Category Archives: News

Ed Davey’s speech today in full

By The Voice | Thu 16th January 2025 - 3:55 pm

As we reported earlier, Ed Davey gave a significant speech today, and here is the full text.

This year, we will celebrate eighty years since the end of the Second World War.

Eighty years since Britain and her allies defeated the Nazis.

Ended the Holocaust and liberated the concentration camps.

Brought peace to Europe.

One of our country’s finest hours.

We led the world – not just in standing up to Hitler and winning the war, but in building what came next.

Creating new forums to foster peace and uphold human rights:

The United Nations, led at its birth by the British Liberal Gladwyn Jebb.

NATO, driven by Labour’s

…

Tagged ed davey | 20 Comments

Ed Davey speech: Negotiate a UK-EU Customs Union to “turbocharge economy” and strengthen hand against Trump

By Mark Valladares | Thu 16th January 2025 - 9:02 am

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey will today call on the Government to negotiate a new UK-EU Customs Union, to boost Britain’s economy and ability to deal with the incoming Trump Presidency from a position of strength.

In his first major speech of the year, Ed Davey will criticise the Labour Government for ruling out a Customs Union with the EU, saying it would be the best way to tear down trade barriers and “turbocharge our economy in the medium and long term.”

He will call on ministers to negotiate a new deal with the EU this year, with the goal of forming a Customs Union by 2030 at the latest, arguing this will allow the UK to “deal with President Trump from a position of strength, not weakness.”

He will then criticise Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for wanting to go “cap in hand” to Donald Trump and “beg for whatever trade deal he’ll give us.” And he will criticise Nigel Farage for “fawning over Trump and licking his boots”, being “more interested in advancing Trump’s agenda over here than the UK’s interests over there.”

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged ed davey and europe | 9 Comments

16 January 2025 – the overnight press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 16th January 2025 - 7:27 am

RCN survey: “Harrowing” corridor care testimony reveals a government leaving staff with “hands tied behind their backs”
Cole-Hamilton comments on embargoed RCN report on overcrowding

RCN survey: “Harrowing” corridor care testimony reveals a government leaving staff with “hands tied behind their backs”

Responding to a Royal College of Nursing survey which shows that two-thirds of NHS nursing staff are saying they are delivering care in over-crowded or unsuitable places such as corridors, converted cupboards and even car parks on a daily basis, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

This report is harrowing. To think that patients are receiving desperately

…

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, helen morgan and nhs overcrowding | 14 Comments

15 January 2025 – today’s Federal press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 15th January 2025 - 10:45 pm

Public Accounts Committee SEND Report: Urgent reform needed
Inflation: economy is “stuck in the mud”
PMQs: Davey urges PM to create visa route to attract high-skilled Americans fleeing Trump
Davey: Israel-Gaza ceasefire must lead to a lasting peace and two-state solution

Public Accounts Committee SEND Report: Urgent reform needed

Responding to the PAC report on SEND provision, Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, said:

This report lays bare what we already knew to be the dire truth: that a wrecked system of SEND provision in this country is failing children and families every single day.

And thanks to the last government’s total lack of

…

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged daisy cooper, ed davey, inflation, israel hamas war, migration policy, munira wilson and SEND | 1 Comment

15 January 2025 – today’s Welsh press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 15th January 2025 - 9:45 pm

Wales rail runding letter – more than warm words needed
David Chadwick challenges UK Government over proposals to extend waiting times for Powys patients

Wales rail runding letter – more than warm words needed

Responding to a letter sent by Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens and Transport Minster Heidi Alexander to First Minister Eluned Morgan regarding Welsh rail funding, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said:

More than warm words are needed to fix Welsh railways.

This statement doesn’t commit to any specific extra funding and doesn’t commit to the full devolution of our railways, which is what is needed to stop scandals like that around HS2 consequential funding from happening again.

The letter also doesn’t mention Mid or West Wales at all. Rural areas are too often neglected by Labour. While billions of pounds are being spent on the South Wales Metro, rail services in rural parts of Wales like the Heart of Wales Line and Cambrian Line are being cut.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for Wales to receive the funding it deserves for rail, including HS2 consequentials in full.

David Chadwick challenges UK Government over proposals to extend waiting times for Powys patients

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor, and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick, has strongly condemned proposals that would extend waiting times for patients in Powys receiving treatment in English hospitals under the Powys Teaching Health Board.

Chadwick described the proposals as “utterly unacceptable,” arguing that they undermine both the Welsh and UK Government’s commitments to reducing NHS waiting times. He warned that they may also violate the Statement of Values governing cross-border healthcare between Wales and England.

Also posted in Press releases and Wales | Tagged david chadwick, nhs waiting times and rail transport | Leave a comment

Lib Dems call on Starmer to back landmark climate bill

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 15th January 2025 - 11:01 am

A group of Liberal Democrats have called on Keir Starmer to back Lib Dem MP Roz Savage’s Climate and Nature Bill when it comes up in Parliament on 24 January. In a letter signed by 58 MPs and Peers they say:

We, Liberal Democrats, commend your and the Government’s determination to elevate the UK’s global climate and nature leadership. However, without legislation that unites our climate and nature plans, they will continue to be developed in isolation. This means your clean energy and nature restoration ambitions may fail—and, equally worryingly—may make both crises worse.

There is, however, a golden opportunity for you and the Government to showcase cross-party consensus on the need for an integrated approach to the climate-nature crisis. The CAN Bill would deliver a joined-up framework, ensuring that Britain meets its international commitments for climate and nature, as part of expediting your plans to build a nature positive, net zero economy.

Roz’s Bill should have a five hour debating slot on 24th January.

The Climate and Nature Bill is guaranteed a five-hour Parliamentary debate during its second reading on 24 January 2025. It already has the backing of some 250 Parliamentarians, including Sir Ed Davey, Carla Denyer, and Zac Goldsmith. It enjoys the support of 10,000s of members of the public, more than 1,100 businesses and organisations, as well as 1,000 climate and health experts

High-profile endorsers include Co-Operative Bank, The Body Shop, Oxfam, Save British Farming, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Ecotricity, The Wildlife Trusts and Triodos Bank.

Unless this Bill gets Government time, it is unlikely to become law. This would be a very easy win for Starmer and Labour so let’s hope they see sense.

The letter in full is published below:

Tagged climate and nature bill, featured and roz savage | 3 Comments

14 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 14th January 2025 - 11:45 pm

Tulip Siddiq resignation: People expected better from this government
Worst 8 hour A&E wait times in 2 years
More than 2,000 people stuck in hospital
Operations activity stagnating below pre-pandemic levels
McArthur comments on assisted dying evidence session
Carmichael welcomes protection of coastguard helicopter readiness

Tulip Siddiq resignation: People expected better from this government

Following Tulip Siddiq’s resignation as Treasury Minister, Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson, said:

It’s right Tulip Siddiq resigned, you can’t have an anti-corruption minister mired in a corruption scandal.

After years of Conservative sleaze and scandal, people rightly expected better from this government.

Worst 8 hour A&E wait times in 2 years

Responding to new figures showing only 58.7% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 5th January, while 18.3% of people waited over 8 hours (the worst since January 2023) and 9.1% waited over 12 hours, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

These figures show almost 1 in 5 waited more than 8 hours at A&E, the worst for nearly 2 years. It is now clear that the SNP’s NHS Recovery Plan has completely failed.

These waits are intolerable for staff and patients alike. The Scottish Government needs to start taking urgent action to address these conditions.

Scottish Liberal Democrats would overhaul the SNP’s failed NHS Recovery Plan, get you fast access to GPs and help people leave hospital on time through a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.

More than 2,000 people stuck in hospital

Responding to new Public Health Scotland figures showing 2,020 people were stuck in hospital at the November census due to their discharge being delayed, amongst the worst on record, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

SNP mismanagement has led to eye-watering numbers of people stuck in hospital unnecessarily because they can’t get the care they need at home or in the community.

This creates a backlog right across our NHS, contributing to agonising waits in A&E and ambulances stacking up outside the front door. It goes to show that you can’t save our NHS unless you fix the care crisis.

The Health Secretary needs to re-write the failed NHS Recovery Plan. It’s also essential to drop the doomed takeover of social care that has already seen millions wasted on bureaucracy instead of being spent on services and staff to enable people to leave hospital on time.

Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, Alistair Carmichael, assisted dying bill, coastguard, corruption, liam mcarthur, NHS and sarah olney | Leave a comment

A snag with House of Lords reform

By Mark Argent | Tue 14th January 2025 - 10:47 am

The present government’s plan to remove the remaining hereditary peers throws a spotlight on an awkward problem: might this inadvertently undermine the idea of political office as public service, at a time when that is already under threat from people who act as if lying to get elected is acceptable?

On the one hand, it’s hard to reconcile an unelected upper chamber with a modern democracy, which is why Lords reform has been Liberal Democrat policy for a long time. Within that, the hereditary peers are the hardest aspect to defend.

Tagged house of lords reform | 15 Comments

13 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 13th January 2025 - 10:30 pm

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 …

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged daisy cooper, legal services, liam mcarthur and mortgages | Leave a comment

13 January 2025 – the overnight press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 13th January 2025 - 9:00 am

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.

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged accident and emergency, ferries, helen morgan and willie rennie | Leave a comment

11-12 January 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 12th January 2025 - 10:30 pm

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

…

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, daisy cooper, sewage dumping and uk economy | 2 Comments

The Lib Dem General Election review is out..

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 12th January 2025 - 1:23 pm

The party’s review of the General Election campaign has been published this morning, so we can all put our feet up in front of the fire on a cold Winter’s afternoon and digest its findings.

The review was written by a panel chaired by Tim Farron. The other members were Cllr Ade Adeyemo, Paul Farthing, Cllr Donna Harris, Cllr Emma Holland-Lindsay, Mike O’Carroll and Cllr Sally Pattle.

In an email to members, Tim Farron said:

We have returned to the House of Commons as the third largest party, a real force to be reckoned with under Ed’s leadership.

While it goes without saying, nevertheless it is important to be said, the result was exceptional. As Chair of the Review, I offer my full and unreserved praise to Ed and to every single member, helper, donor and staff member who helped make it happen.

However, it would be foolish to not take the opportunity to explore what we could do differently next time to help make sure the next General Election result is even better than the last.

Our recommendations fall into three groupings:

How to repeat and expand our target seat successes, especially if the next General Election is in less favourable circumstances;

How to broaden our successes so that while targeting wins us seats our other activities strengthen the party across the country; and

Improving key internal processes, especially our Westminster candidates system.
There are challenging recommendations in our Review.

They will require of us all a willingness to be adaptable to change. However, none of the recommendations are written to be a criticism of past actions. They are based on review submissions and interviews and a strong desire of the Review team to ensure our strategy and processes are ready for the challenges ahead. We will also be following up with some further specific recommendations regarding membership.

We should be under no doubt there are difficult times ahead. While our greatly improved standing in Parliament offers a shining beacon of liberalism, across the UK and the world, extremism and populism are sadly becoming the norm. We, as a party, have the antidote to this, but we need to be election-ready for the fight ahead.

You can read the review here.

I am going to make a cup of tea and start reading through the document. I’ll put my thoughts in a new post.

Tim has also been talking to the Guardian about one of recommendations, namely that we shouldn’t have some sort of anti Tory progressive alliance. He said:

Tagged 2024 general election review, featured and tim farron | 7 Comments

Observations of an ex pat: Deep state

By Tom Arms | Sat 11th January 2025 - 8:30 am

What is the “Deep State”? How will President Donald Trump dismantle it? And why is it more likely that he will end up re-constructing it with a deeper, more biased political complexion.

If you are Donald Trump and his supporters the deep state is a living, breathing conspiracy of liberals who thwart their ambitions and conservative beliefs of how America should be run.

The deep state are a swamp of the journalists, teachers, university professors, lawyers, judges, civil libertarians, civil servants and politicians who believe that Trump lost the 2020 election and should be held accountable for his many alleged crimes.

To Trump and his supporters the deep state is comprised of regulators who block libertarian-minded Republican businessmen from opening an open-cast mine in a national park. Or they are the petti-fogging bureaucrat who stops them from planting a vegetable patch in their front garden. In short, the enemies of the deep state are those who believe that the state has gone too far in encroaching on individual liberties.

Americans love to hark back to the free-wheeling early days of the Republic. In 1800 the ratio of un-elected federal and state employees to the population as a whole was 0.05 percent. In 2024 the proportion had increased five-fold.

There are good reasons for the multiplying civil service. Over the past 225 years the world has become more complex. Special interest groups have proliferated. Elected officials have passed millions of new laws which now require an army of civil servants to administer.

A series of surveys by Partnership for Public Service show that roughly 60 percent of those civil servants are Democrats as opposed to 45 percent in the population as a whole. They also donate to liberal causes, especially if they are involved in environmental protection, diplomacy, education, social services and civil rights—the areas where Trump wants the biggest cuts. The military, homeland security and immigration are largely immune from the Republican axe and enmity. Not surprisingly their ranks are disproportionately filled with conservative Republicans.

Tagged observations of an ex pat | 8 Comments

10 January 2025 – today’s press releases

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

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.

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, daisy cooper, democracy, drugs policy, ed davey, steve darling, uk economy and winter fuel payment | 1 Comment

ALDC’s by-election report 9 January 2025

By Matthew Ma | Fri 10th January 2025 - 7:46 pm

We are starting the starting the year strong with a gain in North Devon DC, the only by-election held this week. In the Instow ward, Cllr Becky Coombs, who previously stood an independent, represented the Lib Dems this time around and came first comfortably over the Tories! Congratulations to Becky and the North Devon team for the win.

North Devon DC, Instow
Liberal Democrat (Becky Coombs): 197 (38.1%, new)
Conservative: 166 (32.1%, +1.8%)
Reform: 88 (17.0%, new)
Independent: 49 (9.5%, new)
Green Party: 17 (3.3%, -11.1%)

Tagged aldc, featured and Local government | 4 Comments

9 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 9th January 2025 - 11:20 pm

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.

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged bed blocking, capital gains tax, daisy cooper, ed davey, helen morgan, inflation, liam mcarthur, national insurance contributions, nhs crisis, police and tim farron | 15 Comments

WATCH: Alex Cole-Hamilton demands action to help babies born addicted to drugs

By The Voice | Thu 9th January 2025 - 8:41 pm

At First Minister’s Questions today, Alex Cole-Hamilton implored John Swinney to do more to prevent babies being born addicted to drugs and to ensure that pregnant women had access to support to help them recover from addiction.

He said:

Tagged Alex Cole-Hamilton, drugs, neonatal abstinence symdrome and Scotland | Leave a comment

8 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 8th January 2025 - 11:45 pm

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.

Also posted in Press releases and Wales | Tagged andrew dilnot, child abuse, david chadwick, ed davey, energy costs, munira wilson and social care | 7 Comments

Lib Dems question Starmer at PMQs

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 8th January 2025 - 8:08 pm

Social care, political parties being funded by foreign oligarchs, pharmacies, the impact of the rise in National Insurance changes on health care providers, second homes in Cornwall, when will the Government do something for those people affected by the Budget changes, these were the issues raised by Lib Dem MPs at the first PMQs of 2025.

First up, Ed raised the issue of social care and the way that Labour has kicked it into the long grass. Then, he asked for action on foreign oligarchs funding UK political parties

Happy new year, Mr Speaker. I join others in offering my personal condolences to the Prime Minister on the loss of his brother. May I take this opportunity to express my sadness at the passing of a much-loved member of the Liberal Democrat family, Baroness Jenny Randerson?

Fixing the care crisis is urgent for the millions of elderly and disabled people who are not getting the care they need, for the millions of family carers who are making huge sacrifices to fill the gap, and for the NHS, when over 12,000 people are stuck in hospital beds and cannot get out of hospital because the care is not there for them. The Prime Minister is right to say that we need a cross-party approach, but as Sir Andrew Dilnot has said today, that need not take three years. Will the Prime Minister please speed up that work so that 2025 is the year we finally rise to the challenge of fixing care?

The Prime Minister
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising this important issue and thank him for his condolences. Yes, we do need to get this right. I want a cross-party consensus on the issue and I invite him to work with us, as I know he will. It is important and he is right to say that we need some action now. We have taken immediate action by providing £3.7 billion of additional funding in the Budget for social care and another £86 million to allow 7,800 more disabled and elderly people to live more independent lives, and we have increased the carer’s allowance. We have set this up in stages, so we can act and improve as we go along, while making sure we have consensus for the bigger changes that may be proposed in the review. I invite him and Members from across the House to work with us, so we can get this right and ensure what we put in place endures beyond just a few years.

Ed Davey
If the Government do not bring in long-term social care reforms this year, their NHS reforms in this Parliament will fail, so I hope the Prime Minister will revisit the timetable.

Moving on, while the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) may miss out on his big allowance from Elon Musk, the spectre of the richest man in the world trying to buy a British political party should give us all pause for thought. After years of the Conservatives taking millions of pounds of Russian money, will the Prime Minister now work with us to bring in long overdue reforms to party funding, so that power in this country lies with the voters, not wealthy overseas oligarchs?

The Prime Minister
I think we all had a smile on Sunday when the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) said how cool it was to have the support of Musk, only for Musk to say he should be removed just a few hours later—that is the rough and tough of politics. Of course, we are looking at the question of funding more generally.

Marie Goldman raised the case of a pharmacist in her constituency:

Tagged andrew george, christine jardine, ed davey, marie goldman, PMQs and victoria collins | 1 Comment

Layla Moran asks Urgent Question on Northern Gaza

By The Voice | Wed 8th January 2025 - 3:43 pm

Yesterday, Layla Moran was granted an urgent question in the House of Commons on the humanitarian crisis in Northern Gaza.

She said:

Over 450 days on, we all know the statistics—45,000 Palestinians killed, 100 hostages missing, 2.3 million people desperate—but I want to tell a single human story. I have previously spoken about my friend, consultant surgeon Mohamed, who operated on me when I had sepsis. His family are trapped in the Jabalia refugee camp. They are elderly and sick. One is a three-year-old girl. He has described how there are bodies strewn in the street.

I am sorry to report that death did not come knocking this weekend. Rather, it was dropped by a precision drone as Mohamed’s brother and his son walked 10 metres to get aid. The son died of a brain injury, two 13-year-old girls and their mother have shrapnel wounds, and Mohamed’s elderly father, who was already ill, is in hospital. A three-year-old, her mother and Mohamed’s mother are alone in a house with no one to help them get food.

These were obviously not militants—they were sick. They are not legitimate targets of war. There is no excuse for this. Mohamed told me it feels like they are living in “The Hunger Games,” dodging drones and scavenging for the basics. Even if they wanted to leave, how can they?

What part of international law makes any of this okay? Where is the accountability? Where is the justice? What does the Minister have to say to Mohamed, who spends his days saving lives here in the UK while his family are slaughtered overnight?

And it is not just Mohamed. People in Gaza are trapped in a doom loop of hell—hospitals decimated, and ceasefires promised and never delivered. So I press the Government again: is this really everything the UK has got? Have we deployed everything to make this stop? When will we recognise Palestine? Why have we not stopped the arms trade to Israel? And when will the Government ban trading with illegal settlements?

The frustration is palpable. Our grief is fathomless. People across the UK are looking on in horror, and the horror in Gaza must stop now.

There were nine other Lib Dem contributors:

Our foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller:

Also posted in Parliament | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, andrew george, calum miller, jess brown-fuller, layla moran, mike martin, monica harding, northern gaza, Parliament, richard foord, vikki slade and wera hobhouse | 8 Comments

Women’s Hour phone bank on 22nd January

By The Voice | Tue 7th January 2025 - 1:00 pm

London Liberal Democrats are holding a Women’s Hour London Phone Bank with Special Guest Councillor Rachel Bentley. They’ll be calling members from around London to see how they can get more involved. All are welcome to be involved. It’s fun and a chance to speak to our members and voters.

Please RSVP here so they know how many people are coming and so that they can send you the Zoom link.

Tagged london liberal democrats | Leave a comment

Ed Davey says US Ambassador should be summoned to explain Musk’s “liberating Britain” comment

By The Voice | Tue 7th January 2025 - 11:44 am

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Responding to Elon Musk’s latest post on X in which he suggested that America should “liberate the people of Britain” and overthrow the government, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

People have had enough of Elon Musk interfering with our country’s democracy when he clearly knows nothing about Britain. It’s time to summon the US ambassador to ask
why an incoming US official is suggesting the UK government should be overthrown.

Tagged ed davey and elon musk | 21 Comments

4-5 January 2025 – the weekend’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 6th January 2025 - 9:45 am

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.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has predicted that there will be at least 14,000 unnecessary deaths due to delays in A&E this winter.

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged accident and emergency, Alex Cole-Hamilton, daisy cooper, helen morgan, liam mcarthur, NHS dentistry and upskirting | 1 Comment

Lib Dem Peer Jenny Randerson dies at 76

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 5th January 2025 - 2:57 pm

We’ve just heard the sad news that Lib Dem peer Jenny Randerson died yesterday at her home in Cardiff at the age of 76.

Welsh Lib Dem Leader Jane Dodds said:

I am deeply saddened by the news of Jenny Randerson’s passing.

Jenny dedicated her life to serving the people of Cardiff and Wales. From free entry to Wales’s national museums to the decision to build Wales Millennium Centre, her work as a minister left an indelible mark on our politics and society.

She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and the many individuals whose lives she touched through her public service.

The Lib Dem Lords tweeted:

Our hearts are full of grief and sadness today at the passing of our own Jenny Randerson. Jenny was a great friend and colleague to us all, and worked so hard for the Lib Dem group in the Lords, as she’d done for the Party the whole of her life. She was one of the very best.

Jenny was kind, wise and had immense judgement – which she used for good throughout her life. We were so lucky to have her as part of the Lib Dem family – in Wales, in the Lords, and nationally. Salutes and love, Jenny. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

We send our love and sympathy to Jenny’s husband Peter, their children and grandchildren and wider family and all who were close to her.

Tagged featured, jenny randerson and obituaries | Leave a comment

Lib Dems call for faster action on social care in England

By The Voice | Sun 5th January 2025 - 12:06 pm

Senior Liberal Democrats have expressed concern that the Labour Government has finally done something about social care, but that Louise Casey’s review will not report until 2028. This has all the hallmarks of this crucial issue being kicked into the long grass, with potential for it to be lost in even deeper foliage beyond then.

Ed Davey told LBC that he was sceptical on the timing. He says that we should have cross party talks, but we have all the information we need so that they should be completed within a year.

‘I absolutely welcome this proposal…’

‘But I am sceptical because of the timing’, says @EdwardJDavey, on Labour’s social care plan, explaining to @ShelaghFogarty that he doesn’t ‘think we need to wait until 2028’. pic.twitter.com/DHq7AastJj

— LBC (@LBC) January 3, 2025

He told Channel 4 News that this process should be done within the year. If we do sort out social care, it brings huge benefits to families and savings to the NHS. Without proper care, people end up in hospital unnecessarily and that is a huge cost to the NHS.

He also pointed out that we need to value care workers, with a higher minimum wage.

He also called for greater support for family carers.

We won’t, he said, solve the wider crisis in the NHS without resolving social care, which is why a faster timescale is essential.

Layla Moran, as Chair of the Commons Select Committee on Health and Social Care, said:

This announcement from the Government on a commission to look at social care is welcome, however this cannot be an exercise in kicking the can down the road. We urge bravery and courage from the Government and all political parties to work together to act boldly and urgently.

We are concerned that any further delay perpetuates the hardship for individuals and their families, as well as the cost to the NHS and local authorities.

The first inquiry our Committee launched is investigating the costs resulting from delays to reform of the social care sector. In the first evidence session of this inquiry next week we will hear from experts on the subject, including Sir Andrew Dilnot and we will ask what impact inaction has had, fourteen years on from the Dilnot Commission’s recommendations to reform social care.

Our 2024 manifesto outlined our plans for social care in England. We will:

Provide truly personalised care that empowers individuals by:

Tagged ed davey, layla moran and social care | 12 Comments

3 January 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 3rd January 2025 - 11:35 pm

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:

Also posted in Press releases and Scotland | Tagged car thefts, ed davey, helen morgan, lisa smart, nhs crisis, public toilets, social care and willie rennie | 2 Comments

2 January 2025 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Thu 2nd January 2025 - 10:30 pm

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.

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged crime and policing and lisa smart | 1 Comment

1 January 2025 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Thu 2nd January 2025 - 1:22 am

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.

Also posted in Press releases | Tagged GP shortage and jess brown-fuller | 1 Comment

Alex Cole-Hamilton’s New Year Message

By The Voice | Tue 31st December 2024 - 2:00 pm

Alex Cole-Hamilton sets out the issues the Scottish Lib Dems will be campaigning for in the coming year. They won’t come as a surprise to party members – social care, housing, carers, insulation, additional support needs and health services.

Here it is in full:

This new year comes at something of a critical hour for Scotland.

After more than 17 years of SNP mismanagement, so many people feel like nothing works anymore. Many of them are tearing their hair out trying to see a GP or an NHS dentist. Parents are worried about their children’s educations and futures. Businesses are struggling to make ends meet, held back by crumbling transport links and staff forced off work by long NHS waiting lists.

People are fed up, but they also want to see those they have elected to parliament doing something about it. As their elected representatives, we have a duty to try and unpick some of the damage wrought by the SNP.

Liberal Democrats know that the only thing that will bring about the change that Scotland needs is a change of government. The election at which we can deliver that change is now less than 500 days away.

But it is not good enough to simply wait for that election. That’s why my party and I have sought to improve the lot of our constituents in the forthcoming budget, and you can see significant Liberal Democrat demands backed into the pages of the first draft.

Tagged new year message | 1 Comment

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