Category Archives: Press releases

15 March 2022 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Tue 15th March 2022 - 11:20 pm

New sanctions list: Shutting the door after the private jet has bolted

Responding to the government’s new expanded sanctions list of Russian individuals, coming almost three weeks since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:

This is shutting the door after the private jet has bolted. The Government has finally got their act together – but we should have been in this position weeks ago. This delay has given Putin’s cronies a priceless window to firesale their assets.

Now we need to go further. There are still too many associates of Putin getting away with it

…

Also posted in News | Tagged layla moran, sanctions and ukraine | 3 Comments

14 March 2022 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 14th March 2022 - 10:30 pm

Ministers losing track on Ukrainian refugee visa u-turns
Homes for Ukraine: Refugees still trapped in bureaucratic limbo
Economic Crime Bill: Lib Dems close ‘Oligarch Loophole’

Ministers losing track on Ukrainian refugee visa u-turns

Responding to Sajid Javid’s confusion this morning over a family reunion route for Ukrainian refugees, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:

The Government has u-turned so many times over visas for Ukrainian refugees, it seems even its own Cabinet Ministers have lost track.

Three weeks on, it is unacceptable that the Home Office is still turning away desperate families fleeing Putin’s war, and snaring them in red tape at the border. It is shameful that even Ukrainians working in our NHS cannot bring family members to join them.

The Government must make one more u-turn, and allow any Ukrainian refugee to come to the UK without having to apply for a visa first.

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, layla moran, sanctions and ukraine | 6 Comments

Ukrainians deserve better than being stuck in Home Office visa appointment queue

By The Voice | Mon 7th March 2022 - 11:30 pm

Responding to Home Office figures which show that just 300 visas have been issued to Ukrainian refugees under the Family Scheme, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:

Ukrainians fleeing for their lives deserve far better than being stuck in a queue for a Home Office visa appointment.

People across the UK want to welcome Ukrainian refugees with compassion, but instead Priti Patel is keeping them out with pointless extra bureaucracy. No amount of spin can disguise the inadequacy of her response.

Our country has a proud tradition of offering sanctuary to those in need. The Government should remember

…

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, ukraine and visas | 11 Comments

Refugees: Shameful that Ukrainians escaping Putin’s terror are being turned away

By The Voice | Mon 7th March 2022 - 3:53 pm

Responding to the news that Home Secretary Priti Patel is now investigating a humanitarian route for Ukrainian refugees without family in the UK, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:

It is shameful that Ukrainians escaping Putin’s terror are being turned away from the UK. It flies in the face of our country’s proud history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing war and persecution.

Priti Patel has spent her time as Home Secretary closing down safe routes for refugees to come to the UK. For her to say she’s just started ‘investigating’ those routes for Ukrainians is a welcome

…

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, refugee crisis and ukraine | 6 Comments

Absence of Gazprom and Rosneft from sanctions list is “elephant in the room”

By NewsHound | Thu 24th February 2022 - 10:00 pm

Responding to the additional sanctions on Russian companies and individuals announced today by Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Leader and former Energy Secretary Ed Davey said:

The absence of Gazprom and Rosneft, part-owned by BP, in today’s sanctions list is the elephant in the room. The UK must do everything we can to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Russia’s state-owned oil and gas giants stand to profit from this war and soaring prices. We must start treating Putin’s Russia like the rogue state it is and immediately cut off UK investment in these firms.

Tagged ed davey, russia, sanctions and ukraine | 3 Comments

Living with Covid: Shambolic Govt taking NHS & Care services for granted

By The Voice | Mon 21st February 2022 - 6:56 pm

Responding to the Government’s plan on Living with Covid, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

The Conservatives have been planning to end free Covid testing for more than two months, yet still we have no clarity on what this means in reality.

Boris Johnson wasn’t even able to answer the simple question of whether any free testing plans would be kept in place for essential workers, such as NHS staff, or for those who are clinically vulnerable.

This so-called plan has been cobbled together on the back of a fag packet. People are being asked to exercise personal responsibility whilst

…

Tagged Covid-19 and daisy cooper | 8 Comments

16 January 2022 – yesterday’s press releases

By The Voice | Mon 17th January 2022 - 11:12 am

Dowden defence of No10 parties ‘pathetic’ say Lib Dems
‘Back off our BBC!’ say Lib Dems

Dowden defence of No10 parties ‘pathetic’ say Lib Dems

Responding to Oliver Dowden’s appearance on BBC Sunday Morning, where he defended the Prime Minister and blamed an ‘underlying culture’ for the Downing Street parties, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:

This pathetic attempt to defend Boris Johnson will just fan the flames of public anger against this rotten Conservative government.

Boris Johnson is once again blaming those around him instead of taking responsibility.

If he really is angry about these parties, he must be furious with

…

Also posted in News | Tagged bbc, jamie stone, layla moran and partygate | 20 Comments

Email on Number 10 drinks party “adding insult to injury” – Ed Davey

By Mark Valladares | Mon 10th January 2022 - 8:34 pm

Responding to reports by ITV News that Downing Street staff were invited to a drinks party in the Number 10 garden during the national lockdown on May 20 2020, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

This is yet more evidence that while the vast majority of people were sticking to the rules, those in Number Ten were breaking them.

It is a kick in the teeth for everyone who has sacrificed so much during the pandemic, from those who weren’t able to visit loved ones in hospital to nurses left wearing binbags as PPE.

To add insult to injury, on

…

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey, partygate and tory sleaze | Leave a comment

Dentist staffing crisis as almost 1,000 walk away

By NewsHound | Mon 10th January 2022 - 1:08 pm

Data acquired by the Liberal Democrats has revealed a growing dentist staffing crisis as almost 1,000 practitioners have walked away from the profession in the past twelve months.

Official figures show there were 23,733 dental practitioners in 2021 – 951 fewer than the previous year, leaving more patients struggling to get the dental care they need.

The information, first covered in the Express, was published in response to a Parliamentary Question by Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey, who is calling for urgent action to ensure people can get the treatment they need.

Commenting, Ed Davey MP said:

The lack of NHS dentists across the

…

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey and NHS dentistry | 8 Comments

Liberal Democrats demand “Robin Hood tax” on oil and gas super-profits

By NewsHound | Thu 6th January 2022 - 1:01 pm

Liberal Democrat Leader and former Energy Secretary Ed Davey has called for a “Robin Hood” tax on the super-profits of oil and gas firms to raise money to support millions of families facing soaring energy costs.

The proposed one-off levy would raise an estimated £5 billion from companies that are making record profits from soaring energy prices. This would be used to support vulnerable families facing a crippling 50% increase to their energy bills.

Earlier this week it emerged that Russian energy giant Gazprom’s trading arm, based in London, has cashed in a £179 million dividend. Meanwhile, the boss of BP has described his company as a ‘cash machine’ after soaring oil and gas prices boosted its profits to £2.4 billion in the third quarter of 2021 alone.

Also posted in News | Tagged fuel prices | 17 Comments

Daisy Cooper: PM ‘moving the goalposts’ on booster jabs

By The Voice | Mon 13th December 2021 - 1:47 pm

Responding to the Department of Health rowing back on the Prime Minister’s promise for everyone to ‘get their booster before the New Year’, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

Boris Johnson’s panicked announcement has once again caused chaos and confusion. Last night he promised people they could get a booster before the New Year, now ministers are moving the goalposts and saying people will only be offered one by then.

Their failure to prepare properly now means that NHS websites have crashed, lateral flow tests are running out, and everyone working to get people vaccinated have been left scrambling to

…

Also posted in News | Tagged daisy cooper, tory incompetence and vaccine booster | 3 Comments

8 December 2021 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 8th December 2021 - 10:30 pm

PM press conference: Inquiry must look into all Downing Street parties
Covid pass app crashes days before vaccine passports introduced

PM press conference: Inquiry must look into all Downing Street parties

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called for the Cabinet Office inquiry to be extended into all parties that took place in Number 10 last year, along with any that took place in other government departments.

It comes after Boris Johnson confirmed at a press conference today that he has only asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to look into the party that took place on December 18 last year, not an earlier gathering …

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, covid passports, downing street party and ed davey | 100 Comments

7 December 2021 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 7th December 2021 - 11:40 pm

Davey: PM must fess up over Xmas party
Williamson party: Met Police must investigate

Davey: PM must fess up over Xmas party

Responding to a new leaked video which shows the Prime Minister’s former press secretary joking about a party in Downing Street last Christmas, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said:

People will rightly be furious with Boris Johnson, not just for holding a party during lockdown, but also for refusing to own up to it. Once again he shows it’s one rule for us and one rule for him, with the Conservatives continuing to take people for granted.

Whilst millions

…

Also posted in News | Tagged christmas parties, conservatives, ed davey and munira wilson | 14 Comments

30 November 2021 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 30th November 2021 - 10:30 pm

Storm Arwen: Govt “abandoning” rural communities hit by power cuts
Zahawi breaks yet another promise as school absences soar by 80,000
Bring back work from home to help save Christmas

Storm Arwen: Govt “abandoning” rural communities hit by power cuts

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the Government provide emergency support to rural communities who have been left without power for days after Storm Arwen.

In a letter to ministers from Liberal Democrat Communities Spokesperson Tim Farron MP, Welsh Party Leader Jane Dodds MS and local North Shropshire candidate Helen Morgan, the party warns that rural communities in areas like North Shropshire are being taken for granted and “abandoned by the Government in their time of need.”

Tim Farron also raised the issue in Parliament yesterday and criticised the Government for failing to make an official ministerial statement on the issue.

The letter calls for ministers to step in and provide food, emergency accommodation and other essential supplies to vulnerable people on the ground impacted by the storm. It also urges the armed forces to be brought in to provide emergency electricity generators to communities until power is restored, and for the Government to provide additional support to engineers working hard to bring back power as soon as possible.

Also posted in News | Tagged Covid-19, daisy cooper, munira wilson, rural communities, tim farron and working from home | 3 Comments

29 November 2021 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Mon 29th November 2021 - 10:50 pm

PM must stop sale of vaccine manufacturing centre

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that Boris Johnson immediately steps in to halt the sale of the Vaccine Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Harwell near Oxford, describing the move as “short-sighted penny pinching.”

It was reported this morning that the centre is being sold off to recoup some of the money invested by the Government.

On a visit to the centre last year, Boris Johnson claimed that the new vaccine centre “will be able to manufacture enough vaccine doses for the whole UK population… which would transform how we beat this virus and prepare for future …

Also posted in News | Tagged daisy cooper, industrial strategy and vaccines | 4 Comments

26 November 2021 – today’s press release

By Mark Valladares | Fri 26th November 2021 - 10:30 pm

Government must reverse £30m aid cuts to Southern Africa to help tackle new variant

The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the government reverse aid cuts and launch an emergency Covid support fund, to help countries in Southern Africa contain the new variant spreading there.

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found that the UK is slashing aid to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe by £30m next year, or by over a third (35%), a move the party described as “cruel and short-sighted.” In addition to this, UK aid spending on global health funding has been slashed by £243 million, from over £1.1 billion …

Also posted in News | Tagged Covid-19, layla moran, southern africa and vaccines | 1 Comment

25 November 2021 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 25th November 2021 - 11:30 pm

It looks as though we’ve had another surge of press releases so we thought that we might share them with you…

Channel crossings: Govt must rule out dangerous ‘pushback’ tactics
GP Shortages: Only 4-in-10 able to get same-day appointment
Nick Fletcher’s Dr Who comments straight out of the 1950s

Channel crossings: Govt must rule out dangerous ‘pushback’ tactics

Responding to Immigration Minister Kevin Foster’s refusal to rule out using ‘pushback’ tactics to turn back small boats in the Channel, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:

It is disgraceful that the government is even considering pushing boats back in the Channel after yesterday’s tragic

…

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, daisy cooper, GP shortage, migration and misogyny | 4 Comments

NALC appoints new cross-party President and Vice-Presidents

By The Voice | Tue 26th October 2021 - 6:55 pm

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has appointed a cross-party group of parliamentarians in its presidential roles at its Annual General Meeting today.

Baroness Ros Scott of Needham Market has become the new President of NALC. The Liberal Democrat peer took up the role, which became vacant when Conservative peer Baroness Jane Scott stood down after becoming a government whip.

NALC has also changed its rules to introduce the new position of Parliamentary Vice-President. Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green), Andrew Gwynne MP (Labour), Lord O’Shaughnessy (Conservative) and Lord Lytton (cross-bencher) were appointed to this role.

Also posted in News | Tagged NALC, ros scott and town and parish councils | Leave a comment

Rishi Sunak recycling aid money deals “damaging blow” to UK reputation ahead of COP summit

By NewsHound | Mon 11th October 2021 - 11:15 am

The Liberal Democrats have warned a UK government decision to effectively slash the aid budget by billions more pounds will send “completely the wrong message” to the world ahead of next month’s COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

It comes after it was reported that the Chancellor Rishi Sunak will include the UK’s share of financial assistance provided by the International Monetary Fund through Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) as part of the 0.5% aid target. The move is expected to reduce the aid budget by another £4bn to £5bn over a number of years.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs …

Also posted in News | Tagged international development and layla moran | Leave a comment

Ed Davey: Prioritise NHS and care workers for fuel

By The Voice | Tue 28th September 2021 - 7:35 am

The government must ensure that health and care staff, teachers and other essential workers are given priority access to fuel, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has said.

The former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change warned that the government mustn’t “allow their incompetence to damage people’s health and undermine our children’s education.”

It comes amid a warning from the British Medical Association that as pumps run dry “there is a real risk that NHS staff won’t be able to do their jobs”.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

Nurses and doctors are struggling to get to work, vulnerable people

…

Also posted in News | Tagged ed davey and petrol crisis | 9 Comments

Government must ‘not let the sun go down’ on the UK performers

By The Voice | Mon 20th September 2021 - 5:26 pm

Liberal Democrats have backed calls from Sir Elton John for the UK Government to urgently resolve the growing crisis facing the UK cultural sector.

At their national Conference today, the party has unanimously backed calls for swift action to address the red tape and paperwork that is stopping UK artists, performers, and musicians from being able to tour and perform in Europe.

Sir Elton has been a vocal critic of the Government’s failure to resolve this issue, which was caused following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU without a full scheme in place to enable paperless travel for performers.

Also posted in News | Tagged culture, elton john, exports and layla moran | 3 Comments

Liberal Democrats call for radical new approach to Israel/Palestine conflict

By The Voice | Mon 20th September 2021 - 3:17 pm

The Liberal Democrats have called for more trade with Palestine and Israel, more resources for peace and upholding of international law by ceasing trade with illegal settlements.

Liberal Democrat members have today passed a motion at party conference calling for a new approach to the Israel/Palestine conflict.

The motion, the first on Israel/Palestine at Lib Dem conference since 2017, reaffirms the party’s call for immediate recognition of the state of Palestine alongside calling on the UK Government to commit further resources to peace.

The Liberal Democrats have become the first UK political party to formally support the creation of a peace fund for the region to build trust between Israeli and Palestinian communities, modelled on similar schemes previously used in Northern Ireland.

Also posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged israel and palestine | 9 Comments

Liberal Democrats table motion to dock Raab’s pay

By NewsHound | Mon 6th September 2021 - 10:57 am

Today in Parliament the Liberal Democrats are tabling an Early Day Motion to dock Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s pay over his handling of the Afghanistan crisis.

They are also calling for the Government to use the money saved to fund the resettlement of Afghan refugees, following reports of a £557m shortfall in resettlement funding.

Commenting on the motion, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said:

Dominic Raab is one of the worst Foreign Secretaries in British history.

He has presided over the worst foreign policy disaster since the Suez and decided to spend more time on the beach instead of picking

…

Also posted in News | Tagged afghanistan, dominic raab and wendy chamberlain | 22 Comments

Lib Dems say “Give firms right to require face masks worn by customers”

By The Voice | Mon 12th July 2021 - 4:05 pm

Following the Government’s update on plans to ease restrictions on 19th July, the Liberal Democrats have called on businesses to be given the legal right to require customers to wear face masks on their premises.

Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Business, has heard from businesses who want to protect young staff who have not received their second jab, and those who are clinically vulnerable, by ensuring face masks are worn by customers.

Also posted in News | Tagged face masks | 73 Comments

Liberal Democrats: Keep masks mandatory on public transport a little while longer

By The Voice | Mon 5th July 2021 - 2:35 pm

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to keep masks mandatory on public transport after 19th July.

Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, believes it would be a small price worth paying to protect others:

Many people, especially the vulnerable, do not yet feel confident enough to travel on crowded public transport. There are millions who have still not been double jabbed, and are therefore at greater risk of both becoming ill themselves and spreading the virus to others.

Keeping masks mandatory on public transport which can often become overcrowded is the right thing to do.

We

…

Also posted in News | Tagged face masks and munira wilson | 77 Comments

Lib Dems: Local lockdowns by stealth are completely irresponsible

By The Voice | Tue 25th May 2021 - 1:20 pm

Responding to the news that local lockdowns have been introduced by “stealth” Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said:

Changing policy by stealth is completely irresponsible. Matt Hancock should have made clear the changes he was making to guidance in advance and communicated it to the public and local officials. He needs to make clear the situation immediately to Parliament.

Clarification on the new rules in these areas is now needed, not only for residents but for those that would normally travel to the affected areas. People cross these invisible boundaries every day for medical appointments or to go shopping.

…

Tagged local lockdowns and munira wilson | 6 Comments

Hitachi trains: Government failing to address impact on passengers and regions

By The Voice | Thu 13th May 2021 - 9:30 pm

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Jenny Randerson has asked the Government to explain what assessment they have made of the social and economic impacts of disruption to services following the withdrawal of some Hitachi high speed trains from service after defects were discovered.

Following the response by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Baroness Randerson commented:

The Government has underestimated the impact of Hitachi on long suffering passengers and totally failed to address the impact of this disruption on individual passengers and regions.

There was no answer at all to my suggestion that the Govt should fund a season of promotional cheap fares

…

Tagged rail safety | 1 Comment

Tories backtracking over new Powys Hospitals shows lack of honesty with voters

By The Voice | Mon 3rd May 2021 - 9:25 am

The admission by the Conservatives that their manifesto pledge to build two new hospitals in Powys won’t be fulfilled has been described as a disappointing breach of trust by the Liberal Democrats.

The Conservative manifesto pledges on both the inside cover and on page two that they will build “five new hospitals.” However Welsh Conservatives have now admitted that only two new hospitals will be built, neither of which will be in Powys and instead that existing hospitals in Newtown and Llandrindod will be upgraded.

Also posted in News and Wales | Tagged health and mid wales | 18 Comments

21 March 2021 – the day’s press releases (part 2)

By Mark Valladares | Mon 22nd March 2021 - 10:30 pm

Reverse “deadly” aid cuts, say Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats call for greater measures to increase accessibility in education
Government must commit to 10k refugees a year, Liberal Democrats say

Reverse “deadly” aid cuts, say Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have called on the UK Government to reverse “unprincipled, unjustified and downright deadly” cuts to international aid.

The motion passed at its Spring Conference reaffirmed the Party’s commitment to the UK contributing 0.7% of GNI on Official Development Assistance and slammed the merging of the Department for International Development with the Foreign Office.

It also demanded the UK Government play a ‘proactive role in debt forgiveness and relief initiatives’ for developing countries struggling with the economic and health impact of Coronavirus.

Speaking after the motion was approved, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development Layla Moran said:

The UK’s global reputation is disappearing fast. The decision to cut aid to the world’s poorest is not only wrong but short-sighted and strategically incompetent. The Conservatives are putting nukes before prosperity.

Also posted in News | Tagged Alistair Carmichael, daisy cooper, educational attainment, international aid, layla moran and refugees | Leave a comment

Op-eds

Vince Cable writes…Labour and Fiscal Rules (Vince Cable)
Josh Babarinde writes…The Lib Dem Summer of Strategy (Josh Babarinde)
Mathew on Monday: “We need to be bold” (Mathew Hulbert)
As a party we must be better defined for the 2029 general election (Chris Bowers)
From national averages to local realities: inequality in our communities (Tom Walker)

Advert

Josh Babarinde writes…The Lib Dem Summer of Strategy

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

A strange but welcome feeling

Category Archives: Press releases

15 March 2022 – today’s press release

14 March 2022 – today’s press releases

Ukrainians deserve better than being stuck in Home Office visa appointment queue

Refugees: Shameful that Ukrainians escaping Putin’s terror are being turned away

Absence of Gazprom and Rosneft from sanctions list is “elephant in the room”

Living with Covid: Shambolic Govt taking NHS & Care services for granted

16 January 2022 – yesterday’s press releases

Email on Number 10 drinks party “adding insult to injury” – Ed Davey

Dentist staffing crisis as almost 1,000 walk away

Liberal Democrats demand “Robin Hood tax” on oil and gas super-profits

Daisy Cooper: PM ‘moving the goalposts’ on booster jabs

8 December 2021 – today’s press releases

7 December 2021 – today’s press releases

30 November 2021 – today’s press releases

29 November 2021 – today’s press release

26 November 2021 – today’s press release

25 November 2021 – today’s press releases

NALC appoints new cross-party President and Vice-Presidents

Rishi Sunak recycling aid money deals “damaging blow” to UK reputation ahead of COP summit

Ed Davey: Prioritise NHS and care workers for fuel

Government must ‘not let the sun go down’ on the UK performers

Liberal Democrats call for radical new approach to Israel/Palestine conflict

Liberal Democrats table motion to dock Raab’s pay

Lib Dems say “Give firms right to require face masks worn by customers”

Liberal Democrats: Keep masks mandatory on public transport a little while longer

Lib Dems: Local lockdowns by stealth are completely irresponsible

Hitachi trains: Government failing to address impact on passengers and regions

Tories backtracking over new Powys Hospitals shows lack of honesty with voters

21 March 2021 – the day’s press releases (part 2)

Most Read

Op-eds

Recent Comments

Josh Babarinde writes…The Lib Dem Summer of Strategy

Alison Suttie writes: Thank you to our volunteers

What’s going on with party strategy?

A strange but welcome feeling

Category Archives: Press releases

Subscribe

Most Read

Search

Op-eds

Recent Comments