Former Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales West retires from national politics

The former Welsh Liberal Democrats Regional Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black, has announced that he will not be seeking to return to the Welsh Assembly when his party selects its list candidates for the 2021 elections early next year.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have set in train the process for selecting candidates to contest the seat that Mr. Black held for seventeen years representing Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, with an advert on the party’s website and an email to all those approved as suitable for selection. The former AM and past Deputy Minister, will not be putting his name forward, however. Instead he will be concentrating on his role as Deputy Lord Mayor and local councillor, as well as pursuing other opportunities.

Commenting on his decision, Mr Black said: “I had 17 very happy and fruitful years in the Welsh Assembly in which I successfully piloted private members legislation on Park Homes onto the statute book, helped set up Wales first national homelessness strategy, negotiated the creation of the Pupil Development Grant to provide extra funding for disadvantaged children, led a review of school transport policy and of special educational needs that is now manifesting itself in new legislation, campaigned on many local issues and helped hundreds of local people with their problems. It is now time for others to take their opportunity to make a difference for Wales and our local area.

“There are a large number of very talented and able candidates who can take on the job of representing Welsh Liberal Democrat values in the Assembly and of championing the needs of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend there. I encourage them all to put their name forward so that party members can hear what they have to say and choose the best possible candidates for the next Assembly elections. I will still be active locally and in supporting those candidates and I wish them the best of luck and good fortune in securing election to the Welsh Assembly in two and a half years time.”

Cuts to grants for low emission vehicles shortsighted

Commenting on the announcement that the government are to cut grants for some electric and hybrid cars, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron said:
 
"This short-sighted decision from government is a dagger to the heart of their claims that they are serious about improving air quality. Encouraging people to buy cars that are less polluting makes sense and Liberal Democrats demand better for our environment than more Conservative cuts.”

Unexplained wealth orders an "essential tool"

Responding as details of the first unexplained wealth order are revealed Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable said: “Unexplained wealth orders are an essential new tool in the fight against corruption, and I am pleased to see that they are actually being used. Our country must no longer be seen as a safe place to launder dirty money. "But this must only be the start. The Government has been extremely slow in using these against the cronies of President Putin. Ministers must go further and faster to crack down on the illegal wealth held by Putin’s inner circle in the UK, as part of a robust response to the outrage committed in Salisbury.”

Time has come for government to back votes at 16

Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran has urged the UK Government to legislate to lower the voting age to 16 in the wake of the Welsh Assembly supporting equivalent plans today.  In Scotland, a bill allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote was passed unanimously in 2015.  Ms Moran said:  “If we are happy to allow a 16 year old to pay tax, be a parent or serve in the army then we should not deny them the right to vote. That is why Liberal Democrats have led on this campaign from the start.  “With 16 and 17-year-olds playing an active role in elections in Scotland and now the Welsh Assembly backing plans too, the genie is out of the bottle.  “Given Brexit poses so many threats to the lives of young people, they deserve their voice to be heard. It is time to demand better from the UK Government. It is time Ministers ensured every 16 and 17 year old across the UK has the same right to vote.”

Farron to present Bill to make it easier to sack failing rail companies

Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron will today present a Bill to the House of Commons which would make it significantly easier for the Government to strip failing rail companies of their franchises.

Mr Farron has repeatedly made the case for failing rail operators to be stripped of their franchise after a summer of chaos on the railways. In Mr Farron’s own constituency, every single train on the Lakes Line was cancelled during the month of June. 

The Bill comes less than a month after the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) warned "no-one took charge" during the timetable chaos and blamed a lack of "responsibility and accountability".

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: 

“The Office of Rail and Road’s recent report found the main reason behind the summer of chaos on our railways was a lack of accountability. Liberal Democrats demand better.

“This Bill would mean that the Transport Secretary would no longer be able to shy away from being ultimately responsible for making sure people have a decent train service.

“It would also mean that there will actually be consequences for those companies like Northern and Thameslink who continue to provide diabolical services and treat their customers as nothing more than cattle.”

Dubs refugees case shows Home Office beyond repair

Responding to today’s Court of Appeal ruling against the Government, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey has called for refugee policy to be moved out of the Home Office and into the Department for International Development.
 
The court ruled that child refugees refused entry to the UK had been given “patently inadequate” reasons for their refusals.
 
Ed Davey said:
 
“Are there no depths to which the Home Office will not stoop under this Conservative Government? Now we learn that they’ve been turning away vulnerable child refugees without giving them reasons, and preventing them from appealing.
 
“The Home Office’s rotten culture is clearly beyond repair. Wrong decisions and unlawful policies are ruinous for people’s lives and very costly for taxpayers.
 
“The Liberal Democrats demand better. That’s why we will take responsibility for refugee policy away from the Home Office and give it to the Department for International Development.
 
“And it’s why the Government must properly implement the Dubs Amendment, to honour our commitment to provide sanctuary to unaccompanied children who’ve been forced to flee their homes.”

RBS recession warning shows need for an Exit from Brexit

Responding to warnings from the Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland that a “bad Brexit” could push the UK into a recession, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said: “There can be no disputing that Brexit will be disastrous for the UK economy, not least the retail and construction sectors. No one voted for this. No one voted to be poorer. “However, there is still time to protect the UK economy by giving the people a final say on the deal, including the option to remain. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn should back these calls. If they don’t, they will be responsible for driving the country into recession.”

Cable: PM dancing on the head of a pin

Responding to Theresa May's address to Tory party conference, Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable said:
 
“As somebody who takes dancing seriously, I was delighted to see Theresa May show that she is developing her new hobby. But she was dancing on the head of a pin, confronted by an audience full of people plotting to oust her.
 
“She said the Conservatives must  be a ‘party for the whole country’, yet she has overseen widening divisions in our society. Trapped by the rabid ideologues of the Conservative right-wing, Mrs May has been driven to illiberal extremes on Brexit, welfare and immigration, to name but three.
 
“We are pleased to see her finally lift the borrowing cap on councils so they can build houses, a policy I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues have pushed for in coalition. The Conservatives’ long-held resistance to this sensible, pragmatic policy has only deepened the housing crisis.”

Chagossian immigration barriers are deplorable

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine MP has today condemned the UK Government for failing to support the claims of third generation Chagossians for British citizenship, as the Guardian reveals Taniella Moustache from Milton Keynes faces deportation when she turns 20. The Home Affairs Committee report on the Windrush generation recommends that the government support the British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill and “allow anyone who can prove that they are descended from a person born on the Chagos Islands to register as a British overseas territories citizen and thereby have a right to remain in the UK”. Christine Jardine said: “It’s utterly deplorable for the Home Office to consider splitting apart families who have already been torn away from their homes and communities. The very discussion shows they’ve failed to learn the lessons of Windrush. “Taniella has lived in this country for years and has a bright future ahead of her here. It is outrageous that she is leaving school haunted by threats of deportation. “Sajid Javid must wake up to the reality of the unjust policy he presides over. Descendants of Chagossian evictees must be granted British citizenship without barriers. “He can’t put his head in the sand and hope to avoid the tidal wave of distress Chagossian families face as their children approach adulthood without the certainty of being able to stay in the country they were raised. “The government must commit to support the BIOT bill without reservation. History has done a horrible wrong to the Chagossians and it is the Home Secretary’s duty to right that.” Notes: The Home Affairs Committee’s Sixth Report of Session on the Windrush generation is available here. In Sajid Javid’s apology to the Windrush generation he said: “The experiences faced by some members of the Windrush generation are completely unacceptable and I am committed to righting the wrongs of the past”. The text of the Home Secretary’s Windrush apology can be found here. The second reading of Henry Smith MP’s Private Member’s Bill -British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill is due to take place on 26th October 2018. The U.K. granted the U.S. permission to build a military base on the largest of the Chagos Islands, Diego Garcia, in 1966, and issued an ordinance that made it unlawful for the islanders to remain on Diego Garcia. They were subsequently resettled. In 2000, the Divisional Court ruled that the ordinance expelling the Chagossians was unlawful. However, a 2002 study concluded that  resettling the islanders in their original home was infeasible, which led to a 2004 Order reaffirming the prohibition of settlement on the Chagos Islands. A challenge to the Order failed before the House of Lords in 2008, a decision which was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2016.  The International Court of Justice in The Hague is currently hearing a claim to the archipelago by the government of Mauritius.

Lib Dems: Civil partnership change welcome, but cohabiting couples need rights too

Responding to the announcement that civil partnerships will be extended to mixed-sex couples, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Jonathan Marks said:

 
“It’s very good news that all couples will now be able to have civil partnerships. This is something the Liberal Democrats have been fighting for for years, but it was blocked by David Cameron in Coalition.  I’m glad the Supreme Court’s ruling has finally forced this change, and I congratulate the determined campaigners who made it happen.
 
“However, this is not a solution for the millions of couples who live together but do not choose to make a formal commitment. They need rights too, to protect them if their relationship breaks down or if one partner dies.
 
“The Supreme Court, the Law Commission and numerous others have all made this case, and I have tabled a Private Members’ Bill that would give essential legal rights to couples who have lived together for at least three years.
 
“The Government should support my Bill and get on with these reforms. Like the extension of civil partnerships, this change is long overdue.”
 

Govt turning its back on British business

Responding to Conservative plans to halt businesses’ access to workers from the EU, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:

“With these plans, the Conservatives are turning their backs on British businesses and public services.
 
“Hospitals, care homes, construction firms and other businesses already struggle to hire the workers they need – and these changes will make that problem much worse.
 
“No wonder Theresa May has delayed setting out these policies for over a year. They are just so damaging for British jobs, our economy and the public services we all rely on.
 
“The Liberal Democrats demand better. The Government must ditch its net migration target and hostile environment policies, and adopt an effective and compassionate approach to immigration that works for everyone.”

Javid must end cuts to police numbers

Commenting ahead of Sajid Javid's address to Conservative party conference Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said: “Sajid Javid talks a good game when it comes to tackling serious violence, but if he really wants to make our streets safer he must stop cutting the number of police officers.   “The Home Office’s own analysis shows that police cuts have likely contributed to rising violent crime, yet the Conservatives continue to squeeze forces’ budgets.   “The Liberal Democrats demand better for our communities and our police. We will end the Conservative cuts and invest an extra £300 million a year to recruit more officers, boost community policing and reverse the rise in serious violence.” (Notes: The number of full-time equivalent police officers in England and Wales has fallen by 4,789 (4%) since 2015. From 127,192 on 31 March 2015 to 122,404 on 31 March 2018. Source: Home Office, Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2018, Table H3 In the same period, knife crime has increased by 54%, firearm offences are up by 32% and homicides are up 37%. Changes from 2014-15 to 2017-18. Source: Office for National Statistics, Crime in England and Wales: year ending March 2018 A leaked Home Office report shows that the Government’s police cuts “likely contributed” to the rise in serious violent crime. The Guardian, 9 Apr 2018, ‘Police cuts ‘likely contributed’ to rise in violent crime, leaked report reveals’)

UK-EU flights could cease in event of a no-deal Brexit

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP has warned people face being unable to "go on holiday, visit friends and family, or make necessary business trips" after the Government's no-deal papers revealed UK-EU flights could cease in event of a no-deal Brexit.

Ms Jardine said: 

"In another nod to Victorian Britain, we are facing a situation where flights between the EU and UK could cease because of the Conservative Government’s chaotic approach to Brexit. Most people would be unable to go on holiday, visit friends and family, or make necessary business trips if this happens.
 
“Theresa May’s posturing is bringing the UK closer to a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, Corbyn’s Labour party are aiding and abetting this ideological Brexit. Liberal Democrats demand better. We are the only party fighting to give the people the final say on the deal, with the option to remain in the EU.”

EU leaders unite against Chequers

Responding to Donald Tusk’s remarks that the Chequers plan will need to be “re-worked and further negotiated” to address trade and Irish border questions, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson Tom Brake MP said:   “Theresa May’s Chequers deal was dead on arrival and has now been unequivocally rejected by EU Leaders including Barnier, Juncker and Tusk. The irony for Theresa May is that so far the only consensus she has created about Brexit is that Chequers is unworkable.   “There are fewer than 200 days to go until exit day and still the Conservatives have made no real progress on key problems thrown up by Brexit, including the Irish border. It beggars belief.   “There is not a single deal this Tory Government can do that will be better than what we have inside the EU. Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for the people the final say on the deal, including the option to remain in the EU.”

Home Office betraying Windrush generation again

Responding to reports that the Government has begun refusing applications for UK citizenship from some of those applying in the wake of the Windrush scandal, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said: “The Windrush scandal was caused by Home Office hostility and inflexibility.   “People who’d been living here perfectly legally for decades were detained and even deported because they couldn’t produce documentation going back 45 years. If people are now being refused citizenship for the same reasons, that would be totally unacceptable.   “But we’re being asked to trust that same Home Office to get it right. And those who are refused get the right to a review… by the Home Office!   “Liberal Democrats demand better. Responsibility for processing applications should be moved out of the Home Office altogether, into a dedicated, non-political unit. Applicants should be treated humanely and be given the support they need to prove their right to citizenship.”

Liberal Democrats demand international treaty on plastics

The Liberal Democrats have today demanded the Government initiate negotiations within the UN for a legally binding international treaty on plastics.

The treaty, set out at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton, would encompass phased reductions in the production, consumption and trade of virgin feedstock.

It would also include a financial mechanism providing aid and capacity-building assistance to developing countries.

Speaking after the debate, Tim Farron said: 

 “The problem with plastics is not only on our shores. It is a problem that impacts the environment, communities and wildlife across the globe. 

"The Government therefore has a duty to lead from the front and start weaning the world off plastics. But instead of leadership on the environment, all this Conservative Government offers is empty words. 

"Liberal Democrats demand better. That is why we are calling for real international action to save our environment from the scourge of single-use plastics."

Lib Dem conference adopts plans to abolish business rates

Today at conference, Liberal Democrats have voted for a comprehensive plan for replacing the broken business rates system.

 
The motion based on the report – Taxing Land, Not Investment – calls for the abolition of business rates and its replacement with a tax on land values, the Commercial Landowner Levy (CLL). The levy would remove buildings and machinery from calculations and tax only the land value of commercial sites, boosting investment and cutting taxes for businesses in nine out of ten English local authorities.
 
Key recommendations from the motion include:

• Business rates should be abolished and replaced by a Commercial Landowner Levy based on the value of commercial land only
• The levy should be paid by owners rather than tenants
• Non-residential stamp duty should be scrapped to improve the efficiency of the commercial property market
• Commercial land should be taxed regardless of whether the buildings above it are occupied; the tax should also apply to unused and derelict commercial land

 
The full report can be found as a pdf here.
 
Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: 
 
“Business rates were a badly designed policy to begin with and have become an unacceptable drag on our economy. They are a tax on productive investment at a time of chronically weak productivity growth, and a burden on high streets struggling to adapt to the rise of online retail.

“Many of the areas around the country that voted for Brexit feel they have been left behind. In place of policies the Brexiters offer only rhetoric. Great swathes of the country demand better, and this policy offers change to the manufacturing industry and the small towns passed over by economic growth.”

Founder of the Liberal Democrat Business and Entrepreneurs Network Andrew Dixon said:

“By only taxing land and not the productive capital above it, this reform would remove a major disincentive to investment, boosting productivity and contributing to a necessary revival in UK industry. While separate action is needed to ensure online retailers pay their fair share of corporation tax, our proposals would offer a lifeline to struggling high streets.

“I am delighted to support this initiative which I believe would boost business and enterprise across the UK, and I am grateful to members of the Liberal Democrats Business & Entrepreneurs Network for their valuable contributions to this important research”

Gove leaving the table as the rest of Europe digs in

Responding to the publication of the Government's Agriculture Bill, Tim Farron, former Lib Dem leader and Environment Spokesperson, said:   “The ambition in this bill can only be achieved if it is matched with funding, at the very least the current funding we receive from the EU – around £4 billion – must be maintained in order for Michael Gove’s aims to be achieved. There has been no indication that the same level of funding will be matched by the Treasury after 2022. Without this spending, the farming industry will struggle to adapt to the new regime and we will see many farms going out of business.    “It also would be far better for the environment if Mr Gove was sat round the table with 27 other countries trying to reform the Common Agricultural Policy together, rather than the UK having to leave the EU in order to achieve his aims.”

Brexit kicks London off the Top Financial spot

Responding yesterday to a report from the Z/YEN Global Financial Centres Index announcing London has been overtaken by New York as the top Financial Centre, Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable said:  "There is remarkable complacency in some parts of the City of London - and among Brexiter politicians - about their future and how they can adapt to Brexit no matter what. But they face intense competition from Asia, the US, and now mainland Europe. It's going to be an uphill struggle for the City to maintain its status as a world-leading financial centre.   “The Chequers white paper, already dismissed by both the EU and the hard-Brexiters, contained no serious proposals to safeguard the future of the financial sector. Meanwhile the increasing probability of a no-deal Brexit will accelerate financial services firms’ plans to shift activity abroad. “There is a solution to this mess. The Liberal Democrats are fighting for a final say on the deal, with the option to remain in the EU. That is the only way to ensure that London’s financial sector continues to lead the global pack.”

Disaster could unfold in our rural areas and Gov are unprepared

Commenting on today's report by the National Audit Office which shows that the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs is unprepared for a no-deal Brexit, Tim Farron, Lib Dem spokesperson for the Environment said:  “What a shock, the National Audit Office has declared DEFRA unprepared for a possible no deal Brexit, tell us something we didn’t know. And now, we know the full scale of the disaster that could unfold. "If we crash out without a deal the UK could well not be able to export animal products, enforce control over our fishing waters nor export chemical products to the rest of the EU. "This is why the Government desperately need to rule out the no deal option and why the people deserve to have the final say on the deal, and an opportunity to Exit from Brexit.”

Govt must act now to stem Defence skills shortages

Commenting on today's report from the Public Accounts Committee into skills shortages within the armed forces, Liberal Democrat member of the PAC, who was one of those leading this inquiry, Layla Moran said: “The findings of our inquiry are really shocking. Despite a huge shortfall in staff and skills, the Government hasn’t got a grip on what needs to be done to recruit more skilled specialists into the armed forces and Ministry of Defence, and to keep the ones we already have. “To add insult to injury, the Government’s disastrous approach to Brexit threatens to make the problem worse as skilled technicians, engineers and specialists from across the EU look to work elsewhere rather than in post-Brexit Britain. “The Government must act now to put a plan in place to recruit more skilled staff, improve conditions for existing staff and make sure people can easily come to work in our armed services after Brexit. “Our serving armed forces personnel and the people of Britain that they serve and protect deserve better than this.”

We need to keep Britain safe, without destroying our freedoms

The Liberal Democrats are proud to have taken a stand against the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill which has tonight passed through the House of Commons with a 376 - 10 majority. Commenting on the decision of the party to stand against the Bill, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: “The Liberal Democrats are determined to combat terrorism and support action that will keep Britain safe. But the Government has failed to provide evidence that most of these new laws will help in the fight against terrorists.   ”This Bill does little to fight terrorism, and a lot to destroy our freedoms.   ”The Liberal Democrats demand better. We’re standing up for civil liberties and calling for a real, evidence-based response to the threat of terrorism that actually makes us safer.”

Trade Bill marks doomed voyage into the great unknown

Speaking ahead of the Trade Bill returning to the House of Lords, Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords Dick Newby said:   “Brexit means the UK abandoning not only the world’s largest trading bloc but also every free trade deal that the EU has ever negotiated with other countries.   “No one voted for this. No one voted for a rise in uncertainty and a fall in economic growth. But that is what the Tories, with Labour falling in behind, are delivering.   “Liberal Democrats remain firmly opposed to this discredited Bill, not least because it doesn’t stop the Government from implementing future trade deals by the back door. It marks the start of the UK’s doomed voyage into the great unknown.   “That is why Liberal Democrats continue fighting for the public to have the final say on the Brexit deal, with the option to remain in the EU.”

Progress still to be made on tenant rights

Speaking after the Tenant Fees Bill progressed through the House of Commons last night, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said:   “Tenant fees are often unreasonable, lack transparency and make the upfront costs of moving extortionate. People should not be punished for moving home. That is why Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for a ban on tenant fees. "While Government amendments did attempt to close the loopholes in this Bill, the language remains ambiguous on what constitutes a “reasonable cost”. Moreover, without sufficient funding, local authorities will struggle to enforce the ban.   “Progress can and must therefore be made on tenant rights. Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign for government-backed loans to help people afford a tenancy deposit, and for tighter regulation in the private rented sector to stop rogue landlords.”

Brexit threatens our safety

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey MP has warned that Brexit will "remove the tools our police need to keep us safe" following the publication of a report today by the Institute for Government. The report, titled ''Negotiating Brexit: policing and criminal justice', says the failure to secure a new agreement on policing and criminal justice after Brexit will make it harder to extradite dangerous criminals from the UK and reduce the number of people brought back to Britain to face justice.  Ed Davey said:  “The Institute for Government is absolutely right to raise the alarm about Brexit’s effect on crime and policing. “The Liberal Democrats have long been warning that losing the European Arrest Warrant, information-sharing arrangements and leadership of Europol will make it harder to keep people safe and bring criminals to justice. “The Conservatives like to talk tough on crime, but their pursuit of a destructive hard Brexit is jeopardising national security and playing into the hands of criminals. “The Liberal Democrats demand better. That’s why we are fighting to give the people a say on the final deal and opportunity to Exit from a Brexit. We can’t let the Brexit ideologues throw away the tools our police need to keep us safe.”

Lib Dems claim victory as ‘Upskirting’ Bill progresses

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse has tonight claimed victory as Parliament moves closer to making ‘upskirting’ a specific criminal offence.   The Voyeurism Offences Bill, introduced by the Government after the Liberal Democrat Bill was blocked by Tory MP Christopher Chope, passed its third reading in the House of Commons tonight. The Bill is now set to enter the House of Lords.   Wera said:   “I want this Bill to stop the vile practice of ‘upskirting’. It should be a successful tool for prosecution, but it should also act as a deterrent. Zero tolerance, no loopholes.   “This Bill has not only highlighted and sought to rectify a gap in the law, but resulted in further parliamentary debate. Debate on serious issues around non-consensual distribution of pornographic images and the production of deep fakes enabled by new technology.   “I look forward to working hard on these issues. Liberal Democrats continue to campaign to make sure the law protects victims of all sexually motivated malicious behaviour in this country.”

Javid plans: a derisory response to criminal threats

Commenting on reports that the Home Secretary is planning to extend stop and search powers, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: "We are only going to get a grip on the rise in violent crime by investing in more community police, not by changing laws when there are too few police in the first place.  “Thinking new stop and search powers will help ignores the evidence, is frankly a derisory response to criminal threats from hi-tech drones and lasers and is a distraction from the real challenge of rebuilding community policing.  "Only a long term financial commitment to community policing will restore the trust in police that is so vital to fighting crime, whilst a disproportionate use of stop and search can undermine that very trust community police officers rely on. "Liberal Democrats demand better. Instead of expanding stop and search, the Home Secretary should halt the Conservatives' police cuts, invest in community policing and put more officers on the streets."

Cable: Low manufacturing growth speaks volumes about Brexit uncertainty

Responding to the news that UK manufacturing growth has hit a two year low, Liberal Democrat Leader and former Business Secretary Vince Cable said:   “The world economy is booming. It should be a good time for UK manufacturing, particularly with a weaker pound. The fact it isn’t speaks volumes about the uncertainty being created by the Conservative Government’s incompetent handling of Brexit.   “Both the hard Brexiters – represented by Boris Johnson – and the EU have rejected the Prime Minister’s discredited Chequers compromise. It is clear the only way out of this mess is for the people to have the final say on Brexit, and an opportunity to remain in the EU.”

The PM is rattled by our movement

Speaking at the People's Vote rally in Cambridge yesterday, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said: "The reason Theresa May came out against a final say on the deal is that the government is rattled by our movement. We are the target now. "Government ministers are telling us that we have a 50% chance of dropping out of the EU and falling off a cliff. Meanwhile the only person who still supports the Chequers deal is the prime minister. The deal is dead. "Over the coming weeks and months pressure will continue to grow and the government will be forced to go back to the people for a final say on the deal."

There needs to be a “transparent explanation” for Crossrail delays

Responding to the news that London’s new Crossrail underground line has been delayed by nine months, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Jenny Randerson said:    “The news of significant delays to London’s new Crossrail underground line is desperately disappointing. Given the project is already running almost £600m over budget, serious questions must be answered.   “It is therefore essential that the Transport Secretary sets out a full and transparent explanation. With other major projects like HS2 already in trouble, lessons must be learnt urgently.”

Cutting funding for refugees does nothing in the pursuit of peace

Responding to reports that the US will cut funding for Palestinian refugees, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: "Having seen the work that the UNRWA do for refugees, first hand, I am deeply concerned about the actions of Donald Trump. "Cutting funding does nothing in the cause for peace and will only act to make the situation worse. "The international community must continue to support the work of the UNRWA and the UN. The refugees in the West Bank live in a perilous situation. We should be working to make the Middle East safe for all citizens, not dancing to the tune of Trump and Netanyahu."