Responding to the Institute for Public Policy Research's new report, 'Beyond the Hostile Environment', Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: "As this report shows, the UK's immigration system is broken and it is hurting us all. The appalling Windrush Scandal should have been the end of the Hostile Environment, but despite their apologies the Conservatives have kept their cruel, discriminatory policies in force. "People who have every right to live in the UK are wrongfully denied healthcare, made homeless, detained and even deported. Public confidence in the system has been shattered. This has to stop. "We owe it ...

Posted by Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats on Aberavon & Neath Liberal Democrats

Yeah, ten more days have passed in this weird situation. We've seen two of the worst weeks I can remember for the leadership of the European Commission, with the botch over Article 16 of 29 January followed by the President of the Commission alternating between taking full responsibility herself and blaming her colleagues - notably the health commissioner, who the German media are briefing heavily against right now. Meanwhile the numbers are edging back to the point where I'm going to risk going into Brussels occasionally for walks in the park with my contacts - very Cold War. (Actually the ...

Mathew Hulbert: "the front line today is the fight for recognition, justice and equality for trans and non-binary people" As February is LGBT History month, yesterday I met up (virtually, of course) with Lib Dem and LGBTQ+ rights activist Mathew Hulbert to talk about why it's important to mark the occasion and how we can advance LGBTQ+ equality more generally. We even found the time to talk about local politics, the future of the Lib Dems and globalisation. AP: Why is LGBT History month so important to you personally and why is it important to keep celebrating it? MH: LGBT ...

Posted by Andrew on A Scottish Liberal

A party press release brings the news: The Liberal Democrats secured a Government response in the House of Lords to calls for the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in 2022 to be boycotted if China continues its genocide against the Uighur people. Despite peers from all political parties speaking in support of a boycott if these conditions are not met, the Government shirked responsibility on standing up for human rights. Jamie Stone MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Sport, reacted to the lack of Government response: It is clear political support is growing for a boycott of the Beijing 2022 ...

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

New Liberator Issue is out Liberator 405, our third online only issue, is out and available for free download here. Which Lib Dems have signed up Compass' 'progressive alliance', which former MP has made a comic video about the disciplinary process, is someone out to get Jane Dodds and why did Ed Davey argue for cutting grant to Scotland and Wales? All this and more is in Radical Bulletin in this issue. Among what's inside we have: Lord Bonkers visits to Nick Clegg in California; how to sell UBI to voters; the pandemic's consequences for mental health; how an opportunity ...

Posted by Tahir Maher on Liberal Democrat Voice

In a world where people choose facts to suit their prejudices, and dismiss challenge as the work of a sinister enemy, it is still important to seek out views that make you uncomfortable. This is how I felt when I read this article in The Times by Matthew Parris. I like Mr Parris, but I ... Continue reading A federal UK: a solution that is worse than the problem

Posted by Matthew on thinking liberal

Liberal Democrat Newswire is the free monthly newsletter I produce about what's going on in the party, how the party is doing in elections and polls, the latest campaigns and policies and what the plans are for the future.

Posted by Mark Pack on Mark Pack

According to official figures, the UK became the first country in Europe to record (very unfortunately) 100,000 coronavirus-related deaths. Currently, the UK has the fifth-highest number of deaths globally, after the US, Brazil, India and Mexico (as a percentage of Covid deaths to population, the UK percentage is higher than that of the US). To put this into perspective, the 100,000 deaths registered are higher than the civilian death toll during all of World War II. "I am deeply sorry for every life that has been lost and, of course, as Prime Minister, I take full responsibility for everything that ...

Posted by Tahir Maher on Liberal Democrat Voice

I have written today to Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram suggestion that he is currently trying to introduce the failed Thatcherite policies to create jobs that failed in the 1980s. In my letter I point out, "You are currently supporting proposals ... Continue reading →

Posted by richardkemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill) would "set an emergency path for the UK to follow" and allow it to play a "fair and proper role in limiting global temperatures to 1.5°C and restoring the natural world". Yesterday, I took part in Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas's debate on the Climate and Ecological Emergency in the UK, and you can listen to my contribution here and read the Hansard record here. It was a fantastic opportunity to raise some of the themes that had emerged from a CEE Bill Alliance panel I had participated in previously, where I ...

Posted by Sarah Olney on Liberal Democrat Voice
YouGov

This is the justLiberals recommended reading list, sourced from articles shared on our subreddit. If you think something should be on the next list, share it with the community! In this edition: The Problem with the Concept of a 'Good Immigrant'Why food parcels are the wrong way to feed hungry children'Our souls are dead': how I survived a Chinese 're-education' camp for UighursThese are not necessarily by Liberals, but we believe these are great additions to a Liberal's reading list - and we hope they are thought-provoking and insightful for you.

Posted on justLiberals

This is the justLiberals recommended reading list, sourced from articles shared internally and on our subreddit. If you think something should be on the next list, share it with the community! In this edition: The Armenia and Azerbaijan war, explainedThe Women's WarYou have misunderstood the threat to liberal democracyThese are not necessarily by Liberals, but we believe these are great additions to a Liberal's reading list - and we hope they're a nice addition to your Sunday. Enjoy!

Posted on justLiberals

We published the 2019 Election Review as the pandemic swept the UK and, sadly, I write this update during an even harder third wave. We are reminded every day of the failures of this government and the pressing need for convincing alternatives. I am encouraged by the steps that have already been taken within the party and the plans ahead for reform. In terrible circumstances, activists, volunteers and staff have stepped up to the challenge my review posed. We identified three overarching themes in the review, all of which needed profound improvement: re-building campaigning excellence, clarity of leadership and decision ...

Posted by Dorothy Thornhill on Liberal Democrat Voice

We are getting there. Medics and health professionals have been working flat out after a slow start that was not their fault to get everyone in priority groups vaccinated. People are excited. Sharing their experiences on the phone and online. This article tells of two different experiences of Covid vaccination. Andy is bouncing around like an Easter Bunny after his jab. Tracey is recovering from Covid-19. She believes her symptoms have been less severe because she has had the first jab. As we have done since the start of this pandemic, we tell it as it is. Vaccination team ready ...

Posted by andybodders on Andy Boddington
Wed 10th
11:00

My tweets

Tue, 12:56: Coronavirus exposes flaws with EU's infectious disease agency https://t.co/wGm2tSGvUH I've certainly heard mutterings about the ECDC this year; here's the case for the prosecution. Tue, 14:02: Some tough choices here. https://t.co/dxF0rmv7Q9 Tue, 18:31: February 2010 books https://t.co/jQpE0RfZp4 Tue, 19:49: RT @alexstubb: Thread: Following the debate surrounding @JosepBorrellF visit to Moscow: a few observations having met Lavrov dozens of tim... Tue, 20:48: The price of the protocol https://t.co/ohrak18l1d Euractiv: "By triggering Article 16, the Commission effectively abandoned its position that the Protocol was needed to safeguard peace." Tue, 22:05: A sad day for Polish history. I've known @jgrabows since ...

Liberator 405 - the February 2021 issue - has been posted on the magazine's website. So it's time to enjoy Lord Bonkers' latest diary. Ignorance indignantly pointed out that he had come second in Committee Room Theory and Practice only last term You will by now have read of my detention by the police of Atherton, CA, on Christmas morning: I will admit that if the Attorney General of California had not turned out to an old golfing chum of the Governor of New Rutland then things might have got distinctly hairy for your humble diarist. So let me take ...

Posted by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England

The Independent reports that Priti Patel has refused to criticise the arrest of a journalist for photographing a peaceful protest outside a controversial asylum centre, despite the case being dropped. They say the home secretary was urged in the House of Commons to review police guidance following the detention of Andy Aitchison and agree that he "should have a clean record as he has committed no offence". Instead, Ms Patel appeared to back the arrest - before claiming she could not comment further for legal reasons, even though the journalist will face no further action. The arrest of Mr Aitchison, ...

Posted by Peter Black on Peter Black

So what's changed since my last piece for LDV on this ten months ago? – nothing and everything, in a phrase, it's got much worse. Last March the fear of an unknown, rapidly spreading and possible deadly virus, the prospect of the NHS being overwhelmed; inadequate ventilators and ITU beds, terrifying pictures from Italy of a modern health system crumbling in front of our eyes and our own government indecisive and floundering, with no plan and even less preparedness, galvanised the NHS workforce as never before in living memory. Things happened fast; the NHS workforce rose to the challenge, found ...

Posted by Catherine Royce on Liberal Democrat Voice

You learn something new every day and what I've recently learned is that England's oldest continuously running commercial railway is one which ran through my former home town of Kirkby-in-Ashfield (Nottinghamshire) and within yards of where my maternal grandparents lived on the Town's Urban Road prior to it being re-routed in 1892. I learned all this via a most excellent book 'The Story of the Mansfield & Pinxton Railway' (cover photo above) which was written to coincide with the railway's 200th anniversary in 2019. What's more despite some re-routing this is a railway that's still running. There's a companion walking ...

Posted by Cllr. Tony Robertson on Sefton Focus

i) births and deaths 10 February 1928: birth of John Ringham, who played Tlotoxl in The Aztecs (1964), Josiah Blake in The Smugglers (1966), and Robert Ashe in Colony in Space (1971) 10 February 1932: birth of Barrie Ingham, who played Alydon in the Cushing!Doctor film Dr Who and the Daleks and Paris in the story we now call The Myth Makers (First Doctor, 1965). 10 February 1939: birth of Peter Purves, who played the First Doctor's companion Steven Taylor in 1965-66 and in many Big Finish plays. I had the pleasure of meeting him at Gallifrey One in 2013. ...

eUKhost

Many thanks to the residents who highlighted with me that, following the resurfacing of Glamis Road some time ago and the access road at Balgay Cemetery, some of the road linings have not been repainted. I raised this with the council's Roads Maintenance Partnership and have now received this helpful reply : "Dundee Road Maintenance Partnership carried out improvements to the surfacing to the access road at Balgay Cemetery. A lining schedule has been produced but unfortunately due to the inclement weather it has not been possible to apply these markings to the new surface. As far as our lining ...

Do you love reading but need a bit of inspiration? The Order & Collect service at West Berkshire Libraries is proving to be very popular for customers of all ages, who have discovering books and reading in a new way during lockdown. If you're not sure which books you would like to read, or are looking for a bit of inspiration, you can request that library staff select up to five books to suit your preferences. The knowledgeable library staff may even be able introduce you to a new author or genre that might be of interest! Up to five ...

Posted by Philippa Harper on Philippa Harper