28Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Exodus of Brits as Tories turn UK into hostile environment

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of turning the UK into “a hostile environment for everyone”, as new official figures show that the number of Brits moving abroad has reached its highest level in more than six years. The latest Migration Statistics, published by the Office for National Statistics, show that 140,000 British people emigrated in the year to September 2019, up 16% on the previous year and the highest 12-month total since April 2012 to March 2013. Responding to the figures, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The Conservatives are driving people away through a combination of badly mismanaging the economy and imposing nasty social policies. Is this what they meant by Global Britain? “This is a Tory Government that’s been deliberately trying to turn the UK into…
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28Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Dramatic rise in asylum seekers waiting to work

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for asylum seekers to be given the right to work, as new figures show a dramatic rise in the number who are still waiting for a decision on their claim months after applying. The statistics, published by the Home Office, show that at the end of 2019 29,218 people were waiting for an initial decision more than six months after lodging their asylum application. That represents a 76.5% increase since December 2018, and a six-fold increase since 2015. Asylum seekers are barred from working until they’ve been waiting for 12 months, and even then they are limited to the narrow list of jobs on the Government’s Shortage Occupation List. They are forced to rely on asylum support from the Government, worth just £37.75 per person per…
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28Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tory plans to step back from Erasmus disastrous for young people

Parliamentary news
Following the publication of the Government’s Brexit negotiating strategy, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran MP has warned that the UK “has one foot out of the door” on Erasmus. Section 21 of the document reveals that the UK will “consider options for participation in elements of Erasmus+ [after 2021] on a time-limited basis, providing the terms are in the UK’s interests.” This suggests that the UK may seek looser membership of Erasmus as a ‘partner country’, which would mean less funding for British universities and colleges to offer student and staff exchanges. Instead, they would be reliant on their partners in EU member states to manage projects and funding on their behalf. Universities have warned that partner country status will mean fewer opportunities to study abroad, higher costs, less…
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28Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government chooses more brinkmanship over good EU deal

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Government is threatening to leave negotiations with the EU in June if the EU do not accept Tory demands, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Once again we have seen the PM is more interested in brinkmanship and pleasing the Tory backbenches than working with the EU to build a sustainable trading partnership. “People are tired of the Government’s posturing. What they want is a well-functioning trading relationship with the EU that protects our jobs and businesses, not more self-imposed deadlines and threats to sabotage the negotiation. “Finalising an agreement by 2021 is already unlikely, narrowing the timeframe even more is nothing short of reckless. The Liberal Democrats will oppose the Government’s negotiating stance and fight for the closest possible trading partnership…
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28Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories robbing police of vital crime-fighting tool

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Conservative government will not seek to participate in the European arrest warrant as part of the future relationship with the EU, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “The first priority of any government should be to keep people safe. Instead, the Conservatives are robbing our police of a vital crime-fighting tool, and making it easier for thousands of dangerous criminals to evade justice. “Boris Johnson’s reckless decision to cut the UK off from the European Arrest Warrant will make our country less safe. “Crime is increasingly a cross-border problem, and Liberal Democrats will continue to argue for the closest possible co-operation with our European partners to tackle serious threats such as terrorism and organised crime.”
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26Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems take action to guarantee EU citizens’ rights

Parliamentary news
In the House of Commons tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine will present a Private Members’ Bill to guarantee the rights of EU citizens to stay in the UK. The European Citizens’ Rights Bill would give all EU citizens living in the UK before Brexit the automatic right to stay, without having to apply to the Home Office’s Settled Status scheme. The Liberal Democrats pointed out that Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised that EU citizens would automatically be granted the right to stay, but failed to deliver on that promise. Instead, EU citizens have to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by the end of June 2021, and only 1.6 million of the 3.6 million EU citizens living in the UK have been granted Settled Status so far.…
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25Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government urged to support new Bill to ringfence mental health spending for armed forces

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats will today present a Bill with cross party support which would require the Government to ringfence mental health spending for veterans and members of the armed forces. Speaking ahead of presenting the Bill, Liberal Democrat Defence spokesperson Jamie Stone warned “with a spike in suicide amongst service families, the Government must urgently commit to proper support.” The move by the Liberal Democrats comes after that cuts to the NHS have meant that mental health charities, such as Combat Stress, are no longer able to take on new referrals in England. The party has written to the Chancellor urging him to take immediate action and recognise the importance of these mental health services in the Budget. Liberal Democrat Defence spokesperson Jamie Stone said: “People who have served in our armed…
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24Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories must act to tackle health inequality

Parliamentary news
Responding to the follow-up report from the Institute of Health Equity, 'Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On', Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “It is shameful that still where you live and your gender affects how long you will live. The health gap between poorer and more affluent areas has not only been ignored but allowed to fester, and has had devastating consequences for those struggling to get by.  “This gap not only shows that the systemic inequalities in our society are not being tackled by the Tory government, but what’s more harrowing is that it shows how preventable these health issues are.  “The Liberal Democrats have long supported an integrated public health approach and investing in preventative measures to help alleviate the effects of inequality…
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23Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories dropping promises in desperation for a Trump trade deal

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Environment Secretary failing to offer a commitment on Sophy Ridge today that the import of chlorinated chicken will be off the table in any trade deal with the US, Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson Tim Farron said: “Farming communities up and down the country are rightly concerned about being undercut by low-standard imports from the US. “With the Tories’ desperation for a trade deal with Donald Trump, it would appear they are rolling back on their promises. They are wilfully threatening British consumers and farmers. “The Liberal Democrats will stand shoulder to shoulder with British farmers and consumers and stop Boris Johnson ramming through a damaging Trump trade deal.”
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22Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Johnson government has ignored the economy

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS figures that show the UK posted a budget surplus of £9.8bn in January, down 18% compared to the same time last year, Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Ed Davey said: “Rishi Sunak is now under even greater pressure to deliver a budget that works for all people. “Under Johnson the economy has been an afterthought. 2019 ended with a quarter of no growth, falling manufacturing output and declining business investment. Now just weeks before the budget even the fiscal picture is in question. “The Chancellor must prove that he can do more than just please Number 10. He must deliver for workers, businesses and the environment while making the sums add up. The Liberal Democrats will hold his budget to account and offer an alternative economic vision for a more prosperous…
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