21Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Research reveals 125,000 more workers to pay National Insurance in Sunak “stealth tax”

Research reveals 125,000 more workers to pay National Insurance in Sunak “stealth tax”

Parliamentary news
Nearly 125,000 more workers to be dragged into paying National Insurance next year, new research reveals.Failure to increase the minimum threshold in line with inflation means workers and employees face an eye-watering £2.4 billion tax bombshell.Small firms to be hit hard as businesses set to begin paying National Insurance on 200,000 more employees. The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been accused of clobbering the country with yet another stealth tax, as new figures reveal 125,000 workers will be dragged into paying National Insurance next year. The analysis from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, looks at the impact of the government’s failure to increase the minimum earnings threshold at which people start paying National Insurance in line with inflation.  The current minimum threshold is set to rise…
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18Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey calls for emergency airlifts for Ukrainian refugees on Polish border

Davey calls for emergency airlifts for Ukrainian refugees on Polish border

Parliamentary news
Ed Davey calls for emergency airlift to provide a safe and fast system to get Ukrainian refugees to security in the UKHe describes visit to Poland and Ukraine border and the lack of UK Government personnel on the ground in contrast to 19 other nationsHe praises the UK volunteers on the Polish border and the generosity of the British public who are offering their homes Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called for an emergency airlift for Ukrainian refugees on the Polish border who want to reach the UK. In a letter to the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary, Ed Davey has suggested the UK Government must now provide free flights to the UK, with coaches to the nearest Polish airports from key border crossing points and welcoming reception centres…
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15Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Johnson must explain himself to Ukrainian refugees at Polish border

Davey: Johnson must explain himself to Ukrainian refugees at Polish border

Parliamentary news
Speaking following his visit today to the border between Ukraine and Poland, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “Over 100,000 people have signed up and said that they will offer sanctuary to Ukrainian people in the UK. That is something we should all be proud of. “It stands in direct contrast to the Conservative Government who have left people shivering at the border rather than helping find a way to safety. “I’d like Boris Johnson to come here and meet some of these people, look them in the eye, and tell them why his government has spent three weeks telling them they are not welcome in our country.”
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15Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Homes for Ukraine: Refugees still trapped in bureaucratic limbo

Homes for Ukraine: Refugees still trapped in bureaucratic limbo

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government launching the “Homes for Ukraine” website for people to sponsor Ukrainian refugees, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “Families and communities across the UK have been crying out for the chance to sponsor refugees for years. It shouldn’t have taken weeks of appalling humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine for the Government to finally listen. “Even after the Government’s welcome U-turn and side-lining of Priti Patel from this scheme, the vast majority of Ukrainian refugees trying to get to the UK are still trapped in bureaucratic limbo, unable to come here. Michael Gove couldn’t even say when people will start to arrive under his new scheme. “Ministers should do what the British people are urging them to do now: allow Ukrainian refugees to come to the…
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15Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Economic Crime Bill: Lib Dems close ‘Oligarch Loophole’

Economic Crime Bill: Lib Dems close ‘Oligarch Loophole’

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have closed a major "oligarch loophole" in the Economic Crime Bill after the Government accepted their crucial amendment. Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran and Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Chris Fox both tabled an amendment to the legislation which sought to close a backdoor route for oligarchs to avoid meeting crucial anti-money laundering requirements contained within the Bill. The Bill establishes a register of beneficial ownership for overseas entities. However, as originally drafted, it gives the Government the power to grant individuals - which could include Kremlin-linked oligarchs - an exemption from its registration requirements on the broad basis of “the interests of the economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom”. The Liberal Democrats warned that this loophole could give ‘carte blanche’ to oligarchs and their enablers to aggressively…
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14Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems demand emergency VAT cut to help families with cost of living crisis

Lib Dems demand emergency VAT cut to help families with cost of living crisis

Parliamentary news
Ed Davey calls on the Chancellor to slash VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year to tackle soaring bills.The move would save families an average of £600 as the cost of living crisis hits hard.Slashing VAT would boost struggling local high streets and the economy while keeping spiralling inflation down. The Liberal Democrats have demanded an emergency cut to VAT to protect families from soaring bills and the worsening cost of living crisis. The party has proposed reducing the standard rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5% for one year, a move that would put an average of £600 back into the pockets of UK families. It comes amid warnings that the war in Ukraine will worsen the cost of living pressures facing households, with energy, food and fuel…
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14Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ministers losing track on Ukrainian refugee visa u-turns

Ministers losing track on Ukrainian refugee visa u-turns

Parliamentary news
Responding to Sajid Javid's confusion this morning over a family reunion route for Ukrainian refugees, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: "The Government has u-turned so many times over visas for Ukrainian refugees, it seems even its own Cabinet Ministers have lost track. "Three weeks on, it is unacceptable that the Home Office is still turning away desperate families fleeing Putin’s war, and snaring them in red tape at the border. It is shameful that even Ukrainians working in our NHS cannot bring family members to join them. "The Government must make one more u-turn, and allow any Ukrainian refugee to come to the UK without having to apply for a visa first."
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14Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Russia Sanctions: UK moving at a snail’s pace

Russia Sanctions: UK moving at a snail’s pace

Parliamentary news
Responding to the announcement of sanctions against 386 members of the Russian Duma, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "Targetting these Duma members is all well and good, but ultimately we’re sanctioning them for a decision they took 18 days ago. "We’re moving at a snail’s pace. Meanwhile, in that time, we’ve only sanctioned 18 oligarchs. One oligarch a day is nowhere near enough. "Hundreds of Putin’s cronies are still getting away with it. Every second wasted is another opportunity for them to take off in their private jets and flee to a safe haven. We need to sanction the lot and seize their assets - now."
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14Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government failing on biodiversity ahead of COP15

Government failing on biodiversity ahead of COP15

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called out the Government for their failures on biodiversity in the UK ahead of the second phase of COP15. At their Spring Conference today, the Party set out a number of steps it believes the Government must take if the UK is to tackle the ecological emergency with the urgency it requires. The calls include reforming the powers and funding given to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks to restore nature, and a plan to halt the long-term decline in biodiversity and species abundance by 2030, through specific and costed policy measures. The UK has lost nearly half of its biodiversity and just 14% of surface waters are classified as being in good ecological condition in England, with a shocking 0% in good overall…
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14Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems demand tougher powers to sack ministers who breach ministerial code

Lib Dems demand tougher powers to sack ministers who breach ministerial code

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for tougher sanctions for ministers who break the ministerial code, including being fined or forced to resign. The Liberal Democrats said that partygate showed that Boris Johnson and other Conservative ministers can’t be trusted to mark their own homework and that urgent reforms are needed to restore faith in Parliament and the democratic process. The party’s package of reforms include: Putting the Ministerial Code into law and making sure it is fully independent of the prime minister.Appointing an Independent Adviser to oversee the Code and launch their own investigationsIntroducing a range of sanctions for those found to have broken the Ministerial Code. This could include apologies, fines, and demanding a minister’s resignation. The proposals were voted on by party members at the Liberal Democrat Spring…
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