Online fraud report shows Home Secretary is rudderless

An National Audit Office report in to online fraud has revealed that the true overall cost of online fraud is unknown and that the police do not work with accurate figures. In 2016, the Annual Fraud Indicator reported that individuals lost an estimated £10 billion to fraud.

Commenting Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Ed Davey said:
 

“This is a damning report by the National Audit Office. This government likes to tell us that crime is falling, but in reality it is just changing and online fraud is a huge problem. The Home Office can’t simply turn a blind eye and leave it low on the priority list simply because forces don’t know how to respond to it.

"The Home Secretary appears to be rudderless at a time where we need clear leadership from the top. This must change. I hope that her office will take a close look at this report and start taking this issue seriously.”

May has snubbed our public sector heroes - Farron

Following the Government victory in maintaining the cap on public sector pay, leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron said: "This evening the DUP have stood alongside their Tory paymasters cheering at the fact that they have withheld more pay for our police, our firefighters, our nurses and our teachers. Shame on them "After Theresa May's disastrous missteps this shows nature of the government we have been left with. "This U-turn on a U-turn will stick in the throat of million of hard working public servants, many of whom recently ran towards danger, be it Manchester, Grenfell or London Bridge. These people go above and beyond and yet the Government snubs them."

EU's Google fine in "sharp contrast" with government's sweetheart tax deal

The Liberal Democrats have said that the EU's decision to fine Google £2.1bn for distorting the market stands in "sharp contrast" with the UK government's tax deal struck with the company last year. Liberal Democrat Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson Christine Jardine said: "This hefty punishment acts as a stark warning to others that search results must be fair to online retailers and ensure healthy competition. "It shows that by acting together across Europe, we can hold global giants like Google to account and protect consumer rights and smaller businesses. "This decisive action stands in sharp contrast to our own Conservative government, which has fallen over itself to offer a sweetheart tax deal to Google. "It seems doubtful that this government would ever have the courage to stand up to major international businesses in this way post-Brexit."

Poverty stats must be a wake up call for Tories - Farron

Data released by the Office for National Statistics today shows 4.6 million people were classed as being trapped in a vicious cycle of ‘persistent’ poverty. Commenting on the news, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “These figures must be a wakeup call for the Conservatives. In Britain, 4.6 Million people endured persistent hardship and poverty. For all the Conservatives talk, these figures show they just don’t care and sadly, I think poverty is going to get worse. “The divisive Brexit the government is pushing is putting jobs at risk and this means more and more people will be driven to the edge. “Those who are consistently poor were found to have more extreme mental health problems than the general population, with high levels of self-reported anxiety and unhappiness.  The government just seem to shrug and are not doing enough to help the poorest. “These statistics chime with other recent reports which signalled a surge in levels of homelessness in Britain, found higher levels of inequality, and showed an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor.”

Lib Dems: Labour must come off the fence on benefits freeze

The Liberal Democrats have called on Labour to come off the fence and make clear whether they would end the benefits freeze that will see the incomes of millions of families slashed in the coming years. Labour Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Debbie Abrahams on Sunday said she was "looking" into the issue but admitted ending the freeze had not been costed in the Labour manifesto. It comes as research by the charity Shelter has warned over a million households living in private rented accommodation are at risk of becoming homeless by 2020 because of the benefits freeze, rising rents and a lack of social housing. Under current proposals, an average working family on tax and child credits would be around £780 worse off a year by 2021 due to the benefits freeze. The Liberal Democrats have committed to unfreezing benefits and up-rating them in line with inflation. Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Lloyd commented: "Labour have failed to commit to helping struggling families by unfreezing benefits. After Debbie Abraham's comments yesterday,  their position remains as clear as mud. "It's time for Labour to come off the fence and tell us whether they support slashing the incomes of the poorest in society or not. "Millions of working households across the country will see their incomes cut by hundreds of pounds in the years ahead. "We need to ensure that families who are already struggling to get by are not pushed over the edge."

Lib Dems table amendment on Single Market to Queen's Speech

The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for Britain to stay the single market and customs union. The party is now calling on both Labour and Conservative MPs to support the amendment and inflict a historic defeat on the government, forcing Theresa May to soften her extreme approach to Brexit. An amendment to the Queen's speech last year was accepted by the government after it received cross-party support. Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake commented: "We've already seen living standards fall and prices rise since last year's Brexit vote. "But this is nothing compared to the pain that would be caused by Theresa May's extreme version of Brexit. "Tearing up Britain's membership of the world's largest market would mean fewer jobs, higher prices in the shops and a long-term blow to our prosperity. "We will not give up the fight to protect our economy by staying in the Single Market and Customs Union. "I am urging all like-minded Labour and Conservative MPs to be on the right side of history and back this amendment."

Prisons and Courts Bill dropped from Queen’s Speech – Lib Dem response

Following the failure of the government to put forward a Prisons and Courts Bill, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Jonathan Marks has seized on an open letter by the Justice Secretary today which made no mention of the bill being axed. Jonathan Marks, who will continue to call for prison improvement and reform, said: “The Prisons and Courts Bill was a flagship piece of legislation for the last government but has been unceremoniously dropped from this Queen’s Speech. The crisis in our prisons may have dropped out of headlines but remains a huge problem. "Our prisons are hangovers from the Victorian era in need of urgent upgrading and we must get a grip on the numbers being sent to prison. Overcrowding has lead to violence, self-harm and deaths – this cannot be allowed to continue. "This was a key piece of legislation that would have made our prisons and courts fit for the 21st century but it is clear that this Conservative Government is too hobbled to introduce any radical legislation. The lack of ambition shown is likely to be a hallmark of this government, the only question is how long it will survive.”

Liberal Democrats secure commitment from Home Secretary on Commission for Countering Extremism

Today in the House of Commons the Rt Hon Ed Davey secured a commitment from the Home Secretary that the Commission for Countering Extremism would listen to voices from all communities who are willing to work with the Government to defeat extremism. Commenting after the statement in the chamber Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary said: “It is absolutely vital that the Government works with the communities most likely to be affected by counter extremism and de-radicalisation programmes. For all the good the Prevent strategy may have achieved it has been fatally wounded by the lack of trust the Muslim community has in it and the toxicity surrounding the brand. If we are determined to defeat violent extremism then we must be sure to work in partnerships with all communities who share our vision and not alienate the very communities that are likely to be able to offer the best intelligence and the strongest counter-narratives. The Liberal Democrats will follow the process of the establishment on the Commission for Countering Extremism to ensure it is inclusive and avoids making the same mistakes as the Prevent strategy.”

Jo Swinson is new Lib Dem Deputy Leader

Jo Swinson has been elected unanimously as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. The result was announced on Tuesday evening at the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party meeting. Jo will continue in her role as Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary. Jo Swinson said: "I am very proud to have been elected by a newly energised and strengthened parliamentary party. "The government has no majority and no mandate for its extreme version of Brexit, which would do such damage to the health of our economy and the fabric of our society. "In this balanced parliament the Liberal Democrats will be a powerful influence and a strong voice for people who want to see an open, welcoming and tolerant United Kingdom." Leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron said: “Jo Swinson is a brilliant campaigner and someone I am proud to call a friend. I am in no doubt she will be a fantastic Deputy Leader of our party. “Jo is the future of the Liberal Democrats and will make a massive difference laying out a liberal alternative to this divisive Brexit government. Her hard work as a local MP and impressive record as a minister leave us in no doubt that she will be a powerful voice for our party.” ENDS

Jo Swinson has been elected unanimously as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. The result was announced on Tuesday evening at the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party meeting. Jo will continue in her role as Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary. Jo Swinson said: "I am very proud to have been elected by a newly energised and strengthened parliamentary party. "The government has no majority and no mandate for its extreme version of Brexit, which would do such damage to the health of our economy and the fabric of our society. "In this balanced parliament the Liberal Democrats will be a powerful influence and a strong voice for people who want to see an open, welcoming and tolerant United Kingdom." Leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron said: “Jo Swinson is a brilliant campaigner and someone I am proud to call a friend. I am in no doubt she will be a fantastic Deputy Leader of our party. “Jo is the future of the Liberal Democrats and will make a massive difference laying out a liberal alternative to this divisive Brexit government. Her hard work as a local MP and impressive record as a minister leave us in no doubt that she will be a powerful voice for our party.”

Firefighting heroes pay plummets due to austerity – Cable

Sir Vince Cable has seized on Philip Hammond’s admitting that the public are “weary” of austerity by calling for an end to the public sector wage cap – which will see fire fighters an estimated £1,423 worse off in real terms by 2020/1. Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor Sir Vince Cable said:  “The public pay cap was necessary to tackle the massive deficit but firefighters such as the heroes of the Grenfell Tower disaster cannot be expected to suffer real falls in living standards indefinitely. “They are already suffering a Brexit squeeze with rising prices and a falling pound. The challenge of public sector pay is an example of why Philip Hammond must win the battle within government to remain in the single market and customs union or the fall in tax revenue will make it impossible to give public sector workers the pay rises they deserve. You can't have an extreme Brexit and decent public sector pay.”

Gove has betrayed consumers on cheap food – Farron

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has attacked new Environment Secretary Michael Gove for U-turning on cheap food.  During the referendum campaign Gove promised British consumers they would enjoy cut-price groceries due to there being more imports from outside the EU. However, with the government’s extreme Brexit under threat as the Conservatives split over the single market and customs union, Gove has rowed back from his promise. Tim Farron said: “This is yet another Brexit lie, to go with the £350m a week extra Michael Gove promised the NHS. He has only had his feet back under the cabinet table a few days and he has already broken another major promise. He told voters that after Brexit there would be honey for tea, but now reality is starting to bite he is offering British consumers nothing but thin gruel. “The public are already suffering a Brexit squeeze of higher prices and shrinking product sizes due to the devastating devaluation of the pound caused by Theresa May’s extreme Brexit. Meanwhile, farmers are still waiting to hear if the Conservatives will continue as part of any post-Brexit arrangements to give them the subsidies they currently receive from the EU. “It is clear the government has no clue, no strategy and no shame. It is falling apart before our eyes, and it is the British public paying the price.”

Liberal Democrat councillor and founder AM Peter Black is honoured by the Queen

Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats heartily congratulate Peter Black, for so long our regional AM, on the CBE awarded in Her Majesty's birthday honours.

The BBC reports:

recognised in the birthday honours list is Swansea councillor Peter Black who will be appointed CBE for services to politics and public life in Wales.

Mr Black was a Liberal Democrat AM between 1999 and 2016 and has represented the Cwmbwrla ward as a councillor since 1984.

Image captionPeter Black lost his assembly seat in 2016

Flammable cladding used on Grenfell Tower must be banned

The Liberal Democrats have called for the type of cladding used on Grenfell Tower to be banned in the UK, after it emerged the material is currently banned in US buildings over 40 feet for fire safety reasons and is classed as flammable in Germany. The damning revelations in The Times also found it would have cost just £5000 more to use fire-resistant panels instead of flammable ones. The government committed to reviewing building regulations on fire safety several years ago but the review has still not begun. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake commented: "It is simply beyond belief to think that if just £5,000 more had been spent, these tragic deaths could have been prevented. "The government must urgently bring UK fire safety standards into line with those abroad. "It seems people's homes were turned into death traps because they were fitted on the cheap. "It is utterly unacceptable and must never be allowed to happen again. "We must invest in safe, adequate homes for all and ensure strict fire safety standards are in place and fully implemented."

Vince Cable: Fall in retail sales shows brutal reality of Brexit hitting consumers

Retail sales fell by 1.2% between April and May, worse than economists had expected, figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown. The ONS said that average store prices have risen by 2.8% over the year, which has been a significant factor in slowing growth. Liberal Democrat MP Vince Cable commented: “The economy has been kept going for a year on the basis of consumer debt, which was always artificial and unsustainable. “The brutal reality of a hard Brexit is now starting to hit businesses and consumers. “Unless the government takes a cross-party approach to Brexit, reflecting the need for compromise, we will inevitably see a continuing slowdown and possible slump in the economy.”

Farron resigns as Lib Dem leader

This afternoon Tim Farron resigned as Liberal Democrat leader. At party HQ in London he gave the following speech to party staff:   This last two years have seen the Liberal Democrats recover since the devastation of the 2015 election. That recovery was never inevitable but we have seen the doubling of our party membership, growth in council elections, our first parliamentary by-election win for more than a decade, and most recently our growth at the 2017 general election. Most importantly the Liberal Democrats have established ourselves with a significant and distinctive role - passionate about Europe, free trade, strong well-funded public services underpinned by a growing market economy. No one else occupies that space.  Against all the odds, the Liberal Democrats matter again. We can be proud of the progress we have made together, although there is much more we need to do. From the very first day of my leadership, I have faced questions about my Christian faith.  I've tried to answer with grace and patience.  Sometimes my answers could have been wiser. At the start of this election, I found myself under scrutiny again - asked about matters to do with my faith.  I felt guilty that this focus was distracting attention from our campaign, obscuring our message. Journalists have every right to ask what they see fit.  The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader. A better, wiser person than me may have been able to deal with this more successfully, to have remained faithful to Christ while leading a political party in the current environment. To be a political leader - especially of a progressive, liberal party in 2017 - and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible's teaching, has felt impossible for me. I'm a liberal to my finger tips, and that liberalism means that I am passionate about defending the rights and liberties of people who believe different things to me. There are Christians in politics who take the view that they should impose the tenets of faith on society, but I have not taken that approach because I disagree with it - it's not liberal and it is counterproductive when it comes to advancing the gospel. Even so, I seem to be the subject of suspicion because of what I believe and who my faith is in. In which case we are kidding ourselves if we think we yet live in a tolerant, liberal society. That's why I have chosen to step down as leader of the Liberal Democrats. I intend to serve until the parliamentary recess begins next month, at which point there will be a leadership election according to the party’s rules. This is a historic time in British politics. What happens in the next months and years will shape our country for generations. My successor will inherit a party that is needed now more than ever before. Our future as an open, tolerant and united country is at stake. The cause of British liberalism has never been needed more. People who will fight for a Britain that is confident, generous and compassionate are needed more than ever before. That is the challenge our party and my successor faces and the opportunity I am certain that they will rise to. I want to say one more thing: I joined our party when I was 16, it is in my blood, I love our history, our people, I thoroughly love my party. Imagine how proud I am to lead this party.  And then imagine what would lead me to voluntarily relinquish that honour. In the words of Isaac Watts it would have to be something 'so amazing, so divine, (it) demands my heart, my life, my all'.

This afternoon Tim Farron resigned as Liberal Democrat leader. At party HQ in London he gave the following speech to party staff:   This last two years have seen the Liberal Democrats recover since the devastation of the 2015 election. That recovery was never inevitable but we have seen the doubling of our party membership, growth in council elections, our first parliamentary by-election win for more than a decade, and most recently our growth at the 2017 general election. Most importantly the Liberal Democrats have established ourselves with a significant and distinctive role - passionate about Europe, free trade, strong well-funded public services underpinned by a growing market economy. No one else occupies that space.  Against all the odds, the Liberal Democrats matter again. We can be proud of the progress we have made together, although there is much more we need to do. From the very first day of my leadership, I have faced questions about my Christian faith.  I've tried to answer with grace and patience.  Sometimes my answers could have been wiser. At the start of this election, I found myself under scrutiny again - asked about matters to do with my faith.  I felt guilty that this focus was distracting attention from our campaign, obscuring our message. Journalists have every right to ask what they see fit.  The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader. A better, wiser person than me may have been able to deal with this more successfully, to have remained faithful to Christ while leading a political party in the current environment. To be a political leader - especially of a progressive, liberal party in 2017 - and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible's teaching, has felt impossible for me. I'm a liberal to my finger tips, and that liberalism means that I am passionate about defending the rights and liberties of people who believe different things to me. There are Christians in politics who take the view that they should impose the tenets of faith on society, but I have not taken that approach because I disagree with it - it's not liberal and it is counterproductive when it comes to advancing the gospel. Even so, I seem to be the subject of suspicion because of what I believe and who my faith is in. In which case we are kidding ourselves if we think we yet live in a tolerant, liberal society. That's why I have chosen to step down as leader of the Liberal Democrats. I intend to serve until the parliamentary recess begins next month, at which point there will be a leadership election according to the party’s rules. This is a historic time in British politics. What happens in the next months and years will shape our country for generations. My successor will inherit a party that is needed now more than ever before. Our future as an open, tolerant and united country is at stake. The cause of British liberalism has never been needed more. People who will fight for a Britain that is confident, generous and compassionate are needed more than ever before. That is the challenge our party and my successor faces and the opportunity I am certain that they will rise to. I want to say one more thing: I joined our party when I was 16, it is in my blood, I love our history, our people, I thoroughly love my party. Imagine how proud I am to lead this party.  And then imagine what would lead me to voluntarily relinquish that honour. In the words of Isaac Watts it would have to be something 'so amazing, so divine, (it) demands my heart, my life, my all'.

Liberal Democrats say that government must end public sector pay freeze

The amount of money workers are taking home continues to fall as inflation rises, according to data released by the Office of National Statistics today. Average wages grew by just 2.1% in the three months to April, well below the 2.7% rate of inflation in that month, according to the Office for National Statistics. This means that, after adjusting for inflation, wages fell by 0.6% Commenting on the news, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “For a government that used to bang on about the Just About Managing, they are doing diddly squat to help them. This represents the biggest fall in real wages since August 2014. "Staff are working more hours, for less pay and with higher levels of stress. More people are living pay cheque to pay cheque and having to struggle at the end of every month to get by. “Britain needs a pay rise and it is time the government delivered it, especially for the public sector. "Our nurses, care workers, teachers and soldiers have bared the brunt of the economic crisis and seen their pay capped and wages squeezed. Enough is enough. We need to raise the wages of our public sector workers.”

Financial sector fast becoming latest casualty of Brexit - Cable

Commenting on reports that London could lose its EU euro clearing role, former Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Our financial sector is fast becoming the latest casualty in Theresa May’s pursuit of an extreme Brexit. “Thousands of British jobs are now on the line because Theresa May wants to drag us out of the single market. “She has lost any mandate she claimed to have, the people have voted against her extreme vision for Brexit.”

May's ephemeral government is almost done

Commenting on the news that the Queen’s Speech is delayed as Theresa May tries to hammer out a Tory-DUP deal Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:

“This is an utter humiliation for Theresa May, it is time to stop trying to cling to power and time to admit enough is enough.  This is the biggest embarrassment that a Prime Minister can face, she cannot announce her agenda because she has no idea what she can actually get through.

“The Tories are hanging onto office desperate for a deal from the DUP, turning them into the MayDUP government.  This MayDUP coalition has fallen at the first hurdle.

“Theresa May can squat in Number 10 as long as she wants but the message is stark – she has no power, no influence and her game is up.”

Another step back into the 19th century

Commenting on the Prime Minister's statement on forming a government relying on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:

"It is clear that the Prime Minister has done a deal with the DUP. She must now make clear what the terms of that deal are. The British people have a right to know.

"The sort of government she forms will have profound implications for the Brexit negotiations and the future of the country, especially if it means she is taking sides in the peace process in Northern Ireland.
 

"Theresa May has taken the British people for granted long enough. She made the election about her own leadership and she lost. Theresa May shouldn't be stitching up a new deal in secret, she should be resigning."
 

Lib Dems: Board of Trade proposals straight out of 17th century

Responding to Conservative proposals for a so called 'board of trade', Liberal Democrat Shadow First Secretary for Scotland Alistair Carmichael said: “If we needed any further proof that the Conservatives have no new ideas, it's this desperate attempt to apply 17th century solutions to 21st century challenges. “This plan is so outdated it's probably been written on parchment by Jacob Rees-Mogg. “Just 48 hours from an election, the Conservatives have run out of things to say on policing, our crumbling schools and the NHS crisis. “No number of fancy trade commissioners jetting around the world will save us from crippling tariffs when we leave the single market. “This is a yet another pointless, ill-considered policy thought up in Tory HQ to hide from the fact they are running out of ideas and out of time.”

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."

Farron: May has made the wrong choices on security

Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron has criticised Theresa May's approach to security, accusing her of making the wrong choices on police cuts, mass surveillance and the fight against extremism. Writing for the Guardian, Tim Farron said: On police cuts "In the choice between cuts to corporation tax and properly funding our police, we should fund our police. "Let's be clear: fewer police on the beat means fewer conversations, less information being passed on and less knowledge about who’s who and who needs to be kept under surveillance." On mass surveillance "Instead of posturing, politicians need to work with technology companies like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, and with other countries, to develop solutions that work to keep people safe. "The alternative is a government that monitors and controls the internet in the way that China or North Korea do. If we turn the internet into a tool for censorship and surveillance, the terrorists will have won. We won’t make ourselves safer by making ourselves less free.”   On the fight against extremism "When we lent our support to the government for extending air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria, one of the Liberal Democrats' key demands was a report into foreign funding of extremism here in Britain. "The then Prime Minister, David Cameron agreed to that demand. Theresa May now has a choice. Does she publish that report, or keep it hidden? Theresa May talks of the need to have some difficult and sometimes embarrassing conversations. "That should include exposing and rooting out the source funding of terror, even it means difficult and embarrassing conversations with those like Saudi Arabia that the government claims are our allies.” In conclusion “In the choices we make, we should provide the resources necessary for those who keep us safe to do their jobs with the powers they have been given. We should also jealously guard the hard-won liberties that define us as a country. If we make the wrong choices, those who seek to change our way of life have won.”

Cable: Conservative manifesto has no numbers beyond the page numbers

Michael Fallon has told the Telegraph that income tax will not rise under a Conservative government. This comes after the Conservative manifesto failed to clarify their policy on tax rises in their manifesto which gave only a vague commitment to keep tax "as low as possible". Responding to these comments, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "Michael Fallon’s comments raise the obvious question as to where the Conservatives will raise the money that their Chancellor knows will be needed if promised funding for schools, the NHS, the police and defence is to materialise. "The Conservative manifesto has no numbers beyond the page numbers: an arrogant misjudgement that the public does not need to be told what will happen after the election.  Since they are ruling out increases in income, corporate tax and VAT we must assume that there will be an increase in National Insurance and in various ‘stealth taxes’ yet to be specified. It undoubtedly raises suspicions. "The Liberal Democrats are being honest with the people, to save our NHS and social care we will put 1p on income tax, raising £6bn a year."

Lib Dem offer three times as good for Wales as Labour's

Frank Little, candidate for Neath, writes:

"I have just had through my door a Labour leaflet (presumably accounted for in 'national' expenditure, and thus not subject to the constituency cap) implicitly promising to restore £1bn of cuts to the Welsh budget if Jeremy Corbyn comes to power.

"Liberal Democrats would more than treble that. Tim Farron's manifesto promises at least £1.5bn for health, a similar amount for policing and £300m for education coming to Wales over the period of the next parliament.

"Moreover, Liberal Democrats' proposals are fully-costed, whereas the independent IFS doubts the credibility of Mr Corbyn's manifesto costings."

May challenged to publish report on Saudi funding of extremism in UK

The Liberal Democrats have challenged Theresa May to publish a report looking into foreign funding of extremism in the UK that she sat on as Home Secretary, and continues to do so as Prime Minister. In December 2015, David Cameron announced there would be a comprehensive review of foreign funding of extremism due to be published the following spring. However, the review is yet to be published. Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, has written to Theresa May reminding her that Saudi Arabia in particular provides funding to hundreds of mosques in the UK, often espousing a hard-line version of Islam. It comes following comments from Amber Rudd in Wednesday's BBC debate in which she defended UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia by claiming they are good for industry. Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Brake said: “The Conservatives have broken their pledge to investigate funding of violent Islamist groups in the UK, seemingly because they were worried about upsetting their dodgy allies in the Middle East. “This short-sighted approach needs to change. It is critical that these extreme, hardline views are confronted head on, and that those who fund them are called out publicly. “If the Conservatives are serious about stopping terrorism on our shores, they must stop stalling and reopen investigations into foreign funding of violent extremism in the UK.”

Ed Davey: May must challenge Trump over climate change agreement

The Liberal Democrats have called on Theresa May to urgently speak out and challenge Donald Trump following reports he is set to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change.

Sir Ed Davey, who played a key role in negotiating the agreement as Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary, commented:

"It's an utter disgrace that Trump is showing such disregard for the threat posed by climate change by preparing to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

"This deal was the result of two decades of international negotiations and is now on the brink of unravelling, which would be a disaster for our environment and a betrayal of future generations.

“It's time for Theresa May to speak out and join the Liberal Democrats and others in condemning President Trump publicly. This is too important for Britain to pull our punches.

"It's vital that politicians unite with scientists in the US and across the world in condemning Mr Trump and explaining to the public that this decision would threaten our children's future."