Tag Archives: christine jardine

15 March 2019 – yesterday’s press releases

By The Voice | Sat 16th March 2019 - 8:06 am

Lib Dems call on retailers to scrap the gender price gap

To mark World Consumers Rights Day, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has written to major cosmetic manufacturers and retailers across the UK as part of her campaign to scrap the gender price gap.

Commenting on her campaign, Ms Jardine said:

We are a quarter of the way through 2019 and still men and women pay different prices for the same basic products. This is entirely unacceptable.

For World Consumer Rights Day I am writing to the most prominent cosmetic manufacturers and retailers across the UK to ask them to change their outdated

…

Posted in News | Also tagged candidate selections, education policy, electric car, european elections, gender inequality, jenny randerson, layla moran, social security, tom brake and wera hobhouse | 1 Comment

14 March 2019 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 15th March 2019 - 9:40 am

It’s another trying day, with the ghastly news from New Zealand overnight, and one does despair at the ability of human beings to do inhuman things, but politics rolls inevitably onwards. So, here are yesterday’s releases…

Lib Dems: Short prison sentences for knives don’t work

Responding to the figures showing the number of crimes related to knives and other offensive weapons dealt with by the courts has reached a nine year high, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse:

Both the Justice Secretary and the Prisons Minister have admitted that short prison sentences don’t work and actually increase the risk of re-offending. So why

…

Posted in News | Also tagged gender inequality, knife crime, peoples vote, sentencing, vince cable and wera hobhouse | Leave a comment

9-10 March 2019 – the weekend’s press releases (part 1)

By The Voice | Mon 11th March 2019 - 7:21 am

There’s no doubt that the Press Team have been busy over the weekend, and we’ll spread the press releases over two posts accordingly…

Lib Dems: Javid’s judgement has had tragic consequences
Lib Dems: We must now eradicate period poverty from society
Swinson: UK must help secure release of Egyptian woman Amal Fathy
Jardine reveals “embarrassing” gender balance of the Privy Council

Lib Dems: Javid’s judgement has had tragic consequences

Responding to the reports that the baby son of Shamima Begum has died, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:

The news that a little baby has died will touch the vast majority of people’s hearts –

…

Posted in News | Also tagged amal fathy, gender equality, house of lords, human rights, Jo Swinson, labour, layla moran, period poverty, privy council, sajid javid and shamima begum | 3 Comments

7 March 2019 – yesterday’s press releases (part 2)

By Mark Valladares | Fri 8th March 2019 - 7:28 pm

And now, as promised, the rest of the press releases…

Figures highlight extremely difficult time for high streets
Swinson: Employers must be held to account over gender pay gap
Chancellor must end the freeze on benefits and tax credits
Davey: Strip Home Office of immigration powers

Figures highlight extremely difficult time for high streets

Responding as the BDO High Streets Tracker reveals that sales declined by 3.7%, the worst February for lifestyle in-store sales since November 2008, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said:

Our high streets are clearly going through an extremely difficult time, thanks to a combination of long-term structural challenges and the damaging

…

Posted in News | Also tagged ed davey, gender pay gap, high streets, home office, Jo Swinson, vince cable and working age benefits | Leave a comment

7 March 2019 – yesterday’s press releases (part 1)

By Mark Valladares | Fri 8th March 2019 - 11:00 am

A busy day yesterday and overnight, so today’s press releases will come in two sections…

Home Secretary ‘open-minded’ on right to work
Permanent Secretary exit only ‘managed departure’ from DExEU
Liberal Democrats demand better for women on International Women’s Day
Revealed: Home Office report rubbishes Boris Johnson’s Stop and Search claim

Home Secretary ‘open-minded’ on right to work

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has secured assurances from the Home Secretary that he is ‘open-minded’ about her Bill which would loosen rules around asylum seekers’ right to work.

The Edinburgh West MP raised her campaign with Sajid Javid in a joint meeting organised by cross-party group, More …

Posted in News | Also tagged asylum seekers, boris johnson, dexeu, ed davey, international women's day, knife crime, layla moran, sajid javid, stop and search, tom brake and wera hobhouse | Leave a comment

It’s International Women’s Day, but 1/365 isn’t enough

By The Voice | Fri 8th March 2019 - 6:55 am

Today, it’s International Women’s Day when everyone remembers that women exist and face daily discrimination. And just to pre-empt the first half dozen comments, yes, there is an International Men’s Day. It’s on November 19th. This is the day to follow Richard Herring’s very funny responses to those who ask that question on Twitter. And if you like what he does, consider making a donation to his Crowdfunder to raise money for Refuge.

If you don't already follow @Herring1967, today is the day to start… he has the patience of a saint turning #iwd whataboutery into LOLs while fundraising for the excellent @RefugeCharity pic.twitter.com/cEiNpRSdN5

— Jo Swinson (@joswinson) March 8, 2019

Liberal Democrats are demanding that the Conservative Government do more to improve the lives of women and girls across the UK and address the gendered inequalities that persist throughout society.

Lib Dem women MPs have been busy this week. Christine Jardine’s attempts to outlaw the “Pink Tax”, the gender price gap faced by women, Layla Moran’s bid for gender neutral school uniforms and Wera Hobhouse’s bill to ensure mental health postnatal checks hit the headlines. For heaven’s sake, Christine even made it into Vogue!

In a joint statement Liberal Democrat MPs Christine Jardine, Jo Swinson, Layla Moran and Wera Hobhouse said:

It is frustrating and unacceptable that in the UK in 2019, women and girls continue to face so many everyday barriers.

The Conservative Government have passed the role of Minister for Women and Equalities around like a hot potato, whilst many of the issues that still disproportionately impact women and girls are failing to be addressed.

Liberal Democrats demand better for women and girls. Last year Liberal Democrats introduced legislation to make upskirting a specific offence and now it’s illegal. For International Women’s Day 2019 we’re fighting to improve the lives of women and girls in other ways: by banning the pink tax so that women do not pay more for the same products, introducing gender neutral school uniforms, and improving mental health care for postnatal women.

Posted in News | Also tagged international women's day 2019, Jo Swinson, layla moran and wera hobhouse | 1 Comment

Christine Jardine: A tax on women just for being women is plain wrong

By NewsHound | Tue 5th March 2019 - 10:25 am

In her Scotsman column this week, Christine Jardine describes seeing an offer for deodorant for £1 in a pharmacy. Men could buy a full size can. Women got a travel size.

That encapsulates the problem that she is trying to sort out in a Bill aimed at tackling the so-called “Pink Tax” she is introducing today.

The women’s movement has come a long way. Parliament itself is an example. We don’t have a perfect gender balance yet, but we do have the largest number of women ever elected, and the green benches are beginning to look vaguely like the country we are there to represent. But discrimination is still there in everyday life in so many ways that often we simply don’t notice.

Next time you are shopping take a careful note of some of the prices on the shelves. You may not notice it at first but over time you may begin to see a trend.

I hadn’t really noticed that the so-called ‘Pink Tax’ was an issue until it was pointed out to me by a colleague, so I went into a high-street pharmaceutical store to see for myself.

It seems that women get hit with a double whammy: they make less for doing the same work, and then they pay more for the same product or service just because it’s ‘for’ women. Discrimination on gender grounds is illegal, and whether women are paying more for a pink razor, deodorant from the same brand, or for an identical piece of clothing, it’s time to say enough is enough. There is absolutely no reason why men and women should pay different prices for exactly the same products or services.

In an article that starts with a reference to her hero, Billie Jean King, and is crammed full of tennis metaphors, she goes on to talk about Caroline Criado Perez’s book, Invisible Women, which is being published this week. This describes the gender data gap:

Posted in LibLink | Also tagged inequality, Parliament and pink tax | 7 Comments

4 March 2019 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 5th March 2019 - 7:15 am

Tory Govt must take responsibility for knife crime epidemic

Today Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey has called on the Conservative Government to take responsibility for the knife crime epidemic and invest in more police and youth services.

Ed Davey said:

Far too many innocent young lives are being taken by the epidemic of violence that is consuming our cities. Instead of just lamenting these tragedies and talking tough, Ministers need to accept their share of responsibility for this crisis.

When children are excluded from school and see their youth centres closed, it’s hardly surprising that so many of them fall into

…

Posted in News | Also tagged ed davey, gender discrimination and knife crime | 5 Comments

1 March 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 1st March 2019 - 11:11 pm

Lib Dems: Govt reforms failing to reduce reoffending

Today the National Audit Office have released a report stating that reforms to probation services have failed to meet the Ministry of Justice’s targets to reduce reoffending.

Responding to the report, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said:

The rehabilitation of offenders and their re-integration into the community is central to who we are as a society and vital for cutting crime. It must be done with a sense of responsibility.

Good public services cannot be expected to be run on a shoe string. The Tory party’s obsession with saving money has actually cost millions

…

Posted in News | Also tagged chris grayling, ed davey, employment rights, hostile environment, incompetence, probation service, right to rent, vince cable and wera hobhouse | 4 Comments

26 February 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 26th February 2019 - 11:48 pm

Lib Dems join Amnesty International UK in fight against NI abortion laws
Cable: Housebuilders must not pinch their profits from the public purse
PM in the process of creating a double cliff-edge
Govt’s no deal papers shows PM driving UK to a cliff edge
Labour fail to oppose Govt’s controversial knife crime orders

Lib Dems join Amnesty International UK in fight against NI abortion laws

Today, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine will join women impacted by NI abortion law along with Amnesty International UK, other MPs, and other service providers and activists to hand in a petition to …

Posted in News | Also tagged abortion, brexit, brian paddick, ed davey, help to buy, knife crime, no deal, northern ireland, tom brake and vince cable | 24 Comments

Christine Jardine MP writes….Let’s invite people in who want to help us build a movement

By Christine Jardine MP | Mon 25th February 2019 - 4:42 pm

It was when Charles Kennedy was standing to be leader that I found it most frustrating not to be a member.

I had supported the Liberal Democrats since I was old enough to vote.

Here was a man whose political ideals epitomised what I believed in and I desperately wanted him to leader.

But I couldn’t do anything to help him, or support the party.

I was a journalist. I worked for the BBC, often covered politics and, throughout my career, my impartiality had to be transparent.

When I was eventually able to join the party it was at a point in my career where I had moved away from reporting.

It still took some time to persuade my husband that there would be a professional life after joining and, significantly, that it would not damage his career or reflect on him.

If only there had been a supporters scheme then I could have been involved, voted for the leader and done my bit to help without jeopardising my livelihood.

And I was not alone in that.

I remember losing an active, and effective campaigner, in the highlands because he was promoted and his new role was politically restricted.

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged featured, party reforms and supporters scheme | 11 Comments

“Playing chicken with the country” – and the possibility of revoking Article 50

By NewsHound | Fri 15th February 2019 - 8:55 am

Lib Dem MPs have been out and about in the media this week.

Christine Jardine took Labour to task for their abject failure to oppose the Government properly.

Layla took to Twitter to give a Valentine’s Day message – and she mentioned the possibility of revoking article 50 if we get to March 29th and there is still no deal. Like Christine before her she talked about May’s game of chicken with the country. Definitely a theme here. .

Valentines Day update 💛 Nothing has changed, but here’s my latest thoughts on this Brexit mess… in short we need a #FinalSay pic.twitter.com/CDNcpSMAyk

— Layla Moran (@LaylaMoran) February 14, 2019

On Bloomberg, Jo Swinson took a coach and horses through Theresa May’s Brexit policy from the beginning, saying that public opinion had changed and the best way forward was a People’s Vote.

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, Jo Swinson and layla moran | 10 Comments

14 February 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 14th February 2019 - 11:23 pm

No deal Brexit causing panic for people with diabetes (see here)
Lib Dems table amendment to give the people the final say
Cable: Govt defeat shows rejection of May’s time wasting

Lib Dems table amendment to give the people the final say

The Liberal Democrats have today tabled an amendment calling for a People’s Vote with the option to stay in the EU.

The Liberal Democrats have ensured that there is a People’s Vote amendment for MPs to get behind on every single Brexit vote in the House of Commons.

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said:

In an attempt to force through this unpopular deal,

…

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, diabetes, peoples vote, tom brake and vince cable | Leave a comment

12 February 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 12th February 2019 - 11:25 pm

Digital exclusion shows Universal Credit not fit for purpose

Responding to reports that almost half a million people needed help to apply for the government’s flagship Universal Credit benefit online, DWP Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:

The Liberal Democrats raised the issue of digital exclusion with Conservative ministers months ago, but these concerns clearly haven’t been taken on board. This underlines the need to look again at Universal Credit, which is clearly not creating the simpler and more accessible benefits system that was intended.

It is failing the very people it was supposed to be designed to help. Now the Government has acknowledged

…

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, digital exclusion, driving licence, jenny randerson, mental capacity act, norman lamb and universal credit | 1 Comment

11 February 2019 – today’s press releases (part 2)

By Mark Valladares | Mon 11th February 2019 - 11:59 pm

And here’s the rest…

Lib Dems: Defence Secretary showboating with ‘hard power’ rhetoric
Lib Dems: Tory Govt prepared to sacrifice people to the electric chair
Govt Universal Credit admission is too late for tens of thousands
Lib Dems: Govt must ensure dinosaur MPs can’t obstruct legislation

Lib Dems: Defence Secretary showboating with ‘hard power’ rhetoric

In his speech “Transforming UK Defence to Meet the Global Threats of Tomorrow”, Gavin Williamson today confirmed that aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is to be deployed to the Pacific region.

Commenting on this move Liberal Defence Spokesperson Jamie Stone said:

Gavin Williamson is heating up UK defence rhetoric, something which may well

…

Posted in News | Also tagged brian paddick, death penalty, defence strategy, female genital mutilation, jamie stone, parliamentary procedure, universal credit and wera hobhouse | 6 Comments

Vince reshuffles Lib Dem spokespeople

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 7th February 2019 - 5:58 pm

Vince has announced several changes to his top team of spokespeople.

Tim Farron will be taking over the Communities and Local Government brief, which really suits him with his longstanding interest in housing. Wera Hobhouse moves from there to cover Energy and Climate Change.

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine will now cover issues relating to Work and Pensions, taking on the portfolio vacated by Stephen Lloyd when he resigned the Whip in December. Jamie Stone becomes Scottish spokesperson. Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael will speak on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Vince said of his new team:

I am pleased to announce today our new spokespeople who will speak out on the most important issues we face in Britain today.

While Parliament is consumed by Brexit, we need to remember that people are also affected by a whole host of other challenges.

We will continue to speak up for them as we continue our fight for the public to have a say on the Brexit deal with a People’s Vote.

It’s disconcerting that Lynne Featherstone no longer seems to have a spokesperson role given that she is one of the party’s best performers. She used to do energy and climate change in the Lords but that role has now gone to Chris Fox.

Posted in News and Op-eds | Also tagged featured, lynne featherstone, spokespeople, tim farron, vince cable and wera hobhouse | 21 Comments

29 January 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 29th January 2019 - 11:55 pm

“Alice laughed: “There’s no use trying,” she said; “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”.

I’m afraid that we’re now well into the Lewis Carroll phase of Brexit, but on the plus side, my beloved Luton Town went five points clear at the top of League One…

Lib Dems: Safe standing an important opportunity for football fans
Travel insurance not guaranteed with no-deal Brexit
Lib Dems: Govt continue to scaremonger

…

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, Drug Policy, ed davey, football, labour, layla moran, safe standing, tom brake, travel insurance, vagrancy act and vince cable | Leave a comment

WATCH: Lib Dem MPs challenge May on Brexit

By The Voice | Mon 21st January 2019 - 7:55 pm

Lib Dem MPs tackled the Prime Minister this afternoon as she made her Groundhog May “nothing has changed” statement. Christine Jardine, Jo Swinson, Vince Cable, Jamie Stone and Tom Brake challenged her on various aspects of her intransigence.

Christine Jardine asked the Prime Minister to consider asking to extend the Article 50 period.

The PM isn’t even willing to ask the EU the question – and we all know that if we don’t ask, we definitely don’t get.

Vince mentioned the troops put on standby over the Brexit period and asked how they would be carrying out their duties.

I, too, welcome the fee waiver and the Prime Minister’s willingness to engage in serious conversations, including about the merits and practicalities of a people’s vote. May I ask a specific question? At the end of last week, the Secretary of State for Defence put 3,500 troops on Brexit standby. Will she clarify what their rules of engagement would be in the event that they face angry and violent demonstrators, and would they be armed?

She wasn’t so clear in her response. Had she even thought about it?

Jo Swinson tackled her on the “massive game of chicken in the Tory Party” and expressed her incredulity at the prospect of the PM allowing a disastrous no deal Brexit:

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, jamie stone, Jo Swinson, tom brake and vince cable | Leave a comment

WATCH: Lib Dem MPs talk about today’s vote

By Caron Lindsay | Tue 15th January 2019 - 10:16 pm

Our people have been out and about today, talking about the run-up to the vote and its aftermath.

No deal should no longer be an option. Go back to the people https://t.co/ANbKGNC8BH

— Vince Cable (@vincecable) January 15, 2019

Layla on the beginning of the end of Brexit

Tonight's historic defeat shows that this is the end of Theresa May's deal, and possibly the end of Brexit pic.twitter.com/uol2LXJu25

— Layla Moran (@LaylaMoran) January 15, 2019

Posted in News | Also tagged ed davey, layla moran and vince cable | 3 Comments

Lib Dems vs Brexit: Christine Jardine We all deserve better than this deal

By The Voice | Tue 15th January 2019 - 9:55 am

It was almost midnight when Christine Jardine finally got to her feet to make her speech. She talked about how her constituents are even firmer in their view that we should remain in the EU and, crucially, she highlighted how the deal fails Leave as well as Remain voters. She called on MPs to rise to the enormity of the occasion and do what’s best for the country.

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Bim Afolami). I rise to oppose the Government’s motion and to give largely the speech that I was due to make a month ago, when the vote was pulled. My stance has developed over the past two and a half years, during which my party has campaigned consistently in Parliament and in communities across the country for the people, not the politicians, to have the final say.

As we approach the denouement of this Brexit drama—or perhaps it is a tragedy—my thoughts drift back to 24 June 2016. What prompted the country to vote for Brexit? I agree with the hon. Member for Bournemouth West (Conor Burns). An entire generation faced the prospect that their children and grandchildren would not be as well off as they were, having been left behind and failed by globalisation. More than two years later, I do not believe that this Government have provided either any solutions to those issues or a coherent way ahead.

We have heard a lot this evening, mostly from Conservative Members, about delivering on Brexit. May I plead with them that actually we have something more important in this House to deliver, and that is the wellbeing of the country? When the electors go to the ballot box and send us here, it is not simply to follow an instruction; it is to have the courage to do what we believe is right for us, for them and for the entire country. That is where we are just now.

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit and lib dems vs brexit | 1 Comment

11 January 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 11th January 2019 - 10:45 pm

Time to take a deep breath, and work out who the Government is. Is it the centre-right modernists, led by Amber Rudd? Is it the opportunistic wannabes, led by Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt? Or, is Theresa May in office but not in power? Hard to tell from the outside.

But there are still other things ticking over, and there are issues way beyond Brexit, as today’s press releases show…

Causes of mental ill-health in schools must be tackled
Lib Dems: Penny has dropped with Hunt
Lib Dems: UC needs investment, not just reform
Lib Dems: Pigs more likely to fly than Brexit legislation to

…

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, child and adolescent mental health services, layla moran, tom brake and universal credit | 3 Comments

Christine Jardine presents bill to allow asylum seekers to work

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 11th January 2019 - 11:55 am

Yesterday, Christine Jardine presented a Bill which would allow asylum seekers to work after 3 months.

From The Guardian

Jardine’s asylum seekers (permission to work) bill, if passed into law, would allow asylum seekers to work after three months of lodging their claim.

It has the backing of the Lift the Ban coalition, which has published research showing asylum seekers blocked from working in the UK could make a net contribution of £42m to the economy if restrictive rules were lifted.

Jardine said: “Right now, banning the vast majority of asylum seekers from seeking employment costs the taxpayer millions in housing and support payments. It also forces people who have risked everything to come here to live on the very periphery of society.

“Being denied the right to work, and to put food on the table for you and your family, is cruel and undignified.

Posted in News | Also tagged asylum seekers and Parliament | 4 Comments

10 January 2019 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 10th January 2019 - 11:59 pm

I’m posting on the fly today, as I’ve allowed myself to become distracted by other things. So, if this posting changes before your very eyes, don’t be surprised… It’s a bit like Brexit in many ways, a kaleidoscope of images, none of which you can ever recreate again…

Lib Dems in bid to change asylum seeker employment rules
Cable: Moment of reckoning for our economy
Cable: No confidence in Govt or Corbyn
Lib Dems: We will use “any means possible” to secure proper Brexit debate
Lib Dems call for Venezuelan President to step down
Blackwood appointment shows Tories ignoring demands for House of Lords reform

Lib Dems …

Posted in News | Also tagged asylum seek, brexit, dick newby, Jo Swinson, jobs, lift the ban, lords reform, nicola blackwood, tom brake, Venezuela and vince cable | 2 Comments

31 December 2018 – 6 January 2019 – the week’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 6th January 2019 - 10:45 pm

Right, the holiday season is over, and it’s back to something resembling normalcy tomorrow, what with Parliament resuming and all. So, here’s the press releases that you missed…

Govt must provide answers over forced marriage scandal
Javid comments on asylum seekers ‘completely unacceptable’
Corbyn cosies up to the Conservatives on Brexit
All Gove is offering farmers is uncertainty
Cable: PM’s publicity campaign is scaremongering
Cable: Govt must end brinkmanship over security in Northern Ireland
Lib Dems: Govt must follow airports and invest in drone protection

Govt must provide answers over forced marriage scandal

Liberal Democrats today condemned reports that the Government is charging victims of illegal forced marriages to …

Posted in News | Also tagged air travel, Alistair Carmichael, asylum seekers, brexit, drones, ed davey, farming, forced marriage, jenny randerson, jeremy corbyn, northern ireland, policing, security, tom brake and vince cable | 7 Comments

15 December 2018 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sun 16th December 2018 - 12:11 am

My apologies for lateness, but it’s been Opera Night in Needham Market, and we’ve been kept up by an Armenian soprano… And no, that’s not a metaphor…

Only two today, but one of them turned up just before midnight, so don’t say you aren’t getting them fresh.

Lib Dems: Diplomatic move by Australian Government is ‘deeply unhelpful and disappointing’

Responding to reports that the Australian Government have recognised the state of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and plan to move their embassy there from Tel Aviv once a peace settlement is reached, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said:

This move from the

…

Posted in News | Also tagged israel, peoples vote and tom brake | 2 Comments

Courage Calls…

By Emma Walker | Fri 14th December 2018 - 2:56 pm

A few weeks ago I was invited by Christine Jardine MP to visit Westminster as her #AskHerToStand delegate. The event was to commemorate the centenary of the Qualification of Women Act, a defining moment in British politics when women were allowed to stand for parliament for the first time.

As Christine’s delegate, I think I won the Golden Ticket. Where some guests were only able to spend five minutes with their MP, I was welcomed for the entire day. Christine and her assistant, David Evans, were generous with their time and insight despite having to navigate an ever-changing diary. Filing copy for the Corstorphine Grapevine was sandwiched between an emergency debate on Yemen and PMQ’s. Christine joined me in the audience at an #AskHerToStand event, but quickly realised that there wasn’t a Lib Dem MP on the panel. She nipped out to get us a drink and when I looked up she’d joined the stage! She never misses a beat in representing her constituents or the Lib Dems.

My trip to London was exactly one year after I made the decision to join the party. It was something that I had wanted to do for a very long time, but for many people joining a political party is a scary thing and I was one of them.

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged ask her to stand, future women MPs and new member | 2 Comments

Bottle it Day: Lib Dems react

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 10th December 2018 - 7:30 pm

Rather than face certain defeat now, Theresa May shelves plans for a Commons vote on her Brexit deal in order to try to stave of likely defeat in a few weeks’ time.

Lib Dems have been reacting to developments.

Vince Cable confirmed that we would support Labour in the unlikely event that our so-called opposition actually decided to move a motion of no-confidence in the Government.

The Prime Minister’s authority has drained away. It is the duty of Jeremy Corbyn to call a vote of no confidence in the Government, which Liberal Democrats would support.

After that Liberal Democrats will continue to press for a People’s Vote. MPs from all parties should join us in giving the people a final say, with the option to remain in the EU.

Welsh leaderJane Dodds said that the only way to resolve the Brexit embarrassment was a People’s Vote:

Brexit has become a national embarrassment. Negotiations with the EU have been chaotic since day one, but this is a new low. The fact Theresa May has postponed the vote on her deal to avoid defeat shows there is no support for her Brexit deal in Parliament.

Delaying the vote on her Brexit deal is an unprecedented blow to Theresa May’s authority, but it solves nothing. There is no majority for any Brexit deal in Parliament and now no majority for Brexit at all amongst the public. Whilst this remains the case, no Brexit deal will get through Parliament.

The only solution to the ongoing Brexit crisis is going back to the people. We must give the people the final say and the opportunity to choose an Exit from Brexit. This is the only solution and the Prime Minister should immediately back it.

Our current deal gives us:
✅ MEPs who have a say on EU laws.
✅ Power to veto any EU decision.
✅ Ability to travel & work across Europe.
✅ Zero barriers to trade.
✅ A yearly financial rebate.

Yet we complain we can’t get a good enough deal… #BrexitDeal #ExitFromBrexit

— Jane Dodds (@DoddsJane) December 10, 2018

Christine Jardine asked the PM why, if she could change her mind over the backstop, the people couldn’t be given the chance to vote again:

Wera Hobhouse asked how many of the people who voted to leave in 2016 voted for her deal:

Tim Farron was unimpressed with the Labour Party:

Open goal. Jezza hits the corner flag.

— Tim Farron (@timfarron) December 10, 2018

And on a lighter note, the Lib Dem Press Office has been on form today:

Posted in News | Also tagged jane dodds, lib dem press office, tim farron, vince cable and wera hobhouse | 16 Comments

29 November 2018 – today’s press releases (the 500 miles edition)

By Mark Valladares | Thu 29th November 2018 - 11:50 pm

Later than usual this evening, as I’ve spent the evening at a Proclaimers concert, courtesy of my lovely wife… it wasn’t 500 miles away…

PM leaving us in the dark on immigration
Cable: May “running scared” of real opposition
Lib Dems warn BBC that ‘Brexit debate’ may breach Ofcom code
Government has let down victims over second Leveson Inquiry

PM leaving us in the dark on immigration

Theresa May has today refused to confirm when the immigration white paper will be published. She was asked by Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb after Ministers originally promised to publish the white paper last year, but that deadline has …

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, debate, health, immigration, leveson inquiry, norman lamb and vince cable | Leave a comment

26 November 2018 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Mon 26th November 2018 - 10:00 pm

Just two press releases today, as the timetable for the Parliamentary debate (at least, the one in the Commons) is scheduled…

Hedges case should never have happened
PM ducks Cable challenge to debate Brexit

Hedges case should never have happened

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine has welcomed news that Matthew Hedges, who was given a life sentence in the UAE for spying, has received a presidential pardon.

Following this morning’s announcement Ms Jardine said;

It is a great relief to see that Matthew will be returning to his family in the UK.

However, this should never have happened in the first place and

…

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, matthew hedges and vince cable | 6 Comments

23 November 2018 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 23rd November 2018 - 10:30 pm

Today’s releases are brought to you from ALDC’s Kickstart event, taking place this weekend in the heart of Staffordshire. There are three hundred Liberal Democrat campaigners and activists here, learning the skills required to run effective, and hopefully, successful campaigns in the months and years ahead.

Tories must take back control of smart meters
Women must have equal heart attack care to men
Davey to PM: Come clean on European Convention on Human Rights
PM must back People’s Vote on Brexit
Government must not be complacent on Hedges case

Tories must take back control of smart meters

Responding to the NAO Report on rolling out smart meters, …

Posted in News | Also tagged brexit, ed davey, european convention on human rights, judith jolly, matthew hedges, peoples vote, smart meters, tom brake and women’s health | 4 Comments

Op-eds

Is it time for Theresa May to admit that Brexit is impossible and retract the Article 50 notice? (Mark Argent)
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! (Richard Kemp)
Looking forward to our party’s next chapter (Caron Lindsay)
Chuka Umunna and Anna Soubry write: The Independent Group and the Lib Dems working together is grown up politics (Chuka Umunna MP and Anna Soubry MP)
Observations of an ex pat: A sad tale (Tom Arms)

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Tweets from @libdemvoice/team

Chuka and Anna on TIG/Lib Dem joint working

Trust our voters to choose our leader

Jane Dodds selected to fight Brecon and Radnorshire

Help elect April in May

Tag Archives: christine jardine

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Christine Jardine: A tax on women just for being women is plain wrong

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Christine Jardine MP writes….Let’s invite people in who want to help us build a movement

“Playing chicken with the country” – and the possibility of revoking Article 50

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Vince reshuffles Lib Dem spokespeople

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WATCH: Lib Dem MPs challenge May on Brexit

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Lib Dems vs Brexit: Christine Jardine We all deserve better than this deal

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Christine Jardine presents bill to allow asylum seekers to work

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Chuka and Anna on TIG/Lib Dem joint working

Trust our voters to choose our leader

Jane Dodds selected to fight Brecon and Radnorshire

Help elect April in May

Tag Archives: christine jardine

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