Category Archives: News

22 July 2024 – today’s press releases

  • Lib Dems table King’s Speech amendment to “rescue social care” as half of care homes lost in some areas
  • Lib Dems demand clarity on IT outage impact on patients
  • Rennie calls for Swinney to head off bin strikes

Lib Dems table King’s Speech amendment to “rescue social care” as half of care homes lost in some areas

  • Lib Dems have tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech to rescue social care and call for a cross-party commission
  • Ed Davey says that “people and their loved ones simply cannot wait any longer” after the Conservative Party “broke social care”
  • Number of care homes in England has fallen

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19-21 July 2024 – the weekend’s press releases

  • IT outage: Government urged to call COBRA meeting
  • ICJ opinion: UK should recognise the independent state of Palestine
  • Incoming government must recognise Palestine and redouble efforts for peace
  • Rennie files parliamentary motion on schools’ access to Microsoft programs
  • Rennie presses government over implementation date for Children Care and Justice Act provisions
  • Mayor of London questioned over summer preparedness plans

IT outage: Government urged to call COBRA meeting

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to hold a COBRA meeting to coordinate an urgent response to the IT outage causing major disruption including to airlines, railways and GP surgeries.

Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said:

The government must call an urgent COBRA meeting to address the chaos being caused by these IT outages across the country.

The public needs to be reassured that the disruption to their travel or their desperately needed GP appointments will be minimised.

Getting critical infrastructure up and running again must be priority number one. The National Cyber Security Centre should also be working with small businesses and other organisations to help them deal with the outage.”

This once again lays bare the need to improve our digital infrastructure and truly modernise our economy in order to prevent the incidents from happening again.

ICJ opinion: UK should recognise the independent state of Palestine

Responding to today’s advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:

This decision is a wake-up call. Liberal Democrats have always championed international law and the independence of the courts.

The only way to give Palestinians and Israelis the security and dignity they deserve is through a peace process and a two-state solution.

The UK should lead that push by immediately recognising the independent state of Palestine.

Incoming government must recognise Palestine and redouble efforts for peace

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has backed calls for the incoming Labour government to uphold international law and support efforts towards a lasting peace in Israel and Palestine, including the recognition of a Palestinian state. Signing Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran’s parliamentary motion, Mr Carmichael warned that with the election past, now was the time to renew efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, while welcoming the government’s announcement today of the restoration of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the agency which supports aid for Palestinians.

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ALDC By-Election Report – 18th July

The first principal council by elections since our amazing General Election result too place this week. Four elections were held. We stood a Lib Dem candidate in all 4 and moved forwards in a number of places.

We had a tough defence in Argyll and Bute Council, in Kintyre and the Islands ward. We had finished 3rd and picked up a councillor in the ward the 2022 local elections. This time, despite increasing our share of first preference votes, we were unable to hold the seat. Thank you so much to Douglas MacDonald for standing for us here. The SNP gained the seat in the fifth round of counting.

Argyll and Bute Council, Kintyre and the Islands
SNP: 728 (45%, +15%)
Conservative: 322 (19%, +9.5%)
Independent: 322 (19%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Douglas MacDonald): 281 (17%, +1%)
Freedom Alliance: 25 (1%, new)

There were two by-elections in Newham LBC on Thursday, and we moved forwards in both.

In Little Ilford ward we finished an impressive 3rd place and increased our vote share as all other parties (Conservative, Labour and Green) saw their vote share fall. Well done and thank you to Akm Rahman for standing for us in this election and improving our performance.

Thank you to James Alan-Rumsby for standing in Beckton ward, which we did not contest in the previous election. A great effort to stand a candidate and make sure Lib Dem votes are counted.

Labour held both seats, despite a strong challenge from a local residents party.

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Watch Josh Babarinde talking about his bungee jump

Ed Davey was not the only politician to throw himself off a crane, held only by elastic bands around his ankles.

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18 July 2024 – today’s press releases

  • Covid Inquiry Report must be a moment for change
  • Chamberlain tables two child benefit cap parliamentary motion
  • Sadiq Khan refuses to back removing the two-child benefit cap
  • Cole-Hamilton: Scotland badly let down by SNP Government’s pandemic planning

Covid Inquiry Report must be a moment for change

Commenting on the first Covid Inquiry Report, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

Today’s damning findings confirm in black and white what we unfortunately already knew.

Our hearts go out to all those who lost loved ones during the pandemic, yet sadly these findings of systematic and political failings will provide little comfort for thousands of grieving families.

Today must be a moment for change. The country was badly let down during the pandemic and this new government must ensure that lessons are learnt swiftly.

The Liberal Democrats called for an inquiry in 2020, and we will continue to demand that the full facts are known about every aspect of this catastrophic failure.

Chamberlain tables two child benefit cap parliamentary motion

Wendy Chamberlain MP for North East Fife, has tabled a Parliamentary motion calling on the Government to remove the two-child limit on social payments in the first Budget.

Statistics from the Department of Work and Pensions state that 1.6 million children are affected by the two-child benefit cap. The cap also imposed employment barriers on parents who have less income available for childcare costs as a result.

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Ed Davey at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry

As I write Ed Davey is appearing at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry. You can watch him here:

 

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Early Bird registration for Conference extended to 31st July

Planning for the Autumn Federal Conference this year has been fraught with difficulties. First, there was a real worry that it would coincide with an intensive General Election campaign, and arrangements were made for a shorter version of the event. Then, when the July election was announced, planning was put on hold until after polling day.

It is now back to normal and running for its full length from 14th to 17th September in Brighton.

Registration finally opened last Friday. Since then members have been complaining about the short period for the Early Bird rates, ending on 23rd July, some noting that it did not cover a payday. It was also causing problems for people who were on holiday this month. So we are pleased to learn that the Early Bird deadline has now been extended to 31st July.

You can see all the rates and deadlines here. In summary, the Early Bird full rate is £90 (concessions £20), with a weekend pass at £60 (concessions £15). Concessions include full-time students, plus people on a range of benefits and allowances. Day passes are also available but do not give you the right to speak or vote in debates.  Register here.

Anyone can watch the proceedings in the Main Auditorium on the party’s YouTube channel for free. But there is also the option of online voting (pass costs £20) which I used last time and found worked well.

When registration was finally opened last week technical problems emerged, which is why it only really got underway last Friday. Members were still reporting errors when they tried to register over the weekend, and we have been given this advice: when you are asked for your address select Great Britain NOT United Kingdom. Apparently Northern Ireland is not included because of the presence of our sister party, Alliance. (I’m not quite sure what any Lib Dem members in Northern Ireland have to do – maybe contact HQ).

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17 July 2024 – today’s press releases

  • Ed Davey on King’s Speech: Liberal Democrats will make the voice of carers heard
  • Child Poverty: Right that Government looks at how to tackle child poverty after economic damage by Conservatives
  • Chamberlain tables WASPI Parliamentary motion
  • London Lib Dems – King’s Speech – Extra Powers for Metro Mayors Welcome, but Need the Financial Powers to Back Them Up
  • Scottish Liberal Democrats respond to King’s Speech
  • Renew Europe: End Orbán’s Council Presidency

Ed Davey on King’s Speech: Liberal Democrats will make the voice of carers heard

Responding to the King’s Speech, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

After years of crisis and chaos under the Conservative Party, it is clear our country faces enormous challenges. The Liberal Democrats will carefully scrutinise the Government’s plans, striving hard to stand up for our constituents.

We will continue campaigning to fix the NHS, boosting GP numbers, tackling delays to cancer treatment and improving access to dentists and pharmacists.

We will make sure the voice of carers is heard, from increasing the Carer’s Allowance to the big challenge of fixing social care – so that our loved ones can get the support they need.

Child Poverty: Right that Government looks at how to tackle child poverty after economic damage by Conservatives

Responding to news that the government has created a ministerial taskforce to tackle child poverty, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain MP said:

It is right that the government is looking at how best to tackle the scourge of child poverty. Hundreds of thousands of children are trapped in poverty after years of chaos and economic damage by the Conservatives.

Scrapping the two child cap would be the quickest and most cost-effective way to lift children out of poverty and bring long-term benefits to our society and economy. We hope that ministers listen to the evidence and the many charities that their task force will meet and act accordingly.

Chamberlain tables WASPI Parliamentary motion

Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Work and Pensions, has today tabled a Parliamentary motion calling for the new Government to honour the recommendations of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman’s report first came out in July 2021 and stated that women born in the 1950s had suffered significant financial loss due to maladministration by the Department of Work and Pensions. The final report was published in May 2024 and recommended 1950s women are owed compensation.

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Data-based analysis on the LibDem performance in the general election

Embed from Getty Images

The Week in Polls* has an interesting analysis on the LibDem performance in the general election, entitled “7 things we know about the LibDems and 2 things we don’t“.

Some headlines: We won because of health, bar charts and local candidates pointing at things. Our targetting was strong and there was large tactical voting, particularly in the last few days before voting.

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16 July 2024 – today’s press releases

  • King’s Speech: Fixing NHS and care must be a priority
  • Welsh Lib Dems call for First Minister to go
  • Rennie: Scotland needs good governance, not SNP chaos
  • Rennie comments on ferry contract decision

King’s Speech: Fixing NHS and care must be a priority

Commenting ahead of the King’s Speech tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

Years of chaos under the Conservatives have left us with a stagnant economy and health services in a state of crisis. Millions of people are stuck on NHS waiting lists and struggling to get the care they need to return to work.

Fixing the NHS and care would put rocket boosters under economic growth in our country.

The Liberal Democrats will keep campaigning for our policies to tackle the health and care crisis and get our economy back on track. That is what millions of people voted for at the General Election, we will not let them down.

Welsh Lib Dems call for First Minister to go

Responding to the recent resignations from Vaughan Gethings cabinet, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

Vaughan Gething has now lost both the confidence of the Senedd and several members of his own Government; he must resign from his position as First Minister.

We cannot afford to allow internal fighting in Welsh labour to distract us any longer from the range of serious issues facing our country.

The Welsh people are sick and tired of constant political scandals and broken promises, they want to see a political system that works for them.

We as the Welsh Liberal Democrats will deliver that change.

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Ed Davey, Vince Cable and Jo Swinson to face Horizon inquiry

The Guardian reports that Ed Davey will appear before the Post Office Horizon inquiry this Thursday, with Vince Cable and Jo Swinson appearing later this month:

Ed Davey hit the headlines for falling off a paddleboard, bungee jumping and Zumba dancing as part of his unconventional election campaign. But the Liberal Democrat leader’s attention-grabbing stunts paid off when his newly resurgent party won 72 seats, its highest total since 1923.

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15 July 2024 – today’s press releases

  • Cancer polling: New govt’s number one priority should be to get NHS back on its feet
  • Lib Dems call for new laws on GP appointments and cancer care in King’s Speech
  • Far North MP to lead debate on access to rural healthcare

Cancer polling: New govt’s number one priority should be to get NHS back on its feet

Responding to Cambridge University polling, conducted by Public First, showing that cancer is the biggest health concern among the UK public, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP said:

On the doorsteps throughout the campaign, we heard countless harrowing stories of people enduring unacceptably long waits to start cancer treatment.

The Conservative party has brought our health service to its knees and getting the NHS back on its feet needs to be the number one priority of the Labour government.

Liberal Democrats are calling for a legal right for all patients to start cancer treatment within two months and for a boost in cancer nurses to help deliver this.

It is patients who are bearing the brunt of this neglect and they cannot wait any longer.

Lib Dems call for new laws on GP appointments and cancer care in King’s Speech

The Liberal Democrats have said that new laws to end the crisis in health and care need to be at the heart of the King’s Speech on Wednesday.

The party said this should include giving patients new legal rights to see a GP within a week and to start cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent diagnosis, with new laws putting a statutory duty on the Government to deliver them. The Liberal Democrats are also calling for the introduction of free personal care to tackle the crisis in social care.

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SNP must repair relations with councils and unions as more than 210,000 days lost

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie has today said that the Education Secretary must rebuild relations with trade unions and local authorities as he revealed that more than 210,000 staff days were lost to strikes in just 18 months.

Freedom of information requests submitted by Scottish Liberal Democrats have revealed:

  • In 2022/23, at least 170,049 school and council staff days were lost due to strikes, while a further 46,197 were lost between April and October 2023;
  • Children missing out on up to a dozen days of education;
  • Among the local authorities which responded, Glasgow lost the most days of staff time with 29,295

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A special request to Federal Conference Committee

My goodness, Conference is going to be an absolute blast this year. Our annual jaunt to the seaside takes place from 14-17 September in Brighton will be so much sweeter after our spectacular General Election result.

I wasn’t going to go because of caring responsibilities, but I’ve managed to book a flying visit for 24 hours as I can’t bear the thought of not being with the Lib Dem family in such a special year. I mean who wouldn’t want to be around to congratulate 72 MPs and maybe get  a cuddle with Jennie if she’s off duty? And I can vouch for the fact that she does love a cuddle. If you think I am talking about Jennie Rigg, well, her too.

Before I say anything else, I should make the point very strongly that Federal Conference Committee have even more of a challenge than usual this year because someone decided to go outside on a wet Wednesday and call an election round about the time we’d normally have our motion submission deadlines.  Whether you agree with every decision FCC makes or not, I think it is important to acknowledge the huge amount of work that they do.

So, this request to them comes from a place of love. Registration for Conference opened earlier this week. The Early Bird discount is only available for around two weeks. Until 23 July, a members’ pass to the Conference costs £90. After that, until 13th August, it goes up to £130.

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12 July 2024 – today’s press release

I’d rather let this feature slip during the General Election – the flood of press releases, and the fact that they generally got rather better coverage than usual made it seem slightly less necessary to cover them here. But, perhaps now that the news cycle has settled a bit, and given that we have a vastly larger Parliamentary Party in the Commons, this feature may offer some insight into what our new MPs are up to.

That said, there’s only one today…

SEPA need to show plan for cleaning up Portobello

Responding to comments from SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, saying that paddling or bathing in the water at Edinburgh’s Portobello beach could pose a risk to health, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West Christine Jardine said:

This is an iconic location in our capital but once again people are being asked to stay out of the water because of threats to health. As Edinburgh gears up for its busiest season, this sends a terrible message.

Residents and visitors need more information out of SEPA as to what is leading to these closures and what action is being taken to deliver a long-term solution.

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BBC celebrates new MPs

The BBC has been profiling some of our new MPs, with great photos. (You will have to click through to see some of them).

Mike Martin: Tunbridge Wells

Mike told the BBC:

I am absolutely humbled being here and elected. It’s a total privilege.

I just can’t wait to get stuck in now, to help with all of the issues people have told me about over the past two years.

David Chadwick: Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe

Twelve years ago David was in a serious car crash and was put in an induced coma. On top of that he developed a rare neurological condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome – I have huge sympathy for David as my husband has had it as well.   He said:

The experience made me realise how important a functioning health care system is, because we never know when we’re going to need it.

When I was totally paralysed I had a lot of time to think about my life and I decided I want to use my body and the rest of my life to do good.

I’ve met a lot of people over the past couple of weeks who really need support and it’s an honour to be in a place where I can hopefully help them as much as I can.

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Rt Hon Jennie

The other day Caron mentioned that Jennie, the guide dog for Steve Darling, MP for Torbay, now has her own account on X at @rthonjennie.

You can see the two of them swearing in here:

Steve was subjected to some appalling abuse during the campaign, with Tory canvassers claiming that he was pretending to be blind and using his guide dog for “political purposes”. Any such nonsense is, of course, counter-productive and many local voters jumped in to defend him. He won with a respectable majority of over 5,000, overturning a Conservative majority of 17,000.

And Jennie has had a tough time too. Last year she was viciously attacked by an XL Bully dog, but fortunately she has made a full recovery.

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First day at work!

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Our new MPs: David Chadwick, Manuela Perteghella, Tom Gordon

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

David Chadwick MP: Brecon, Radnor and Cym Tawe

David lives in Brecon with his wife Gemma and young son William.

David works as a consultant in Cybersecurity and became interested in politics when his grandfather took him to see the steelworks in Port Talbot to see what it was like to work in a blast furnace stating it gave him an early insight into how politics, industry and communities are intrinsically linked.

David is keen to build on the hard work of local Liberal Democrat councillors who took control of Powys Council in 2022 after the Conservatives were left with just a single councillor across Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe.

David’s priorities include:

  • Making sure local farmers aren’t sold down the river in the name of cheap trade deals.
  • Protecting our pristine natural environment, including ending sewage dumping in the River Wye. Tawe and Usk.
  • Fighting for better economic investment, well-paid jobs and improved infrastructure in rural Wales and the former industrial heartlands of the upper Swansea Valley; making sure that our residents aren’t ignored by those in London and the South East.

Twitter: @libdemdavid

Manuela Perteghella MP: Stratford-Upon-Avon

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Our new MPs: Steve Darling, Tessa Munt, Edward Morello, Adam Dance

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

Steve Darling MP:  Torbay

Steve was brought up in a B&B on Lymington Road and has raised his family with wife Mandy in Torquay. They have 2 sons both of whom attended local schools. Steve’s eldest is now a medic in Torbay Hospital and the youngest is a university student in Bath. Steve’s wife Mandy spent more than 30 years working for the NHS, so the NHS challenges are well known to Steve.

Steve is registered blind and has lived experience and an understanding of equality and diversity, particularly around disability. Steve has a guide dog called Jennie who helps him enormously and is constantly by his side.

Steve Darling has served the people of Torbay for 30 years as a local councillor, 4 years of which was as Leader of the Council. Under his leadership, Torbay Council achieved most improved council of the year in April 2023. Steve spent 18 years working for the former Liberal Democrat MP Adrian Sanders helping people with local problems and trying to tackle the big issues for the area.

Steve’s is particularly campaigning on improvements to our NHS services, tackling sewage dumping in Torbay and supporting local people through the cost-of-living crisis.

Steve wants to champion his home community in Westminster as he knows its people and their aspirations. Torbay is his home and the community he knows and loves. Steve knows he can hit the ground running as the next MP pulling together all sides of the community putting political differences aside and emphasising all that makes Torbay great and tackling the challenges that the bay faces. To be Torbay’s MP is a job, in a sense, for which Steve has been training all his life.

Twitter: @cllrsdarling

Tessa Munt MP: Wells and Mendip Hills

Tessa was the Member of Parliament for Wells from 2010 – 2015, winning the seat from the Conservatives and ending their 87-year rule. Tessa is passionate about representing residents and organisations in our community once again.

A prolific community campaigner, Tessa is known for listening actively to locals and has an outstanding reputation and proven track record from strong opposition to MPs holding second jobs to campaigning to keep our rivers, streams and sea clean.

Tessa has a long-standing commitment to openness and transparency, demonstrated by being the first MP to publish her tax returns and record every gift received while serving as MP.

Tessa has held regular surgeries in the constituency’s city, towns, villages and hamlets and her record of 704 MP’s surgeries remains the highest of all MPs.

As MP for Wells, Tessa co-ordinated the campaign to keep the Bishop of Bath & Wells in the Bishop’s Palace and secured £51m in funding for cancer equipment for local hospitals. Tessa stuck by her principles and resigned from her ministerial post in Government after voting against fracking.

Twitter: @tessamunt

Edward Morello MP: West Dorset

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Our new MPs: Andrew George, Gideon Amos, Cameron Thomas, Claire Young and Rachel Gilmour

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here.  

Andrew George MP: St Ives

Andrew George is a renowned local and national campaigner. He was the Liberal Democrat MP for the West Cornwall and Scilly constituency of St Ives 1997-2015 and nearly won the seat back (in spite of difficult circumstances) in June 2017 and in December 2019. He said he’s “not walking away”.

Andrew was born and brought up in the constituency, is third of eight sons and daughters of small-holding horticulturist (the late) Hugh and musician/teacher Diana George of Mullion. Schooled at state schools at Mullion, Cury and Helston he then studied at Sussex and Oxford (University College) Universities and worked in farming, research, community development work, environmental conservation, affordable housing and charity work before being elected to Parliament in May 1997 as the first non Conservative MP for the St Ives constituency for 68 years. He is married and has an adult daughter and son and continues to live and work in Cornwall.

Andrew is renowned as a successful campaigner and has a reputation for independent-mindedness and a record of rebelling against his Party whip in Parliament, especially during the years of the Coalition Government (2010-15) when he argued that his Party leadership were compromising far too much with the Conservatives.

He led successful parliamentary campaigns – e.g. to remove the Conservative’s 50% council tax subsidy for wealthy second home owners, for a new regulator to protect smaller farmers and other suppliers from the “bully-boy” behaviour of supermarket buyers (known as the Grocery Code Adjudicator) and has led other campaigns for safe registered nurse staffing on hospital wards, against the Conservative’s ‘Bedroom Tax’ and many other campaigns in the field of international development, environment, health, anti-poverty, anti-discrimination, housing and much else.

Andrew is Chief Executive of affordable housing charity Cornwall Community Land Trust and runs other research and campaign projects with the support of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and others. Since 2006 he has been the Chair of the British Association for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.

Twitter: @andrewgeorge_ 

Gideon Amos MP: Taunton and Wellington

Gideon grew up in Somerset and lives in Taunton. He is married to Caroline and they have 4 children.

Gideon is a chartered architect and town planner and has helped deliver several affordable new homes for local families. He is presently working on wind farms and renewable energy projects around the UK. Gideon has served in the Territorial Army and was awarded an OBE for services to sustainable development.

Gideon and the Liberal Democrats are the clear challengers to the Conservatives in Taunton Deane with an ever-increasing vote – Labour and the Greens won’t be able to challenge.

Twitter: @gideonjamos

Cameron Thomas MP: Tewkesbury

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How did the Lib Dems do for gender balance this election?

For the first time, the number of women elected to Parliament has topped 40%. As Lyanne Nicholl, the Chief of 50:50 Parliament wrote on the Huffington Post,

This truly is a historic day – a 50:50 Parliament is now no longer a dot on the horizon, it is beaming into view and – with a fair wind – we can even dare to hope to reach equal representation in the next election.

We are not there yet, 40% is not 50%, but to potentially have a government with more women MPs than ever before and the potential of a gender balanced cabinet; that is exciting and cause for celebration. This is a great day for women’s representation.

Gender balance has not always been a positive story for the Liberal Democrats. It’s only in the last Parliament that we have ever had a majority of women MPs. At the start of the Parliament, we had 4 men and 7 women. By the end, this had risen to 5 men and 10 women. How are we doing now that we have an extra 57 people in our Parliamentary party? After all, the last time we had 57 MPs, our number of women was in single figures.

The answer is not too bad. We have 32 women in the 2024 Parliament, which makes up 44% of the total. This is not too far off Labour, who have 46% women and it’s great Keir Starmer has appointed a record number of women to his Cabinet. I have to admit a small tear in my eye as Angela Rayner walked up Downing Street. Whatever political differences I have with her, I am so happy to see someone with experience of social housing and of being a care worker in charge of housing and employment rights.

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Our new MPs: Martin Wrigley, Ben Maguire, Ian Roome, Roz Savage and Caroline Voaden

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

Martin Wrigley MP: Newton Abbot

Martin worked in high tech industry for over 30 years and has lived in Teignbridge for over 25 years.

He is a former Mayor of Dawlish and has been involved in local community politics since 2013.

Martin grew up in a Navy family and lived all over the world. Twenty five years ago he brought his young family to live in Dawlish and fell in love with the area.

Martin said “I want to make sure that that people locally have a good home they can afford and a good future.

We must look after the environment and the beautiful area in which we live as well as build a flourishing economy and a caring society.”

Twitter: @martinwrigley

Ben Maguire MP: North Cornwall

Born in Treliske, 32 year old Ben grew up in Withiel near Wadebridge and went to school in Bodmin where his mother was a teacher and his father a GP.
After graduating, Ben worked as a Parliamentary aide and constituency caseworker to former Lib Dem MPs Dan Rogerson and later Ian Swales. He also took research placements in the Hong Kong Legislative Council and the United States Senate.

More recently, Ben has worked as a solicitor in top international law firms and in the microchip industry.

Twitter: @benmaguirenc

 

Ian Roome MP: North Devon

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Our new MPs Max Wilkinson, Sarah Gibson, Anna Sabine, Brian Mathew, Vikki Slade

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

Max Wilkinson MP: Cheltenham

Max Wilkinson is a well-known face around Cheltenham. He’s served the town for more than ten years and lives in Fairview with his wife and daughter.

During his decade of service to our town as a local councillor, Max has helped Cheltenham make progress on issues ranging from affordable housing to the environment and cost of living. He is already deeply embedded in the community and he knows how this town works. He’s ready to hit the ground running as our new MP.

Max was a local councillor until May 2024, when he stepped aside to focus on his campaign to become the MP. In his early years of campaigning, he led the fight for more affordable housing, leading to Cheltenham’s £180million investment plan for homes.

He spent two years fighting for our planet as Cabinet Member for Climate Change, leading on the introduction of a climate action plan and tough new rules on planning so we can get a better deal from developers.

He moved on to a role focused on the economy and wellbeing. There, he worked closely with our arts and culture sectors on a new plan to enhance the prosperity of our High Street. Max also worked on the cost of living, securing more money for food banks and support for food bank users.

He has also written a fair few articles for us.

Twitter: @mpmwilko

Sarah Gibson MP: Chippenham

Sarah was brought up here in Wiltshire, She studied architecture in London, joining the Liberal party at freshers week! She returned home to Wiltshire after working in Spain for some years to set up an architectural practice.

As a Wiltshire Councillor she realised that the issues she and her peers were fighting at Local Government level need a strong champion at Westminster.

As your Member of Parliament, she pledges to work tirelessly for the betterment of the whole constituency, addressing critical issues and advocating for positive change. Supporting our excellent local councillors here and across the constituency.

Twitter: @sarahgibsonld

Anna Sabine MP: Frome and East Somerset

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Our new MPs: Mike Martin, Danny Chambers, Charlie Maynard, Will Forster, Clive Jones

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

Mike Martin MP: Tunbridge Wells

Mike Martin is standing as the candidate for Tunbridge Wells. He is a former British army officer who served multiple tours in Helmand, Afghanistan. Since leaving the army, he has also had other leadership roles, including as a senior executive in a global charity working to bring different people and organisations together to solve problems.

Mike is a Senior Fellow at King’s College London – an expert in geopolitics and conflict – and the author of several books on psychology, conflict and travel.

His background has taught him a lot about how to understand and work with different perspectives, how to bring people together to solve problems and how to get difficult things done.

Mike is campaigning on making the town centre of Tunbridge Wells a town centre that is fit for the 21st century—greener, less traffic, and with more things for youngsters to do. He would also like to lead a drive towards building more affordable housing in the area and, crucially, to make sure there is sufficient infrastructure for the houses that we already have. This means enough GP surgeries, and school places, and public transport.

At a national and international level, Mike has significant expertise in geopolitics and conflict. If elected, his focus at a national level will be on helping guide the UK through the turbulent years that we face.

Twitter: @threshedthought

Danny Chambers MP: Winchester

Danny works as a vet in Winchester, is the trustee of two charities and was elected by his peers to the body that governs the veterinary profession. He’s been involved in charitable projects all over the world.

He is committed to campaigning for better healthcare services for Winchester. He has also used his platform as a vet to campaign nationally on wider issues ranging from mental health to animal welfare.

Danny enjoys cycling, running and hiking. One of his favourite routes is the Itchen Navigation along the route of the old canal.

Twitter: @dannyvet

Charlie Maynard MP: Witney

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Ed Davey on Kuenssberg – what next for the Liberal Democrats?

There was a lovely shot at the top of this morning’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg of a very happy looking Ed Davey standing in his garden. Some might say he even looked a wee bit smug, but he is entirely entitled to do so after our amazing result on Thursday.

Lib Dem MPs will make up the third largest group in Parliament. That means that Ed will get two questions to the Prime Minister every week. We’ll get more speaking time. We’ll get more media time. I mean, we’re on Kuenssberg for the second  Sunday in a row.  We will still need to make the absolute most of every opportunity we get, but it’s a massive step forward. It’s strange to think that there will be only 49 more Tories than there are of us. While they will be ripping themselves apart trying to decide whether they are going to go full throttle ultra right or to try to regain some semblance of one nation conservatism, we will be united, dynamic and brimming with ideas.

It will be a change in dynamics, too. Our returning MPs have had to juggle several portfolios each and they have done so admirably.  We will now have the capacity to share the workload and have backbenchers for the first time in a decade. Maybe we might get a Select Committee chair or two.

Anyway, back to Ed’s interview.

Congratulations, I suppose, said Laura. A bit grudging, I have to say.

Her first question: What do you plan to do with all these new MPs?

It was an amazing result for us. We are excited by this opportunity. We fought the campaign putting health and care at the top of our list and we will fight in Parliament on health and care. I have already called for an emergency budget for health and care this month so we can start to rescue our NHS which has been brought to its knees by the Conservatives.

Will we be as tough on Labour as the Conservatives? Ed said that we would be putting forward our ideas on care, on the environment in the hope that Labour would take some of them on board.

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Our new MPs: Chris Coghlan, Olly Glover, Josh Babarinde, Liz Jarvis, Helen Maguire

Chris Coghlan MP:  Dorking and Horley

Chris stood to be Dorking and Horley’s Lib Dem MP because this is where he lives with his wife and three little girls, and where he grew up.

Chris spent a decade working in finance, in New York for Deloitte and a hedge fund in London, before pursuing a career in public service. He joined the Foreign Office’s counter-terrorism department, founded the international development charity Grow Movement, and served as an officer in the army reserve. In 2020 Chris was called up by the army and embedded as a military advisor with Iraqi forces fighting ISIS.

Chris’s top priorities for Dorking and Horley are urgent action to cut the cost of living, more NHS dentists and stopping sewage dumping in our rivers.

Chris says “I love this area, but I realise how very different things are from when I was young. Our NHS is on its knees. It’s a disgrace that the top reason for children being admitted to hospitals is tooth decay because they can’t make an appointment with a dentist.

We have a Conservative government that’s allowed our rivers to be polluted with record levels of raw sewage. A government that has condemned local taxpayers to pay spiralling mortgages and rent in a cost-of-living crisis.”

Twitter: @_chris_coghlan

Olly Glover MP: Didcot and Wantage

Olly Glover lives in Milton. He has spent all his working life on the railways, having held a range of senior operational management positions in Network Rail and train operating companies. These have involved leading large teams of train drivers, responsibility for major control centres, working in partnership with trade unions, and hands-on roles managing disruption, on the tracks and on station concourses. Olly now works as a consultant, using his knowledge to help railway companies in the UK and abroad to improve their operations.

Olly is a parish councillor in his village, a town councillor in Didcot, and volunteers as a visitor to people living with motor neurone disease.

Through his work and volunteering, Olly has a long record of serving the public and understanding people’s needs and frustrations.

Olly’s priorities for the constituency are campaigning for the NHS facilities that the area’s growing population need, continuing his work pressing for a new railway station in Grove, and supporting the Lib Dem plan to end sewage dumping and reform the water industry.

Twitter: @ollygloerld

Josh Babarinde MP: Eastbourne

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Our new MPs: Joshua Reynolds, Alison Bennett, Lee Dillon, Alex Brewer, Alasdair Pinkerton

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

Joshua Reynolds MP: Maidenhead

Joshua Reynolds is a familiar face across Maidenhead. Elected to the council in 2019, and now a cabinet member, Josh grew up in Courthouse Road and went to Alwyn, Courthouse and Furze Platt Senior Schools, only leaving to study in Cardiff where he graduated with a first-class degree in Business and Management Studies. On his return, he successfully managed a chain of supermarkets before taking the decision to devote himself full time to public service.

Joshua’s time in retail gave him a valuable insight into the cost-of-living crisis. He saw first hand how the crisis impacted his shoppers, and how the increase in shoplifting has hit local businesses.

He is also campaigning to see the walk-in centre re-opened at St Mark’s Hospital and the improvement and expansion of health services there and around the constituency to support the fast-growing population.

Joshua sees river pollution as another key issue and is calling for the water companies to be held to account for polluting our waterways. He fully supports the Lib Dem pledge to transform water companies into public benefit companies, ban bonuses for water bosses until the pollution ends, and replace Ofwat with a tough new regulator with much greater powers.

Twitter: @joshreynoldsSL6

Alison Bennett MP: Mid Sussex

Alison is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mid Sussex where she has lived for the last 12 years.

When Alison graduated from Cambridge in 1999 a career in politics was not anticipated. But as a young executive at British Airways, Alison proved an able problem solver in marketing, strategy, and business planning.

Later, at E.on, Alison confronted social challenges, working on products aimed at supporting people in fuel poverty. “I learnt much that has been valuable as a local politician in understanding what matters to people and the pinch points in their lives.”

Her commitment to public service was sparked when she became a parent. “I wanted my children to grow up knowing that regardless of who your parents are, everyone should have a fair chance of achieving their potential, and that when we see things aren’t right, we can step up and find a better way.”

Over the last nine years Alison has turned around the Mid Sussex Lib Dems’ fortunes. Having had no councillors in 2015, by 2019, she became leader of 13 Lib Dems on the district council. Then in May 2023, the party succeeded in leapfrogging the Conservatives to becoming the largest on the council.

Her pragmatic and collaborative approach emphasises building relationships across party lines. Alison underscores the importance of teamwork, stating, “One person alone can’t achieve things in politics. You have to motivate people, build a team, and pull in the same direction.” Her journey stands as a testament to the transformative power of tenacity and optimism in leadership.

Twitter: @alisonebennett

Lee Dillon MP: Newbury

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Our new MPs: Monica Harding, Zoe Franklin, Freddie van Mierlo, John Milne, James Maccleary

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

Monica Harding MP: Esher and Walton

Monica is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Esher and Walton. Monica is a local mum of four who has lived in Thames Ditton for 17 years with her elderly mother living close by in Hinchley Wood.

Monica has worked as a Director and CEO in the private, public and charity sectors. She was a Director of Communications with the British Council in London, Paris, Tokyo and Shanghai. She was President and CEO of Refugees International Japan and sat on the Board of Refugees International USA. She was CEO of the Industry and Parliament Trust and an Associate Consultant with PA Consulting and now works as a management consultant. She has been Vice Chair of Governors at a local school and a Trustee at Princess Alice Hospice. She founded The Britain Project in 2020, a convening space for progressives – a non-partisan, political movement seeking to build a broad liberal and progressive coalition built on the politics of hope, decency, integrity, fairness and the common-good. She hopes it can contribute to tackling the solutions to the big challenges we face – rather than lurching from election to election with no clear plan on the future of Britain.

Monica came into politics in 2019 with no political experience. She said she got ‘fed up with shouting at the TV and decided to do something about it’. She wanted her children to inherit the country she was given by her parents – the ability to make a good life from little, in a country that was full of opportunities, outward looking, tolerant, and ambitious for the future.

Monica’s priorities for Esher and Walton are the priorities she hears on the doorstep. She wants to ease the cost of living, improve our access to local health services and protect the NHS, and look after our environment including cleaning up our local rivers – the Thames and the Mole – which have been blighted by sewage. She has a keen interest in education, wants to better support our schools, refashion the curriculum for the future and improve access to mental health and SEN support for young people.

Twitter: @monicabeharding

Zoe Franklin MP: Guildford

Zöe Franklin is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Guildford. A former Guildford borough councillor for Bellfields & Slyfield, Zöe is a local and hardworking campaigner who has over 15 years of experience and will deliver the change we need.

Zöe became politically involved because she was sick of seeing her community being let down by the Conservative council and government. After 14 years of Conservative government, she is more angry today than ever and determined to ensure Guildford has the strong, active voice it needs in Westminster.

For Zöe, tackling the cost of living crisis is a priority. She has spoken to many people who have shared their struggles to pay their bills, put food on their table or buy clothing essentials for themselves or their children. Why do we still have people forced to rely on food banks in 21st-century Guildford? She wants fair taxes for all and benefits that really support people who are struggling.

She has also led campaigning, locally, on sewage dumping in the River Wey and the problems Guildford residents have experienced with Thames Water’s water supply, rising bills and hosepipe bans.

“Guildford has been my home for 25 years. Our town and villages are special places and deserve a strong independent-minded MP who will put local people first, be their voice in Westminster and fight tirelessly on the issues that matter to them.”

Twitter: @zoefranklinLD

Freddie Van Mierlo MP: Henley and Thame

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Our new MPs – Lisa Smart, Susan Murray, Angus MacDonald, Calum Miller, Jess Brown-Fuller

We thought you might like to find out a little bit about our new MPs. We didn’t think we’d have quite so many, but this is a lovely problem to have. All details come from the party website or the MPs’ social media. We’ll get to know them more over the next wee while, but here’s a taster. 

Our editor sleepily compiled a Twitter list of all our MPs’ accounts she could find. You can follow it here

Lisa Smart MP – Hazel Grove

Born and brought up in the North West, Lisa lives in Romiley with her partner Ed, who grew up in High Lane, and their rescue dog Bonnie.

Lisa cares deeply about Hazel Grove constituency and its people, working as an active volunteer locally. Roles include serving as a trustee for the New Horizons Canal Boat for disabled people and their carers in Marple, as a volunteer for the Woodley & Romiley Towpath Team, and a trustee of the Barrack Hill Education Trust.

As an active and successful campaigner, she has been at the heart of include securing Specialist Status for Stepping Hill Hospital, saving the Rose Hill to Manchester rail service, and improving road safety across the borough.

Other areas Lisa is campaigning hard on are the climate emergency and the need for us to protect green space, tackle air pollution and protect wildlife.

The former Chief Executive of an international education development charity, Lisa is committed to making sure young people get the best start in life and their voices are heard. The first of her family to go to university, Lisa graduated from Durham University with a degree in Mathematics followed by an MBA from the London Business School.

Lisa is known for being gutsy and getting things done, whether it is through her voluntary roles, by working as a Director of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust or though convincing Council bosses to give Asset of Community Value status to protect local green space.

Never afraid to stand up for what is right and fair, Lisa also knows how to demand better use of government money, with 12 years of experience looking after pension funds and charity investments for UK, US and Canadian clients.

Twitter: @lisa_smart

Susan Murray MP – Mid Dunbartonshire

Susan Murray is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mid Dunbartonshire. A current local councillor for Kirkintilloch East and North and Twechar, Susan is a strong, local and hardworking campaigner and has the experience that will deliver the change we need.

Too many MPs are career politicians with no understanding of life in the real world. She is a successful businesswoman who lives locally and will use here experience getting things done as an East Dunbartonshire councillor to deliver on the issues that matter most to residents.

For Susan, improving local healthcare is a personal priority. When her husband suffered a stroke, she became a carer. Her experience means Susan knows just how important it is to have good quality NHS facilities in our community, like the new Milngavie health and care centre she is campaigning for.

Twitter: @susan4_ED

Angus MacDonald MP – Inverness, Skye and West Ross-Shire

Brought up in the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe, he served three years as a lieutenant in the Queens Own Highlanders with three years as an Investment Manager at Martin Currie in Edinburgh before founding Edinburgh Financial Publishing in 1990. He sold EFP in 1997 and bought a majority stake in Financial News. This business grew rapidly before being sold in two parts to The Wall Street Journal and two private equity firms in 2006/7. ICS was sold to private equity in May 2018 and SWR was sold to Biffa in March 2019. He chairs Renewable Parts which supplies spare parts for wind turbines.

Angus was awarded The Spears Entrepreneur of the Year and Entrepreneurial Scotlands ‘Scale up Entrepreneur’ in 2017 for a combination of his serial and social entrepreneurship endeavours.

He was Vice President of The National Trust for Scotland. He founded the Moidart Trust to help small companies grow and flourish. He founded the Caledonian Challenge which raised approximately £15m for charity over 20 years. He was awarded an OBE for services to the Highlands.

He has had published a successful series of historical novels about the highlands and is the owner of the Highland Bookshop in Fort William. His recent big project has been the construction of the Highland Cinema in the town centre (his gift to the town), voted UK cinema of the year in 2023, and is Chairman of The Highland Soap Co.

He lives near Arisaig with his wife of 37 years, Michie and has 4 sons, Archie, Jack, Jamie and Donald.

Twitter: @angusmacdlibem

Calum Miller MP – Bicester and Woodstock

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