village in Suffolk’s Gipping Valley, and a member of the East of England Regional Candidates Committee.
Market turmoil: Reeves should hold emergency summit with banks to reassure mortgage holders
Scottish Government forced to climb down on ministerial power grab of legal profession
Market turmoil: Reeves should hold emergency summit with banks to reassure mortgage holders
Following the cost of government borrowing continuing to rise, exceeding the near 30-year high it hit last week, the Liberal Democrats have called on the Chancellor to hold an emergency summit with the banks to reassure mortgage holders that they won’t see a major spike in their mortgage costs.
It comes as experts warn that mortgage rates may rise in the coming weeks as lenders …
Record 518,000 trolley waits of 12 hours or more last year – up 400-fold in less than a decade
Rennie comments ahead of Glen Sannox first crossing
Record 518,000 trolley waits of 12 hours or more last year – up 400-fold in less than a decade
Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP has urged Wes Streeting to produce an emergency plan to tackle “shocking and dangerous” A&E wait times as the government “looks to be asleep at the wheel”.
Last year there were a record 518,000 waits of 12 hours or longer in A&E from a decision to admit, research by the Liberal Democrat has revealed. Staggeringly, that is nearly 400-times more 12 hour waits than 2015’s figure of 1,306.
The figures also revealed a sharp rise of more than 100,000 12 hour trolley waits on 2023’s figure of 415,000, a jump of 25%. Prior to the pandemic in 2019 there were just 8,272 trolley waits of 12 hours or longer. Last year that figure rose 63-fold to 518,000.
In December alone, 54,000 patients waited 12 hours or longer in A&E from a decision to admit, up 23-fold on the December 2019’s figure of just 2,356.
Long waits at A&E are extremely dangerous and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimates that in 2023 14,000 deaths were associated with long waits in A&E.
Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP called the figures “shocking” and said the new government “looks to be asleep at the wheel”. The Party is calling on the Health Secretary to come forward with an emergency plan to tackle this crisis to protect patients from this ongoing crisis.
I took in a movie at the weekend and, somewhat unusually, I was given reason to ponder about my liberalism and what I do to aid its cause. “Conclave” is a film based on a fictional selection of a new Pope and, whilst not wanting to give anything away, from the perspective of a Catholic Liberal Democrat Returning Officer, I was reminded of many of the dilemmas that I face in that role and in my wider “liberal bureaucracy”.
I am by no means an active Catholic. I feel vaguely guilty about that, but not so guilty as to do anything about it, although I am usually moved to light a candle when visiting a Cathedral and thinking about my rather more devout grandmother. One of my qualms about the Catholic Church as an institution is its bureaucracy (ironic, really) and a sense that it has rather lost sight of its calling. But I acknowledge that it has a potentially significant role in the world and that its influence on how its followers are supposed to lead their lives cannot be easily disregarded.
And a papal conclave is, from the perspective of a seasoned Returning Officer like myself, utterly fascinating and in many ways little different from the election of a Party Leader, with conservatives against radicals, regional power blocs, all against a backdrop of external commentary and conjecture. Being in charge of the process can sometimes feel a bit lonely, especially in some of the more challenging selections. You may see behaviour that troubles you but, as an independent arbiter of the rules, what responsibility do you have for addressing that? Sometimes, candidates behave towards you, or their competitors, in ways that can be very testing. I have from time to time felt under great stress but, I think, it goes with the territory. With power comes responsibility, and if that doesn’t worry you, you’re almost certainly not a good person to be given either.
But for me, the concept of certainty was the aspect that challenges me most. I am, it must be admitted, not a “retail politician”, and find the idea of saying ” this is something, and if we do it, it will make your life better” slightly absurd. I trained, in part, as a statistician, and my day job requires me to make judgements based on what can often be limited data. There is often little certainty to be had there.
Modern politics leaves little room for the doubtful or unsure, with its increasing “fifteen second soundbite” mentality which encourages bold statements regardless of whether they’re actually based on anything credible. The idea that a politician might be interviewed and say “we think that this will work” rather than “this will make things better” is for the birds. And that leaves me as a slightly uncomfortable participant in the political process.
That’s why I’m a strong believer in the ‘political guardrails’ that have managed our politics for so long and campaigns to make them more robust, such as spending and donation limits, press freedom (and responsibility), independent regulators. Just as our rights protect us from the power of an overmighty state, rules that diffuse political power and prevent super-wealthy individuals from distorting our political debate are a critical part of a participatory, inclusive democracy. It’s also why my roles in the Party have traditionally been those that free up others to do the campaigning and policy stuff, because few people enter politics to manage the minutiae of organisational bureaucracy.
It is, indeed, one of the reasons why I continue as a member of the Liberal Democrat Voice editorial team, enabling the existence of a platform where Liberal Democrat members and supporters can discuss ideas and debate the issues of the day in a courteous and mutually respectful manner. Call me old-fashioned and or rather naïve, if you like.
So, today, we offer, apart from the usual coverage of press releases, pieces on transport policy and on joining the Liberal Democrats, and a response from a member of the party’s Federal Board to the General Election Review published yesterday. There may be other stuff too, but I’ll let that be a surprise.
And finally, it is apparently National Rubber Ducky Day and so, to mark that, here is Little Richard, singing his own tribute…
Reeves in China: Chancellor must come back now with serious plan for growth
Cole-Hamilton: Scottish Water must ensure no gaps in sewage monitoring
Reeves in China: Chancellor must come back now with serious plan for growth
Responding to the Chancellor’s announcements in China amidst the ongoing market turmoil at home, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP said:
The Chancellor must come back now to urgently address the ongoing crisis in the markets and announce a serious plan for growth.
She should reverse the misguided and self-defeating jobs tax, scrap the broken business rates system and start rebuilding our trade relationship with Europe, to fix
Citizens Advice: pensioners had “legs cut out from underneath them” after Winter Fuel Payment scrapped
Local election delays: Lib Dems accuse Conservative councils of “running scared” and “silencing democracy”
Reeves in China: Chancellor needs to return and announce “plan B” for growth
Cole-Hamilton calls for network of drug consumption rooms ahead of Glasgow facility opening
Citizens Advice: pensioners had “legs cut out from underneath them” after Winter Fuel Payment scrapped
Responding to Citizens Advice saying that they have seen a surge in households seeking help with energy bills in 2024, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said:
People are being hammered by energy bill rises with millions of vulnerable pensioners especially struggling after the government scrapped the Winter Fuel Payment for the vast majority.
Older people, many already choosing between heating and eating, had their legs cut out from underneath them by the government’s cruel decision to slash this vital support.
The government needs to recognise their disastrous error and get these vulnerable pensioners the support they deserve or risk millions suffering.
Local election delays: Lib Dems accuse Conservative councils of “running scared” and “silencing democracy”
The Liberal Democrats have accused Conservative councils of “running scared” and “silencing democracy” as the deadline for councils to apply for election postponement expires.
The Government gave councils until today to say if they would prefer to cancel May’s local elections while devolution plans for changes to local authorities, with many set to become unitary, are discussed.
Almost all councils that have called for elections to be cancelled are Conservative-run, including several in areas like Devon and Surrey where the Liberal Democrats won swathes of seats from the Conservatives at the General Election.
Food prices set to rise: news will be hammer blow for millions already choosing between heating and eating
NHS stats: winter “one of the most brutal on record” as Lib Dems call on Streeting to bring forward emergency plan to protect patients
‘Bed blocking’ has already cost NHS £165 million this winter as Davey calls on govt to finish social care review this year
Market turmoil: Chancellor should cancel China trip for emergency growth statement
Oxford Farming Conference: Reed’s “regret” not good enough – Starmer must reverse family farm tax
More than 440,000 police officer and staff days lost to mental health since 2019
Food prices set to rise: news will be hammer blow for millions already choosing between heating and eating
Responding to the British Retail Consortium saying that food prices will rise by 4.2% in the latter half of this year as “retailers battle the £7 billion of increased costs in 2025 from the Budget”, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:
This news will come as a hammer blow to families across the country. Millions of people are already having to choose between heating and eating and the prospect of even more pressure on stretched budgets will be incredibly worrying.
The new government is faced with the enormous challenge of cleaning up the Conservative Party’s economic vandalism, but their approach so far risks repeating more mistakes.
It’s now clear as day that the Chancellor’s misguided national insurance hike is only going to hammer household budgets further by forcing up prices. Ministers must recognise their error and scrap this tax hike immediately.
NHS stats: winter “one of the most brutal on record” as Lib Dems call on Streeting to bring forward emergency plan to protect patients
Responding to NHS England saying that this is the busiest year on record for emergency services, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:
This winter threatens to be one of the most brutal on record. Patients are suffering through deadly delays and staff are already at breaking point.
There can be no overstating just dangerous this situation is after years of the previous Conservative government’s shameful neglect of our NHS.
It is of paramount importance that the new government grips this crisis urgently. That must start with the Health Secretary producing an emergency plan in the coming days to protect patients from this ongoing disaster.
‘Bed blocking’ has already cost NHS £165 million this winter as Davey calls on govt to finish social care review this year
This winter has already seen 417,220 bed days taken up by patients that were well enough to be discharged – costing the NHS £165 million or £4.8 million a day
12,271 of England’s 103,277 hospital beds have been taken up by people who are fit to be discharged everyday this winter – the equivalent of just under one in eight
Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey has called on the government to complete its social care review by the end of the year to take pressure off hospitals
This winter has already seen 417,220 bed days taken up by patients that were fit enough to be discharged, the equivalent of 1 in 8, costing the NHS £165 million in just over a month research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
Children’s Wellbeing Bill: Conservatives using victims as “political football”
Davey: Adult Social Care Commission must be completed within one year
MP Calls for Greater Support for Off-Grid Homes
Children’s Wellbeing Bill: Conservatives using victims as “political football”
Commenting on the Conservative amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said:
The Conservatives are using the victims of this scandal as a political football.
The Conservatives alongside Reform, goaded along by Elon Musk will be voting for a motion which will not secure a national inquiry for victims of child sexual abuse, but instead it would kill these crucial child protection measures completely.
The Liberal Democrats will be putting forward our own amendment to take real action to tackle the child sex abuse scandal, by implementing the recommendations from the national independent inquiry in full.
Davey: Adult Social Care Commission must be completed within one year
Responding to the Health and Social Care Committee’s evidence session on Adult Social Care Reform with Sir Andrew Dilnot CBE, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
Andrew Dilnot is absolutely right that this review could be completed within one year.
The social care crisis is forcing patients to be treated in hospital corridors while elderly people sell their homes to pay for care. After years of being let down so badly by the Conservatives, they cannot afford to wait while the government drags its heels for another three years.
MP Calls for Greater Support for Off-Grid Homes
Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick has called for greater Government support to help those in off-grid homes deal with high energy prices.
During a debate on the decarbonisation of homes in Westminster today, David Chadwick highlighted that Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe has an extremely high number of homes not connected to the national gas grid, with most being reliant on heating oil to keep their homes warm.
Starmer NHS speech: Government risks “putting hip replacements over heart attacks” as 12-hour A&E waits soar
Just 38 upskirting cases a year being passed to Crown Office
4 in 10 Scots go without recent dentist check-up
Starmer NHS speech: Government risks “putting hip replacements over heart attacks” as 12-hour A&E waits soar
Lib Dems warn that Government risks “putting hip replacements over heart attacks” by neglecting the crisis in emergency care and ‘bed blocking’ caused by the social care crisis.
Figures reveal almost 200,000 12-hour “trolley waits” in A&E since Labour took office last July.
Average of 1,330 patients a day are facing waits of 12 hours or more before being admitted to hospital from A&E.
Lib Dems have urged the Government to complete social care review by end of year rather than 2028.
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the Government’s plan for NHS waiting lists due to be announced today risks “putting hip replacements over heart attacks” unless it also tackles the crises in both emergency care and social care that are backing up A&E.
It comes as analysis by the party of NHS estimates has revealed there have been almost 200,000 12-hour “trolley waits” in A&E since the start of July, when the Labour government took office. That means that an average of 1,330 people a day had to wait more than 12 hours to be admitted to hospital from A&E between July and November.
So, for this Day Editor at least, another year starts and, in my case, in a country ill at ease with itself, the United States. It’s an insular and curiously transactional politics here, where the impact of its leadership is seen mostly in terms of what America does to others rather than in terms of how it is perceived by allies and enemies alike. There is no room for doubt or uncertainty in the minds of the radicals soon to be running this country.
Which inevitably brings me to the recent antics of Elon Musk, whose astonishing firehose of untruths and bombast on X, aimed at the politicians he feels he has bought and paid for, and those in other countries by whom he feels threatened, have done so much to alienate his “customers” internationally. There is clearly something wrong with him, or perhaps there always was and we just hadn’t appreciated it. But his apparent desire to overturn democratically elected governments that displease him isn’t going to go away anytime soon.
Labour seem determined to humour him, which is evidently going to fail. When someone is as astonishingly wealthy as Musk is, and so unused to being refused, he has no need to play by any of the usual rules of debate. And with a media platform under his control which is increasingly a meeting place for some of the most unpleasant elements of our society, the risks that individuals or groups act to advance his beliefs and wishes are genuine. As he has seemingly become more and more radicalised, so has his ability to radicalise others.
Shocking research reveals almost 4 in 5 car thefts go unsolved
Davey: Social care commission “long overdue”
Davey: social care review should be “done and dusted within a year”
Flu admissions: alarming consequences from lack of winterpoofing
SNP have starved local communities of funding for public toilets
Shocking research reveals almost 4 in 5 car thefts go unsolved
Shock data reveals that on average 78.5% of all car thefts go unsolved, a grand total of 24,837 in the quarter ending June 2024.
Liberal Democrats are urging the government to restore proper community policing, where officers have the time and resources to properly respond to neighbourhood crimes like car theft.
Data from the Home Office reveals the extent of the car theft epidemic in England and Wales, with almost 25,000 car thefts going unsolved in just three months.
The Metropolitan Police force reported the worst figures, with a staggering 90% of all reported car thefts going unsolved. South Yorkshire followed closely behind with 85% of theft going unsolved, Essex, Wiltshire, Sussex and Hertfordshire also all reported that at least 80% of car thefts were unsolved in the quarter ending June 2024.
By contrast, only 2.8% or just under 900 cases on average end with the criminal being charged or summonsed across the whole of England and Wales.
It follows previous Liberal Democrat research that revealed last year, police did not even attend the scene in over 70% of car theft cases.
The Liberal Democrats have blamed the previous Conservative government for these figures, arguing that years of ineffective resourcing has left frontline policing decimated. This includes the decision to take over 4,500 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) off the streets since 2015.
The party is calling on the government to urgently restore proper community policing, where officers have the time and resources to properly respond to neighbourhood crimes like car theft.
Commenting on the data, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:
Tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales are being left without the justice they deserve, with a staggeringly high number of car thefts going unsolved, and thieves getting away scot free.
This cannot continue. Every victim of a crime deserves to feel safe and protected by the police, but unfortunately after brutal cuts to community police officers that is far from the truth.
We urge the new government to change the course by getting tough on crime, investing properly in local neighbourhood policing and keeping communities safe.
Davey: Social care commission “long overdue”
Commenting on the Government’s annoucement of an independent commission into adult social care, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
One in two Brits not confident police would turn up if their home was burgled
Poll reveals almost one in two adults would not be confident the police would turn up if their home was burgled or they were the victim of a car theft
Some Brits are putting off calling the police because they worried it will take too long for them to arrive or they won’t take the incident seriously
Lib Dems warn of “crisis in confidence” in police and call on government to restore public trust in policing
Nearly half of people say they are not confident that the police would turn up and properly investigate if they were the victim of crimes such as burglaries or car thefts, shocking new polling by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
46% of adults reported that they were not confident that the police would turn up and properly investigate if their home was burgled. This was even higher among those who were 65 or older, with 54% saying they were not confident.
Over 1 million people were unable to contact their GP in the past month
1.1 million people who attempted to contact their GP in the past month could not get through, accounting for one in 20 of all people who tried, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
Analysis of the latest ONS survey on health care by the Liberal Democrats found that in just one month, 4.8 million people who tried to reach their GP could not make contact on the same day. This accounts for close to a quarter (23%) of all people who tried.
Of these, 2.2 million patients had to wait several days to make contact, while over 1.1 million were completely unable to access their NHS GP in the month.
More than 2 million people said that they found it difficult to contact their GP in the past month, equating to 10.8% of all people who tried. The percentage of people who said they had a difficult experience rose when looking at those who tried making contact by telephone to 13.3%, or 1.2 million people.
Mark Hofman’s interesting critique of the recent English Devolution White Paper is, effectively, a plea to retain decision making closer to communities. And, of course, devolving powers to a body further removed from the people it serves is in danger of resembling an oxymoron – larger councils, covering relatively vast geographic areas, are less likely to understand the needs of less homogeneous, less visible communities.
From the perspective of a Parish Council Chair though, what is most depressing about the White Paper is the way in which it completely disregards an entire tier of local government, the Town and Parish Councils of England. 10,000 councils and parish meetings, 100,000 councillors, all dismissed as an apparent irrelevance. And yet, the Government were so close to getting it.
The White Paper states:
“For hyper-local issues, communities should be empowered to make change happen – such as taking over ownership of treasured community assets, and working with civic society organisations to drive community improvements”
but in communities across the country, Town and Parish Councils are already doing just that. And, as principal authorities grapple with financial crises, our tier is increasingly taking on those facets of local provision which enhance our communities. From youth services in Yate, to community festivals in Hereford, and parks and public toilets in Taunton, local councils are stepping in where the Counties, Unitaries and Districts can’t or won’t. Even a council as small as my village of Creeting St Peter provides essential street lighting and a Speed Indicator Device. We develop Neighbourhood Plans which help to drive house building in our communities, something that this Government is particularly keen on. Does Angela Rayner recognise that? Like heck she does.
I’ll freely admit that I’ve been a bit sceptical about the campaign to rejoin the European Union. Not because I don’t believe that we should be within the fold rather than outside it but rather, I felt that we needed to be clear as a nation about what we really wanted of the relationship. Also, having put our neighbours through the psychodrama that was Brexit, they needed to be confident that we really meant it before attempting to negotiate a return.
The Party itself has struggled with determining a campaigning stance. Those who joined the Party as a campaigning vehicle to overturn the 2016 referendum have mostly sought an avowedly pro-Rejoin stance, whilst others, more cautious about losing potential voters, have soft-pedalled such a stance whilst indicating their support for an eventual return. The fairly disastrous campaigns of 2017 and 2019 reinforced the sense of caution.
But the news that polling by the European Council for Foreign Relations suggests that British voters are now willing to accept free movement as part of the conditions for rejoining the Single Market, perhaps changes the game.
Ambulance delays crisis: Streeting must make a statement to Parliament
Syria: Assad must now face justice for his crimes
Ambulance delays crisis: Streeting must make a statement to Parliament
Responding to reports that heart attack patients are being advised to make their own way to hospital while six of England’s ten ambulance trusts are at risk of service failure, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan said:
The shocking reports on the state of ambulance services are extremely concerning, and show the dire situation in which the Conservative government has left so many of our vital NHS services.
If, like me, you’ve been an observer of American politics over the decades, one thing that is glaringly obvious is the amount of money that washes through the system, paying for advertising, cadres of professional staff and all of the paraphernalia that make electoral politics increasingly a game for the wealthy or those with access to the wealthy. One candidate in a Senate or Gubernatorial race can, if they’re unlucky, spend as much as the British political parties combined in a General Election campaign.
We already have cause for concern over the influence of a small number of multi-millionaires on our politics. The Conservative Party has become increasingly dependent on a small number of people to finance its campaigns, leading to suggestions of Russian influence and interference. And, of course, there have been plenty of accusations made regarding Nigel Farage’s links with senior Russian officials. But the cost of campaigns has increased, and with party memberships in historic decline, relying on membership fees is a one way journey to financial, and thus political, oblivion.
Pat McFadden: government’s targets will be meaningless unless they reverse disastrous mistakes
Scot Lib Dems reveal 27,954 empty homes across Scotland
Key mental health targets breached for 168,000 people
Pat McFadden: government’s targets will be meaningless unless they reverse disastrous mistakes
Responding to Pat McFadden on the Laura Kuenssberg show on the government’s plan for change, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:
The government’s targets will be utterly meaningless unless they reverse the disastrous mistakes made so far.
Scrapping the Winter Fuel Payment will force vulnerable pensioners to choose between heating and eating and their family farm tax risks a lost generation of farmers.
Ministers must swallow their pride, recognise the damage that these proposals will do and scrap the family farm tax and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments.
Scot Lib Dems reveal 27,954 empty homes across Scotland
Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Paul McGarry has today accused the SNP of a “massive failure” to tackle the housing crisis after new research by his party uncovered that almost 28,000 homes are lying empty across Scotland.
A freedom of information request submitted by Scottish Liberal Democrats asked all 32 of Scotland’s local councils how many homes were classed as long-term vacant, meaning they have been empty for longer than 6 months.
The request found that:
Across the 30 councils with data on how many homes are long-term vacant, there are 27,954 long-term vacant properties.
There are 3,093 long-term vacant homes in Edinburgh, 2,929 in Aberdeenshire, 2,801 in Glasgow and 2,584 in Argyll & Bute.
Of the councils with data for how long they had been vacant, 1,420 had been vacant for longer than a year, while 2,609 had been vacant for more than 5 years and 5,937 more than 10 years.
In 2023/24, only 579 properties were brought back into use in Glasgow- just 20% of the number of long-term vacant homes.
In 2023/24, just 71 properties were brought back into use in Dumfries & Galloway, despite the number of long-term vacant properties being 1,211.
Bank of England: Ministers need to set out steps to Trump-proof economy
McArthur urges MPs to back assisted dying bill
McArthur expresses delight as UK Parliament backs Assisted Dying bill
Bank of England: Ministers need to set out steps to Trump-proof economy
Responding to the Bank of England’s fiscal stability report which warned of the potential impact of the impending Donald Trump Presidency on the economy, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:
After years of Conservative economic vandalism our economy has seen sluggish growth and people have been hammered by spiralling mortgage rates.
The incoming Trump administration could cause yet more damage and the new government needs to urgently act to prepare our economy to prevent this.
Ministers need to set out the steps they are taking to Trump-proof our economy and ensure that people will not be hit with another round of financial hardship.
McArthur urges MPs to back assisted dying bill
Speaking ahead of the debate and vote on Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill in the UK Parliament, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur has urged MPs to back the bill in the first debate and vote on end-of-life choices in the UK Parliament since 2015.
IFS family farm tax: Government needs to swallow their pride and axe the tax
Responding to the IFS suggesting that the Government changes its proposals to farmland inheritance tax, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:
The Government hid behind the IFS to try and justify this disastrous policy. That very same organisation is now telling them that their own proposals need an overhaul.
It would be beggars belief for the government to continue to push forward with these stupid plans.
They need to swallow their pride, realise the damage this family farm tax will do and axe the tax.
the Football Governance Bill – establishing an independent football regulator as well as licensing of football clubs
the Water (Special Measures) Bill – strengthening Ofwat and to create the means to put failing water companies into special measures
It’s a good week for Liberal Democrat Oral Questions, with one on each day;
On Monday, John Russell asks the Government for its plans to increase the number of homes fitted with solar panels
Jonny Oates asks what representations are being made to the Israeli Government of visa restrictions on international aid workers to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on Tuesday
Wednesday sees Dorothy Thornhill ask what is being done to encourage landlords back in to the long-term private rental sector
and on Thursday, Mike German will be seeking clarity on the Government’s plans to close the controversial Wethersfield site currently used to house asylum seekers
There’s an interesting debate on Thursday, on the case against politicisation of the Civil Service, at the behest of former Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler of Brockwell. Tom McNally, Claire Tyler and William Wallace are currently expected to speak from our benches, whilst David Frost will utter some idiocy or other from the Conservative benches. I suspect that the masses ranks of former mandarins might have a thing or two to teach him still…
Three in five Brits expect food prices to rise because of family farm tax
Wendy Chamberlain appointed carer’s charity Vice President
Three in five Brits expect food prices to rise because of family farm tax
Shocking new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals that almost 60% of Brits expect food prices to rise because of the Family Farm Tax announced in the Budget. The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to reject the government’s Finance Bill, given the impact of the budget on family farms.
The ways in which Brits are planning to cope with the price increase are even more worrying, with almost half (44%) of those expecting rises admitting they will buy cheaper alternatives if food prices do rise.
A further 35% of those expecting rises reveal that they will cut back on the food they buy as a direct result of the tax hike revealed by the government in the budget.
The poll reveals the serious effect food price rises could have on people’s health. With 18% of those expecting rises revealing they are likely to buy less fresh fruit and vegetables if prices go up because of the family farm tax.
The impact on small businesses and the high street is also apparent, with 20% of this group saying they will look to shop from bigger supermarkets. This is another hit to small businesses already concerned about the rise in employers’ NIC increase, and the impact the bus fare cap may have on people visiting their local high street.
Davey: NICs hit is creating a perfect storm for the care sector
Davey on Ofgem energy price rise: Freeze energy bills and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Chamberlain calls for energy bills to be frozen and Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated after energy price rise
Davey: NICs hit is creating a perfect storm for the care sector
Analysis released by the Nuffield Trust today (Friday 22 Nov) has found that the changes to Employer’s NICs look set to cost the adult social care sector over £900m next year, more than wiping out the extra funds allocated to social care at the Budget. The analysis by Nuffield Trust also estimates that the 18,000 independent organisations providing adult social care in England will be faced with increased costs of an estimated £2.8bn in the next financial year, meaning many businesses – especially smaller ones – are at risk of going bust.
Responding, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said:
These damning figures lay bare the devastating impact of the National Insurance hike on social care. The government must immediately do the right thing and exempt care providers from this ill-thought through tax hike.
This hit is creating a perfect storm for a care sector already damaged by the Conservative party’s neglect. Now there is a real danger small care providers will simply not survive.
Ultimately, it’s people in care who will suffer the consequences. The Chancellor must urgently act to help our social care sector before it’s too late.
Davey on Ofgem energy price rise: Freeze energy bills and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has today called on the government to freeze energy bills so that Ofgem’s newly announced rise in the price cap will not go ahead.
He also called on the government to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments or risk pensioners being “left out in the cold” this winter.
Ofgem announced today that the energy price cap will rise by 1.2% to £1,738 a year in January, following the previous 10% rise in October. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to cancel this rise in energy bills so that households don’t face even higher energy costs in the new year.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
Enough is enough. This further rise in energy prices cannot go ahead. As we enter another cold and difficult winter, many people simply can’t afford to see their heating bills go up yet again.
The disastrous government cuts to the Winter Fuel Payments coupled with this energy price rise will be a hammer blow for millions of vulnerable pensioners this winter.
The new government must step in now, cancel this bill rise and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments to stop families and pensioners being left out in the cold this winter.
This is a government that has pledged to bring down energy bills, it is time for them to live up to their word.
John Prescott: his legacy will be remembered far into the future
Ofwat on water bill rises: once again the regulator is proving itself unfit for purpose
ICC arrest warrants for Hamas and Netanyahu: UK government must uphold ruling
Carers UK research: Government must recognise the critical role carers play
Rennie comments on long-awaited Glen Sannox delivery
Minister refuses to apologise for wasting £30m on social care failure
John Prescott: his legacy will be remembered far into the future
Responding to the news of John Prescott passing away, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
I am deeply saddened by the news of John Prescott passing away and my thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family.
John Prescott will be remembered as a towering figure in British politics and his unwavering tenacity on the causes he championed should be a lesson to us all.
His influence on our modern society will still be felt for years to come and his legacy remembered far into the future.
Ofwat on water bill rises: once again the regulator is proving itself unfit for purpose
Responding to comments by the Ofwat Chief Executive on the Today Programme this morning where he said that water bills will likely go up by more than initially expected, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:
Customers have been forced to watch whilst filthy sewage wrecks their local environment as they pay through the nose for the pleasure.
Once again the regulator is proving itself utterly unfit for purpose.
The whole industry needs to be ripped up from top to bottom, overseen by a new regulator with real powers to clamp down on these polluting firms.
ICC arrest warrants for Hamas and Netanyahu: UK government must uphold ruling
Responding to the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP said:
The previous Conservative Government denigrated the International Criminal Court and undermined the UK’s standing on the world stage. It is vital that the new Government complies with our obligations under international law by committing to upholding this ruling, including enforcing arrest warrants.
The ICC must be free to conduct its work without fear or favour. This is a very significant decision by the court. It reflects the devastating impact that the war between Hamas and Israel has had on many civilians.
We urgently need an immediate bilateral ceasefire to put a stop to the humanitarian devastation in Gaza, get the hostages home and open the door to a two-state solution.
Carers UK research: government needs to recognise the critical role carers play
Health survey reveals impact of Long Covid on Scots
Cole-Hamilton comments on Audit Scotland report
Carers UK research: government needs to recognise the critical role carers play
Responding to Carers UK research putting the economic value of care provided by unpaid carers at £184 billion a year, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
I have been a carer most of my life, first for my mum when I was young and now for my severely disabled son John, so I know how challenging it can be, but also how rewarding.
These findings show just how much carers contribute to our society, but also how hard it is for carers to get the support they need.
While the Liberal Democrats helped to secure a new right to carer’s leave, the last Conservative government took carers for granted and left them to fend for themselves. It even hounded thousands of carers for repayments of Carer’s Allowance caused by the DWP’s own broken system.
The government now needs to fully recognise the critical role carers play and end the years of neglect under the Conservatives. That includes helping carers to juggle work with caring responsibilities, by introducing paid carer’s leave and fixing Carer’s Allowance so it doesn’t penalise work.
Health survey reveals impact of Long Covid on Scots
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today said the SNP’s response to Long Covid has been ‘almost non-existent’ despite sufferers telling a government health survey about the toll it was taking on their lives.
Dentists left in the dark as government fails to assess impact of NICs hikes
Thames Water: we need to see an outright ban on exec bonuses whilst sewage scandal drags on
Cole-Hamilton attacks national insurance impact on GPs and care providers
Dentists left in the dark as government fails to assess impact of NICs hikes
The Liberal Democrats have revealed that the government made no assessment of its recent tax hike on NHS dentists.
Responding to a parliamentary question from the Liberal Democrats, Labour government minister Stephen Kinnock responded that “no assessments have been made yet on the potential impact of an increase in employers’ National Insurance Contributions on dental practices’ finances.”
The government announced at the budget that it would increase employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) next year but has faced a backlash from health and care providers who will receive no extra support.
Whilst the government has confirmed that NHS hospitals and secondary care will be exempt, GPs, pharmacies, hospices and NHS dentists will not. This is putting financial pressure on these vital services and could force them to cut appointments and staff numbers.
The British Dental Association has slammed the move and the government’s failure to carry out an impact assessment, commenting that “it’s utterly reckless to heap new costs on struggling practices without even considering the impact.” NHS dentists across the country are warning that they will have to cut services for patients or even reduce staff numbers.
One practice in Tyneside has said that “it’s another nail in the coffin of NHS Dentistry.” Another practice warned “the recent changes to Employers NI and raising of the living wage will lead to bankruptcy and breakdowns.”
The Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to exempt NHS dentists and those providing vital health and care services, including GP surgeries, social care providers, hospices, charitable providers of health and care, and pharmacies, from this tax rise.
Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Helen Morgan MP said:
The government has pulled the rug out from under crucial public health services without thinking twice.
It’s shocking that this careless decision has been taken with no regard to the impact it would have on NHS dentists. Many will have no choice but to cut services and staff numbers.
NHS dentists and other health and care providers must be exempted from the Chancellor’s tax increase. Without reversing the hike, the government’s plan to rescue our health service is a plan in name only.
Chair of the British Dental Association, Eddie Crouch said:
When millions can’t access NHS dentistry it’s utterly reckless to heap new costs on struggling practices without even considering the impact.
The Treasury failed to grasp that primary care is delivered by thousands of small businesses. Each requires immediate answers on how they’re expected to balance their books.
Thames Water: we need to see an outright ban on exec bonuses whilst sewage scandal drags on
Responding to reporting that the regulator Ofwat is expected to say on Thursday a £195,000 bonus awarded to the boss of Thames Water should not be paid for by customers, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:
The fact that Thames Water is paying out any bonuses in the first place is an utter disgrace.
It is a welcome shock that Ofwat is actually acting to protect bill paying customers for once after proving completely toothless in cracking down on these polluting firms for years.
Even when the regulator does act against this broken industry it does so in the meekest possible terms. A Chief Exec receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds in bonuses whilst the firm they run is on the brink of collapse is beggars belief.
We need to see an outright ban on water company bosses bonuses whilst this scandal drags on and Ofwat replaced by a new regulator with real teeth to crack down on this industry once and for all.
Martin stretching climate credibility with watering down comments
Planning applications fall across almost every category
Almost 1 in 6 calls in NHS 24 go unanswered
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today said that every corner of our NHS is suffering under SNP mismanagement as he revealed that almost 1 in 6 calls to NHS 24 went unanswered last year.
A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request revealed that in 2023/24, 16.5% of calls to the NHS 24-111 service went unanswered.
The freedom of information request also shows that in 2023/24, the longest wait for a call to be answered was more than 3 hours in January 2024. The average wait for a call to be answered was almost 28 minutes in March 2024.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said:
As these figures show, too many calls are going unanswered and people are facing very long waits before they get through to someone who can help.
Under the SNP’s mismanagement, this is another part of our NHS that is crying out for help. From excruciating waits at A&E to record numbers of people stuck in hospital, patients are suffering and staff are beyond breaking point.
Scottish Liberal Democrats want a complete overhaul of the SNP’s failed NHS recovery plan. We need a new plan that will tackle burnout among staff and address core problems, such as the crises in mental health and social care. That’s how we can ease pressures across the rest of the health service and get everyone the care they desperately deserve.
Martin stretching climate credibility with watering down comments
Responding to Scotland’s Net Zero Secretary, Gillian Martin, telling the BBC that the SNP government haven’t been ‘watering down’ their climate targets, despite choosing to scrap key emissions goals just weeks ago, Scottish Liberal Democrat climate crisis spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:
Remembrance Sunday: we must never forget their sacrifice
Over two million GP appointments at risk due to National Insurance tax hike
NICs Rise: Govt must invest in healthcare
Rennie comments on primary school teacher training cut
Rennie: RAAC threatens to wreck college budgets
1.3m school working days lost to mental ill health
Remembrance Sunday: we must never forget their sacrifice
Commenting on Remembrance Sunday, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
Remembrance Sunday is such an important day for all of us. We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for our peace and for the future we all share.
We must never forget their sacrifice nor can we forget the veterans, many of whom will march past the Cenotaph today. They still bear the scars, both mental and physical, from their service, and our country can and must do much more to support them.
Over two million GP appointments at risk due to National Insurance tax hike
The rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions at the Budget could end up costing GP surgeries the equivalent of over two million appointments a year, Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed.
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to exempt GPs and other health and care providers from the rise, but so far ministers have refused to do so. The party is seeking to use amendments to upcoming legislation on the Budget to exempt GPs from the National Insurance tax rise.
The Institute of General Practice Management has estimated that the rise will mean the average GP surgery’s tax bill will go up by around £20,000 a year. This could end up costing GPs an estimated £125.5 million a year in additional costs, for all 6,275 GP practices in England.
ONS GP Survey: Two in five who could not get through to GP did nothing about symptoms
Interest rate cut: Govt must work to deliver growth, especially through small businesses
Davey to visit Ukraine charity: “Leaders across Europe must stand up to Putin”
ONS GP Survey: Two in five who could not get through to GP did nothing about symptoms
Responding to the latest ONS Survey, which showed that two in five (39%) people who were unable to contact their GP in the past month opted to do nothing about their ailment, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Helen Morgan MP said:
Our primary care services are at breaking point. Patients are left completely without options, instead letting their issues get worse when they are unable to get the care they need.
The blame for this shocking state of affairs lies squarely with the Conservative Party whose years of shameful neglect has broken our NHS.
It is now down to the new government to rise to this challenge and rescue our health service. That is why it is so disappointing to see that instead of supporting our GPs they are piling more pressure on them with their national insurance hike.
The new government needs to urgently rethink these proposals, scrap the GP penalty and get patients the care they deserve.
Interest rate cut: Govt must work to deliver growth, especially through small businesses
Commenting after the Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4.75%, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:
This is welcome news for families across the country who are still living with the consequences of Conservative economic failure.
Notwithstanding, millions of households are still struggling with sky high mortgage payments two years on from the Conservatives’ disastrous mini-budget.
The burden of fixing the Conservatives’ mess has fallen on struggling households for too long. As rates are cut, the new Government must work to deliver growth in the economy, especially through small businesses and high streets.
I found myself enjoying some free bus rides yesterday. And no, I don’t have a concessionary bus pass – I’m not that old… yet – but our local Transport Museum here in Ipswich was having a vintage running day, with a collection of vintage buses operating three routes around the town. It all seemed somehow appropriate given the controversy over bus fares this week.
In choosing to freeze fuel duty whilst partially removing the fare cap on bus journeys, Rachel Reeves made a curious choice. Whilst yes, it will be popular with motorists, cheaper bus fares have been a boon to those outside major cities where the fare cap had little or no impact – in London, for example, the flat fare is £1.75. And, by shifting the financial incentives further towards cars, it hardly sends out a message that the Government is taking Net Zero seriously.
But it’s just another clumsy move by a a government which seems capable of little else, at least as far as the media are concerned. Even setting aside the inherent bias of much of the mainstream media though, an administration which came into power offering competence and integrity has burnt through quite a lot of credibility remarkably early in the piece. And, whilst the levels of incompetence and “sleaze” are minor compared to the chaotic shambles that was the Conservative government post-2019, expectations were rather higher.
Nonconformistradical "Their overall bills may well be high because electric heating is expensive"
I live in an (almost) all-electric home. I do have a wood burner stove but I've ...
Peter Davies Another group for whom this does not work are those in all-electric homes including many poor tenants in blocks of flats. Their overall bills may well be high b...
Tom Bailey “according to Mark Pack’s website, party membership dropped by a third over the course of the Con – Lib Dem Coalition. “
Did anyone ask those lost memb...
Ruth Bright During the unrest in 2011 Simon Hughes made a powerful statement telling rioters to go home. It came from a place of profound respect for, and understanding of,...
John Reed This is such a disappointing announcement.
We must push to have the present system for pricing all electricity based on the cost of the most expensive, usual...
There are three Bills before their Lordships’ House this week:
I found myself enjoying some free bus rides yesterday. And no, I don’t have a concessionary bus pass – I’m not that old… yet – but our local Transport Museum here in Ipswich was having a vintage running day, with a collection of vintage buses operating three routes around the town. It all seemed somehow appropriate given the controversy over bus fares this week.
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Brexit and summer holidays
The pine martens of Shropshire
The shame of Liverpool Labour councillors taking their allowances but not turning up to do the work
Nonconformistradical 
Peter Davies 
Tom Bailey 
Ruth Bright 
John Reed 