Lib Dems: May must admit cuts to armed police

The Liberal Democrats have called on the Conservatives to "level with the British people" after Culture Secretary Karen Bradley refused to answer whether armed officer numbers have been cut on their watch. The Liberal Democrats have also reiterated calls for a long-awaited government report on foreign funding of extremism to be published, after Karen Bradley refused to answer whether it will be made public and said it was important to “work with our partners and our allies.” Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron said: “Theresa May must level with the British people and accept that on her watch armed officer numbers were cut. She asks us to trust her on security but the truth is as Home Secretary she cut armed officers and cut community police numbers. "The Liberal Democrats would provide our police with £300m extra funding a year and would do what is needed to tackle the scourge of violent extremism.” Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Brian Paddick said: "We must tackle violent extremism wherever we find it. "It is astonishing that Theresa May refuses to publish a report on foreign funding of extremism, choosing to protect her allies in Saudi Arabia instead. "Theresa May is asking us to trust her in the Brexit negotiations but it is clear that she is not putting Britain’s interests first."