"Last night, Parliament took back control.
"MPs insisted on a meaningful vote and dismissed Ministers' eleventh hour attempts to buy off the rebels.
Jo Swinson MP said:
"President Trump’s divisive politics of hate is in direct conflict with British values.
The government has carried out impact assessments on policies ranging from songs from ice cream trucks to drain standards to the use of parody in comedy yet still hasn't produced any on Brexit, Liberal Democrat research has revealed.
This is quite literally beyond parody.
After David Davis has been accused of misleading parliament, he must resign.
The Liberal Democrats put into the public domain letters Abbott wrote to constituents announcing that she supports a referendum.
The Government has released a new rail strategy.
The Brexit divorce bill will just be the down-payment on an economically disastrous extreme Brexit that would take us out of the single market and customs union.
President Trump has retweeted three anti-Muslim videos originally posted by the deputy leader of far-right group Britain First.
A report by the Public Accounts Committee has criticised NHS England for its handling of the huge loss of clinical correspondence that put thousands of patients at risk.
Britain is in a “spiral of ever-growing division” with a stark postcode lottery in social mobility, according to a damning report by the Social Mobility Commission today.
The government's refusal to publish its Brexit impact assessments is "completely untenable". Speaker John Bercow said he will respond promptly to any allegations of contempt of Parliament.
The OECD’s latest economic forecast shows the UK bucking the trend, and not in a good way.
David Davis has written to the Brexit Committee admitting the impact assessments they are being provided with, won't contain anything that might be commercially sensitive.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong today, Paddy Ashdown, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats, will warn that the rising power of China will come into conflict with the United States as they falter under Trump.
The government should consider issuing temporary one-year ‘vindaloo visas’ to Asian chefs to help solve the British curry crisis.
Army numbers have fallen by over 2,000 since the Conservative 2015 Manifesto pledge to keep troop levels above 82,000, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
Kate Hoey seems to think other people should pay for the mess she and other leading Brexiteers have caused.
The combination of falling apprenticeship starts and restricted access to skilled labour after Brexit will cripple the Industrial Strategy.
Speaking on the Today programme, Australian trade minister Steve Cobbio criticised the government's post-Brexit trade plans to split food import quotas between the UK and the EU.
It has been reported that defence minister Tobias Ellwood has threatened to resign if military cuts bring the army below 70,000 soldiers.
Number 10 hinted earlier today that Northern Ireland could stay in the customs union to prevent the return of a hard border, saying the issue would be a matter for the negotiations.
Liam Fox has accused British companies of not wanting to export their goods around the globe, in an interview with the House Magazine.
Around ten million small savers will be hit by a stealth tax worth £500m buried in the small print of the Budget, it emerged today.
UK airlines are set to lose their rights to fly in the EU due to the government's decision to leave the single market, according to leaked European Commission documents seen by the Financial Times.
Today's budget statement by the Chancellor included no additional funding for the police in England and Wales.
The Chancellor’s announcement of £2.3bn extra for research and development is a con.
Philip Hammond has announced just £1.6bn of NHS funding for 2018-19, less than half the £4bn that NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens and leading think tanks have said is needed.
Far from the £15 billion promised by the Chancellor, the real figure for housing is closer to a much reduced £6 billion over the next 5 years.
Liberal Democrat research based on OBR figures shows that:
In today's budget, Philip Hammond announced that he would consider charges on single-use plastic items to reduce waste.
It comes following a Liberal Democrat campaign to introduce a charge on disposable coffee cups, to reduce the billions of cups thrown away in the UK each year.
The government’s U-turns on Universal Credit are welcome but beg the question: Why have they taken this long?
Philip Hammond is spending £3bn of taxpayers money on Brexit instead of investing in the country's overstretched public services.
And the government's Brexit strategy is so vague that the Official for Budgetary Responsibility could not even factor it into their forecasts.
In today's budget, the Chancellor admitted that the UK economy will be smaller by a huge £45 billion than was estimated as recently as March.
The Liberal Democrats said the figures showed Michael Gove "needs to get his own house in order," after he vowed yesterday to tackle plastic pollution.
Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, today set out the Liberal Democrat approach to the Budget. The full text is below.
On the face of it, this seems like a major concession. But the reality is it simply isn’t good enough.
The advert, which forms part of a new campaign called ‘Blood Normal’, attempts to get rid of the embarrassment around the ‘Aunt Flo’ after a recent survey found that nine out of ten women attempt to hide the fact they are on their period, and 56% of girls said they would rather be bullied at school than talk to their parents about periods.
The Liberal Democrats have agreed to cross party proposals which will see an independent grievance process, improved HR support, and the establishment of a cross-party working group to implement these changes.
Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Communities and Local Government Spokesperson, commented:
Comments made today on Twitter by Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein highlight very real concerns about the threat of Brexit to our financial sector.
The government must take urgent action following a UN report warning that CO2 emissions have reached a record high.
The Conservatives have savaged our police force – inflicting deep cuts that have left officers struggling to respond to crime and weakening their ability to protect our communities.
“The Prime Minister cannot say one thing in Brussels and another in Britain. She needs to face down the right-wing Brexiteers in her party in order to guarantee the talks actually move forward. Above all she still needs to protect citizens’ rights to ensure they are not a casualty of a no-deal Brexit, and the European Union must also do more to make this happen.
• Local authorities in England recorded 1,002,154 cases of fly-tipping in 2016-17, up 7% on the previous year. This is equivalent to 114 every hour.
• The estimated cost to the taxpayer for clearing up fly-tipping was £58 million, up 16% on the previous year
• The number of prosecutions for fly-tipping fell by a quarter to 1,602, compared to 2,135 the previous year
• 83 of 150 local authorities in England will see per pupil funding fall in in real terms during 2017-18, i.e. once inflation is taken into account.
• England as a whole will see spending per spending per pupil fall by £29 (0.65%) in real terms.
• Local authorities with some of the worst school results in England, including Blackpool, the Isle of Wight and Poole, will be hardest hit by the funding cuts
• The South East will see the largest real-terms fall, with funding per pupil falling by £131 (3%.)
Knife crime was up 26% year-on-year, while overall crimes increased by 13%.
Meanwhile, prices in the shops increased by 3.3% compared to last year, the largest annual rise since March 2012.
"Labour's Brexit blank cheque was cashed in by Theresa May six months ago, after Labour MPs were ordered to vote through Article 50 with no conditions.
“This report shows that a whole section of society are being failed by this government and remain permanently trapped in low-paid work.
Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Stephen Lloyd MP said:
"The government has shown contempt for parliament by yet again seeking to ignore votes that happen to be inconvenient. Parliamentary votes are meant to matter, this is not a debating society.
These are empty, hypocritical words from Theresa May. EU citizens, many in a state of panic, who have already waited 15 months to have their rights protected, will be deeply disappointed.
This morning, Theresa May has penned an open letter on her Facebook page on EU Citizens Rights. Unfortunately, the message is a huge disappointment.
The festival of lights is upon us once again; across the country streets will be aglow with lights and decorations as thousands of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists gather to celebrate the ancient festival of Diwali.
Nationally England, Wales and Northern Ireland have not hit one of their three key targets for 18 months.
Footage covertly filmed by BBC Panorama allegedly showed staff at Brook House, near Gatwick airport, "mocking, abusing and assaulting" detainees held there.
The comments from the Secretary of State regarding the current state of the talks process in Northern Ireland is deeply troubling. There are very real consequences for the people of Northern Ireland with the continuing stalemate – budgetary decisions are waiting to be taken, NHS targets are being missed and waiting lists are getting longer, and there is uncertainty for economic investment. Northern Ireland is also lacking a voice in the crucial Brexit negotiations.
“I welcome the government's change of heart, but it is no compensation to the those on the breadline who have already been fleeced. Given the mess of Universal Credit, this is likely to become the hotest hotline in Britain.
Lorely Burt said:
"The whole system of business rates is not working and is not fair. The government has tried tinkering but this is no longer enough. We need to look at land tax valuations.
Vince Cable said:
“One in six of the population could not cope with even a modest rise in mortgage payments. Consumer credit is running at 10% a year. With the Bank of England predicted to increase interest rates, a recession could lead to repossessions and people defaulting on their debts. The danger is that this becomes a negative spiral.
Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael last week secured an emergency debate in the Commons over whether the government is abusing the parliamentary process by ignoring opposition day motions.
The delays to this Bill make Southern Rail look punctual.
Between June to August 2016 and June to August 2017, in real terms regular pay for employees in Great Britain fell by 0.4%.
Stephen Lloyd said:
“This is a slow motion car crash. One and a half million people are in private rented accommodation and in receipt of housing benefit. Private landlords are not in a position, financially, to be as forgiving as councils and housing associations. With the delays in payment we have already seen, many vulnerable people will lose their homes. And many landlords will simply stop taking on Universal Credit tenants, so where are these hundreds of thousands of people supposed to live?
However, the Paris-based thinktank also said the economy would see a “significant boost” if there was another referendum leading to Brexit being reversed.
The increase is thought to reflect both a genuine rise in hate crime around the time of the EU referendum and ongoing improvements in crime recording by the police.
Rising food prices made a large contribution to the change, with an increase of 0.8% between August and September 2017, compared to a 0.4% fall last year.
The Liberal Democrats have always advocated democratic reform of the House of the Lords. But the brutal truth is that this Government simply has no appetite for the fundamental reform which the House of Lords desperately needs.
Its findings show that under WTO rules, the average household would see price rises worth an extra £260 a year, while over three million families would see price rises of over £500 a year.
Vince Cable said:
"News of this massive write-down shows our economy is in real trouble. Jobs are being lost at major employers such as Vauxhall and BAE, the pound has already lost 20% of its value in a year, our balance of trade and productivity are poor, and we have fallen to the bottom of the growth league for major economies.
“The Lib Dems will work with any party to stop a ‘No Deal’ scenario and would vote against a No Deal outcome in Parliament. ‘No Deal’ would mean ports at a standstill with ferries unable to unload and load, aircraft stranded at airports and manufacturers operating ‘Just in Time’ production reduced to ‘Never on Time’.
I am proud to lend my support to National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which serves as an important reminder that the tenets of hate, division and prejudice have no place in 21st century Britain.
Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson, has tabled a number of FOI requests calling on the Department for Exiting the European Union to publish the studies. He has also called for a debate on the cost of Brexit and the content of the reports in the House of Commons.
This government’s internal battles are weakening their hand in Europe. Every report of a Cabinet split destabilises our negotiating team and strengthens the position of the EU negotiators.
"This is yet another example of Trump's boneheaded belligerence.
I have just appointed my first team of principal spokespeople since becoming leader this summer.
"This is not yet a decision but it soon could be, if the government is allowed to get away with cuts which would betray the best traditions of our past and damage our ability to defend ourselves in the future.
“This was the speech of a brave Prime Minister struggling on, while her disloyal Cabinet colleagues openly plot against her.
“Under the Tories, building of both social and affordable housing has plummeted.
"This audit shows that prejudice and bias based on the colour of someone’s skin continues to blight people’s life chances, and this is utterly unacceptable in 21st century Britain. It is not right that our BAME friends and neighbours are far less likely to have a job or own their home - it is an unfairness that should have ended long ago.
“Boris Johnson’s failure to condemn the Spanish government over this violence is a shameful dereliction of duty.
"This is a welcome u-turn from attempts to use security co-operation as a bargaining chip in the Brexit negotiations.
"There is a mounting sense that the government could be defeated if it does not immediately pause the roll-out of Universal Credit.
Following on from Johnson's reprimand from the head of the UK Statistics Authority due to his repeated peddling of the discredited £350 million a week for the NHS figure, Tom Brake has called for the PM to investigate whether Boris has breached the Ministerial Code on three fronts
“Michel Barnier’s statement that we are ‘months’ away from even starting substantive Brexit negotiations shows that Theresa May’s Florence speech was a flop, that David Davis is dangerously delusional about the level of progress that is being made, and that the government is still scandalously lacking a Brexit plan.
“The greater the uncertainty, the more the economy will flounder and the more vital workers will quit the UK.
“Brexit is a mess made in Westminster by the Conservatives. The time is ticking, on the deadline before we leave and on the last remaining shreds of this government's credibility. We need to stay in the single market and the customs union, and we need to give the people a vote on the final deal.”
"The EU's four freedoms - of goods, services, capital and people - have underpinned British prosperity for the past 40 years. Yet the Conservatives' extreme Brexit will deprive us from all four, making us poorer.
“Meanwhile, Conservative attempts to build new trade relationships in a post-Brexit world have been rebuffed with the Boeing row underlying just how hard it will be to strike a trade deal with America.
“Far from thriving, business is struggling under Theresa May’s premiership as Britain slips ever further down the growth league.
“I am proud that the Liberal Democrat policy of independence for the Bank of England twenty years ago - the subject of my maiden speech - has increased growth and prosperity. Sadly government policy is now pushing Britain in the opposite direction, towards fortresses and economic downturns.”
“Jeremy Corbyn has once again confirmed he is one of Brexit’s biggest cheerleaders.
"It's 2017; this is welcome but decades overdue. Of course it is good news for women in Saudi Arabia, but they continue to face oppression, such as the guardianship laws that put men in control of women's lives.
"Rather than simply expressing 'bitter disappointment', our government should be out there fighting for vital British manufacturing jobs in Belfast.
“I welcome signs from top Labour people that they are willing to join the Liberal Democrats in giving the people a referendum on the facts, at the end of the Brexit process.
“The Labour Party are right to prepare for economic collapse should they get into government. Their endorsement of Brexit, including taking the UK out of the Single Market is economically illiterate.
"It is disappointing, but not at all surprising, that the Labour Party seems intent on putting petty political point scoring ahead of the opportunity to genuinely help millions of vulnerable older people. We already know more than a million people are not getting social care they need, and this is only set to get worse as politicians in Westminster fail to act. Shouting at each other doesn't get older people the care they need.
These are people who voted Labour in the hope that they would stand up to the Conservatives on Brexit and fight to stay in the Single Market.
Passing the tests would have signalled that Theresa May is moving away from her reckless, extreme Brexit.
Instead, in the vast majority of cases she failed to offer any solutions to the major issues related to Brexit that are currently facing the country.
“It is misleading for him to pretend that some new customs arrangement can be reached which doesn’t cause massive disruption to British trade.
9,832 EU nationals left the NHS between 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017, figures published by NHS Digital today have revealed. This is an increase of 22% on the previous year, and up 42% on two years earlier.
We need a bold new approach to improving mental health focused on prevention, including giving discounts to business rates for companies that take concrete steps to improve well-being in the workplace.
The IFS has demolished Boris Johnson's repeated claim that Brexit will lead to an £350m for the NHS.
At our conference today, the Liberal Democrats have agreed to a raft of new policies which will see stricter penalties for companies that break the law, as part of a series of measures to improve corporate governance.
In surprising news today, the Head of the Deparment for Exiting the European Union, Oliver Robbins has quit to take up a new role after a series of disagreements with David Davis.
In the wake of the recent terrorist outrages it's clear that we need a bold change of strategy to defeat terrorism and counter violent extremism.
According to charities, councils and housing associations, the rollout of the universal credit is a disaster in slow-motion.
Fire safety has to be put at the forefront of new building regulations in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
In April 2016, I wrote to the UK Statistics Authority over the Vote Leave campaign's claim £350m a week is sent to the EU.
In his reply the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Sir Andrew Dilnot CBE, said that VoteLeave's use of the figure was "potentially misleading."
The effects of Brexit are already being felt.
Today at our Autumn Conference the Liberal Democrats have called on the government to immediately lift the pay cap on the armed forces to address a growing recruitment crisis.
The simple fact is that the proposed EU-UK security treaty is likely to fail unless Theresa May drops her opposition to the European Court of Justice.
Today at #LDConf we have called for the setting up of a tough new watchdog to protect the environment from threats posed by Brexit.
Theresa May must use her speech next week in Florence to change course and unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU nationals, to prevent a 'Brexodus' of thousands of nurses and teachers working in Britain’s schools and hospitals.
Thank you, conference.
It is such an honour, and still slightly unreal, to be addressing you for the first time today as the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon.
I’d like to start as I always do. By saying thank you.
Thank you to each and every one of you who helped me get to this point – I cannot thank you enough.
Read Layla Moran's speech to Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference in Bournemouth on Saturday
In a motion passed today at our Autumn conference, we have called on the government to set a global example by bringing forward Britain’s climate targets ten years from 2050 to 2040.
As part of the motion, we have also condemned, in the strongest possible terms, President Trump’s climate change denial and his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement.
Boris Johnson is on manoeuvres, which means everyone else should take cover.
Closing Date: 12.00 noon, Friday 06 October 2017
The Chief Executive (who reports to the Party President while working very closely with the Leader) will have to build on the strengths of the enlarged party and House of Commons group, whilst dealing with the challenges that face any political party in the UK in the aftermath of the EU Referendum of 2016, a snap 2017 General Election and the threat of a possible further snap election in the near future.
“Government power grab”. “Affront to democracy” “Constitutional Outrage”.
The stuff of headlines and, more often than not, a little overblown.
Not this week. This week could be the worst for parliamentary democracy for some time. It all starts tonight.
Q: Who runs conference?
Conference is run by the Federal Conference Committee (FCC). FCC decide on what motions to debate, how long they are debated for and even where Conference is held. Members are elected every 3 years by a ballot of all party members. If ever enough members were to disagree with a decision that FCC has made, they can appeal the decision via the Federal Appeals Panel or ask members at Conference to back them.
The Bank of England's nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee voted today by 7-2 to keep interest rates on hold at 0.25%, amid sluggish growth and a squeeze on household spending.
Q: How is conference run?
A: Conference is run by the Federal Conference Committee (FCC). FCC decide on what motions to debate, how long they are debated for and even where conference is held. Members are elected every 3 years by a ballot of all members. However, if enough members disagree with a decision that FCC has made, then they can appeal the decision via the Federal Appeals Panel or have the chance to ask conference to back them.
Read Vince Cable's full speech to the Resolution Foundation on Inequality here:
Vince Cable will today make a major speech warning of the dangers of inequality arguing that if the problems we face today are not addressed then our country risks tearing itself apart.
Eid al-Adha presents us with an opportunity to reflect upon our duty and responsibility to one another, through acts of generosity and compassion. These values are at the core of Islam’s message and are principles which resonate and align with the Liberal Democrat principles of equality and unity.
Vince Cable said:
"Brexiteers promised a new dawn of improved trade deals across the world. But rather than jet-setting round the globe, Liam Fox might as well be left in a room with a photocopier.
Vince Cable said:
"Brexiteers promised a new dawn of improved trade deals across the world. But rather than jet-setting round the globe, Liam Fox might as well be left in a room with a photocopier.
Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said:
“Liberal Democrats put in a Freedom of Information request for the letter Nissan sent to the government containing information on the offer by ministers of a sweetheart deal. Whole chunks had been blacked out, but I think we all know what the government's offer had contained: a blanked out blank cheque.
Commission President Juncker this morning described Britain’s Brexit position papers as "unsatisfactory," while the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has warned the UK's ambiguity is delaying talks over a transition period and future trade deal.
As Business Secretary I gave binding votes on executive pay policy to shareholders of publicly limited companies, requiring the approval of 50% of shareholders, and allowing a transparent single number for pay.
There was little enthusiasm from the Conservatives for this, but it has had a demonstrable effect on reducing executive pay.
The Liberal Democrats have laid down a challenge to Keir Starmer by telling him to back an amendment to the EU Withdrawl Bill if Labour is serious about now supporting membership of the single market.
Reports in today's Observer that Labour is making a "dramatic shift" on Brexit should be taken with a pinch of salt., the Liberal Democrats have said that Jeremy Corbyn remains a Brexiteer in disguise.
Tim and time again, Jeremy Corbyn has whipped his MPs to vote with the Conservatives against the Single Market and for a hard Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn is still a Brexiteer in disguise.
A new report shows that Brexit will create 80,000 jobs in Frankfurt. Coming on the same day he was forced to admit the UK will have to pay a divorce payment to the EU this is yet a "further humiliation" for Boris Johnson.
Boris Johnson has said Donald Trump's state visit is likely to go ahead in 2018 rather than this year, while admitting the US President got it "totally wrong" on Charlottesville.
Only 4,600 international students overstayed their visas last year, less than a twentieth of the previous estimates of 100,000, official figures released today have revealed.
Quarterly housebuilding statistics released today by the Department of Communities and Local Government show that just 40,310 were built in the last quarter
Quarterly migration data published today by the Office for National Statistics show another significant rise in EU citizens leaving the UK, up 33,000 to 122,000.
I hope students and their families have every reason to celebrate today.
New figures released today show the number of overseas students overstaying their visas has turned out to be vastly exaggerated.
Amber Rudd has responded by announcing a review into the impact of foreign students on the UK - but, frankly, that's the wrong response.
It's time for the government to drop overseas students from official immigration figures.
Amber Rudd should apologise to up to 100 EU nationals who were mistakenly sent official letters threatening them with deportation.
Theresa May's attempts to downplay the government's climbdown over the European Court of Justice is a desperate attempt to hold together the Conservative Party and ward off a eurosceptic rebellion.
Writing in the Yorkshire Post, Chris Grayling said: "the success of Northern transport depends on the North itself."
It comes after the government dropped pledges to electrify rail routes in Wales, the Midlands and the North, while supporting the £30 billion Crossrail 2 scheme for London.
An unpublished Home Office report showed that Britons could be more at risk of terrorism and crime after Brexit, The Times reports.
Writing in the Yorkshire Post, Chris Grayling said: "the success of Northern transport depends on the North itself."
It comes after the government dropped pledges to electrify rail routes in Wales, the Midlands and the North, while supporting the £30 billion Crossrail 2 scheme for London.
The government has released its latest Brexit position paper on the role of the EU Court of Justice (ECJ) after Brexit.
British officials have admitted it will become harder to recover children abducted and taken out of the country by a parent if no Brexit deal is struck with the EU.
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the government's promise to recruit 5,000 more GPs "lies in tatters," after figures showed the number of GPs remains below that in September 2015.
Donald Trump has committed to send more troops to Afghanistan, in a move that was rapidly welcomed by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. The Government's rapid praise for Trump contrasted with its failure to condemn him in the past.
I'm backing George Osborne in the row with Theresa May over HS3. He's accused her advisers of trying to bury the Northern Powerhouse.
Each Brexit paper the government releases leaves us with more questions than answers. Even Brussels must have had enough of this waffle by now.
David Davis is sowing the seeds of more chaos with these short-sighted and short-termist plans.
Sir Paul Jenkins has called Theresa May's Brexit strategy 'foolish' for hoping to distance the UK from the European Court of Justice whilst maintaining the benefits of the single market.
David Davis promised us 'the row of the summer' over the Brexit timetable, only to capitulate weeks later to the EU's preferred timetable after a disastrous general election for his party which vastly undermined their negotiating position.
A renowned scientist such as Stephen Hawking questioning your evidence might normally be cause to think again, but sadly it looks as though Jeremy Hunt has joined the chorus of those who have had enough of experts.
The Government's sale of the Green Investment Bank (GIB), which was completed today, is environmentally irresponsible.
Ministers have privately admitted that the government may not start negotiating Britain's future trade relationship with the EU until the end of the year, it emerged today.
The number of patients suffering the indignity of staying in mixed-sex wards soared to 908 in July 2017, more than double the number in the same month last year.
The government's plan for the Northern Ireland border after Brexit has more holes in it than a colander.
It comes after the government admitted EU nationals will still be able to enter the UK from Ireland after Brexit under its plans.
Real wages fell by 0.5% in the three months to June 2017 compared with a year earlier, figures from the Office for National Statistics today have revealed.
Average weekly earnings increased by 2.1%, but with inflation standing at 2.6% real earnings still fell by 0.5%.
The events of the last few days have shocked and appalled the entire world.
Images of Nazis, marching in American streets, terrorist attacks on peaceful protestors. Every world leader should be able to condemn that.
Using an anonymous government source to announce an official position paper on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland is shambolic.
Today, I've challenged David Davis to answer six questions over plans set out on future customs arrangements after Brexit.
The government is offering two ways forward but won't tell us which it prefers. That's no doubt because cabinet ministers can't even agree amongst themselves.
Brexit Secretary Davis has claimed that lack of clarity over the Government's Brexit plans was a deliberate attempt at "constructive ambiguity" as part of the negotiations.
Today's news that the Grenfell inquiry will not look into broader questions of social housing policy is a wasted opportunity.
Disappointingly, the inquiry will only look into the actions of Kensington and Chelsea Council in the run up to the tragedy.
This steep hike to rail fares will be a bitter blow for passengers struggling with overcrowded and unreliable trains.
Even if the government's plans for new customs arrangements with the EU were agreed to by the EU, these proposals will only delay the economic pain caused by leaving the customs union.
It has emerged that the joint position on Brexit agreed in an article by Philip Hammond and Liam Fox was not even cleared with Brexit Secretary David Davis.
Today's news that the Garden Bridge project has been officially scrapped is very welcome. The entire project was a "scandalous waste of public funds."
Our research has revealed that almost ten fires a day are being caused by faulty white goods such as washing machines, tumble dryers and fridges.
The Liberal Democrats have backed calls by the Chairman of the Parole Board, Nick Hardwick, for urgent action to address the backlog of people serving prison sentences with no fixed release date.
Over the summer, we heard that Philip Hammond was courageously fighting off the more extreme Brexiteers. Supposedly he was looking for a compromise to keep Britain within the customs union and single market as long as possible.
Over the summer, we heard that Philip Hammond was courageously fighting off the more extreme Brexiteers. Supposedly he was looking for a compromise to keep Britain within the customs union and single market as long as possible.
Today, Liam Fox’s Department for International Trade has released figures claiming to show that sunglasses, swimwear and ice-cream are all big exports - and that means Brexit is going to be a success.
I'm not personally one of those who thinks we should weaken encryption because I think there is a parallel issue, which is cybersecurity more broadly.
Jonathan Evans, former Head of MI5
That was the former Chief of MI5 Jonathan Evans, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and stating that he would not support a clampdown on the use of encryption.
Reports have claimed that that two cabinet ministers have expressed an interest in forming a new anti-Brexit party.
This morning, the Times newspaper alleges that the Government is drawing up plans to scrap people's right to sue the government for breaking the law.
Currently, under EU law citizens have the right to sue member states for damages if their rights were infringed by the failure of a country to implement EU law.
The number of people waiting for routine surgery in England topped 4 million in June, the highest level for a decade, figures from NHS England have shown.
The UK's monthly trade deficit soared by £2bn in June, driven by a 3.5% slump in exports, figures from the Office of National Statistics have revealed.
Only around £197k of the government's £300m business rates relief fund has actually been allocated, despite businesses being hit with higher rates over four months ago.
A Crisis report is forecasting a rise in rough sleeping.
David Davis needs to take the advice of his former Chief of Staff, even his allies can see he is messing up and putting the UK on a path to ruin.
The Liberal Democrats thanked the party’s Chief Executive Tim Gordon today after he announced that he was stepping down after five years in the role.
Sam Woods, chief executive of the Prudential Regulation Authority, has warned of a 'cliff edge' for financial systems.
The Liberal Democrats have warned that government plans to limit the scope of the European Arrest Warrant are a threat to Britain's national security.
Today Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger has warned that UK judges need more clarity over the role of the ECJ after Brexit - and he is right.
Today's statement by Jeremy Corbyn on Venezuela is a disgrace.
Labour have yet again failed to condemn President Maduro as he slides his country closer to dictatorship.
New Treasury figures have revealed that the UK made a net payment of roughly £156m a week to the European Union in 2016/17, the lowest level for five years.
Treasury figures suggest the UK's net contribution to the EU budget for the 12 months to March 2017 was £8.1bn, or around £156m a week.
Today, the Government announced their draft Data Protection bill - which includes a raft of measures that will improve all our privacy online.
"We haven't put forward a lot because, as we know, there are differences within the cabinet about the sort of Brexit that we are heading for and until those differences are further resolved I think it's very difficult for us to have a clear position."
Sir Simon Fraser, the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office until 2015
Today's calls by Mervyn King, former governor of the Bank of England, for the government to come up with a "Brexit fallback" if negotiations with the EU27 end with no deal should be a wake-up call to this Conservative Brexit Government.
According to reports today several councils are now petitioning the Government for financial help to address fire safety issues following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
A Russell Group report published today shows that this government is failing higher education.
The report identifies ten areas where ministers should give clarity to EU nationals seeking settled status.
Figures on mental health delayed discharges released today are a "humanitarian disgrace".
The shocking new figures revealed that people have had to wait over a thousand days to be let out of a mental health unit after being declared ready to leave.
Shocking new figures revealed that people have had to wait over a thousand days to be let out of a mental health unit.
Norman Lamb MP
Michael Gove has said that British waters would continue to be fished by EU trawlers post-Brexit.
Gove made his experiences of the fishing industry growing up in Aberdeen a major reason for his support for Brexit.
As a health minister, I was proud to make sure mental health was at the top of the political agenda, but today's judgement by Sir James Munby highlights how much work there is still to do on the lack of mental health provision in critical cases.
Thousands of people will breathe a sigh of relief that a start date for this important trial has finally been announced.
If the Government doesn't guarantee farm subsidies beyond 2022, then the family farm could disappear entirely - that's the damning verdict of the National Trust.
Over the last few days, our newspapers have been full of stories about travel chaos due to increased security at Schengen area airports.
And Ministers were warned.
Two Liberal Democrat MPs have raised concerns after hearing the news that 52 inpatient beds will be moved from the Trauma Unit of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford due to fire safety fears.
The Eurozone has grown twice as fast as the UK, which in no time has gone from the top of the growth league to the bottom.
The government's shambolic handling of Brexit, which is denting business confidence by the day, is certainly not helping.
Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out membership of the Single Market, claiming on the Andrew Marr Show today that it is dependent on membership of the EU.
I want to lead the Liberal Democrats because I am ambitious about our future.
I believe we are the only party that can represent the millions of liberal-minded people alarmed by the direction this country is taking: people, whether they voted remain or leave, who hate the intolerance, xenophobia and division that the Brexit vote unleashed.
I want the Liberal Democrats to be at the centre of political life: a credible, effective party of national and local government, and a voice of sanity on Europe.
To achieve this, we will have to fight for every vote and every seat.
It can be done: we have a record membership and the enormous energy that thousands of new members have brought to the party.
I believe I have the ability to give that energy a lead, to hit the headlines and to put our party at the centre of political debate.
Vince
Vince Cable
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Figures published today have shown that of the 108 people at the BBC who earn more than £150,000, just 34 are women.
One month on from this tragedy, there is no less pain for the victims and their families, no less fear, and no less anger over the failings of the political system.
The Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) has warned that even a small hit to productivity caused by Brexit could cause a £97bn hit to the UK economy in the long-term, reducing tax receipts by £36 billion.
Pride is a colourful, energetic celebration of freedom, love and acceptance. Each year I am amazed as thousands of people of all sexualities take to the streets in the name of freedom and equality.
"This paints an incredibly concerning picture of the state of social care services across the country and I fear this will only get worse as the Government repeatedly fail to address the fundamental challenges around finances and staffing in the sector.
“Theresa May was worried that she would go down in history as the lunch snatcher. Dropping these plans is just another humiliating climb down, in what seems to becoming a long list for the Prime Minister.
Commenting, Lib Dem health spokesperson and former health minister Norman Lamb said:
It comes after figures yesterday showed household borrowing has continued to grow, with unsecured consumer credit increasing by £1.7bn in May.
The Liberal Democrats have accused Jeremy Corbyn of failing Labour voters who wanted a different approach to Brexit, after he imposed a three-line whip on his MPs to abstain on a cross-party amendment to keep the UK in the single market.
Former Equalities Minister Jo Swinson MP has said the government's last-minute announcement that women from Northern Ireland will be able get abortions for free on the NHS in England shows "the power of cross-party pressure."
Jo Swinson was among the MPs who had signed an amendment by Stella Creasy on the issue, which had been selected for a vote today.
The cross-party amendment to the Queen's Speech, signed by all Liberal Democrat MPs, calls on the government to set out proposals to stay in the single market and customs union.
The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of treating schoolchildren like “battery hens,” as shocking figures published today have revealed the number of pupils in classes over 30 continues to soar.
344,000 secondary school pupils are now being taught in class sizes over over 30, up 21% compared to two years ago
The Liberal Democrats have called on Jeremy Corbyn to ensure a cross-party amendment on the single market is backed by "the many, not the few" in a crucial vote later today.
This follows the Liberal Democrats leading calls to increase pay for firefighters, nurses and police in the wake of the Grenfell Tragedy and recent terrorist attacks.
“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.
Ed Davey said:
“The government announcement on EU citizens leaves so much in doubt. From the description it seems as if this is ID cards by the backdoor.
“Far from being ‘fair and serious’, this proposal offers very little and shows the government is continuing in its callousness. Theresa May should be utterly ashamed this is the best they can come up with, a year on.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Theresa May as "cold and heartless," following the shock revelation she blocked attempts to guarantee the right to stay for EU nationals immediately after the referendum.
The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for Britain to stay the single market and customs union.
The Liberal Democrats have vowed to oppose any attempts to weaken workplace rights, health and safety standards and environmental protections as part of the government's Repeal Bill.
Ministers are to consult on reforming the system of social care funding in England after Conservative plans were slammed as a Dementia Tax during the election.
The Trade Bill announced in the Queen’s speech is simply a job creation scheme for Liam Fox, the Liberal Democrats have said.
Donald Trump's state visit to the UK appears to have been shelved for at least two years after it was not included in the Queen's speech.
Letting agents fees look set to be banned in this year Queen's Speech following pressure from the Liberal Democrats.
Jo Swinson has been elected unanimously as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Theresa May is reported to have dropped plans to scrap free school lunches for infant pupils from tomorrow's Queen's Speech.
It comes after the Liberal Democrats strongly criticised the Conservatives during the election campaign over their manifesto plans which would have deprived 1.7 million children of free school lunches, including 700,000 living in poverty.
Chancellor Philip Hammond has called for a transitional deal on Brexit to protect the economy at a speech at Mansion House, while Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has admitted that Brexit will make us all poorer.
It comes as the government is under pressure from the Liberal Democrats and business community to soften its stance on Brexit, including by protecting Britain's membership of the single market and customs union.
Commenting on the terrorist incident near Finsbury Park mosque in north London, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “The Finsbury Park attack is senseless barbarism. Yet again we are rocked by a horrific incident for which there is no rhyme or reason.
Liberal Democrats have announced a new Shadow Cabinet. The party which gained seats in the election now have 12 MPs in the House of Commons.
On Friday, it will be one year since the appalling, hate-filled murder Labour MP Jo Cox.
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.
The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to urgently publish a long-awaited review of building regulations on fire safety and implement its recommendations, following the deadly fire at Grenfell Tower.
This afternoon Tim Farron resigned as Liberal Democrat leader.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has set in train a deputy leadership election for the parliamentary party in the House of Commons.
There has been a sharp fall in nurses from EU countries registering to work in the NHS, new figures have revealed.
The Health Service Journal reports that monthly statistics show the number of EU nurses registering with the NMC to work in the UK peaked at 1,304 in July 2016, a month after the referendum, before falling to 344 in September 2016 and then to just 46 in April 2017.
Whatever the result tonight, we know this: our work is only just beginning.
Polls are open until 10pm today, so don't forget to cast your vote for the Liberal Democrats.
Remember, you don't need your polling card in order to cast your vote.
He stressed it is still possible to stop a self-destructive Brexit that would damage Britain's economy and security, and that the country needs Liberal Democrat MPs who will fight to stay in the single market and give people the chance to vote on the final deal.
Headteachers today are forced to use money that should be dedicated for books, teachers and equipment to fix leaking roofs and crumbling buildings. The new infrastructure fund would give an extra £7bn for schools in England, enough to repair every school to allow them to focus spending on education rather than maintenance.
Launching the poster across social networks, Paddy Ashdown said:
Theresa May says “enough is enough” - but she forced through the cuts that lost us thousands of armed police and community officers.
As Home Secretary, she even accused the police of crying wolf over the impact of her cuts - and their fears that the public were being put in danger.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and I would like to pay tribute to the emergency services for their professional response in such terrible circumstances.
As the former Business Secretary I can’t not intervene at this decisive moment in British politics.
In a speech this week I condemned the Tories and Labour for turning their backs on the economy, and explained that the Liberal Democrats are the only real party of business.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Today the Lib Dems were endorsed by none other than The Economist. And a letter in the Financial Times from prominent tech figures also backs us.
Can you believe that’s the same Theresa May?
Azi Ahmed, who stood for the Conservative Party at the last election, introduced Vince Cable who gave a speech on the economy and Brexit in London today.
The Economist has endorsed the Liberal Democrats one week out from polling day. It says they “consider a vote for the Lib Dems as a down-payment for the future.”
In last night’s leaders’ debate, Tim Farron did what he always does: he held the other parties’ feet to the fire.
With style and substance, he called them out on their failures and communicated a positive vision for Britain’s future.
Tim Farron came out on top of tonight's debate showing that he is the voice for those people who want a brighter future than Theresa May's cold, mean-spirited vision for Britain.
He will stand up for the people of Britain on Brexit, the NHS and schools.
Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Campaign Spokesperson, said: "Tim Farron is a leader with principles and passion."
As the Lib Dem Climate Change Secretary, I think it’s an utter disgrace that Trump is preparing to withdraw from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. He clearly has utter contempt for science and the planet.
Theresa May called this election, but now won't even turn up to debate the issues. I think her illusiveness, just like her policies, demonstrates her utter lack of regard for the British people.
The figures, which have been broken down by constituency and local authority, show 260 children living in poverty are set to lose out in Theresa May's constituency of Maidenhead.
He also warned that Theresa May's plans to leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice would mean Britain will leave the Open Skies agreement which governs flights between the UK and Europe.
The Liberal Democrats have compiled the list of the biggest blunders of the Battle for Number 10 and the questions that May and Corbyn have failed to answer.
Increasingly people are saying that the Liberal Democrats are now the only genuinely pro-business party. Over fifty business leaders recently signed a letter to The Times endorsing the Lib Dems1 and the party has published a manifesto specifically aimed at entrepreneurs (you can read that here).
And one business sector more than any other is turning to the Liberal Democrats - the Tech community - reflecting a passionate commitment to free trade, freedom of movement and an open, inclusive and tolerant society.
A growing number of tech business leaders have now publicly declared their support for the Lib Dems by signing the letter below.
Please read it and, if you agree, add your name below:
The Tories seem to think – if we ignore any difficult question – we don’t have to tell the public the truth. If they cannot tell us even the most basic things why should we trust them at all.
Theresa May seems to be hiding their real agenda from the public.
The Tories cannot tell us anything about their plans and they are doing it on purpose. They hope to secure a colossal majority and then to take the country for a ride. We cannot let this happen – our schools, hospitals and social care are at risk
After the debacle on the Dementia Tax, the only policy they gave us detail on, it is no wonder they are trying to hide things from us. They need to come clean and tell us the truth.
These are the fifteen questions that the Conservatives must answer
It comes after Amber Rudd said the Conservatives did not know what a future cap on social care costs would be, while refusing to rule out that it could be as high as £200,000 or £300,000.
The Schengen Information System (SIS II) is an EU-wide database on organised criminal and terrorist suspects across 28 countries, including 35,000 people wanted under a European Arrest Warrant. It includes alerts on suspected ‘foreign fighters’ - people who have travelled to Syria and elsewhere to fight for ISIS.
Today, we have challenged Theresa May to answer ten pressing questions on the Dementia Tax and to come clean and give the voters the facts before the election takes place.
It is simply not good enough to dodge difficult questions and proper scrutiny during the campaign over an issue that will have such a huge impact over people's lives.
Under Theresa May’s proposals, many would end up paying far more for their care.
Families deserve to know now what the Dementia Tax will mean for their homes, finances and relatives.
We have set out a clear set of questions Theresa May must answer in order to come clean to the British public and address their concerns.
The Liberal Democrats will keep campaigning to scrap the Dementia Tax and ensure no-one has to worry about catastrophic costs to pay for their care.
A new survey for The Independent has found the majority of the public is now in favour of banning the most-polluting vehicles from city centres.
An announcement by the Labour Party that it would invest £45bn in the NHS and social care over five years as well as protect pensions could be rendered meaningless by Brexit, Liberal Democrats have said.
Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has launched a national movement calling on people, irrespective of their party affiliation, to stop the Conservatives’ planned Dementia Tax.
The Liberal Democrats have withdrawn their Party Election Broadcast that was due to air on BBC One in England this evening. The party is replacing it with a heartfelt, personal and non-political message from leader Tim Farron following the heinous attack in Manchester on Monday.
Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has announced that the party has suspended all national campaigning until further notice. Tim was due to fly to Gibraltar today as part of the general election campaign but has cancelled the trip.
The Liberal Democrats recently distributed a letter signed by Dr Clare Gerada setting out her view on the challenges facing the NHS.
Clare absolutely stands by those comments however the letter did contain incorrect details regarding Clare’s time at the Royal College of General Practitioners. We thank Clare for publicising her concerns about our NHS and apologise for the drafting error. Here is the correct version of Clare's letter:
With the announcement of the Conservative manifesto today, Theresa May has shown her true colours. I’ve scarcely seen a colder, more mean-spirited agenda in my entire career.
A couple of weeks ago, in Kidlington near Oxford, I met a guy called Malcolm. I say met…he came up to me in the street and started shouting at me.
You might have seen it on the news. Or the internet.
The Liberal Democrats will launch their manifesto for a brighter future on Wednesday. Change Britain’s Future is a plan for a fairer Britain where people are decent to each other, with good schools and hospitals, a clean environment and an innovative economy.
This week Labour pledged an additional £37 billion of NHS funding, which sounds to me, as Shadow Health Secretary, like poorly-thought-out, pie in the sky policy.
You can’t solve the crisis in our NHS and social care services by simply imposing more top-down targets on staff and plucking numbers out of thin air.
As part of the coalition, the Lib Dems managed to secure 0.7% of Britain’s gross national income for international development. It was one of our final acts in government, and it’s one we’re most proud of.
Since then, 0.7% has been a legal requirement, which has prevented the Conservatives and UKIP from stopping these vital funds getting to the world’s most vulnerable people.
Now, in the face of yet more callous opposition from the government, who are attempting to reduce the funding – the Lib Dems are making a stand.
The Conservative government has given developers a carte blanche to play the property market at the expense of our citizens. And now the country’s in crisis.
Not enough homes. Properties sitting empty. Exorbitant prices. The market is closed and exclusive: a fat cats’ game. That’s not good for people and it’s not good for business.
Today the Lib Dems are laying down the law to developers: unless you build the homes that Britain needs, we will.
As part of the coalition, I was proud to introduce the original Shared Parental Leave programme.
The Lib Dems campaigned hard for this transformational policy, that allows parents – instead of the Government – to choose how they share their childcare.
The Liberal Democrats plan to break the grip of criminal gangs and protect young people by introducing a legal, regulated market for cannabis.
The Liberal Democrats will introduce an additional month of paid parental leave especially for fathers to encourage greater sharing of parental responsibilities.
Excellent healthcare is at the heart of our vision for Britain. As a leading liberal democracy, our public services should – and can be – the envy of the world. The Lib Dems are committed to making this vision a reality.
I passionately believe that the British people are open, tolerant and progressive. That’s what I love about us. But lately I’ve felt the country slide into a Britain I don’t recognise – a Britain that’s closed, insular and suspicious.
The Conservatives are largely to blame.
The leaked version of the Labour manifesto has confirmed Jeremy Corbyn's Labour won’t give the people the final say on the Brexit deal.
