Author: Sam Al-Hamdani

Responding to reports that the UK Government has warned the EU negotiating team that it will not stick to the European Convention of Human Rights, acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The European Convention on Human Rights empowers people to hold governments to account when Ministers trample on individual rights and freedoms. It was largely a British creation and has helped to improve people’s lives across Europe. “Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings are determined to take power away from the British people and hoard it for themselves. Now they are weakening the UK’s Brexit negotiating position by refusing to uphold our longstanding commitments on human rights. “Liberal Democrats will always stand up for individuals and their human rights, in the UK and around the world. We will…

The Liberal Democrats have joined with Amnesty International in calling for an independent investigation into police violence during the Hong Kong protests. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael, who has introduced a Bill with cross-party support which would require the Government offer Hong Kong citizens the right to live in the UK, said “the UK has a moral and legal duty to stand with protestors in their efforts to secure their rights and freedoms”. Mr Carmichael’s Bill would re-open the offer of a British National Overseas (BNO) passports for Hong Kong citizens and extend the scheme to provide the “right of abode”, allowing a person to live or work indefinitely in the UK. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “There have been repeated reports of police brutality…

Responding to a National Audit Office report showing that the NHS does not have the number of nurses it needs, with 43,000 vacancies reported by trusts in July to September 2019, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The shortage of nurses exposed in this report will cause alarm at a time when people are already deeply worried about the spread of Coronavirus, particularly given the Government has failed to publish its own “People Plan” to meet future service commitments. “Letting the NHS fall into this crisis in the first place is irresponsible, but the Home Office’s toxic immigration plans will make it even harder to recruit the nurses we urgently need. Now is not the time for ideology to trump common sense.  “The Liberal Democrats will continue to…

Responding to the Government’s publication of the Immigration Bill, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The immigration system is broken and public confidence is shattered. But the Conservatives’ plans will make things worse, not better. “By ending free movement – which two thirds of Britons want to keep – they will make it even harder for UK employers to recruit the workers they need. Who will care for our elderly and vulnerable people? Who will build the homes we need? “This Bill fails to deliver on Boris Johnson’s promise to automatically guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK before Brexit. Unless the Conservative Government changes course, thousands of EU citizens will be left effectively undocumented next year – at risk of eviction, detention and even…

The Liberal Democrats are calling for an end to the ‘war on drugs’ as a new Home Office study shows it has been a main driver in the rise of homicides in recent years.The Home Office report ‘Trends and drivers of homicide’, found that drug-related homicides rose by 47% between 2014-15 and 2017-18 (from 217 to 320), and account for most of the overall rise in homicides in recent years.The report states: “it seems likely that drugs have been an important driver of homicide trends in England and Wales, particularly recently. It also seems likely that the primary mechanism for this effect is via systemic cases caused by the illicit nature of the market and the use of violence for resolving grievances.” Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:…

The Liberal Democrats have urged the Government to ensure statutory sick pay is extended to all workers who have to self-isolate because of the coronavirus. Currently, workers who earn below the Lower Earnings Limit (£118 per week) will not recieve statutory sick pay. The call comes as it is confirmed UK health officials are moving towards the second phase of their response to the coronavirus outbreak. Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: “Many workers who have to self-isolate because of coronavirus don't earn enough to qualify for statutory sick pay. That is deeply troubling. “People should not have to make the choice between going to work and eating, between getting to the office and buying medicine. The Government needs to show leadership and ensure that statutory sick pay is available to anyone who…

Ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday 8 March, the Liberal Democrats will today [Wednesday 4 March] introduce a Bill to hold the Conservatives to account on their commitment to tackle global period poverty. If passed, the Bill will ensure the Government is held to account on Penny Mordaunt’s 2019 pledge to end period poverty around the world by 2030. Wendy Chamberlain, Lib Dem MP for North East Fife, is calling on Government to “show leadership” by taking forward the legislation. The Bill builds on measures taken to end period poverty within the UK, with the recent roll out of free sanitary products in Wales and England. Speaking ahead of introducing the Bill, Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “No girl should lose out on education as a result of stigma around menstruation or lack of…

The Liberal Democrats have called for the Six Nations to remain on free-to-air TV as speculation mounts Sky will win the rights to show the tournament beyond 2021. Liberal Democrat Scottish affairs, Welsh affairs and Northern Irish affairs spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain MP has appealed to the UK Government to add the Six Nations to it’s ‘A list’ of sporting events that must be available live on free-to-air TV. Rules stipulate that the BBC and ITV are unable to jointly bid for the rights, which is how they hold the current rights. Wendy Chamberlain said: “The Six Nations is an annual highlight for millions of loyal fans across the UK. The games have been on free-to-air channels for twenty years and it would be absolutely outrageous to restrict them to those…

Responding to the release of the government's plan to tackle Coronavirus, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: “At last, Johnson’s Government is laying out plans to tackle the spread of Coronavirus. It is vital that the Government remains open and transparent about the steps it is taking, and provides clear advice to people across the country. “People are enormously concerned about the spread of this virus. It is vital that the Government confirms that anyone forced to self-isolate will not be left without pay, potentially being pushed into hardship as a result of factors beyond their control. “Any new emergency laws to tackle the virus must be proportionate and time-limited, with a cast-iron sunset clause to ensure that Ministers are not given sweeping permanent powers.”

Responding to the Government’s publication of the Domestic Abuse Bill, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Survivors have been left waiting far too long, with millions of people having experienced domestic abuse since the Conservatives first promised this legislation almost three years ago. I’m glad the Government has therefore finally brought back the Domestic Abuse Bill. “Liberal Democrats will now work to get this badly-needed legislation into law as soon as possible, while also strengthening it to support all survivors of domestic abuse. “That includes recognising in law the trauma suffered by children who witness domestic abuse at home, and adding specific protections for migrant women, so that fears over their immigration status do not prevent them from coming forward to report violence or abuse.”