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Category Archives: News

ALDC by-election Report, 6th February

By Matthew Ma | Mon 10th February 2025 - 10:29 am

Welcome back from the break! There were 6 principal council seats up for election last week: 4 Labour, 1 Conservative, and 1 Lib Dem defence. Labour continues to decline, holding only one seat while losing two to Reform and one to the Conservatives. The Tories also lost their seat to Reform, while the Lib Dems held their only seat of the week.

In Wokingham BC, Cllr Chetna Jamthe secured over 50% of the vote and maintained a healthy lead over second place Conservative candidate. Well done and congratulations to Chetna and the team for the win in the Winnersh ward.

Wokingham BC, Winnersh
Liberal Democrat (Chetna Jamthe): 1177 (52.7%, -7.2%)
CON: 833 (37.3%, +10.7%)
LAB: 126 (5.6%, -5.1%)
GRN: 99 (4.4%, new)

Tendring DC saw another strong performance of the Lib Dems, as Rachael Richards doubles the vote share, but ultimately losing to Reform in The Bentleys & Frating. Well done to Rachael and the local team for the work put into running this great campaign, you’ll get them next time.

Tendring DC, The Bentleys & Frating
Reform: 432 (45.3%, new)
Liberal Democrat (Rachael Richards): 328 (34.4%, +16.8%)
Conservative: 163 (17.1%, -31.4%)
Labour: 31 (3.2%, -7.7%)

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Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 6 Comments

An opportunity to help shape party policy

By Mary Reid | Fri 7th February 2025 - 5:38 pm

Lib Dem members decide on policy at Conference. Some of the policy motions are submitted by members or by local parties, but some of motions are the result of a quite long drawn out process carried out by Policy Working Groups. Typically these working groups spend around 18 months gathering evidence and ideas and then carrying out informal consultations, before putting together a detailed report and Conference motion. There is more information about how all this works here.

Every so often the Federal Policy Committee puts out a call for members of new Policy Working Groups. They are looking for people with expertise in the areas of interest – as professionals, academics, service users or with other relevant life experiences.

Currently the Federal Policy Committee is trying to recruit members to two new working groups, one looking at Mental Health and the other at High Streets and Town Centres.

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Tagged policy working groups | 1 Comment

Calum Miller: Trump’s proposal for Gaza “bizarre” and “dangerous”

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 5th February 2025 - 9:00 am

I’m sure many of us will be watching the television in absolute horror this morning. It is absolutely nauseating to watch Donald Trump talk about the ethnic cleansing of a people as if it is a normal thing to do. We should not tolerate it and we need to all it out for what it is.

Three Lib Dem MPs have spoken out this morning.

Lib Dem Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller has emphatically condemned Trump’s plan, calling it “bizarre” and ‘dangerous”.

He said:

Donald Trump’s proposal for Gaza is bizarre but also dangerous. It shows casual disregard for the rights and aspirations of Palestinians and threatens the basis for peace at this fragile moment.

The UK cannot be silent – we must make clear that this proposal is damaging, wrong and would amount to a severe breach of international law.

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Also posted in Europe / International | Tagged calum miller, ed davey, gaza, layla moran and palestine | 20 Comments

3-7 February 2025 – this week in the Lords

By Mark Valladares | Mon 3rd February 2025 - 12:13 pm

Another busy week awaits in the Lords and so, without further ado…

There’s a bucketful of Liberal Democrat activity this week, and we’ll start with Oral Questions. On Tuesday, Mike Storey will be asking the Government what steps they are taking to deal with mental health problems in primary schools, whilst on Wednesday, William Wallace seeks clarity on Government plans for changes they are considering for citizenship education in schools to accompany proposals to reduce the voting age to 16. Alison Suttie quizzes the Minister on UK assessment of Russian interference in Moldovan politics on Thursday.

There are two Liberal Democrat-led Short Debates, with John Lee querying Government plans to encourage first-time investors in the stock market on Monday, and Olly Grender asking the Government what steps they are taking to ensure that fines paid by water companies are used to repair the damage done by sewage pollution.

The Bills up for debate this week include:

the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, a.k.a. “Martyn’s Law”, which will compel all UK venues with a capacity of more than 200 people to have plans for an attack on their premises, which is at its Committee Stage
the Renters’ Rights Bill, which is due its Second Reading
the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which will have its Third Reading
the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill, which is at its Committee Stage

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Also posted in Parliament | Tagged alison suttie, dominic addington, Jane Bonham Carter, john lee, john sharkey, lorely burt, lynne featherstone, meral hussein ece, mike storey, olly grender, paul scriven, ros scott, sue garden, tim clement-jones and william wallace | Leave a comment

1-2 February 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 2nd February 2025 - 10:30 pm

Davey: Chancellor must order economic forecasts on UK-EU customs union ahead of Spring Statement
Cooper ruling out youth mobility scheme is “short-sighted and bitter blow to young people”
Davey: PM must “drop his red line” on Customs Union as he meets EU leaders
Scottish Liberal Democrats table amendment to erase SNP power grab “for good”

Davey: Chancellor must order economic forecasts on UK-EU customs union ahead of Spring Statement

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to order an official analysis on the economic benefits of a UK-EU customs union, ahead of March’s Spring Statement.

He said that families and businesses worried about the state of the economy and public finances deserve “full transparency about the benefits that a closer trading relationship with Europe would bring.”

In a letter to the Chancellor, Ed Davey said the Treasury should commission the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to analyse the impact a customs deal with the EU would have for the UK economy and public finances. He said these updated forecasts should be made public as part of the OBR’s forecasts due to be published alongside the Spring Statement on 26 March.

The Liberal Democrat Leader also urged Keir Starmer to begin talks on a UK-EU Customs Union in his meeting with EU leaders in Brussels expected on Monday 3rd February, with an initial first step of agreeing to join the pan-European customs scheme (PEM).

The OBR has previously forecast that the UK economy is set to take a 4% hit over 15 years due to the impact of Brexit. According to a recent study conducted by the London School for Economics, the Conservative’s Brexit deal has led to a £27 billion drop (6.4%) in the value of UK goods exports to the EU.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey commented:

The Chancellor is tying herself in knots trying to think up new ways to grow our economy. But there’s a solution right under her nose: a new UK-EU customs union deal that boosts trade for British businesses and raises vital tax revenue for our public services.

It’s a no-brainer. After years of damage thanks to the Conservatives’ botched trade deal with the EU, this would improve access to our biggest trading partner and put rocket boosters under economic growth.

Families and businesses around the country are deeply worried about the state of the economy and our public services. They deserve full transparency from the government about the benefits that a closer trading relationship with Europe would bring.

Keir Starmer should use his meeting with EU leaders on Monday to fire the starting gun on agreeing a new customs partnership with Europe. There is no time to waste in fixing the damage done by the Conservatives, cutting red tape for businesses and strengthening our hand with Donald Trump.

Cooper ruling out youth mobility scheme is “short-sighted and bitter blow to young people”

Responding to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper ruling out any plans for Labour to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU during an interview with Trevor Phillips this morning, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller MP said:

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, calum miller, Customs Union, ed davey, social care, uk economy and youth mobility | 1 Comment

Ed Davey on Kuenssberg: EU/UK customs union would do more for economy than anything Government is doing

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 2nd February 2025 - 3:10 pm

Ed Davey had his first Sunday morning outing on the media of 2025 with an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

As we’ve hit half a decade since the awful reality of Brexit, the conversation was mostly about our desire to see a UK/EU Customs Union to get our economy growing again. He said:

What I am arguing is if we can have a UK EU Customs Union we can tear down the trade barriers that the Conservatives put up for our exporters and get that growth far more quickly than anything Rachel Reeves and Labour are saying at the moment

Ed did well to get that point across. If I had to nit-pick, I’d have given a few examples of how our exporters have been done over by the crappy deal we have at the minute. I’d have mentioned the £4 billion that Brexit has taken out of our economy and how getting into a customs union could get at least some of that back and help jobs and growth here.

He could also have highlighted the polls which suggest that only a third of people think that Brexit has been a success. Clearly the public know fine that they have been completely done over and are open now to attempts to repair the damage.

I might also have dropped the spectre of Donald Trump inspired economic warfare in as well and how we and the EU would be in much better shape to deal with that if we worked together. I mean, we have a US administration whose members seem to want to make things as difficult as possible for our Government to achieve even its own modest aims to boost their political allies on the extreme right wing.

I’ve summarised the interview below. What do you think?

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Tagged brexit, Customs Union, ed davey, eu, laura kuenssberg and sunday with laura kuenssberg | 5 Comments

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie selected for winnable Edinburgh Northern

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 1st February 2025 - 10:16 am

Congratulations to the brilliant Sanne Dijkstra-Downie who has been selected for the target seat of Edinburgh Northern for the Scottish Parliament elections. I have known her for years and she has the biggest work ethic combined with wisdom, compassion and calmness. I really want to see her in Holyrood come the next elections in 2026.

The new Edinburgh Northern seat has a large chunk of Alex Cole-Hamilton’s current seat and we have beaten the SNP in its boundaries before. Alex will be standing in the redrawn Edinburgh Western which sees him retain many of his strongholds and take on the Murrayfield end currently represented by Christine Jardine at Westminster.

Sanne has lived in Edinburgh for 23 years, living in the constituency for 20 years with her husband and two children. In her professional life, Sanne raises money for charities that provide educational opportunities, and helped establish an ocean protection initiative.

She has a strong record of community action, speaking out to secure better cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and more protection for Wardie Bay. In 2022, Sanne was elected as an Edinburgh Councillor for Forth ward, topping the poll ahead of Scottish Labour’s then Edinburgh leader. She sits on the Transport and Environment and Policy and Sustainability Committees.

Sanne said:

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Tagged 2026 holyrood elections, edinbugh northern and sanne dijkstra-downie | 2 Comments

31 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 31st January 2025 - 11:40 pm

Police funding: Govt must address police chiefs’ concerns
Land use framework: Govt struggles to understand rural communities
Chris Philp: No-one can doubt his work ethic after he crashed the economy in 39 days
Cole-Hamilton: After half a decade of Brexit damage, we need a UK-EU Customs Union deal
Councillor and environmental campaigner selected to take on SNP in Edinburgh Northern
Train fares to rise yet again

Police funding: Govt must address police chiefs’ concerns

Commenting on the Home Office pledge to invest an additional £100m for neighbourhood policing in England and Wales. This is after several forces have warned that they will have to make cuts this year, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:

This is just a drop in the ocean compared to what’s actually needed to restore proper community policing, after years of ineffective resourcing from the former Conservative government.

The Home Secretary needs to urgently address police chiefs’ concerns, who have been warning for months now about devastating budget shortfalls.

The government must step up to fix this by properly funding the officers our communities need – not passing the buck to local police chiefs to put up people’s council tax instead. Only then will communities see the proper frontline policing they need, with more bobbies on the beat stopping and solving crime.

Land use framework: Govt struggles to understand rural communities

Commenting on the government’s announcement of a new land use plan, Liberal Democrat Environment and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

After years of chaos under the former Conservative government, it’s clear that we need a strategic approach to fix our broken planning system and support British farmers, who are so vital for our economy and environment. Nonetheless, we must show caution in our optimism.

Labour has shown time and again that it struggles to understand rural communities.

Liberal Democrats will continue to be the voice in Parliament for farmers and rural communities. The talk of unproductive land in the government’s framework could pose a risk to hill farmers who need our help now more than ever.

Chris Philp: No-one can doubt his work ethic after he crashed the economy in 39 days

Responding to Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp’s claims that Britons need a better work ethic, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said:

No-one can doubt Chris Philp’s work ethic after he crashed the economy in just 39 days as Treasury minister under Liz Truss.

He also treated himself to a £5,000 taxpayer–funded handout after finally resigning from Boris Johnson’s government.

The British public will no doubt take his advice with a bucketload of salt.

The Conservatives could do with showing a bit more humility after trashing the economy and leaving the NHS on its knees.

Cole-Hamilton: After half a decade of Brexit damage, we need a UK-EU Customs Union deal

Marking five years since the UK left the European Union, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today said that we need a brand-new UK-EU Customs Union deal to boost the economy and tear down trade barriers.

Mr Cole-Hamilton highlighted his party’s plans during a campaign visit to East Dunbartonshire, one of the most pro-remain parts of Scotland, where 71.4% of people voted to remain within the EU during the 2016 Brexit Referendum.

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, conservatives, Customs Union, daisy cooper, daniel o'malley, lisa smart, police, rail fares, rural communities, sanne dijkstra-downie and tim farron | Leave a comment

30 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 30th January 2025 - 11:00 pm

Water bills: bill payers fronting up the costs for these firms failings is “scandalous”
Ed Davey on Brexit 5 years on: Trump Presidency shows UK must lead in Europe to boost security and unlock growth
NHS 2025 mandate: lack of ambition “falls so far short of the mark”
Nearly 6,000 crimes still going unsolved every day
£56m lost to online shopping fraud up 20% compared to last year
Welsh Water price rise – customers paying the price for Government incompetence
Cole-Hamilton highlights SNP failure on fuel poverty

Water bills: bill payers fronting up the costs for these firms failings is “scandalous”

Responding to water bills rising by £123 a year on average, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

It is absolutely scandalous that customers will now have to pay through the nose for the shocking failings of water companies. The whole thing stinks.

The government has gone nowhere near far enough in clamping down on these greedy firms and protecting people’s pockets from them.

Their Water Bill has a gaping hole in it after failing to back a Liberal Democrat amendment which would have ensured that creditors, not bill payers would front up the cost of bailing out these broken companies.

Ministers have to realise this endless cycle of failure and customers paying for it will continue until Ofwat is ripped up and replaced by a new regulator that will clamp down on these firms once and for all.

Ed Davey on Brexit 5 years on: Trump Presidency shows UK must lead in Europe to boost security and unlock growth

Commenting on the fifth anniversary of the UK leaving the EU, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

The UK needs to lead in Europe and the world. It’s clear we cannot rely on Donald Trump – a man who has threatened to invade a NATO ally – to secure our continent. Strengthening ties of diplomacy and security with the EU is urgent.

We must repair the trading relationship with our neighbours that was so badly ruined under the Conservatives. Their deal has been an utter disaster for our country – for farmers, fishers and small businesses – caught up in red tape.

So far the Labour Government has failed to show the urgency and ambition needed to fix our relationship with Europe. Ministers must be in a parallel universe if they think we can grow the economy without boosting trade with our nearest neighbours.

A new UK-EU customs union deal will unlock growth, demonstrate British leadership and give us the best possible hand to play against President Trump.

NHS 2025 mandate: lack of ambition “falls so far short of the mark”

Responding to the Government’s 2025 mandate to NHS England, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

This should have been a line in the sand for our NHS. The normalisation of patients dying in corridors and people waiting endlessly for desperately needed care must end.

The previous Conservative Government’s shameful neglect brought us to this point but it is so disappointing to see this latest mandate from the Labour Government fall so far short of the mark.

There is no mention of the crisis in maternity or giving patients a legal right to see their GP within a week, as the Liberal Democrats have been calling for for years now.

It appears the Government has accepted a managed decline of our NHS, not rebuilding it to be the envy of the world as it once was. It is only patients who will bear the brunt of the Government’s refusal to step up properly.

Nearly 6,000 crimes still going unsolved every day

The Liberal Democrats are renewing calls for the government to implement proper community policing as new statistics reveal the extent of unsolved crime in the year ending September 2024.

The figures were revealed by the Home Office’s own statistics on crime outcomes, released earlier this morning.

2,136,252 crimes went unsolved across England and Wales in the year ending September 2024 – equivalent to 5,852 crimes going unsolved every day. This accounted for nearly 40% of all crimes recorded that year.

Meanwhile, just 363,843 crimes resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed – accounting for less than 7% of all cases.

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Also posted in Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged brexit, crime and policing, Customs Union, david chadwick, ed davey, helen morgan, lisa smart, NHS, online crime, tim farron and water industry | 3 Comments

Holocaust Denialism in the UK: A Growing Assault on Truth

By Jack Wilkin | Wed 29th January 2025 - 1:55 pm

In recent years, the United Kingdom has seen a troubling increase in Holocaust denialism, fuelled by disinformation, a lack of historical education, and the actions of influential public figures. The surge in ignorance about the Holocaust and a disturbing normalisation of anti-semitic rhetoric point to a deepening cultural and societal issue which is actively proliferating on social media.

A Worrying Decline Knowledge and the Rise of Hatred

A recent study highlights the gaps in Holocaust knowledge among Britons. Over half (52%) of respondents were unaware that six million Jews were systematically murdered during the Holocaust, while 22% grossly underestimated the number, believing it to be less than two million.

In addition, three out of four people admitted to not knowing about the Kindertransport – a major effort that saved thousands of Jewish children by relocating them to the UK during World War II. A similar study revealed that a third of young adults in the UK were unable to name Auschwitz or the other Nazi camps, signalling an erosion of collective memory and the long-term impacts of underfunded Holocaust education programs.

The resurgence of antisemitism compounds the issue of Holocaust denialism. The Jewish community in Britain has felt a growing sense of vulnerability and isolation. Nearly half of British Jews have contemplated leaving the UK in the past two years due to increasing antisemitic incidents, ranging from physical attacks to online hate speech. Public figures and watchdogs, such as Sir Peter Bazalgette, have warned that this trend is set to worsen over the next 20 years unless there is a meaningful change in education, legislation, and societal attitudes.

Role of Social Media

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Tagged anti-semitism and holocaust denial | 24 Comments

FCC report following agenda selection meeting

By Nick da Costa | Wed 29th January 2025 - 9:55 am

The Federal Conference Committee met on Saturday to run through a number of items leading up to Spring Conference in Harrogate, which is being held from 21 to 23 March 2025. This will be our first return to Harrogate in almost 16 years.

We had a large number of items submitted to Conference, in addition to report backs to the Committee from our Constitutional & Standing Orders Working Group.

We are delighted that so many people have already registered for Conference and we encourage any members who have not yet signed up to Conference to do so via: LINK

We aim to publish the agenda in the next couple of weeks.

The upcoming deadlines are:

Amendments and Emergency motions drafting advice deadline – 13:00 on 24 February 2025

Amendments and Emergency motions deadline – 13:00 on 10 March 2025

We received a large number of motions from across the party, and are extremely grateful for the time and effort that members make in formulating policy motions and ideas for debate at Conference. We really wish that we could select so many more that ended up on the final list, but as always time at conference is at a premium and a large number of motions, although selected in the first round, did not make it through the second round or third rounds when we then started to look at reducing timings.

As regularly mentioned, time is tight at conference, and especially this Spring Conference. There are a number of items that the Federal Conference Committee has very little control over, which we are forced to take at Conference. This signficantly reduces the time available at Conference for Policy Motions. For example, the FCC has to take Constitutional Amendments and Standing Order Amendments if they are ‘in order’ and thus have little leeway on rejecting these in order to allow more time for policy debates. Furthermore, we have a number of items (including one constitutional amendment) which the Committee felt needed a reasonable time to debate at Conference, and thus this also reduces the time available.

Furthermore, I would also like to mention the drafting advice service that the Federal Conference Committee offers. This service is provided by the Committee to offer drafting and language advice on motions submitted to conference and cannot always cover advice on policy matters; I would, in these instances, recommend reaching out to members of the Federal Policy Committee, spokespeople, and party AOs, who may have people within the their groups with specific policy expertise and would be able to assist with formulating policy. If you also want to find out more about how to write policy, the FCC will be undertaking a training session at Conference on how to write a good policy motion, and this information will be published in the Conference Agenda and Directory.

From the motions submitted, we selected: five policy motions and four constitutional amendments. The committee went through various rounds of selection, and it is always a very challenging decision to select which motions should or should not be added to the agenda. I would like to thank the staff who attended the full-day meeting and also the members of the committee for their contributions and hard work.

I have included the list of motions submitted, including the names of the motions and if selected/not selected and the brief reasons for non-selection, please note that some of the names of motions may vary between now and the publishing of the agenda.

We are looking forward seeing you at Conference, and if you have not yet had a chance to register, please do so via https://www.libdems.org.uk/conference

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Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged 2025 spring conference, featured, federal conference committee, federal conference committee report and lib dem conference | Leave a comment

Ed Davey’s statement on Holocaust Memorial Day

By The Voice | Mon 27th January 2025 - 7:30 am

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey’s statement on Holocaust Memorial Day:

80 years ago, seven thousand people were finally liberated from Auschwitz. Free at last, after years of unimaginable misery. In the years before, 1.1 million people had been murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz alone – mostly Jews.

As we commemorate 80 years since Britain and her allies defeated the Nazis and ended the Holocaust, we must never forget those appalling atrocities. We must never forget how six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis; how so much inhumanity was inflicted on humans by humans.

We must remember, so that we try harder

…

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Tagged ed davey and holocaust memorial day | Comments Off

25-26 January 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 26th January 2025 - 10:30 pm

NHS: “bonfire” of targets shows shocking lack of ambition for patients
Over 500 infrastructure incidents at delayed hospitals last year which now are “hanging by a thread”
Councils paying £24,000 more a year per pensioner in nursing costs as Lib Dems call on govt to reverse “foolish” NICs hike
Reeves on Kuenssberg: Chancellor’s approach to growth “does not survive contact with reality”
Badenoch on Kuenssberg: “Bungling Badenoch” still has no idea how angry people are at the damage the Conservatives did
Scottish Conservative leader urged to explain whether he believes triple lock should be means tested
Almost 1 in 5 senior mental health roles missing a permanent appointee

NHS: “bonfire” of targets shows shocking lack of ambition for patients

Responding to a report in the Times that the government is set to scrap half of NHS targets, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

Patients have put up with a health service that has been run into the ground and caused unnecessary suffering for millions.

The new government cannot claim to have broken with years of Conservative neglect simply by moving the goalposts in this way.

That is not delivering for patients, instead it is a sly attempt to give themselves an undeserved pat on the back.

From delays to reforms of social care, new hospitals being kicked into the longgrass and now this reported bonfire of NHS targets, this new government is showing a staggering lack of ambition for patients.

Over 500 infrastructure incidents at delayed hospitals last year which now are “hanging by a thread”

At hospitals in the New Hospital Programme which have seen their construction dates pushed back there were 506 infrastructure incidents – causing 32 days of clinical time to be lost

These sites also saw close to 100 floods last year – a quarter of all floods on the NHS England estate despite accounting for less than 1% of the buildings

Delayed hospitals have already had to shut all toilets on the estate following sewage leaks and burst water pipes mean patients warned off going to A&E

The Liberal Democrats said that the figures revealed that the delayed hospitals are “hanging on by a thread” and called on the Health Secretary to publish a full impact assessment into the risks to patient safety

There were more than 500 infrastructure and estate incidents last year at hospitals where construction as part of the New Hospital Programme will be delayed, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

They resulted in significant impact for patients with 759 hours of clinical time lost as a result of these incidents, the equivalent of 32 days.

241 of these infrastructure and estate incidents were judged to be caused by or related to critical infrastructure risk at these sites, equating to almost half. These issues can include crumbling roofs at risk of collapse, water leaks, broken-down lifts or ventilation and heating systems not working properly.

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, conservative party, daisy cooper, health targets, helen morgan, mental health, national insurance contributions, nhs buildings, social care, triple lock and uk economy | Leave a comment

The challenge for liberals everywhere – what if Trump’s policies actually work?

By Nick Baird | Sun 26th January 2025 - 1:00 pm

A provocative title? Of course there is much to offend us in President Trump’s pronouncements, along with the character and antics of his various nominations to Government posts. But if we previously assumed that much of what he said was bluster, we now have to face the reality that he means what he says, and consider what the outcomes might be. In particular, what if he succeeds?

This is not a simple question. To start with – what does “success” look like? We often condense that into simple numbers – GDP growth, inflation, stock market indices and unemployment figures. It is certainly possible that by these simplistic measures, and in the short term, Trump might succeed and grow the US economy without runaway inflation. With the world’s reserve currency and largest economy under his control, he has options not available to the UK and most other countries, and if he can bully OPEC into increasing oil & gas production alongside increases in US domestic production, falling energy costs might offset the inflationary effects of import tariffs, along with his programme of deregulation and gutting of Government Agencies tasked with policing and enforcing what regulations remain.

I know what you’re thinking (because you’re reading LDV) – what about the cost? What about climate change and damage to the environment? What about all the lives destroyed when settled yet illegal migrants get rounded up and deported? What about inequality and minorities? What about healthcare and reproductive rights?

And you are absolutely correct, but what will the headlines be? Particularly when the full impact of some of his policies may not be felt until after he leaves office.

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Tagged economy, political strategy and trump | 9 Comments

24 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 24th January 2025 - 11:20 pm

US trade tariffs: Trump doesn’t listen to “please”
A&E deaths: “Sickening” new analysis reveals deadly consequences of broken NHS as Lib Dems call for inquiry
Wendy Chamberlain MP’s Bill bids to remove charity lottery fundraising cap

US trade tariffs: Trump doesn’t listen to “please”

Responding to the the Business Secretary’s comments about Trump trade tariffs this morning, Daisy Cooper MP, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, said:

Government ministers going cap in hand to Trump, pleading with him not to tax our goods, simply won’t work.

Trump doesn’t listen to “please”. He’s an unpredictable trading partner who’s shown he’ll slap massive tariffs on the UK at the drop of a hat.

Instead, we’ve got to negotiate with him from a position of strength – from within a new and bespoke customs partnership with the EU, that will unleash the potential of many British businesses to drive up trade with our biggest and closest trading partner.

A&E deaths: “Sickening” new analysis reveals deadly consequences of broken NHS as Lib Dems call for inquiry

Responding to new analysis of ONS data which suggests that more than 50,000 people died last year after long A&E waits, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

This new analysis is sickening. It lays bare the deadly consequences of a health service that has been run into the ground with patients and their loved ones often paying the ultimate price.

The Conservative Party should never be forgiven for what it did to our NHS and the tragedy their neglect has left it in its wake, but it is simply not good enough for this new government to sit on its hands any longer.

We need to see immediate action to get to the bottom of these deadly delays.

The government must urgently launch a CQC inquiry into the chaos in our A&Es and ensure patients never have to suffer through something like this ever again.

Wendy Chamberlain MP’s Bill bids to remove charity lottery fundraising cap

Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife, will have the second reading of her Bill to remove the outdated caps on charity lottery fundraising on Friday .

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Also posted in Press releases | Tagged accident and emergency, charity lotteries, Customs Union, daisy cooper, helen morgan and wendy chamberlain | 6 Comments

ALDC By-Election Report, 23rd January

By Matthew Ma | Fri 24th January 2025 - 6:57 pm

This week saw five principal council by-elections for six seats across the UK. Labour and Lib Dems loss a net of one seat this week, with the former gaining one but losing two to SNP and an independent, and the latter placing a close third in the only double vacancy of the week. SNP also lost their only defence in the same ward but gained a seat from Labour in other parts of Scotland.

For the good news, the Lib Dems defended the seat in Liverpool City Council handsomely over the second place Labour candidate. In the Much Woolton & Hunts Cross ward, Cllr Josie Mullen the team worked hard to maintain over half of the vote share in the area, thank you to Josie and team for running a great campaign and holding the seat!

Liverpool City Council, Much Woolton & Hunts Cross
Liberal Democrat (Josie Mullen): 1011 (51.1%, -2.4%)
Labour: 537 (27.1%, -4.2%)
Reform: 218 (11.0%, new)
Green Party: 170 (8.6%, -2.0%)
Conservative: 42 (2.1%, -2.3%)

Featuring a list of 13 candidates, the other Lib Dem defence this week is also a SNP defence in Edinburgh Council, following unfortunate circumstances leading to our by-election winner stepping down. In the Conlinton/Fairmilehead ward, the Tories came in first while the Lib Dems and Labour battled it out until stage 12. Well done and thank you to Peter Nicholson and the team for putting in the effort for a well-fought campaign, this was certainly an uphill battle if there ever was one.

Edinburgh Council, Colinton/Fairmilehead (based on first preference votes, Conservative elected at stage 8, Labour elected at stage 13)
Conservative: 2027 (32.6%, +12.9%)
Labour: 1146 (18.4%, -1.1%)
Liberal Democrat (Peter Nicholson): 1009 (16.2%, -20.0%)
SNP: 840 (13.5%, +2.7%)
Green Party: 426 (6.8%, +1.5%)
Reform: 345 (5.5%, +1.9%)
Independent: 256 (4.1%, +1.8%)
Scottish Family Party: 65 (1.0%, +0.4%)
Independent: 38 (0.6%, -0.2%)
Independent: 30 (0.5%, +0.2%)
Independent: 23 (0.4%, -0.3%)
Independent: 12 (0.2%, new)
Independent: 5 (0.1%, new)

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Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 1 Comment

Take care!

By Mary Reid | Fri 24th January 2025 - 9:20 am

Wishing all our contributors and readers a safe day, especially those in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Storm Éowyn will undoubtedly leave a mess to be cleared up by local Councils. If you can, do tell us how your Council is coping.

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23 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 23rd January 2025 - 10:45 pm

Government ruling out customs scheme with EU is an “act of economic negligence”
NHS stats: government must convene COBRA amid surge in norovirus cases
Lib Dems reveal private company overseeing hundreds of sewage dumps
Scot Lib Dems push for prison suicide and fatal accident inquiry reform
Cole-Hamilton comments on scrapping of doomed social care centralisation

Government ruling out customs scheme with EU is an “act of economic negligence”

Responding to the Government appearing to rule out the EU’s proposal of the UK joining a European customs area this morning, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

It is alarming that the Government is happy to negotiate with China but won’t even look at a better trading arrangement with our closest neighbours in Europe. This is an act of economic negligence.

If the Government thinks it will get growth back in the economy by borrowing Boris Johnson’s playbook on European negotiations it is going to end up being sorely disappointed.

It is time for a proper UK-EU customs arrangement so we can strengthen our negotiations with Donald Trump, cut the red tape on our businesses and grow the economy.

NHS stats: government must convene COBRA amid surge in norovirus cases

Responding to the latest NHS stats showing norovirus levels in hospitals to be 80% higher than last year with bed occupancy standing at 96%, well above the 85% that is considered safe, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

The situation for patients and our NHS could not be more stark. People are dying on trolleys in corridors and staff are at breaking point. It cannot be overstated just how grim things are in A&Es across the country.

This is one of the most brutal winters on record following years of shameful Conservative neglect and the current government is now at risk of losing control of this crisis. Any more delay in action has the potential to be deadly for patients.

COBRA must be convened immediately with an emergency plan brought forward to protect patients from this ongoing disaster.

It is time for the government to step up and grip this crisis in a way that they have so far failed to do.

Lib Dems reveal private company overseeing hundreds of sewage dumps

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today revealed that more than 500 sewage overspills took place at sites managed by private firms in just twelve months, including more than 100 at the Edinburgh Waste Water treatment work at Seafield, run by Veolia.

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, Customs Union, ed davey, helen morgan, norovirus, prison reform, sewage dumping, social care and willie rennie | 5 Comments

22 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 22nd January 2025 - 11:30 pm

Borrowing figures: Another sign the Chancellor’s Budget has not worked
OBR Report: Farm tax will penalise farmers for practically no benefit
Cole-Hamilton: SNP must scrap social care power grab now
OBR Report: Farm tax will penalise Welsh farmers for practically no benefit
OBR Report: Farm tax will penalise farmers and crofters for little benefit to Exchequer
Cross-border healthcare difficulties letting patients down

Borrowing figures: Another sign the Chancellor’s Budget has not worked

Responding to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing UK borrowing has hit its highest December level for four years, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP said:

This is yet another sign that the Chancellor’s Budget has not worked. It’s now putting people’s mortgages at risk and will make it even harder for the Chancellor to meet her borrowing rules.

The answer to this is to turbo-charge growth by scrapping the jobs tax, and raising the necessary revenue for our NHS from the big banks and tech companies instead.

After the Conservative Party’s disastrous legacy of economic vandalism, the Chancellor needs to go for growth through fairer tax measures that can unleash growth through small businesses, not undermine it.

OBR Report: Farm tax will penalise farmers for practically no benefit

Commenting on the latest OBR report on the impact of agricultural and business property relief, Liberal Democrat Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

This report confirms that the Government’s misguided family farm tax is mired in problems and will penalise British farmers for practically no benefit.

It is deeply concerning that older farmers will be hit hardest from this tax, with the rug pulled from under them before they can change their plans. And with tax revenue expected to be highly uncertain and unstable for two decades, the Chancellor’s excuses simply don’t stack up.

Farmers are absolutely vital for Britain, putting food on our tables and protecting the British countryside. And they are already battling botched trade deals, declining incomes and high energy prices. The Government must do the right thing and scrap the family farm tax before it’s too late.

Cole-Hamilton: SNP must scrap social care power grab now

Speaking ahead of the ministerial statement on the future of the National Care Service, proposals which would centralise social care services and wrench away control from local communities, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

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Also posted in Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, Alistair Carmichael, capital gains tax, daisy cooper, david chadwick, farming, government borrowing, healthcare, social care and tim farron | 8 Comments

21 January 2025 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 22nd January 2025 - 10:20 pm

Unemployment: Reeves must scrap jobs tax
Southport Inquiry: Must get us answers to avoid future failures
WASPI: More than 300,000 women in Scotland “betrayed” by Labour decision
Welsh unemployment rise: Labour must scrap their Jobs Tax
Cole-Hamilton: SNP have left A&E in state of perma-crisis
McArthur: Community orders should be credible solutions to prison overcrowding

Unemployment: Reeves must scrap jobs tax

Responding to the latest figures showing unemployment at 4.4%, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

These latest figures are concerning. The government’s misguided jobs tax is already scaring off small businesses from hiring new people and being able to better serve our communities.

The Chancellor talks about growth but her Budget measures are acting as an anchor against just that.

After years of the Conservative Party’s economic vandalism we cannot see this new government repeat their mistakes. That is why Rachel Reeves needs to scrap her jobs tax to get our economy growing again.

Southport Inquiry: Must get us answers to avoid future failures

Commenting after Starmer’s press conference following the government’s announcement of an inquiry into the Southport murders, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

The Liberal Democrats welcome this inquiry, which must not shy away from asking tough questions about what went wrong.

This was an utterly horrific tragedy. My thoughts go out to the bereaved families, who lost three young daughters to such brutal violence. We need to ensure that such a senseless attack cannot happen again.

We must learn from these events, and the inquiry must urgently get us the answers we need to avoid future failures.

WASPI: More than 300,000 women in Scotland “betrayed” by Labour decision

Speaking ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate on compensation for WASPI women, Beatrice Wishart MSP has said her party will “fight for WASPI women” as data from the House of Commons library estimated that an estimated 331,780 women in Scotland could be affected.

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Also posted in Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged accident and emergency, Alex Cole-Hamilton, beatrice wishart, community sentencing, daisy cooper, david chadwick, ed davey, liam mcarthur, national insurance contributions, southport murders and waspi women | 11 Comments

Five Lib Dems quiz Starmer on social care, Trump, defence, eating disorders and colleges

By The Voice | Wed 22nd January 2025 - 8:42 pm

Social care, trade deals with Trump’s America, St Helier Hospital, the Strategic Defence Reivew, eating disorders and were the subjects brought to Keir Starmer by Lib Dems Ed Davey, Luke Taylor, Mike Martin, Wera Hobhouse and Alison Bennett at PMQs today.

Here’s Ed’s exchange with the Prime Minister:

The text is below:

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Tagged alison bennett, ed davey, luke taylor, mike martin, PMQs and wera hobhouse | Leave a comment

Mark Pack’s January report to members

By Mark Pack | Wed 22nd January 2025 - 10:55 am

Farage and Musk are the past, not the future

Seeing someone called a “snivelling cretin” may reinforce all your worst fears about social media. But when it was Elon Musk saying this of Ed Davey, it counts as a badge of honour.

It also illustrates a bigger, and more important, point than ‘look how thin skinned and short of things to say a billionaire is when anyone stands up to him’.

It is about how little to say about our future the likes of Nigel Farage and Elon Musk have beyond nostalgia for an imagined version of our past. For all Elon Musk’s facade as a visionary man of the future, much of his vision is a shrunken, twisted piece of fake nostalgia: a world where the super-rich get to run things, democracy is an optional extra, international borders are high and only his favoured few select demographic categories are worthy people.

Their joint desire to turn the clock backwards is in contrast to our positive liberal vision for a better future. Just because someone is not like me is not a reason to dislike them. Just because someone has different views of religion than me is not a reason to fear them. And just because someone lives in a different country from me is not a reason to treat them as an enemy.

The likes of Farage and Musk excel at grabbing the headlines, but the quiet reality of 2024 was a year in which in Britain us Liberal Democrats took more political power. We won more council seats than the Conservatives and Reform combined in May – and then we had our best general election result in a century, gaining far more seats than Reform, in July.

General Election Review

An important part of building on those successes is our General Election Review, which was headed up by Tim Farron.

Thank you to Tim and the whole team for turning around the review promptly, so that we can get stuck into implementing its lessons as soon as practical in this Parliamentary cycle.

As with the post-2019 review, this one has been shared with all party members because, even though this review is a happier one, it is important once again that members can hold to account those in power at all levels of the party on delivering the review’s recommendations. As Tim explained in the email to members, there are some further recommendations on membership to follow.

The review is asking Federal Conference Committee (FCC) for time to present their findings to our Federal Spring Conference in Harrogate. Alongside that, the Federal Board has agreed to draw up an implementation plan for the recommendations, and you will get more news on that through these monthly reports.

Party Awards

Our Spring Federal Conference in Harrogate is now coming up fast. Which also means it is time to nominate wonderful colleagues for our next round of Party Awards too.

You can read about which awards are up this time, and how to make nominations, here.

Registrations for conference, both in person and online, are also open. I hope to see many of you there.

Congratulations to…

North Devon Liberal Democrats were the top recruiting local party in England in December, topping the charts for the second month running. All but one of the new members were recruited locally by them – giving the party’s local bank balance a handy boost too as local parties receive larger membership payments for locally recruited (or renewed) members.

Congratulations too to the top local recruiters in Scotland – Dumfriesshire and Highlands local parties, tied with each other – and in Wales – Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

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Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged Mark Pack and party president | 13 Comments

20 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 20th January 2025 - 10:30 pm

40 new hospitals: Shoddy attempt to bury bad news on day of Trump’s inauguration
Farm incomes in Wales fall by 34% – Liberal Democrats call for Government reset
Trump inauguration shows importance of close ties with Europe

40 new hospitals: Shoddy attempt to bury bad news on day of Trump’s inauguration

Responding to the Health Secretary’s announcement that there will be significant delays to the completion of the New Hospital Programme, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

This is a double betrayal. The Conservatives shamelessly made promises they never intended to keep to countless communities served by crumbling hospitals.

Now this government uses the day of Trump’s inauguration in a shoddy attempt to bury bad news, showing an outrageous disregard for patients.

Instead of ducking scrutiny, the Health Secretary needs to publish the full impact assessment of these delays.

Patients have a right to know just how at risk they are, and how many more delays they will have to suffer as a result of the government’s decision.

Farm incomes in Wales fall by 34% – Liberal Democrats call for Government reset

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on Labour to reset their relationship with farming and the countryside following the release of statistics showing farming incomes in Wales have fallen by 34% for the period April 2023 to March 2024.

David Chadwick MP, the Liberal Democrats Wales spokesperson in Westminster has said that recent policy failures by both the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff Bay and the UK Government are damaging agriculture and the wider rural economy in Wales and risk making the situation even worse.

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Also posted in Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, david chadwick, donald trump, europe, farming, helen morgan and new hospitals | Leave a comment

The starting gun is fired in Runcorn & Helsby

By The Voice | Mon 20th January 2025 - 5:45 pm

News reaches us that Article 19.7 of the Federal Constitution has been triggered by the likelihood of a by-election in Runcorn & Helsby given that the sitting MP, Mike Amesbury is to be sentenced on 24 February having pleaded guilty to common assault on Thursday.

If you’re an approved Parliamentary candidate, and you’re interested, time is very short, as applications must be received by 6 p.m. tomorrow evening (21 January).

For more details, all relevant information can be found on the Cheshire West and Chester Local Party website.

Also posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Tagged Runcorn & Helsby | 5 Comments

New issue of Liberator out

By Liberator Collective | Mon 20th January 2025 - 4:29 pm

Liberator 427 is out and can be downloaded for free here:

In Liberator 427 we have Commentary, news in Radical Bulletin, Letters, Lord Bonkers’ Diary and:

NOW’S OUR CHANCE

The age of Trump and Starmer needs a radical liberal response based on defending the NHS, rejoining the single market and developing an appeal to working class voters. Paul Hindley explains how to do this

AFGHANISTAN : A COMPLICATED COUNTRY

Keith House and Tonia Craig travelled to one of the world’s least visited countries as tourists in December to see Taliban control in practice

UNSAFE AS HOUSES

Crises over homelessness and substandard housing will continue unless society stops viewing homes as investments, says Martin Wrigley MP

DYING FOR THE RIGHT LAW

Nick Winch’s mother wanted to die but could not legally hasten this. He says the Bill before Parliament may improve things but is full of problems

MAYORS’ NESTS

Labour’s devolution reforms pose a serious threat to the Liberal Democrat approach to local campaigning, says Chris White

FROM THE UKRAINE FRONTLINE

Kiron Reid found himself under fire in Ukraine and found that while more people feel a peace deal is needed, they will never trust Russia.

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Tagged liberator magazine | Leave a comment

18-19 January 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 19th January 2025 - 10:30 pm

Patel on Trump: “naive and dangerous”, say Lib Dems
Davey: Trump presidency “deeply worrying for millions”
Pressure rises on Govt as two in three Labour voters back closer ties with Europe given Trump presidency
More than 11,000 malicious calls to ambulance service in past decade
2024 the worst year on record at A&E

Patel on Trump: “naive and dangerous”, say Lib Dems

Responding to Priti Patel’s comments about the Trump presidency on Laura Kuenssberg’s programme this morning, Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, said:

Priti Patel’s comments on her ‘trust’ in Trump are naive and dangerous. The incoming US administration will be one to watch carefully, to deal with critically – not one in which we should put blind faith.

Her desire to rush into a free trade deal between the UK and US – one that could sell British farmers and food standards down the river – reminds us of where her and her party’s true alliances lie: with the Mar-a-Lago clan, not with constituents here in Britain.

The Conservatives are competing with Reform to be most submissive toward Trump, but we should be approaching the new President from a position of strength.

The Liberal Democrats will continue to push for a fair deal for British people – beginning with a new UK-EU customs union that boosts UK growth.

Davey: Trump presidency “deeply worrying for millions”

Commenting as Trump’s inauguration takes place today , Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

Donald Trump returning to the White House will be deeply worrying for millions of people in the UK and around the world. With a President who promises trade wars, undermines NATO and praises Vladimir Putin, the threats to our national security and our economy are clear.

The UK must lead on the world stage again, standing up for our interests by working closely with other countries – above all our European neighbours.

While Nigel Farage toadies up to Donald Trump and Elon Musk in Washington, Liberal Democrats are working hard for our communities here in the UK. We will press the Government to be far more ambitious and positive in fixing our relationship with Europe, to strengthen Britain’s hand when it comes to dealing with Trump.

Pressure rises on Govt as two in three Labour voters back closer ties with Europe given Trump presidency

A two-thirds majority (64%) of 2024 Labour voters agree that the UK should build closer “economic and security ties with Europe” given Trump’s incoming presidency, polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed – piling pressure on the Government to accelerate talks on UK-EU relations as the new presidency gets under way.

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged a and e waiting times, Alex Cole-Hamilton, ambulance services, calum miller, Customs Union, donald trump, ed davey and europe | 5 Comments

17 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 17th January 2025 - 11:10 pm

Triple lock: Lib Dems launching new attack ad following Badenoch’s plans to cut the state pension
Badenoch’s triple lock comments: Lib Dems launch new poster van attack ad outside CCHQ
ONS health data: “sickening” research damning for government’s lack of action
McArthur responds to Polmont FAI determination
Lib Dems call on new Welsh Conservative Leader to disown Badenoch’s plans to cut state pension

Triple lock: Lib Dems launching new attack ad following Badenoch’s plans to cut the state pension

The Liberal Democrats will be launching a new attack ad following Kemi Badenoch’s comments yesterday that she will consider means testing the triple lock.

The ad will highlight Kemi Badenoch’s three major announcements so far, cutting maternity pay which she described as ‘excessive’, slashing the state pension and putting UK interests at risk by sucking up to Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

A Liberal Democrat source said:

First Kemi Badenoch came for the mothers and now she has set her sights on the grandmothers.

Millions of pensioners felt betrayed by Labour’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment, now it’s clear their pensions wouldn’t be safe with the Conservatives.

We will be reminding pensioners at every opportunity that Kemi Badenoch wants to take an axe to the triple lock.

Badenoch’s triple lock comments: Lib Dems launch new poster van attack ad outside CCHQ

The Liberal Democrats have today launched a new attack ad with a poster van outside CCHQ after Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch said that she would look at means testing the triple lock.

The Liberal Democrats have said Badenoch’s comments will “send a shiver down the spine of pensioners” and that the Conservatives “want to come after their state pension”.

The poster pictures Kemi Badenoch and an elderly woman with the warning: “don’t let the Conservatives wreck your pension”.

Liberal Democrat Care and Carers spokesperson Alison Bennett MP, who launched the poster van outside CCHQ today, said:

Kemi Badenoch’s comments will have sent a shiver down the spine of millions of pensioners across the country.

Older people have already seen Winter Fuel Payments ripped away by the Labour government and now the Conservatives want to come after their state pension.

The Liberal Democrats are proud we introduced the triple lock to protect people’s pensions. We will fight to protect pensioners from Conservative attempts to scrap it every step of the way.

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Also posted in Press releases, Scotland and Wales | Tagged alison bennett, david chadwick, health care, helen morgan, liam mcarthur, prison reform and triple lock | 32 Comments

ALDC By-Election Report, 16th January

By Matthew Ma | Fri 17th January 2025 - 7:41 pm

There were two principal council by-elections running this week, both Lib Dem defences in the Western Counties. We successfully defended one and just barely lost out on the other.

In Cotswold DC, Cllr Andrea Pellegram comfortably won the seat over second place Reform in the Chesterton ward. Congratulations to Andrea and the local team for getting almost half of the votes and holding the seat!

Cotswold DC, Chesterton
Liberal Democrat (Andrea Pellegram): 296 (48.1%, -15.8%)
Reform: 152 (24.7%, new)
Conservative: 106 (17.2%, -7.6%)
Labour: 61 (9.9%, new)

In the other election in the Western Counties, Hossein Pirooz placed a close second in the Saltford ward in Bath & North East Somerset Council, only 4 votes behind the independent who gained the seat from us. It was a close but unfortunate result, thank you to Hossein for standing and the local team for all the effort put in, you’ll get them next time.

Bath & North East Somerset Council, Saltford
Independent: 587 (29.8%, +5.4%)
Liberal Democrat (Hossein Pirooz): 583 (29.6%, -10.5%)
Conservative: 375 (19.0%, -1.7%)
Reform: 205 (10.4%, new)
Green Party: 159 (8.1%, +1.4%)
Labour: 60 (3.0%, -5.0%)

For a full summary of these results, and all other principal council by-elections, please refer to the ALDC by-elections page here.

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Tagged aldc local government by-elections | 4 Comments

Congratulations to Duncan and Grace!

By Mary Reid | Fri 17th January 2025 - 9:16 am

Lib Dems are renowned for their love of real ale, so perhaps it is no surprise that nine years ago Duncan Borrowman and Grace Goodlad decided to transform a failing pub into a community hub dedicated to real ale and craft beers. Many a party activist has made their way to The Bailey Head in Oswestry, especially during the by-election campaign in North Shropshire.

And now the couple have just been awarded the highest accolade in the pub world – CAMRA’s Pub of the Year.

The Bailey Head in Oswestry, Shropshire has been named the Campaign for Real Ale’s overall Pub of the Year for the first time.https://t.co/hCsA9xOIgR

— Shropshire Live (@shropshirelive) January 17, 2025

The BBC reports:

“You’ve got to have good beer to win, but that’s not enough on it’s own,” Grace said.

“It’s all the other bits, the added value, that’s what makes the difference I think.”

“You’re judged on your beer quality, and Duncan runs the cellar so that’s definitely down to him,” she told the BBC.

“But then it also looks at things like hygiene, the welcome you get from staff, staff’s knowledge…whether or not you’re involved in supporting the local community.”

The pair estimates they had about 30 visits from judges before winning the award, but at the time had no idea they were being judged.

As if that didn’t take up enough of their lives, both Duncan and Grace are standing as candidates for Shropshire Council, Grace in Oswestry South and Duncan in Llanymynech. Winners, both of them!

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Tagged duncan borrowman and grace goodlad | 2 Comments

16 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 16th January 2025 - 11:30 pm

GDP Figures: Government must see sense and scrap jobs tax
Liberal Democrats table motion forcing Government to release analysis of potential Trump trade war
Badenoch speech: half-hearted apology does not absolve her from toxic legacy
Triple lock: “bungling Badenoch’s” first policy is to slash the state pension
Carmichael welcomes RFA vertical launch licence
McArthur calls for clarity over BP job losses

GDP Figures: Government must see sense and scrap jobs tax

Responding to GDP growing by 0.1% in November, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

The Chancellor has put the handbrake on the economy with her misguided jobs tax and the consequence is this pitiful rate of growth.

Every month this persists means less money in struggling families pockets and public services without the funding they need.

After years of the Conservatives’ economic vandalism, the public was crying out for change but this new government is falling well short of fixing this mess.

Rachel Reeves needs to see sense and scrap her foolish jobs tax and pursue a real strategy for growth like fixing our broken trade relationship with our European partners and replacing the broken business rates system.

Liberal Democrats table motion forcing Government to release analysis of potential Trump trade war

The Liberal Democrats are tabling a ‘Humble Address’ motion which would force the Government to release its analysis of the potential impact of Trump tariffs on the UK economy.

It follows reports that the Government has conducted internal assessments of how a potential trade war with the US may hit the UK economy, but is refusing to publish them.

The Liberal Democrat motion will call urgently for the publication of all impact assessments conducted by the Government regarding the impact of Trump’s tariffs ahead of his inauguration on 20 January.

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 new US administration’s purported plans may involve tariffs of up to 20 percent on UK exports, which could hit the UK economy by £22bn according to the research conducted at the University of Sussex.

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Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, conservative party, daisy cooper, ed davey, Kemi Badenoch, liam mcarthur, oil industry, space, tariffs, triple lock and uk economy | Leave a comment

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