Tag Archives: josh babarinde

Caron Lindsay

Actually, this Summer of Strategy could be quite good…

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 14th June 2026 - 12:28 pm

Party President Josh Babarinde wrote to all members and on this site this week inviting us to share our views on the development of the party strategy which will be debated at our Brighton Conference in September.

The consultation process involves a Typeform which has to be completed by this Thursday and 3 online consultation sessions over this weekend. The final one is tomorrow night at 5:30pm and I can promise you that if you go to it, you will retain your will to live and will feel that your time has been well spent.

This is not usually the case with party consultations, I’ll be honest. I have come out of many before wanting to pull off my own toenails because they involved some party luminary talking at you and power-pointing you within an inch of your life.

I went to this morning’s one tired and hungover after the football and not expecting much. In fact, I was cursing Josh for organising it 5.5 hours after the match ended. However, it was actually very good. Even some of our grumpier members thought so, too.

Josh set the scene for 20 minutes or so and then there were two breakout sessions on what our party is for and organisational priorities.  We were put in breakout rooms of 4-5 people with a series of questions to answer and feed back. There were some really useful discussions with a lot of common themes, particularly about developing an emotional message which connects with people.  “Stop the word salad” was my contribution to that – we need to show our sincere  trust in people, our ambition for everyone to be able to live the best life they choose and show a hopeful vision where we fix things together not do nothing and turn on each other like Farage wants.

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Jennie Rigg

A strange but welcome feeling

By Jennie Rigg | Wed 3rd June 2026 - 10:10 am

I write this as a serial and vocal complainer about much of what the Parliamentary Party does. I have been such for many years. Way back in the neolithic era I won awards for blogging my complaints. So it’s only fair that when the Parliamentary Party knocks something out of the park I be equally vocal with my praise.

Firstly, on Sunday, Ed Davey, our leader and Marie Goldman, our Equalities Spokes, sent this letter to Bridget Phillipson. The consensus among the exec of LGBT+LDs was “well, we might have worded a couple of things differently, but mostly, it’s really good”. We weren’t really surprised at Marie’s name being on it, because she’s been consistently great in the equalities role from day one, but Ed putting his name to it was a very welcome surprise.

Then yesterday’s debate on the EHRC New Section 28, I’m sorry, services guidance happened in parliament. And our MPs were MAGNIFICENT.

It’s worth reading the whole thing in Hansard, for exactly how great they all were (and how awful the non-responses from the Labour minister were), but I want to do a roll call. First up was Marvellous Marie, who pointed out how unworkable the guidance was, and asked the minister to consider new legislation.

Then came my fellow Yorkshirer Tom Gordon, who was appalled by the Tory response.

Then, Honorary President of LGBT+ LDs Queen CJ admonished the minister for her non-adherence to the spirit of the Equality Act.

Then, Layla Moran asked the minister to consider what would be the consequences if her assertions that this document provides protections for trans and non-binary folks were wrong.

Then, Josh Babarinde, our Party President, not only made the point that this code does nothing to protect women and girls, but also gave a shout out to LGBT+LDs and Lib Dem Women.

Then, Vikki Slade pointed out the lack of respect for human rights of trans and non-binary people.

Then, Charlotte Cane asked “Will the Minister consider changing the law so that the Equality Act lives up to its name?”.

And then Mike Martin asked for a vote on the code itself.

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The Voice

The Party President reports back… February/March 2026

By The Voice | Fri 27th March 2026 - 5:28 pm

Here at Liberal Democrat Towers, we know that Party President, Josh Babarinde MP exists – we’re on his constituency mailing list bringing us news of his campaigns in sunny Eastbourne – nice place, pity that Sussex County Cricket Club dropped Saffrons Week more than two decades ago…

But, if you’d been wondering what he’s been doing since he was passed a copy of “On Liberty” by his predecessor, Baron Pack of Crouch Hill (you did let him have it, didn’t you, Mark?), we can report that he’s allowed something to be placed on …

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Caron Lindsay

Josh Babarinde asks The Question in Parliament

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 17th November 2025 - 7:31 pm

Every week Lib Dem MPs ask questions in Parliament, aiming to hold the Government to account.

But last week proved to be busier than usual for newly elected President Josh Babarinde.

He asked The Question of his partner Connor in the House of Commons chamber, with the permission of the Speaker and the help of fellow MP Jess Brown-Fuller. And our Earl Russell was on hand to take these beautiful photos.

We think Josh is the first MP to actually propose in the Chamber itself, though photos of that private moment can’t be published.

How cute is this?

Josh said on Twitter:

Last Thursday, I asked a very special question in Commons after official business had finished for the day – not to the Prime Minister, but to my partner Connor (on his birthday!)

…and his answer was YES! 🤩

We marked it with a photo just outside the chamber afterwards.

🙏Thank you to Mr Speaker
@CommonsSpeaker, his team, the Sergeant-at-arms, the doorkeepers, events team and all those who helped make this surprise happen.

And a huge thanks to one of my top pals, @JessBrownFuller, for being my wingwoman in helping me plan this and pull this off over the last few weeks and months!

Connor and I couldn’t be happier and we will never forget it 🙏

📸: Lib Dem member of the House of Lords (and pro photographer)
@EarlRussellLD – thank you John!

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Mathew Hulbert

Mathew on Monday: Labour’s Reform-lite immigration crackdown isn’t leadership – it’s politics by fear

By Mathew Hulbert | Mon 17th November 2025 - 4:50 pm

Today the Labour government is unveiling what it grandly calls the “largest asylum overhaul in modern times”. In reality, it’s a Reform-lite crackdown designed to appease the tabloids and outflank the Right, rather than deliver a workable, humane, or genuinely thought-through immigration system.

Temporary refugee status, a 20-year wait for permanent settlement, harsher limits on family reunion, and tightened appeal rights-these aren’t the hallmarks of a compassionate, confident government – they’re the trademark of a party terrified of looking ‘soft,’ a government more interested in signalling toughness than addressing the real drivers of a broken system. Ministers coaching their MPs to fall into line or risk looking weak only reinforces that is pure politics, not sensible policy.

Liberals should say this clearly: You don’t fix the asylum system by making life harder for refugees. You fix it by creating safe, managed, humane routes to the UK; by processing claims efficiently; and by helping people (not forcing them) to integrate and contribute once they’re here, as the overwhelming majority of people do.

A genuinely fair system would do three things.

First, expand safe and legal routes so people fleeing war and persecution don’t have to gamble their lives on dangerous journeys.
We know this works – it’s the safest, most cost-effective, and most orderly way to protect people and maintain public confidence.

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The Voice

Internal Elections update – Federal Appeals Panel, statements from official party organisations and presidential candidates

By The Voice | Mon 10th November 2025 - 7:20 pm

This afternoon, the party’s highest dispute resolution panel met to discuss the ruling issued by the Returning Officer on 27th October, prior to the ballots opening in the federal party elections.

Lucas North had appealed to the Federal Appeals Panel and after the hearing this joint statement was issued:

We were pleased to attend the FAP hearing today on the rules around the internal elections.

The FAP made clear that the rules as written in the constitution need to be reviewed by members as they can no longer be implemented as originally intended following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland and therefore there is a lack of clarity.

The FAP has ruled that parts of quotas should be disapplied on a case by case basis, as the election count proceeds, in order to avoid discrimination. This requires a different approach to that originally set out by the RO; it means that quotas will apply as written in the constitution until they lead to a breach of the Equality Act 2010 in any individual circumstance.

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Cllr Bridget Smith

Standing up for local government – why I’m backing Josh

By Cllr Bridget Smith | Thu 6th November 2025 - 7:01 pm

Editor’s Note: This month party members will be voting to elect our next Party President. At Lib Dem Voice we welcome posts from each of the candidates – one to launch their candidature plus a maximum of one per week during the actual campaign.

Local government is the bedrock of Liberal Democrat politics. It is the layer of politics that is closest to the everyday lives of people – from the mundane to the momentous. It is local government that controls everything from bin collections and fixing roads to adult social care and SEN provision. In fact, around 800 essential services are delivered by this tier of administration. It is little wonder then that Liberal Democrats – long local champions – have been rebuilding and growing our presence on local councils up and down England.

Today our councillors already control billions in public money and deliver life-changing services. They do so diligently and conscientiously, never losing sight of the communities they represent. In my part of the world, South Cambs the Liberal Democrats have been the driving force behind three new towns being built: Northstowe, Waterbeach New Town and the large extension to Cambourne at West Cambourne – along with a future new village at Bourn Airfield. We are building new homes, new town hubs and services for local people with a careful eye on protecting and increasing the area’s bio-diversity. In short we are putting liberalism into action.

These stories of Liberal Democrats working hard need telling and I believe Josh Babarinde – who has been a councillor himself – is best placed to do this as President. I know that he will help bring the LGA, ALDC and HQ’s experience and expertise together to ensure that the work of our councillors get the profile they deserve and I know he has already started thinking of how we can make the bonds between our councillors and MPs stronger.

Josh wants to pilot a buddying scheme between some of our council group leaders and parliamentarians to help forge an even closer relationship between Westminster and our town and city halls. In South Cambs we are very fortunate to have wonderful MPs in Pippa Heylings, Ian Sollom and Charlotte Cane. We have been able to work hand in glove to secure the best outcomes for those we serve. Not every Liberal Democrat council group leader will be so lucky and Josh’s plan to pilot a buddying scheme, with our 72 MPs could have a real impact: just imagine how much we could learn from each other from social media use to campaigning in Parliament and beyond.

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Josh Babarinde

Vote for a megaphone president to challenge populism

By Josh Babarinde | Fri 31st October 2025 - 12:03 pm

Editor’s Note: In November party members will be voting to elect our next Party President. At Lib Dem Voice we welcome posts from each of the candidates – one to launch their candidature plus a maximum of one per week during the actual campaign.

Friends, this week ballot papers have been sent out and are landing on (digital) doormats. Our members will choose our next Party President, and members of the federal committees.

Since launching my campaign to be our next Party President I’ve been clear that ensuring the Liberal Democrats are the first and last line of defence against the rising tides of populism and nationalism must be the top priority for the next President.

At this point in our country’s history, and at this point in our party’s story, we need a campaigning President committed to taking on this external threat. 

Regrettably, in recent weeks especially, we’ve seen exactly why this matters so much. 

When Reform MP Sarah Pochin exclaimed that she is ‘driven mad’ by the sight of Black and Asian people in TV adverts, I spoke out, publicly condemning her textbook racism and making clear that racist comments have no place in our society.

Our movement must always lead with courage, compassion and conviction. We must show that liberalism is not just something we say, but something we do, even when it might be intimidating.

That’s the approach I’ve tried to show throughout this campaign: standing up for our values, challenging injustice, and collaborating across our movement. Working with my fellow presidential candidate to stand up for the rights of our trans and non-binary members following the changes to quota rules this week is the most recent example of that. 

Since launching my campaign, I’ve travelled the length and breadth of Britain meeting swathes of members in person, online and at Federal, Scottish and Welsh Conferences. 

I’ve been inspired meeting our council leaders, hearing about how we are delivering for residents in their patches, and seen the courageous fight our teams are putting up in places like West Northamptonshire where we are challenging the Reform council day-in-day-out. 

I’ve listened to these experiences. I’ve heard some frustrations about what support is currently missing and, more positively, about our hopes for our future. 

I am inspired by our collective determination to make our party stronger, more representative and more ambitious than ever.

To deliver on that shared ambition, I’ll focus on five priorities:

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Josh Lucas Mitte

Offering hope to young people- why I’m backing Josh for President.

By Josh Lucas Mitte | Wed 22nd October 2025 - 11:55 am

Editor’s Note: In November party members will be voting to elect our next Party President. At Lib Dem Voice we welcome posts from each of the candidates – one to launch their candidature plus a maximum of one per week during the actual campaign.

Reflecting in the days and weeks after another amazing Party conference, I’ve been struck by the number of discussions I had, whether at fringe events or (more often!) in the bar, about how we engage and inspire the next generation of Lib Dem members and voters.

As Chair of English Young Liberals, this is something I am passionate about. Whatsmore, with the next General Election set to be the first where 16 year olds can vote, we need to be thinking more than ever about how we talk to young people and give them a reason to vote Liberal Democrat.

That’s why I am so glad that Josh Barbarinde is standing to be our President.

Josh has real, on the ground, experience working with and energising young people to do great things. His background as a Youth Worker and setting up ‘Cracked It’, a social enterprise supporting young people out of crime and gangs and into employment through phone repair, shows he knows the value of engaging teenagers where they are and on the things that interest them –  not just lecturing them as far too many politicians do.

The world can look like a pretty bleak place for young people right now. The nasty, divisive politics we see from Trump in the US and Farage here at home reflects a small, closed-off world that doesn’t give a lot of optimism for those of us worried about our future. Meanwhile issues like climate change, the doom laden reports about the impact on the economy from AI or the ridiculous thought that anyone my age might ever like to own a home are big drivers of the fact that 85% of young people believe that it will be harder for them to succeed than their parents. Yet we see no serious answers, or often even recognition, to these challenges from any of the other Parties.

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Hina Bokhari

Hina Bokhari writes: In these divided times, the Liberal Democrats must be the voice for fairness and community 

By Hina Bokhari | Wed 15th October 2025 - 11:55 am

Editor’s Note: In November party members will be voting to elect our next Party President. At Lib Dem Voice we welcome posts from each of the candidates – one to launch their candidature plus a maximum of one per week during the actual campaign.

When marginalised communities around the UK are under constant attack by populists looking for easy solutions to complex problems, it is more important than ever for the Liberal Democrats to champion fairness, openness and community. That’s why I’ll be voting for Josh Babarinde MP to be our next Liberal Democrat President.

I first met Josh when I was standing to be a London Assembly candidate for the party, and one of the key issues we faced in the capital back then – and continue to face today – was knife crime. I wanted to learn more about the work of his social enterprise, Cracked it, and how it was changing the lives of young people across London by employing ex-offenders and at-risk youth to repair smartphones and earn a living. Josh introduced me to a young person who had left prison with little hope and prospect, but whose life had completely changed because of what Cracked it had been able to do for him.

Later, as part of my campaign, Josh joined an event I’d organised at the Islington Youth Centre and introduced me to mums whose sons had died because of knife crime. Not only did examples like these fill me with admiration for Josh and his sense of community, but it deeply influenced my own political thinking and the importance I place on driving change for young people in the capital.

As a national party, it is vital for us to better understand the wide range of communities that we represent – whether in Westminster, Cardiff, Holyrood or in local councils up and down the country. For my part, I have tried to foster a stronger connection between the Liberal Democrats and the Muslim community of which I am a member. And I’m so grateful for the support that Josh has given me as I embarked on that mission – yet another example of how focused he is on championing our core values.

As an example, back during the pandemic, I organised the first ever Lib Dem Iftar. I intended it to be a very practical way for the party to take part in a really significant moment in the Muslim faith calendar, and in doing so learn more about this community and deepen our connection.

The plan was for non-Muslim party members to fast for a day during the month of Ramadan, and Josh jumped at the opportunity to take part. He woke up early to have his first meal before sunrise, and did a full fast for the rest of the day, before joining an online get-together where we broke our fast together with all the usual treats like dates. Speaking to Josh afterwards, he reflected how taking part in this helps you understand your privileges and how easy it is to take them for granted. The ability to come back to a warm home and a hot meal on the table is not something that everyone in our communities can count on.

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Alex Cole-Hamilton

Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP writes: Why I am backing Josh for President 

By Alex Cole-Hamilton | Wed 8th October 2025 - 11:55 am

Alex Cole-Hamilton and Josh Babarinde

 

Editor’s Note: In November party members will be voting to elect our next Party President. At Lib Dem Voice we welcome posts from each of the candidates – one to launch their candidature plus a maximum of one per week during the actual campaign.

As leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I have my fair share of experience in standing up to populism and nationalism – in whatever form they present. A crucial part of making sure we face down those who seek to divide us is having members and activists who are empowered, supported and listened to: that is one of the reasons why I am backing Josh Babarinde for President.

I’ve seen first hand what happens when individuals are given the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take an active role in their community and build their party – they become the driving force behind positive change. Today, we as a party can sometimes rely far too much on champions going it alone with limited support.

Josh’s plans to grow what’s on offer is something I can get fully behind. I like his plans to work with ALDC, HQ and others to build support for local parties.

I like that Josh can draw on his experience at the School for Social Entrepreneurs where he headed up a national programme of training and support for people driving changes in their communities, as well as his work as Vice Chair of the Racial Diversity Campaign in the party to support his vision.

And I like that he is a doer- such as his work before Parliament setting up an award-winning social enterprise, supporting young people out of crime and gangs and into employment. And when he was a local Councillor and led the campaign to declare a cost of living emergency – the first in the country – in Eastbourne. At the time, it was the busiest Trussel Foodbank in the country, and Josh’s work led to the creation of a £250,0000 cost of living emergency fund.

When members feel that their contributions are valued and that they can directly influence decisions, they are more likely to invest their time and energy. This creates a powerful ripple effect, transforming local residents into engaged community champions who can identify local needs, propose solutions, and mobilise their neighbours. This is often the start of a journey that blossoms into something far greater. Josh understands this – as candidate and then MP for Eastbourne he knows what well supported members can deliver for their communities.

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Tim Farron MP

Why I’m backing Josh Babarinde to be our next Party President

By Tim Farron MP | Tue 30th September 2025 - 12:00 pm

In November party members will be voting to elect our next Party President. At Lib Dem Voice we welcome posts from each of the candidates – one to launch their candidature plus a maximum of one per week during the actual campaign.

A million years ago – during the coalition years – when I had the honour of serving as President of our party, I saw first-hand just how vital that job is. The President doesn’t set policy or lead the party in Parliament, but they provide a different kind of leadership: to keep the party grounded in our values, connected to our members, and focused on our purpose. That’s why I’m backing Josh Babarinde to be our next Party President.

Josh is exactly what we need right now. At a time when our country is wrestling with the toxic pull of populism, and when too many voters feel let down by politics altogether, Josh offers hope, energy, and a plan.

He’s a doer. Always has been. His work to win back Eastbourne – a place Josh never tires of telling me is the sunniest place in the UK – reflects his effectiveness as a campaigner. His work before entering Parliament setting up a social enterprise focussed on supporting young people out of crime, for which he was awarded an OBE before he was 30 is remarkable. Lots of politicians talk the talk about helping young people, Josh took action and changed lives.  

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Mark Valladares

26 August 2025 – today’s Federal press releases

By Mark Valladares | Tue 26th August 2025 - 11:05 pm
  • Reform press conference: Farage wants to follow Putin and tear up our hard-won rights
  • Dash Questionnaire “doesn’t work”: Urgent review into approach to domestic abuse needed
  • Starmer must rule out conceding to Trump on digital services tax
  • Government’s latest announcement on EU deal shows it “moving at a speed sloths would laugh at”
  • Liberal Democrats warn of Reform ‘Taliban Tax’ as regime says it is willing to work with Farage

Reform press conference: Farage wants to follow Putin and tear up our hard-won rights

Responding to Reform’s press conference this morning, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said:

Farage’s plan crumbles under the most basic scrutiny. The idea that Reform UK is going to magic up some new places to detain people and deport them to, but don’t have a clue where those places would be, is taking the public for fools.

Of course Nigel Farage wants to follow his idol Vladimir Putin in ripping up the human rights convention. Winston Churchill would be turning in his grave. Doing so would only make it harder for each of us as individuals to hold the government to account and stop it trampling on our freedoms.

On Zia Yusuf’s comments regarding paying the Taliban to take back Afghan migrants, Daisy Cooper added:

Reform’s Taliban tribute plan would send British taxpayers’ cash to fund their oppressive regime, fuelling the persecution of Afghan women and children and betraying our brave Armed Forces who sacrificed so much fighting the Taliban. Clearly British values mean nothing to Farage and his band of plastic patriots.

Dash Questionnaire “doesn’t work”: Urgent review into approach to domestic abuse needed

Responding to the news that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips has admitted the main screening tool used to decide which domestic abuse victims get urgent support “doesn’t work”, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Josh Babarinde MP said:

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NewsHound

Josh Babarinde talks to Nick Robinson about domestic abuse reform

By NewsHound | Tue 15th July 2025 - 7:28 am

One of the brightest stars on the Lib Dem front bench, Josh Babarinde, has been talking to Nick Robinson on this week’s Political Thinking podcast.

He described his ultimately successful tenacious pursuit of Labour ministers to get them to bring in a specific category of offence for domestic abuse. He saw the need for this when Labour released many prisoners early to make room in our crumbling and inadequate prison system. He was furious that Labour could not make good on its promise not to release domestic abuse perpetrators early because they couldn’t identify them all.

He talks about his own background and why this issue is so important to him.

He tells Nick about his early life, an inspirational teacher and his first job serving pizzas.

Luck played a huge part in his success and he describes his fight to “minimise the role of luck” in making sure other young people could fulfil their potential.

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Mathew Hulbert

Mathew on Monday – Social Insecurity: A right, not a handout!

By Mathew Hulbert | Mon 7th July 2025 - 7:45 pm

On Saturday I spent the day just outside of Coventry, at the beautiful University of Warwick, at the Amnesty International UK Amplify Summit (incorporating its AGM and national conference). It was a fantastic day, full of fantastic speeches, workshops, and networking opportunities with hundreds of people who care passionately about the dignity and the human rights of all.

By far the most impactful session that I attended was called ‘Social Insecurity: Everyday Rights in 2025.’ This wasn’t about a situation in some far off place, which you may care a great deal about but doesn’t necessarily affect your own community. This was a session about the impact of government policies on some of the poorest and most vulnerable people right here at home.

Amnesty International UK have produced a truly damning report, entitled ‘Social Insecurity: The devastating human rights impact of social security system failures in the UK.’ It reminds us something which we often forget and that government ministers certainly don’t want people being reminded of: that social security is not a benefit, it is a right.

The report states:

The right to social security is outlined in Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), ratified by the UK in 1976 (by the then Labour government, it’s worth remembering).

It is also recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and other treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 102 (1952).

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Mark Valladares

28 May 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 28th May 2025 - 10:30 pm
  • Thames Water must be turned into a public benefit company
  • Prepayment Meters: victims must see compensation before the winter and debts fully written off
  • Defra cuts: Government treating rural communities with “gobsmacking contempt”
  • Police chiefs letter: police and criminal justice systems need “real leadership” say Lib Dems
  • Scot Lib Dems call for new treatment pathways for neurodiversity
  • McArthur writes to MSPs as France backs assisted dying
  • Jardine calls for the scrapping of the Two Child Cap

Thames Water must be turned into a public benefit company

Speaking on the £122.7m fine handed down to Thames Water, Lib Dem Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

This is shocking but hardly surprising. Thames Water has been failing for years; failing to invest, failing to maintain, and failing to deliver, and all the while it has been dumping sewage in our rivers and waterways. It has saddled customers with its debts and provided them with shoddy service in the meantime.

This should be the final nail in the coffin for Thames Water. It needs to be turned into a public benefit company and Ofwat needs to be scrapped and replaced with a real regulator with teeth.

Prepayment Meters: victims must see compensation before the winter and debts fully written off

Responding to the announcement that thousands of energy customers are set to receive payouts of up to £1,000 each in response to the prepayment meters scandal, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and long-time campaigner on this issue Wera Hobhouse said:

It is high-time that the victims of this scandal are recognised and properly compensated after energy companies rode rough-shod over them in this disgraceful way. Those affected have already waited too long for justice. Pay outs now need to be made in time for the winter months, when we know energy costs are higher.

The Conservative Party neglected these victims and ignored Liberal Democrat attempts to prevent more people suffering forced installations. Today they should feel ashamed of their failures.

And to think that some may still not have all their debt written off is simply not right. These companies need to write off the debts they forced upon the people who bore the brunt of this scandal.

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Mark Valladares

22 May 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Thu 22nd May 2025 - 11:35 pm
  • Government borrowing figures: “warning lights must be flashing in the Treasury” – Lib Dems
  • Government back Lib Dem campaigns protecting victims of domestic abuse and sexual offence
  • Teachers’ pay award: Government “building castles in the sky” if they think schools can fund rise
  • First Minister misses two-year NHS waiting times target

Government borrowing figures: “warning lights must be flashing in the Treasury” – Lib Dems

Responding to the latest figures showing that Government borrowing in April was at its fourth-highest since records began, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

The warning lights must be flashing in the Treasury this morning.

Rachel Reeves has failed to get a grip on the mess left by the Conservatives, making a series of blunders whilst avoiding taking the bold action that would set us on the right path.

It is time for the Labour government to change course. The first steps must be scrapping the damaging jobs tax, reforming business rates and being much more ambitious in negotiations with the EU, pushing for a customs union that would create the growth we desperately need to rebuild public services and protect family finances. Short-sighted red lines will only doom Rachel to failure.

Government back Lib Dem campaigns protecting victims of domestic abuse and sexual offence

Today, the Government has agreed to act on two Lib Dem campaign priorities as part of their response to the Gauke Review.

In response to Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Josh Babarinde’s campaign to formally recognise domestic abuse crimes in the law, the Government has announced it will create a specific, new categorisation that will enable judges to officially register offences as crimes of domestic abuse.

This would enable the Government to finally be able to exclude domestic abusers from its SDS40 early release scheme – which has so far allowed many domestic abusers to leave prison early in the absence of such a categorisation – putting victims at risk.

It will also mean the Government will now be able to track the number and reoffending rate of domestic abusers offenders. Josh Babarinde uncovered via a Written Parliamentary Question that currently, in the absence of a categorisation, the Government doesn’t know how many domestic abusers are in prison.

Sarah Olney’s longstanding campaign to enable victims of rape and sexual offences to request a transcript of sentencing remarks free of charge has also been included in the Government’s review.

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The Voice

Josh Babarinde introduces bill to create specific domestic abuse offences

By The Voice | Wed 11th December 2024 - 6:52 am

Yesterday, Lib Dem justice spokesperson Josh Babarinde has introduced a new Bill which would create specific offences relating to domestic abuse. People convicted under these offences would not be eligible for early release schemes.

On the last day of the annual 10 days of activism to end violence against women and girls, Josh appeared on Good Morning Britain to say why this was important:

He said after he tabled the Bill, which has the backing of Women’s Aid:

Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on survivors, and the law is leaving too many of them without protection. It’s only right that all domestic abusers are convicted of precisely what they’ve done. My bill will mean abusers can no longer hide behind more general convictions they’ve relied on until now.

The loopholes in the Government’s SDS40 early release scheme have made clear that this change cannot wait any longer.

I hope the government will work with us – and with the survivors backing this bill – to finally create new domestic abuse aggravated offences and give victims and survivors the protection they deserve.

He questioned Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Here is their exchange in full:

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The Voice

WATCH: Josh Babarinde MP speaks in Black History Month debate

By The Voice | Sun 27th October 2024 - 3:28 pm

This week, our Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde spoke in the Debate for Black History Month. It is quite shocking, as he acknowledged himself, that it has taken until 2024 for us to elect a black MP. Britain, he said, was far more than than the divisive minorities in some parts of the country and even, he said, in the House itself:

The text is below:

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Mark Valladares

25 September 2024 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Wed 25th September 2024 - 11:55 pm
  • Lib Dems call for any fiscal rule changes to be used to build new hospitals amid under-threat projects
  • Prison release error: Shocking news which needs “immediate action”
  • McArthur reveals scale of prison self-harm as he marks 1,000 days since suicide strategy expired

Lib Dems call for any fiscal rule changes to be used to build new hospitals amid under-threat projects

The Liberal Democrats have written to the Health Secretary ahead of his speech at Labour Conference today calling on the government to use any changes to the fiscal rules which are reported to be being made at the Budget to be used to invest in the NHS and complete the building of the previously promised 40 new hospitals.

In the letter from the Party’s Health and Social Care spokesperson, Helen Morgan she said that the “Conservatives were not honest with the public” in their failure to deliver these schemes but that “patients across the country will now be extremely concerned” that the Health Secretary looks set to cancel many of these new hospitals.

Helen Morgan also said that continuing the projects was “imperative” not only to improve patients care but also for boosting growth with infrastructure spending on major construction projects and that by not fixing the NHS you could not fix the economy.

She went on to say that the changes to the fiscal rules at the Budget, as mentioned in the Chancellor’s speech should “pave the way for the investment we desperately need in our hospitals” to improve patient care and boost growth.

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The Voice

Maiden Speech: Josh Babarinde MP for Eastbourne

By The Voice | Wed 24th July 2024 - 10:26 am

Lib Dem maiden speeches are coming thick and fast. Here’s Josh Babarinde indulging in some pier bragging and talking about the strength of a diverse community and the importance of care and compassion in everything the state does:

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NewsHound

Watch Josh Babarinde talking about his bungee jump

By NewsHound | Fri 19th July 2024 - 8:57 am

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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Mary Reid

First day at work!

By Mary Reid | Wed 10th July 2024 - 8:52 pm

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The Voice

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

By The Voice | Sun 7th July 2024 - 8:00 am

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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Caron Lindsay

Caron’s Conference Part 1: A glimpse to the future

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 20th March 2024 - 12:20 pm

I’m now back from York, having stayed on for a bit of a tourist break. I’ve spent so much time in the city over the years, but have rarely deviated from the Golden Triangle of the Barbican, Novotel and Mason’s Arms.  I did not know until Monday that I had walked past the grave of Dick Turpin many times.

Thursday and Friday

I am writing this in York on Friday morning in an exceptionally comfortable and cosy room, propped up in bed with lots of plump and luscious pillows. A cup of Earl Grey at my side. It is always strange when I am away to have a whole bed to myself and not to have find a space clinging to the edge of the bed while my husband clings to the other edge and two spaniels take up all the space they can.

I arrived in York yesterday lunchtime and spent an enjoyable afternoon in the pub (me drinking tea I’ll have you know) with my friends.

In the evening we went to Toto’s, the Italian near the Barbican. The food was brilliant and the company stunningly good. I had prawns with avocado and Marie Rose sauce – a very generous portion – and then tagliatelle with a creamy salmon sauces. The Tiramisu was chocolaty and creamy though I would have added more amaretto.

Afterwards back to the Mason’s Arms, traditionally Awkward Squad HQ and where 6 of us are staying. The landlord had kindly bought in supplies of Whitley Neill Black Cherry gin. Jennie Rigg and I had drunk them out of that by the Friday night last year.

It was great to catch up with Our Hero of Rochdale Iain Donaldson and hear all the intel about the by-election and the aftermath. All you need to know is that George Galloway is far from being universally loved on that patch.

My path to the bar was blocked by beautiful border terrier Betty who very much needed a belly rub and that was the most important thing ever.

I got to bed at a civilised hour.

Friday started in very relaxed fashion.

It was Long Covid Awareness Day, I am acutely aware of how much smaller Conference has become for me. I can no longer cope with the whirlwind from day to night. If I don’t rest in the afternoon I pretty much collapse in a heap and that can set me back for days.

So a slow start was essential laziness.

The first thing I had to do was the Social Liberal Forum lunch at 12. I need to plan and pace everything within an inch of its life which does not really come easy to as free and impetuous a spirit as me.

The Social Liberal Forum gave, I very much hope, a glimpse into the future. The three speakers are PPCs in highly winnable seats: Victoria Collins our hope for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Josh Babarinde for Eastbourne and Bobby Dean for Carshalton and Wallington. The links to their website are included in the hope that you get on to them, donate all the money you can afford to their campaigns and do what you can to help them. They all have so much to bring to the parliamentary party and we need them to get elected.

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Charley Hasted

Lib Dem Councillors shortlisted for national awards

By Charley Hasted | Wed 28th September 2022 - 3:15 pm

The Local Government Information Unit has released the shortlists for its annual awards and four Liberal Democrat Councillors have made the billing!

Lib Dem Voice’s Editorial team send our congratulations and good luck on the night to for Liberal Democrats:

Ruth Dombey – Sutton Borough Council (Leader of the Year)

Ruth was first elected in 2002 and has been Leader of Lib Dem led Sutton council since 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

Susan Goodchild – Central Bedfordshire District Council (Community Champion)

Susan has been a Councillor since 2005 serving on both Bedfordshire County and Central Bedfordshire District Council. She is the Governor of a local school and involved in a number of community groups.

 

 

 

 

 

Peter McDonald – South Cambridgeshire District Council (Resilience and Recovery)

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Mary Reid

Eastbourne declares cost of living emergency

By Mary Reid | Wed 18th May 2022 - 2:13 pm

The Independent reports that, at a Council meeting today, Lib Dem run Eastbourne Council will be the first to declare a cost of living emergency.

You may well know Eastbourne as a prosperous south coast town, but much of the local economy derives from tourism, so it has been particularly badly hit by the pandemic.

According to the article:

Eastbourne Foodbank has been the busiest in the UK over the past year – distributing more parcels per head than any other food bank, according to the Trussell Trust network.

Councillor Josh Babarinde said the emergency declaration would help Eastbourne Borough Council work more effectively with charities, as well as offering a “wake-up call” to Boris Johnson’s government.

“We need immediate action from the government – they have to realise that this cost of crisis has become an emergency because of their inaction,” said the Lib Dem councillor.

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The Voice

Josh Babarinde selected as Lib Dem candidate for Eastbourne

By The Voice | Tue 2nd November 2021 - 3:43 pm

Josh Babarinde OBE has been selected as the Lib Dem candidate for Eastbourne. This seat was held by Stephen Lloyd from 2010-2015 and 2017-2019 and had been a Lib Dem seat between 1990-92.

In an email to subscribers, former MP Stephen Lloyd praised Josh:

I’ve known Josh for well over a decade, first meeting him when he was Head Boy at Cavendish School in Old Town. Josh impressed me then and he’s impressed me even more over the ensuing years.

Josh is an accomplished entrepreneur. He founded and ran an award-winning social enterprise company in London, supporting gang members and ex-offenders out of crime and into work.

For those of you who won’t know Josh as well as I do, I’ve listed below just a few of the successes he’s already had in his career:

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