Kill the anti-protest Act!

 

A new law has enabled Met. Police to seize the equipment of protester Steve Bray, who we are proud to acknowledge as a member of this party. 

Whether you agree with Brexit or not, you should be aware that this repressive legislation militates against any protest which makes a noise.

 - Frank Little

Campsfield House to reopen: A disgraceful decision

Responding to the news that the Home Office is planning to reopen Campsfield House in Kidlington as part of their Rwanda Plan, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran said: “This disgraceful decision reflects at best a failure of policy and at worst complete heartlessness from the Home Office. Our community fought for years to close this facility, and will be incredibly dismayed by this announcement. “Locking people up for months on end – without giving them any idea how long they’ll be detained – is inhumane and unnecessary.  “These measures are also an enormous waste of taxpayers’ money. “Instead of reopening a closed detention centre, the Home Secretary should be reducing immigration detention to an absolute last resort, to save both money and misery. “I will be fighting to stop Campsfield House reopening.”

Ed Davey on Tiverton and Honiton: Wake-up call for Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has said the party’s stunning victory in Tiverton and Honiton should be a “wake-up call” for Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson.   Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Foord overturned a Conservative majority of over 24,000, the biggest ever majority overturned in a by-election. Richard Foord gained a majority of 6,144 with a massive swing of 29.9%.   It marks the third Liberal Democrat by-election victory in a formerly safe Conservative seat in just over a year, following the party’s shock wins in North Shropshire and Chesham and Amersham.   Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:   “The Liberal Democrats have made political history with this stunning win. It is the biggest by-election victory our country has ever seen. “This should be a wake-up call for all those Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson. They cannot afford to ignore this result.   “The people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for the country. The public is sick of Boris Johnson’s lies and law-breaking and it’s time for Conservative MPs to finally do the right thing and sack him.” [The Conservatives won a majority of 24,239 in Tiverton and Honiton in 2019, making it one of the safest Conservative seats in the country. Today’s result is therefore the biggest majority ever overturned in a by-election, overtaking the 23,972 majority overturned in Liverpool Wavertree in 1935]

Latest inflation figures: The chancellor must slash VAT now

Responding to the latest ONS figures which saw inflation increase to 9.1% in May, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "Rishi Sunak is standing by while millions of people suffer from eye-watering levels of inflation - he either hasn't got any sense or any heart to not intervene. "This Chancellor has hiked taxes time and time again, refusing to slash them to help with the cost of living emergency. Even when we know slashing VAT is a sure-fire way to help families while keeping inflation under control.  "Instead, the Chancellor, his Prime Minister and his colleagues continue to sit on their hands while the country suffers, they are not fit for purpose."

Soaring inflation: Cut VAT to help families and keep prices down

The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to cut VAT, to help families with the cost of living while keeping soaring inflation in check.   It comes as the Chancellor Rishi Sunak rejected calls to cut taxes now as he claimed it could risk fuelling inflation.   When the last emergency VAT cut was introduced in December 2008, inflation fell from 4.1% to 3.1%. The ONS also found that the cut to VAT in the hospitality sector in 2020 led to a fall in consumer inflation.    The Office of Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) has forecast that Rishi Sunak is due to rake in an extra £8.6 billion in extra VAT due to inflation over the next year, or £430 per family.   Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:   “Rishi Sunak’s excuses for failing to reduce taxes during a cost of living emergency simply don’t wash.   “Slashing VAT is one simple tax cut the Conservatives could introduce now to help families while keeping inflation under control. Instead ministers are sitting on their hands and cashing in billions in additional VAT tax receipts while people struggle to pay their bills.   “We have seen in the past how an emergency VAT cut can bring inflation down while encouraging spending in our shops. This move would put money into people’s pockets and reduce prices at the shops and at the petrol pump. It should be a no-brainer.   “The Chancellor doesn’t need to wait for the next Budget, he could bring in this tax cut at a stroke of a pen now.”

Chesham and Amersham anniversary: There is no such thing as a safe Conservative seat

Marking the first anniversary of the Liberal Democrats winning the Chesham and Amersham by-election on 17th June 2021, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: "This is one anniversary Boris Johnson won't be partying about in Downing Street. "People in Chesham and Amersham proved this country will no longer tolerate Boris Johnson's antics and instead elected a strong local champion in Sarah Green. "What I heard in Chesham and Amersham one year ago is now coming through loud and clear on the doorsteps of Tiverton and Honiton. Communities across the country are sick and tired of an out of touch, law-breaking and dishonest Prime Minister. "The Liberal Democrats have proven there is no such thing as a safe Conservative seat. From Buckinghamshire to Shropshire, Somerset to Devon, Liberal Democrat local champions are standing up for their towns and villages. Next week will be judgement day for Boris Johnson."

Geidt resigns: Johnson is the one who needs to go

Responding to Lord Geidt's resignation, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said: "When both of Boris Johnson's own ethics advisers have quit, it is obvious that he is the one who needs to go.   "This Prime Minister has constantly lied and broken the laws he wrote. It's clear as day that he has broken the Ministerial Code too.   "For the good of Britain, the next resignation we should be hearing about is that of Boris Johnson."

Scrapping the Plug-in Car Grant is the wrong move at the wrong time from out of touch government

Responding to the Government's announcement that the Plug-in Car Grant will no longer be available for new electric cars, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: "It beggars belief that this out of touch Government is scrapping these grants for new cars while petrol and diesel prices are soaring and electric cars remain unaffordable for so many. “Britain is gripped by a cost of living emergency where families are struggling to fill up at the pumps. We should be slashing VAT on electric vehicles, not cutting the Plug-In Car Grant. “This is the wrong move at the wrong time. The Conservatives are doing everything they can to put people off owning an electric vehicle and it frankly makes a mockery of their pledge to end new sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030.”

PM should listen to Cost of Living Tsar and resign

Responding to the tweets from the Government's new cost of living Tsar, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said:  "It's a damning indictment of this Prime Minister that even his new cost of living adviser doesn't think he's up to the task of running this country. "This Government under Boris Johnson's dismal leadership has completely failed to get a grip on the cost of living emergency that has left families struggling to get by.  "Boris Johnson has got a track record of failing to listen to his 'tsars', so while ignorance may truly be bliss for this embarrassment of a Prime Minister he really ought to listen to this one and resign."

NI Protocol: Johnson has debased the office of PM

Responding to the release of the Northern Ireland Protocol legislation, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:  “It’s astounding that at exactly the moment when we should be standing united with our allies in the face of Russia’s aggression, the Conservative Government has decided to ignite a diplomatic firestorm.  “From breaking his own laws at home to attempting to breach international law abroad, Boris Johnson has debased the office of Prime Minister.  “If the Conservatives enact these proposals, they risk starting a trade war with our closest neighbours which will push prices up even further. In the midst of this cost of living emergency, this is the last thing families up and down the country need.”

NI Protocol: Johnson and Lewis must come clean and publish full legal advice

The Liberal Democrats have criticised Brandon Lewis' refusal to commit to publishing the government's full legal advice around its plans to overhaul the Northern Ireland protocol. It comes after Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael raised the issue in Parliament last week and demanded the government publish its legal advice in full. Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “The refusal to publish this legal advice looks like yet another attempt to cover up Boris Johnson’s repeated lies and law-breaking. The government must come clean and publish what legal advice was received and who from in full.  “The public deserves full transparency over the legality of plans to rip up the Northern Ireland Protocol and risk a trade war with our closest neighbours. If Conservative ministers have nothing to fear, they have nothing to hide.”

Gove gives green light to gas drilling in Surrey area of natural beauty

The Liberal Democrats have criticised Michael Gove for giving the go ahead to gas drilling in Surrey. In a decision published yesterday, the Conservative government announced it will grant planning permission to explore for gas in Dunsfold, by the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It comes despite concerns raised by the local community and environmental campaigners about the damage the drilling could do to the countryside and the UK’s climate ambitions. In a report by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove admits that “there are significant harms to the character and appearance of the landscape from the proposal,” and that it would “degrade the quality of the setting of the AONB.” However, he concludes this is outweighed by the benefits of gas exploration. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “It is shameful that the Conservatives have ignored the concerns of local communities and given the green light to oil and gas drilling in the Surrey hills. “Michael Gove must reconsider this reckless decision which risks doing irreparable damage to our treasured countryside while undermining efforts to tackle the climate emergency.  “The best way to improve energy security is to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, by investing in renewables and insulating people’s homes. Instead this Conservative government is trashing our environment by allowing oil drilling in green fields for years to come.”   Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Guildford Zöe Franklin said: "I am appalled that the Conservative Government has given the go-ahead for oil and gas drilling in the Surrey Hills, ignoring the clear view of local councillors, campaigners and residents who have been fighting against it from the start. "This shows the Conservatives are completely out of touch and do not care about the environment or the health and wellbeing of our local communities.   "The planned drilling will cause the destruction of ancient woodland and have an irreversible impact on the landscape and neighbouring area of outstanding natural beauty. It will also impact protected species and other local wildlife. "There is still time for the Conservatives to stop this wanton vandalism against our precious green spaces in the Surrey Hills by reversing their decision, but they must act now.”

Vagrancy Act: Moran condemns ‘duplicitous’ proposal to bring back Act

Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, has slammed the Government as ‘duplicitous’ for including a clause in the new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which would allow for the reintroduction of the recently repealed Vagrancy Act.   The clause allows for the Secretary of State for DLUHC to re-criminalise rough sleeping, despite the House of Commons voting to repeal the Vagrancy Act earlier this year. The Government claims that this is ‘placeholder text’ which will be amended at the Committee Stage of the Bill, but has not given assurances that rough sleepers will be protected from the return of this legislation.   The repeal of the Vagrancy Act was the culmination of a campaign which began in 2018 for Layla, after it was brought to her attention by a group of students in Oxford. It garnered cross-party support and the support of cross-party groups such as Crisis. The passing of an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act confirmed the repeal of the act, subject to a consultation on how to replace the powers contained within it.   Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said:   “I am disgusted that this placeholder text seems to expose the true motivations of this duplicitous Government. They promised over and over again to fully scrap the Vagrancy Act.    “The revelation that they intend to bring it back in different words is a betrayal to those who campaigned long and hard for it but especially for the vulnerable people left out cold in the streets.    “I am writing to the minister to seek a meeting to urgently clarify the meaning of his clause and urge them to bring forward the full text so it can receive proper scrutiny.”

Lib Dems join with European liberal parties to condemn plans to scrap NI Protocol

The Liberal Democrats have joined with Liberal parties from across Europe to condemn the British government's proposals to scrap the Northern Ireland Protocol.  The annual ALDE Congress last weekend in Dublin called for genuine, workable solutions to the Protocol as opposed to the current ideological approach.  This initiative was proposed jointly by the Liberal Democrats, Northern Ireland’s Alliance Party and Ireland’s governing party Fianna Fáil, and supported by sister Liberal parties across Europe.  Liberal Democrats are urging the UK Government to abandon its plans for domestic legislation overriding the Northern Ireland Protocol - warning that it is a breach of international law, and would result in a trade war during the cost of living emergency. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “At a moment when the UK should be working in lockstep with our allies in the face of Russia’s aggression, unilateral action on the Protocol would ignite a diplomatic firestorm.  “As well as being a clear breach of international law and hurting our global reputation, such a move would be deeply damaging domestically too - not least in Northern Ireland, where it would be destabilising. “The Conservatives are embarking on a course of action which could lead to a trade war with our closest neighbours. This would turn a cost of living emergency into a nightmare.” Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party, said: “The Alliance Party very much welcomes this positive gesture of solidarity from our liberal sister parties in Europe, which makes clear the opposition right across Europe to the UK government's retrograde threat of unilateral action over the NI Protocol. “The Protocol makes the best of a bad situation for Northern Ireland by providing a necessary new set of rules governing the trade divergence resultant from a reckless hard Brexit, pushed by the Conservative Party and the DUP. Any changes to the Protocol must be accomplished through pragmatic engagement and partnership between the EU and UK government. The correct channel for this is the EU-UK Joint Committee and will not be achieved by any partner acting alone.  “Unilateral action will only undermine trust, heighten political tension in Northern Ireland and risk provoking a trade war.”

East Devon Council Leader joins Lib Dems ahead of Tiverton by-election

Cllr Paul Arnott, leader of East Devon district council, has joined the Liberal Democrats and thrown his weight behind their candidate Richard Foord for the upcoming Tiverton and Honiton by-election.   Cllr Arnott, who was elected to the Council as a member of the Independent East Devon Alliance in 2019, has recently been re-elected as leader of the Council for a third term. He was first elected as council leader in 2020, wresting control of the council from the Conservatives. His joining represents a huge win for the Liberal Democrats, just two weeks before voters go to the polls in the decisive Tiverton & Honiton by-election.    Councillor Paul Arnott said:   “The upcoming by-election in Tiverton & Honiton is a momentous occasion for us to speak for the country and send Boris Johnson a message. He has taken Devon for granted and abandoned our communities in his quest to win over the red wall. “I’m clear that Richard Foord is the best candidate and the only one who can beat the Conservatives. He is a strong community campaigner who will stand up for our patch, speaking up for everyone who’s been neglected by this Government. “My message to everyone out there who feels fed up and ignored - vote for Richard on June 23rd and together we can get our communities the fair deal they deserve.   Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:   “Paul is a brilliant leader of East Devon council. He’s shown that when people work together, we can win and deliver real change for local communities. “The Conservatives have taken Devon for granted and are totally out-of-touch with the issues local people face, particularly in rural areas like Tiverton & Honiton. “If the Liberal Democrats win this by-election it will not only help tip the scales against Boris Johnson, it will send a clear message to all Conservative MPs that they cannot keep neglecting their constituents. “My message to voters is simple - vote for Richard Foord and you’ll get a hard working local champion who will always put your needs, and the needs of Devon, first.”

Davey: Conservative MPs who care about integrity and decency must resign the whip

Responding to the news that Conservative MPs have voted to keep a lawbreaker in Number Ten this evening, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "Conservative MPs are now fully responsible for the Prime Minister’s behaviour. They have narrowly voted to keep a lawbreaker and liar in Number 10.  "Whilst Boris Johnson has clung on today - make no mistake, his reputation is in tatters and his authority is now totally shot.    "It’s clear that the Prime Minister and the Conservative Party are laughing at the British public.    "Every Conservative MP who cares about integrity and decency must do the right thing, resign the whip and sit as an independent. For the sake of our country, this failing Prime Minister cannot be propped up any longer.   "Johnson is teetering on the brink. He is too cowardly to resign - the people of Tiverton and Honiton will speak for Britain in giving their verdict on Boris Johnson in two weeks time."

Travel chaos: Send in the army to get Britain moving

 

• Army logistic personnel should run travel command centre to keep airports, roads and ports moving

• More flight cancellations on the way and motorways tipped for deadlock

The Liberal Democrats have called for the army to be brought in to help solve unprecedented levels of travel disruption as queues at airports up and down the country reach critical mass going into the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

With families facing their bank holiday getaway being cancelled or heavily delayed, the party has urged the Government to call on the Armed Forces “best and brightest” to run point on logistics. This would include the running of a command centre to sort out airports, keep roads moving and get ports unblocked.

It comes after the party’s transport spokesperson called for an emergency COBRA meeting to be convened in order to formulate a plan to break the deadlock. 

Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

“The chaotic scenes at airports up and down the country have been nothing short of a complete disaster. Families’ half-term getaways have been thrown into disarray and now they face the prospect of a long-weekend spent sleeping in airports and sitting in traffic jams. 

“We need drastic action now to tackle this travel carnage and break the logjam. That’s why drafting Britain's best and brightest logistics minds from the army to get things moving again is a no brainer.

“Conservative Ministers need to get a grip on this chaos at the eleventh hour to save the Jubilee weekend. Empowering the army to run point from a command centre would do just that.”

Coal tip safety

 

The UK government is refusing to take responsibility for the dereliction caused by the coal industry, both private and nationalised, before Wales was given a measure of devolution. The following statement has been issued by Cardiff Bay:

The Welsh Government is consulting on proposals for a new legislative management regime for disused coal tips in Wales. This includes proposals for a new supervisory authority. The proposals aim to ensure a consistent approach to the management, monitoring, and oversight of disused coal tips. The framework could also be applied in the future to other spoil tips in Wales. Find out more at online public events on June 9 and July 6. The consultation is open until Thursday August 4 at the following link: https://gov.wales/white-paper-coal-tip-safety 

Boris Johnson not trusted by his own ethics adviser to tell the truth

Responding to the news that Lord Geidt has judged there to be a "legitimate question" over whether Boris Johnson broke the Ministerial Code following his Partygate fine, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said: "This scathing criticism shows even Boris Johnson’s own ethics adviser no longer trusts him to tell the truth. He is not fit to hold public office. "It’s no wonder the Prime Minister has been trying to water down the Ministerial Code and rewrite the rules. The only person he cares about is himself.   "The net really is closing in around Johnson. He's missed the boat to do the decent thing and resign, now Conservative MPs must give him the sack."