Abbott needs to clarify letter on referendum

The Liberal Democrats put into the public domain letters Abbott wrote to constituents announcing that she supports a referendum.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/abbott-needs-to-clarify-letter-on-referendum

New railway lines in danger of going nowhere

The Government has released a new rail strategy.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/new-railway-lines-in-danger-of-going-nowhere

Brexit divorce bill is just the down payment

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/brexit-divorce-bill-is-just-the-down-payment

Trump needs to do the world a favour and delete his account

President Trump has retweeted three anti-Muslim videos originally posted by the deputy leader of far-right group Britain First.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/trump-needs-to-do-the-world-a-favour-and-delete-his-account

Report reveals patients badly failed by mishandling of data

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/report-reveals-patients-badly-failed-by-mishandling-of-data

Social mobility report warns of 'spiral of ever growing division'

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/social-mobility-report-warns-of-spiral-of-ever-growing-division

Brexit impact assessments farce "straight out of Yes Minister"

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/brexit-impact-assessments-farce-straight-out-of-yes-minister

OECD forecast indictment of disastrous government policy

The OECD’s latest economic forecast shows the UK bucking the trend, and not in a good way.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/oecd-forecast-indictment-of-disastrous-government-policy

Brexit studies must give people the facts

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/brexit-studies-must-give-people-the-facts

China vs Trump could give rise to conflict in Pacific: Paddy Ashdown speech in Hong Kong

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/china-vs-trump-could-give-rise-to-conflict-in-pacific-paddy-ashdown-speech-in-hong-kong

Government must consider 'vindaloo visas' to tackle the curry chef shortage

The government should consider issuing temporary one-year ‘vindaloo visas’ to Asian chefs to help solve the British curry crisis.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/government-must-consider-vindaloo-visas-to-tackle-the-curry-chef-shortage

Army numbers down 2,000 since Conservative 82,000 manifesto pledge

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/army-numbers-down-2-000-since-conservative-82-000-manifesto-pledge

Corbyn must condemn Kate Hoey over Irish border remarks

Kate Hoey seems to think other people should pay for the mess she and other leading Brexiteers have caused.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/corbyn-must-condemn-kate-hoey-over-irish-border-remarks

Falling apprenticeships and Brexit will cripple Industrial Strategy

The combination of falling apprenticeship starts and restricted access to skilled labour after Brexit will cripple the Industrial Strategy.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/falling-apprenticeships-and-brexit-will-cripple-industrial-strategy

Australia's trade warning proves that leaving the EU is no panacea

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/australia-s-trade-warning-proves-that-leaving-the-eu-is-no-panacea

When will government listen to defence cuts warnings?

It has been reported that defence minister Tobias Ellwood has threatened to resign if military cuts bring the army below 70,000 soldiers.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/when-will-government-listen-to-defence-cuts-warnings

Downing Street in utter chaos over customs union and Northern Ireland

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/downing-street-in-utter-chaos-over-customs-union-and-northern-ireland

Liam Fox accuses British firms of not wanting to do business abroad

Liam Fox has accused British companies of not wanting to export their goods around the globe, in an interview with the House Magazine.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/liam-fox-accuses-british-firms-of-not-wanting-to-do-business-abroad

Hammond stealth tax on savers is "indefensible"

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/hammond-stealth-tax-on-savers-is-indefensible

Leaked Brexit paper shows UK airlines risk losing flying rights

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/leaked-brexit-paper-shows-uk-airlines-risk-losing-flying-rights

No extra police funding despite crime on the rise and police numbers falling

Today's budget statement by the Chancellor included no additional funding for the police in England and Wales. 

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/budget-a17-police-funding

Chancellor cheats start-ups on £2.3bn research fund

The Chancellor’s announcement of £2.3bn extra for research and development is a con.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/budget-a17-research-fund

Extra funding in Budget less than half what NHS needs

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/budget-a17-nhs

Hammond is conning the public on housing

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/budget-a17-housing

Hammond makes teachers and police £3,000 worse off

Liberal Democrat research based on OBR figures shows that:

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/hammond_makes_teachers_and_police_3_000_worse_off

Plastic waste charge is a victory for the Liberal Democrats

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/budget-17-plastic-waste-charge

Government must pause Universal Credit rather than just tinkering with it

The government’s U-turns on Universal Credit are welcome but beg the question: Why have they taken this long?

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/budget-a17-universal-credit

£3 billion disappearing down the Brexit black hole

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/budget-17-3billion-brexit-black-hole

The Budget has been sunk by a growth bombshell

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/cable-budget-reaction-17

Gove's Department using 1,400 disposable coffee cups a day

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/gove_s_department_using_1_400_disposable_coffee_cups_a_day

Vince Cable's pre-budget speech

Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, today set out the Liberal Democrat approach to the Budget. The full text is below.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/vince-cable-economy-speech-full-text-november-2017

David Davis' Withdrawal Agreement Bill is not good enough

On the face of it, this seems like a major concession. But the reality is it simply isn’t good enough.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/david_davis_withdrawal_agreement_bill_is_not_good_enough

Jo Swinson: We must end period poverty

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/jo_swinson_we_must_end_period_poverty

Vince Cable & Jo Swinson respond following cross party meeting on sexual harassment

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.

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/vince_cable_jo_swinson_respond_following_cross_party_meeting_on_sexual_harassment

Ban on letting fees must not leave any loopholes for landlords to exploit

Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Communities and Local Government Spokesperson, commented:

from News - Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/ban_on_letting_fees_must_not_leave_any_loopholes_for_landlords_to_exploit