Last night, the Liberal Democrats won another three council by-election victories with huge swings from the Conservatives - securing the party's best ever year for by-election gains.
Complementing Sarah Olney's victory in the Richmond Park by-election, the Liberal Democrats have gained 31 seats in local authorities across the country this year.
With the Government still not prepared to guarantee EU citizens #RightToStay and with Tory MPs like Liam Fox claiming EU citizens are cards, we asked some of the people who signed our #RightToStay petition to tell us why it matters to them - these are their stories:
Call for Evidence: independent inquiry into improving process and culture within the Liberal Democrats – focusing on race and ethnicity
by John, Lord Alderdice
At the request of the Party President and the Federal Executive I am undertaking an independent inquiry into improving process and culture within the Liberal Democrats, focusing specifically on race and ethnicity. I have not been asked to address particular individual cases but as part of the party’s commitment to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society this inquiry has been commissioned to focus on issues and/or barriers faced by BAME members and supporters of the Liberal Democrats.
Among the questions I am asking are –
1.Are there barriers to participation for BAME members? If so, what and where are they?
2.Do barriers differ in different parts of the party?
3.How effective are existing mechanisms/procedures in addressing the issue?
4.Does the Party do enough to engage with BAME voters and ensure accessibility for potential BAME members?
5.What further steps should, or could, be taken by the Party to address the issues identified in this review
Having embarked on the process of gathering evidence I am keen to hear from all those who have relevant experiences and views to help me form an accurate picture. All the submissions I receive, whether written or oral, will be treated in confidence, and in respect of written submissions, I may well need to follow up on specific aspects in a face to face conversation.
I will be gathering the formal policies of the Party and other parties and will explore how these have evolved, where they now stand and how far they have been implemented with effect. However, as I note above, I will not be making judgements on specific cases or making any assumptions regarding the innocence or guilt of any individuals.
I would be grateful to receive all written evidence by Friday 20th January 2017 and it can be sent to me at either diversity@libdems.org.uk or alderdicej@parliament.uk or in hard copy to me at –
Professor, the Lord Alderdice FRCPsych
Millbank House
House of Lords,
London SW1A 0PW
Speaking at the count following her shock victory in the Richmond Park by-election, newly elected MP Sarah Olney said:
"Let me start by thanking the other candidates for a hard-fought campaign – and to Zac Goldsmith in particular, I wish you well and assure you that I will continue your fight against the expansion of Heathrow.
"I also would like to thank the returning officer, the staff that have worked so hard today and yesterday and of course the police. I want to thank my amazing campaign team led by James Lillis and the thousands of volunteers who have taken time to support me over the course of the campaign. I want to thank my family and friends for the wonderful support they’ve given me – particularly my husband Ben and our children. I want to thank our leader Tim Farron, and all the other party members who could not have been more supportive. And I'd like to thank the Greens, More United, the Women's Equality Party and all the other people beyond the Lib Dems who have supported me in this campaign.
"A year and a half ago, I wasn’t involved in politics. I wasn’t a member of a political party. I’d never been involved in a political campaign. I’d never thought about being a politician. But I knew I was a Liberal – I believed in openness, tolerance, compassion, working with our neighbours at home and around the world – and when I saw what happened at the General Election and I felt I had to get involved.
"I think a lot of people in this community had the same feeling this summer. Richmond Park is full of people like me who felt that something was going wrong. That the politics of anger and division were on the rise. That the liberal, tolerant values we took for granted were under threat. We were seeing the UKIP vision for Britain in the ascendancy – intolerant, backward-looking, divisive; just as we see it in America and across Europe.
"Well today we have said no. We will defend the Britain we love. We will stand up for the open, tolerant, united Britain that we believe in. The people of Richmond Park and North Kingston have sent a shockwave through this Conservative Brexit Government. And our message is clear: we do not want a ‘hard Brexit’; we do not want to be pulled out of the Single Market; and we will not let intolerance, division and fear win."
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Nobody loves rule-makers, but despite the grumbles the UK had a good deal from the EU on financial services.
Ask the French, they say we always got what we wanted and if I’m allowed to blow my own trumpet, we did.
Now there is uncertainty stalking everything.
Following Lib Dem pressure to help renters afford a home and reduce upfront costs, the Government has announced a ban on letting fees for tenants in the Autumn Statement.
Liberal Democrat Peer Olly Grender has been promoting the campaign and is the author of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which was debated just five days ago in Parliament.
The Bill calls for:
Tom Brake MP has been supporting the Bill and has himself sponsored an Early Day Motion calling for fees to be banned.
Liberal Democrat Councillors across the country have been pushing for renting reform, with successful council motions passed in support of the Renters’ Rights Bill in Hull and Haringey.
Commenting on news of the ban, Baroness Olly Grender said:
This is a Government that is just about managing. The official figures have revealed a £220 billion Brexit black hole- hundreds of billions taken out our economy when we need it most. Given how bad the outlook is, it’s no wonder the Chancellor doesn’t want to have to do another Autumn Statement.
Today is the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking BBC film Cathy Come Home, the gripping and controversial 1966 film about poverty and homelessness.
Earlier this month, I was delighted to welcome 20 young, bright campaigners here to the Parliament to protect their rights to live, study and work abroad.
This morning, I set out a red line on Article 50 and made clear that unless the government agrees to a referendum on the final Brexit deal, the party will vote against Article 50 in the House of Commons.
Paddy Ashdown today slammed Theresa May's hardline stance on immigration and her "shambolic" trip to India, as he accompanied the party's Richmond Park and North Kingston by-election candidate Sarah Olney to a curry restaurant in the constituency.
The pair spoke with the owner and head chef of the Roz Ana restaurant in Kingston about its problems recruiting chefs from abroad and the impact of Brexit on rising food prices.
Commenting on the resignation of Sleaford and North Hykeham MP, Stephen Phillips, Liberal Democrat Party President Sal Brinton said:
Lord Storey, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson in the House of Lords, has forced the Government to back down from calling a vote to defend their recent changes to the school census. Lord Storey tabled a regret motion against the changes, introduced this year, which will require parents or teachers to submit information on whether children are born in the UK.
Commenting on the decision of Mark Carney to leave the Bank of England in 2019, Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor, Susan Kramer, said:
Sarah Olney has been selected to contest the Richmond Park and North Kingston by-election for the Liberal Democrats.
An opinion poll has shown it is a two-horse race between local woman Sarah and Zac Goldsmith, the out-going Conservative Brexit MP whose resignation triggered the by-election. Sarah, an accountant and married mother of two, was selected at a meeting of the local party in Richmond today.
A group of MPs say the government is being dishonest when they claim it is allocating an extra £10bn to the NHS in England over the next five years. Commenting on the news Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Norman Lamb said:
Former Liberal Democrat Leader Paddy Ashdown has called on the Government to draw up plans to support other key businesses across the UK in the same way they have helped Nissan in Sunderland.
Commenting on reports Theresa May has declined a request by Francois Hollande to take in more child refugees affected by the destruction of the Calais camp, Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron said:
Commenting on the announcement that the Government is to review the Work Capability Assessment, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Minister Cathy Bakewell said:
Tim Farron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has announced his new Shadow Cabinet team.
Zac Goldsmith claimed Brexit has nothing to do with this by-election. The very public endorsement he has picked up from the party of Nigel Farage nails that lie.
The ‘No Ifs, No Buts’ pledge from the Conservatives has been thrown by the wayside in the rush to bulldoze homes and build a new runway.
Over the next five weeks, we'll be fighting a Parliamentary by-election caused by Zac Goldsmith's resignation - the Liberal Democrats held this seat until 2015 and we're the clear challengers to Zac.
But we need all hands on deck - and how good a result we get in Richmond Park will be 100% down to what you can do - so, here's a few ways you can help:
Last night saw the results of the Witney by-election - we started the campaign in 4th place as 50/1 outsiders and thanks to the relentless, positive campaign we ran, dented the Conservative majority and secured one of our best by-election results in decades. This is what you need to know:
Liberal Democrat peer, John Sharkey, whose Private Member’s Bill was instrumental in securing a pardon for Alan Turing, has reached an agreement with the Government which will grant a posthumous pardon to thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under long abolished sexual offence laws.
Responding to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruling today which found that UK security agencies unlawfully collected data of British citizens for over a decade, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:
At their Autumn Conference this year, the Liberal Democrats welcomed business leaders and experts from multiple sectors to a roundtable discussion focused on the digital skills gaps in today's workforce. The discussion was attended by a diverse set of businesses from sectors including tech, energy, banking and construction; and was hosted by Jack Barmby, Founder and CEO of Customer Service Solutions business FM Outsource.
Long-term EU loans for vital infrastructure projects across the UK are being put at risk due to the Conservative government’s divisive rhetoric and failure to plan properly for Brexit, Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron has warned.
Speaking in today's Brexit debate in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat European Union spokesperson Nick Clegg commented:
The Government have cut NHS building funding by £17.4 million over the last year and have been attacked by the Liberal Democrats for letting hospitals crumble. Norman Lamb has blasted the Government to ‘turning our hospitals into health risks’.
Up until a few days ago, Andrew Lomas was a Labour Councillor in Kensington and Chelsea. He'd stood for Council, for Parliament, been a deputy group leader. Now, he's joined the Liberal Democrats - find out why here:
Theresa May talked a lot about helping ordinary working people, yet she said nothing about reversing the most damaging legacies of her predecessor since last May.
The Liberal Democrats have set out three things Theresa May should do to live up to her rhetoric: abandoning the cap on public sector pay, reversing cuts to universal credit and reversing the tax hike on insurance.
Theresa May used to criticise the nasty party’ – now she is leading it.
Regardless of the rhetoric, the Conservatives have moved to the right. The Prime Minister’s words about a pitch to the centre-ground are utterly divorced from her party’s actions over the last few days. The Conservatives are reckless, divisive and uncaring. They are the fence-building, snooping-on-your-emails, foreign-worker-listing party and that is something that most people will be revulsed by.
Each of the major announcements from her Party’s Conference will make Britain a less open, less tolerated less united place. They are the actions of a Nasty Party willing to play on prejudice for their own ends. Theresa May used to criticise the Tory Party for this approach, now she is leading it.
Here are 10 times that Tories have been the ‘nasty party’ this week:
Commenting on plans unveiled by the government that businesses will be forced to reveal how many foreign staff they employ, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:
The Conservative Party has long claimed to be the Party of businesses -but, their track record since May 2015 shows that they are now anything but.
Brexit represents a massive threat to businesses and jobs, but Theresa May’s Government keep sending mixed messages about vital trade relationships and our Membership of the Single Market.
But it’s not just Brexit that’s undermining the Conservative’s claim to be the party of business. By putting in place new and unnecessary taxes and failing to tackle the real concerns of hundreds of thousands of business across the UK their agenda that is harming businesses ability to grow.
Here’s 8 reasons why the Conservatives are no longer the party of business:
Black History Month is an opportunity for us all to reflect on Britain’s diversity and rich culture, as well as serving as a reminder of the inequality that still exists.
Today and Labour party conference, Jeremy Corbyn gave his speech to Labour party conference - and it made one thing abundantly clear - the Liberal Democrats are the only pro-European party now.
Here's the four things, you need to know about Jeremy Corbyn's speech:
Tim Farron has accused Liam Fox of being a "second class Cabinet Minister enjoying First Class travel around the world," after the International Trade Secretary was forced into an embarassing climbdown during a speech today at the WTO.
The Liberal Democrats have hit out at Labour and Jeremy for Corbyn for not backing Britain's membership of the single market.
Losing membership of the single market would hit prices, jobs and wages and the Liberal Democrats strongly back Britain's continued membership.
Hundreds of people joined the Liberal Democrats yesterday following the announcement that Jeremy Corbyn had been re-elected leader of the Labour party.
Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson Lorely Burt has called on Theresa May to clamp down on tax havens by setting them a deadline to open up their books, in the wake of revelations showing Amber Rudd was the director of two companies in the Bahamas.
Reforms to probation services are far from complete and there is no clear picture of how the new system is performing in important areas, the Committee of Public Accounts says. Commenting on the report, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Jonathan Marks QC said:
Analysis by school leaders’ union NAHT has shown that hundreds of nursery schools across England would be forced to close if the government doesn’t adjust its proposals on Early Years Funding.
| Analysis by school leaders’ union NAHT has shown that hundreds of nursery schools across England would be forced to close if the government doesn’t adjust its proposals on Early Years Funding. |
Liz Leffman was selected overwhelmingly last night at a meeting of local Liberal Democrats in the Witney constituency for the by-election caused by the resignation of former Conservative Prime Minister and local MP David Cameron.
Tim Farron, fresh from his speech at the Lib Dem party conference in Brighton, made his first visit to the constituency of the campaign to congratulate the Charlbury councillor on her selection. Tim and Liz met shoppers and stallholders at Chipping Norton market.
The use of physical restraint against mental health patients has surged by almost 17% over the last three years, with an average of 183 restraints every single day, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
Two weeks ago, Jeremy Corbyn suggested Britain should give up its membership of the EU’s Single Market - a position he shares with only the most hardcore Brexiteers.
The single market means it as easy to trade between London and Berlin as it is between Edinburgh and London. Within the Single Market, goods, people, services and capital can move freely, meaning there’s no lengthy customs checks, borders to cross and goods can move freely and cheaply.
Giving up our membership of the Single Market would be catastrophic for our economy and put millions of people’s livelihoods at risk. Even if we agreed a deal to allow access to the Single Market it would mean less investment, fewer jobs and no say over the laws that government our access, compared to remaining fully-fledged members.
Here are ten reasons Jeremy Corbyn’s wrong to want to take the UK out of the single market.
Below is the final version of Tim Farron's speech at the close of the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton today.
The Liberal Democrats are today launching a National Consultation exercise on the impact of Brexit on local communities.
All Lib Dem parliamentary candidates will contact businesses, health and educational institutions and civil society organisations in their constituencies to discuss their Brexit concerns.
Sal Brinton, President of the Liberal Democrats, will give a speech today to members on the final day of the party's Autumn Conference.
She will say
The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to play its part in resettling refugees, in particular unaccompanied children, in an emergency motion at their Autumn Conference.
The demand comes as Theresa May addresses a special UN meeting on migration in New York. Yesterday the Prime Minister resisted calls to take in more vulnerable refugees from Syria.
Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone has accused the Conservatives of trashing the coalition government’s green legacy, including by slashing subsidies for renewable energy while spending billions subsidising Hinkley Point.
The Government’s own impact assessment has predicted up to 19,000 job losses in the wind and solar sector.
The Liberal Democrats are debating a package of measures to new green industrial strategy at their conference in Brighton.
This afternoon, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie will give a conference speech on how the party will provide a progressive alternative to the Conservatives and SNP, the "terrible twins of divisive politics."
Willie Rennie will say:
Tim Farron has rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s suggestions that supporting continued membership of the Single Market is ‘Free Trade Dogma’, saying that free trade is vital to our economy and to millions of jobs.
He also called on Liam Fox to apologise for calling businesses too ‘lazy’ to export, and said that neither Labour not the Conservatives are now willing to stand up for business.
Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Baroness Susan Kramer has called for a 45 billion pound investment in house-building, enough to build 150,000 homes a year for five years.
This would form part of a wider fund to deliver on the infrastructure the country desperately needs - on roads, rail, broadband, schools and hospitals.
Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Susan Kramer will this morning deliver a speech to party conference on building an economy fit for the future, attacking the Conservatives for only standing up for the wealthy elite and Labour for failing to offer a credible economic alternative.
Full text of Susan Kramers' speech below
Liberal Democrat members have overwhelmingly endorsed the party’s plan to offer the British people a referendum on the final Brexit deal negotiated by the Government.
This makes the Liberal Democrats the only party whose official policy is to continue campaigning for the UK to remain a member of the EU.
The Liberal Democrats have denounced the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point.
The party voted at their conference in Brighton to oppose the construction of the new plant agreeing that represents very poor value for money for UK consumers.
The Liberal Democrats have called for an urgent review into the effect of cuts to the legal aid budget and increased court fees.
The changes have seen a rise in the number of people coming before the courts without being represented by a lawyer, as well as deterring individuals and small businesses from taking legal action.
Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams will launch an attack on grammar schools in a speech to Liberal Democrat conference this afternoon, insisting they will not be introduced under her watch in Wales. She also announced plans to double the early years pupil premium.
Full text of Kirsty Williams' speech below:
Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams will launch an attack on grammar schools in a speech to Liberal Democrat conference this afternoon, insisting they will not be introduced under her watch in Wales.
The intervention comes as party members debate proposals to introduce grammar schools in an emergency motion this afternoon.
She is expected to say:
"Grammar schools are a policy based on myth, not evidence. Proportionately, these selective schools have the lowest levels of children from poorer backgrounds.
"Fewer than 3% of grammar school pupils are on free school meals, compared to 20% across England.
"Mark my words, under no circumstance we will be seeing an expansion of grammar schools on my watch.
Under the Welsh Liberal Democrats, every child will have the opportunity to succeed."
ENDS
Full text of Kirsty Williams' speech below
*check against delivery*
Conference, it’s great to be here today and to be a foot soldier in the Lib Dem fight-back.
And in Wales we’re fighting back, in government, on behalf of pupils and parents right across the country.
As Education Secretary in Wales, I’m still relatively new to Government.
Many of you here will have had the honour of leading your local councils.
Many drove devolution forward in government in Scotland and Wales previously.
And of course, many of our friends held some of the highest offices in the land during the coalition government.
Nick’s decided to call his memoir ‘Between the Extremes’. I’ve been taking some tips, and of course some of the warning signs.
But if he really wanted to experience the extremes, he should try the current Welsh Assembly.
UKIP leading Plaid and the Tories in a merry dance in opposition, pulling stunts such as the initial failure to elect the First Minister.
As the song goes, clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right….
Now, this is the first time I’ve spoken with you since the Assembly Elections.
While the result wasn’t one any of us would have wanted, I am immensely proud to have been part of a group that was, no doubt in my mind, pound for pound, the strongest and most effective in the Assembly.
I’ll be honest, being left on my own, as the sole Welsh Liberal Democrat, hurts.
But you know what makes it worse? The fact that when I look around the chamber, it is UKIP Assembly Members that replaced us.
Welsh Liberal Democrats out, UKIP in.
Never could you find two more opposing parties.
We see diversity and tolerance as a strength, not a weakness.
Farage sharing a platform with Trump says all you need to know about what they believe.
You know, in my first Education questions in the Assembly, all of the opposition parties had the chance to scrutinise my decisions.
Plaid’s spokesman stood up and asked his three questions. The Tory stood up and asked his.
UKIP?... Well he stood up… but no questions came.
Mark Reckless, you may remember him, well he let the opportunity pass by saying he had no questions this week.
Well, UKIP’s politics of intolerance, indolence and insularity will never be the answer.
Not this week, not this month, not ever.
Neil Hamilton, another blast from the past who decided to cross the border and try his luck in Wales, thought it okay to launch a sexist tirade in his maiden Assembly speech.
And when I say “crossed the border” – I mean that he crosses the border each and every day when he drives all the way from his Wiltshire home to Cardiff to take up his seat in the Assembly. Yes really!
(No wonder they supported our campaign to scrap the Severn Bridge tolls!)
Conference, I worry that the Brexit vote showed us that perhaps we progressives and liberals have rested on our laurels.
Our victories on feminism, gay rights, devolution, widening access to education, tolerance in society – they may be more fragile than we ever imagined.
We must keep making the case that these advancements are for the benefit of all.
A tolerant, more educated and liberal society is a better society for everyone.
That cause must be our motivation to get back out there, work hard, fight for our communities, and start to rebuild our party.
It can’t be done overnight, but in next year’s local elections, remember our values, then remembers theirs.
Conference, the local elections will we be our chance to start to rebuild, and we must take it.
Of course, following the election, I stepped down as leader after eight years – a role that filled me with immense pride.
But the time had come for someone else to lead to help rebuild and rejuvenate our party.
Mark Williams, who is a good friend, was always there when I needed support and advice. I will now repay that favour.
Mark, there is no-one I trust more to take this great party forward.
And of course the unexpected happened, I was offered the role of Cabinet Secretary for Education.
Conference, the decision whether to take the role wasn’t easy.
I’d spent the last decade holding the Labour Government in Wales to account. Lambasting their failings, nowhere more so than on education where Wales continues to struggle in international tables.
But there were two over-riding factors that swung the decision for me.
Firstly, I am in no doubt that in the eyes of the media, having just one AM was the equivalent of none.
We may have had a seat in the chamber, but we would be ignored – no media coverage, no FMQs, no nothing.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats silenced.
So, I took my agreement with the First Minister to a special conference. It was essential that members across Wales got the opportunity to debate and vote on delivering our manifesto.
And make no mistake, I am in government as a Welsh Liberal Democrat, guided by our values and commitments.
I’ve been fortunate to receive the support of friends, family and fellow members over the country in the last few months.
Everyone is clear that education has always been our number one priority.
It has to be: From it, stems everything we believe in.
It is our national mission that every child, no matter who they are or where they are from, has the opportunity to be the very best they can be.
I want parents dropping their kids off at the school gates to know that they are opening up the world of possibility to their child.
Every parent should have confidence that their son or daughter goes to a school that helps them grow as capable, healthy and well-rounded people.
And every parent should be able to trust the schools system to enhance their child’s opportunities, rather than hold them back.
Wales once led the way on education, parents once had that belief.
Conference, it’s my job to rebuild that belief. It’s our job to rebuild that belief. And that is what we will do.
Now, one policy that it seems the opposition is not happy with, is our plan to cut class sizes.
I’ll let the Tories and Plaid make the case to their constituents that large class sizes are a good thing. I wish them luck with that endeavor.
For teachers and parents, large class sizes are a major issue. The Welsh Liberal Democrats share that concern.
Our plan will be aimed at reducing the largest classes first, and in particular those that have a high proportion of children who qualify for free school meals.
Evidence time and time again shows that reduced class sizes can help close the attainment gap between the poorest pupils and their peers.
This policy will be linked to other reforms that will create space for teachers to teach and pupils to learn.
Our opponents are determined to paint this as a binary choice: either invest in class sizes or in teaching.
Let me be clear: they are not mutually exclusive.
Conference, the Welsh Liberal Democrats will invest in both.
Nothing proves more that we are the party of education than the fact that the Welsh Liberal Democrats prioritised education spending in budget negotiations in the previous Assembly term.
For five years, in negotiations with the Welsh Government, we consistently fought for more investment into our very own Welsh Pupil Premium, also known as the Pupil Deprivation Grant
In England, we dragged the Tories kicking and screaming to introduce this progressive policy.
In Wales, we did the same with Labour.
I will never grow tired of hearing of the homework clubs, the one-to-one tuition and the extra resources that children are getting because of us – because of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Helping to deliver this from outside government was one of our proudest achievements.
That is why today I am announcing that it is my intention to double the Early Years Pupil Premium.
Concentrating extra resources on our youngest pupils.
Because it is our mission that every child deserves a fair start in life.
That is the benefit of a Welsh Liberal Democrat sitting around the cabinet table.
Conference, inside of government or outside of government – equal opportunity will always be our priority and it is what we will deliver.
Now, why is it that some terrible ideas simply never seem to go away?
Yes, I’m talking about grammar schools.
In England, the Tories are still banging this tired old drum, they do so in Wales too.
For them, dogma and doctrine rule the day.
As Education Secretary, evidence will guide my decisions.
And Grammar schools tick all the wrong boxes:
- Writes people off at the age of 11, lowering their aspirations – tick
- Gives the majority of pupils a second class deal – tick
- Excludes children from poorer backgrounds – tick
And to think Theresa May made this announcement under the banner of working for everyone.
Clearly irony is not dead.
Grammar schools are a policy based on myth, not evidence.
Proportionately, these selective schools have the lowest levels of children from poorer backgrounds.
Fewer than 3% of grammar school pupils are on free school meals, compared to 20% across England.
I won't deny that there are big challenges in the Welsh education system. But all of our polices will be targeted to raise standards and address the enduring injustice of the attainment gap.
As Education Secretary, I am pursuing ‘made in Wales’ polices, shaped by the best from around the world.
In contrast, the Tories are intent on ignoring international evidence.
The OECD find that the best performing school systems do not segregate pupils.
Let me be clear conference: social mobility, opportunity and excellence in our schools will drive our agenda.
Mark my words, under no circumstance we will be seeing an expansion of grammar schools on my watch.
Under the Welsh Liberal Democrats, every child will have the opportunity to succeed. Every child.
In this new role, I also have responsibility for Higher Education.
Now, I have no interest in raking up old arguments from the past. The key is that we learn from mistakes.
That is why, ahead of the Assembly elections, I was up front and entirely clear with the nation that the Welsh Government tuition fees policy was unsustainable.
I was also clear that it was living costs, not fees, that are the barrier to poorer people enrolling at university.
Later this month, Sir Ian Diamond will be presenting his independent, cross-party review of higher education funding in Wales.
I have set out clear principles that I hope and expect the Diamond review to meet:
One: I want a progressive system that maintains the principle of universalism and ensures a fair and consistent approach across all levels of study
Two: I want a system that ensures shared investment between government and those who directly benefit.
Three: Student support should be portable for Welsh students anywhere in the UK.
And finally, this system must enhance accessibility, breaking down barriers that reduce social mobility.
Conference, not a single HE system in the UK meets these tests.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats will change that.
Now, the Liberal Democrat Constitution states we believe in a society “in which no-one is enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity”.
In Wales, our party has been given the chance to put our principles into practice.
We believe in Freedom. Freedom of the individual, so everyone has the opportunity to be who they want to be and reach their full potential.
We believe in Fairness – for diversity, against intolerance – the voice for the voiceless.
And we believe in Community. Where we as individuals work together for the common good - a nation acting together to ensure that all benefit from an equal opportunity to reach the highest standards.
Education is not just a rehearsal.
It’s not simply the process of preparing our youngest people for the future workplace. It’s more than that.
It involves learners of all ages,
a united teaching profession committed to excellence,
world-leading universities and colleges forging the strongest bonds with international partners and communities at home.
No Minister can do this on their own.
No Government can do this on their own.
This is a national mission.
A National Mission that our party will help drive forward:
Reducing class sizes,
A progressive higher education system,
Raising standards in our schools,
An Academy of Leadership that develops teaching talent,
And yes, the Welsh Pupil Premium – tearing down barriers to opportunity.
I maybe the only Liberal Democrat sitting at that cabinet table – but I’m one with a growing membership behind her – motivated by the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats…. a party that is growing and making a difference to the lives of the people of Wales.
Be proud conference.
Thank-you.
Opportunities to study and train abroad under the EU’s Erasmus programme must be protected during the coming Brexit negotiations, the Liberal Democrats have said.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael will this morning deliver a speech on proposals to slash the ever-increasing prison population, through a radical policy introducing a presumption against sentences of less than 12 months.
The Liberal Democrats have denounced moves in France to ban the burkini, stressing that people must be free to wear what they want.
Tonight Tim Farron raised the curtain on the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton.
Here's what he had to say:
At exactly this time, eight days ago in Sheffield, Liberal Democrat activists, including dozens of new members, were working their socks off.
They’d been up delivering and campaigning since before the crack of dawn.
They kept on campaigning until polls closed at 10 o’clock in the Mosborough by election.
Because failure is not an option!
The HIV preventative drug prophylaxis should be made available on the NHS for high-risk groups including gay men and BAME communities, the Liberal Democrats have urged.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a once-a-day pill that reduces the risk of HIV infection by 86%. In August, the High Court ruled that NHS England could fund the drug. NHS England had argued that because PrEP was preventative it was not its responsibility, and has now said it will appeal against the ruling.
An additional £60 million should be spent on tackling soaring rates of homelessness in the UK, the Liberal Democrats have urged today.
The funding would help local councils tackle homelessness by providing emergency accommodation and intervening early to prevent people losing their homes.
The Liberal Democrats are also calling for a clampdown on rogue landlords who unfairly evict private tenants, through the Renters’ Rights Bill currently going through Parliament.
Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Norman Lamb will announce plans today for a 'New Beveridge Group' of independent health experts to consider the case for a dedicated NHS and care tax.
Speaking to party members at the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference in Brighton, former health minister Norman Lamb will call for “honesty and straight talking” on the cash crisis facing the health and care sector, raising the possibility of an extra penny on a new dedicated NHS and care tax. The proposal builds on his previous calls for the introduction of a separate health and care tax which would be marked out on people’s payslips.
The expert panel will report its recommendations to the party in six months’ time.
The Liberal Democrats have demanded that British Overseas Territories such as the British Virgin Islands are given a fixed deadline to end secretive tax arrangements that allow companies to avoid paying billions of pounds of tax.
The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the Government end indiscriminate mass surveillance, scrap the failed "Prevent" strategy and introduce a more targeted and effective counter-terrorism policy.
Siobhan Benita, independent candidate in the 2012 mayoral electionI’d always felt an affinity with the Liberal Democrats, and when I ran for mayor in 2012, I suggested to Brian Paddick that we join forces, as our manifestos were so similar.
Having worked in the civil service for so long, I had become slightly cynical about political parties, and therefore nervous about joining one, but Brexit was the final ‘stop thinking and actually do it’ moment. I joined the Lib Dems on the day the result was announced.
I had become slightly cynical about political parties, and therefore nervous about joining one, but Brexit was the final ‘stop thinking and actually do it’ moment.
From a party point of view, the Lib Dems were the only ones with a consistent and positive message about EU membership.
And the party’s line now – that we will fight to stay in the EU, or re-enter – is a really important one that no one else is saying.
There were big issues that were underplayed in the run-up to the referendum, such as the fact that the EU had been such a positive force for peace in Europe. I think it was only Tim Farron and Nick Clegg who were trying to say those things, and maybe it wasn’t heard through the awful noise that was the campaign.
The Lib Dems have a fight on their hands but they have won some council seats lately, and – depending on the Labour leadership result – I think there are going to be a lot of centre/centre-left people looking for a longer-term sustainable party.
People are also beginning to realise you need a consistent, robust opposition – a party that is challenging and holding the party to account. Labour isn’t doing that at the moment, so hopefully there’s another way in which the Lib Dems can come through.
So, yes, it might be difficult for a while, but the Lib Dems have already shown they can play a really significant role in this country.
Now is the time to seize the moment.
Responding to Theresa May's plans for a wave of new grammar schools, Tim Farron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:
"If the Conservatives care about our children's education they should reverse their cuts to school budgets. We need to improve all schools not just let some become grammars. Too many pupils are let down by a divisive system that doesn't work.
"The Conservatives have to stop harking back to a bygone era - grammar schools are not the answer to raising standards in our children's schools."
Mike Storey, Liberal Democrat Lords Education Spokesperson, added:
“The Conservatives know if they bring forward any legislation for grammar schools we will block it in the Lords. The Liberal Democrats are the party of education and we believe in opportunity for all. We believe in an open, tolerant and united society and not the rose tinted view of a few right wing Tories that belongs in another age.”
Liberal Democrat European Union spokesperson Nick Clegg has today launched his second ‘Brexit Challenge’ report, which examines what Brexit means for Britain’s trading relationships – and in particular the complications of agreeing a new trade deal with the EU.
The paper was drafted with help of independent experts and is co-authored by Peter Sutherland, the founding Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
The paper reaches a number of conclusions, including:
This is the second of Nick Clegg’s ‘Brexit Challenge’ papers. The first, released in July, focused on the difficulties Britain faces retaining significant access to the Single Market. Over the coming months Nick will be working with a range of experts, to set out the difficult questions the Government has to answer in a host of areas that will be affected by Brexit. He will publish a series of papers detailing the challenges and dilemmas facing the UK in a wide range of areas, not only on our trading relationship with the EU but also freedom of movement, policing and anti-terror co-operation, agriculture, university research funding, environmental standards and many other areas.
Commenting, Nick Clegg said:
"Conservative Brexit ministers have argued that Britain will be able to agree a whole host free trade deals quickly and easily. As Australia has made clear, it is far from straightforward.
“The European Union is by far the biggest market for British exporters, but there is simply no way we can tie up a free trade deal within two years. That means years of uncertainty for British companies and a profound impact on our jobs and our economy.
“The Government needs to make its plan for Britain’s new relationship clear as soon as possible. We are in the calm before the storm right now, but the Government cannot avoid the fact that, whatever form Brexit takes, it will have a profound impact on our economy and the millions of jobs that rely on our trade with Europe.”
Today I set out the Liberal Democrat plan for Britain in Europe. At its heart, we demand that the British people should have their say on the final deal in a referendum.
To be clear, this would not be a re-run of the last referendum but an opportunity for the British people to have their say on what comes next. Voting for a departure is not the same as voting for a destination.
I went to the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain for my Erasmus year.
My degree was in Spanish and Politics, so I chose that university because it offered the kind of politics courses I needed to meet Edinburgh’s requirements.
It was in a beautiful old town - the Universidad itself was founded in 1218, and there is a frog carved into the facade of one of its buildings that is supposed to bring you luck for the year.
Although it’s incredibly difficult to spot it from the street after centuries of wear and tear, its powers must have rubbed off on me at least a little because I was lucky enough to benefit from the Erasmus grant. This helped me meet so many great people and have fantastic new experiences.
On Saturday Liberal Democrat members gathered in central London and across the UK, to March for Europe and for an open, tolerant and united country.
The Liberal Democrats have called for the introduction of a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups to cut usage.
The policy builds on the success of the charge on plastic bags which the Liberal Democrats introduced in government and has seen a reduction in bags used by over 85% since it was brought in. If a charge on cups had the same impact over 2 billion fewer cups would be used every year.
Currently 2.5 billion disposable cups are thrown away every year in the UK – around 7 million every day - and fewer than 1 in 400 are recycled.
The Liberal Democrats are putting their beliefs into action by implementing the 5p charge on disposable cups for hot drinks bought at their party conference this September.
Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Farron MP, said:
“Throwaway cups are a threat to wildlife and the environment and its high time the Government stepped in to reduce the amount of waste created each year. I want to see a culture shift towards bringing your own cup for a refill, rather than buying cups which are often non-recyclable and then throwing them away. Liberal Democrats brought in the plastic bag charge and it’s been proven highly successful – coffee cups are the next logical step.”
Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, Kate Parminter, said:
“We’ve seen how dramatically a small charge has affected public behaviour when it comes to the plastic bags and its clearly time to extend it to coffee cups. Most people purchase a tea or coffee and throw away the cup without even thinking about it, but a charge would increase our awareness of the environmental impact.
"Protecting our environment has to be a priority of government, with more investment in recycling and a move towards generating less waste - the Conservative government has shown no desire to deliver this and has failed to build on the work we achieved in Government. This has to change.”
Earlier today, I gave a speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in Manchester Liberal Democrat.
Since the referendum, I have been absolutely horrified to see the forces of racism, intolerance and hate claim the EU referendum result as their own - and to see them use it as an excuse for violent abuse.
I've also been distraught to see how the referendum has left a country bitterly divided by the result. On the divisions in our country, here's what I had to say:
Commenting on the burkini in France and reports as to how it is being enforced Meral Hussein-Ece, the Liberal Democrats’ Equalities spokesperson said:
“Dictating how women dress is illiberal and reprehensible. Why would anyone think that banning burkinis and then actively forcing women to remove clothing helps fight a war on terror?
"I would wonder where the freedom of speech and expression is that the French have historically prided themselves on.”
The Liberal Democrats have slammed the fall in non-EU students studying at British universities.
Alistair Carmichael, the party’s Home Affairs spokesperson, lambasted the fall which he said showed the government’s fixation with their immigration target was undermining Britain’s economy and the university sector.
Long-term immigration to the UK for all immigrants for study has dropped to the lowest level since 2007.
Figures from the ONS quarterly migration statistics show international student numbers fell by 28,000 in the year ending in March 2016 to 164,000. Last year 192,000 international students came to the UK.
The fall in numbers hit applications to universities and further education colleges.
Commenting Alistair Carmichael said:
“Theresa May spent the last 6 years as Home Secretary pursuing a stupid and undeliverable target to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands. That broken promise has damaged public confidence, but if it was delivered it would damage the economy.
“What we are seeing here is a fall in international students who pay huge sums to study at our universities off the back of the Conservatives’ obsession with trying to chase an arbitrary immigration target. International students, by the Government’s own estimates, contribute billions of pounds to our economy every year and are a vital to local economies up and down the country.
"Cutting the numbers of international students is the definition of shortsighted. Rather than undermining our universities the Prime Minister should abandon her manifesto commitment, back our universities and encourage the best and brightest in the world to study in the UK.”
