Europe – Page 6 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

05Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tariff proposals show Johnson’s willing to break his word on Brexit yet again

Responding to reports that the UK Government is considering accepting tariffs as part of any UK-EU transition deal, Liberal Democrat Brexit and Foreign Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “This proposal is the latest chapter in a long story of the Brexit reality failing to meet Boris Johnson’s rhetoric. “Johnson told British businesses, including farmers, they’d have tariff free access to the EU market. “But just as he promised Northern Irish businesses that there would be no checks in the Irish Sea, and consumers that we wouldn’t have chlorinated chickens on our shelves, it seems that this too is an issue he is willing to break his word on. “The Government risks selling out UK farmers and industry all for their ideological Brexit.”

03Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must extend transition given NI Assembly vote

Parliamentary news

Responding to news that the Northern Ireland Assembly has passed a motion calling for an extension to the Brexit transition period given the COVID-19 crisis, Liberal Democrat Brexit and Foreign Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “The Conservatives' proposed Brexit will have a profound impact on the people and businesses of Northern Ireland. “At a time when the economy and society is already under huge amounts of pressure, it would be reckless for the government to pursue a situation where the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal. “The NI Assembly's vote is a clear indication that Boris Johnson must rethink and do the right thing for those across the UK. “Not enough progress has been made on negotiations and we are now dangerously close to the extension deadline. Liberal Democrats will…

28May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

High time for Government to extend Brexit transition period

Parliamentary news

Responding to news that EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier has made clear that an extension to the Brexit transition period is possible, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Even before COVID, Johnson had a tight timetable for Brexit talks. The Prime Minister’s refusal now to even consider the possibility of an extension to the Brexit transition as we face an unprecedented global health and economic crisis shows he is recklessly putting his Brexit ideology before the UK's national interest. “It’s clear that an extension is possible and it's high time for the Conservative Government to think again. “Boris Johnson must put the national interest first and accept the need to extend the transition period. Otherwise he threatens to pitch the country into a chaotic no deal Brexit, at a time when the economy…

17May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government putting ideology above people’s lives in refusing to extend Brexit talks

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that civil servants dealing with coronavirus have been redeployed to no-deal planning, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Government’s continuing rejection of calls for an extension to Brexit talks is reckless and flies in the face of the current efforts by everyone to tackle the coronavirus crisis. The reports that civil servants are being diverted from dealing with the virus to no-deal planning, as well as Michael Gove’s stubborn response this morning, shows the Government is determined to see the British public go from one crisis to the next. “As we witness coronavirus continue to take lives across the UK, especially in our care homes and on the frontline, it is outrageous that the Government are pulling resources away from tackling the spread of…

15May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Public would expect Brexit extension

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports of “very little progress" with the latest round of UK-EU trade talks, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Coronavirus crisis is leaving the most vulnerable at risk. Thousands of families will face financial hardship and people are rightly worried about their loved ones. "To maintain any credibility, the Government should finally extend the Brexit negotiations so all their focus can be on tackling this pandemic. That is what the public would expect. “Meantime, the Government's unwillingness to work with the European Union through the current crisis is unforgivable. The UK should be opting into Covid-19 daily calls with EU health ministers and fully participating in all EU efforts to secure critical supplies.”

14May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government misled businesses over post-Brexit customs checks

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Government's admission that there will be customs checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea after the Brexit transition period ends, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “Johnson’s Government has failed to give businesses much needed clarity on this issue. It now seems Johnson was deeply dishonest with businesses when he previously asserted there would be no checks and businesses could put paperwork “in the bin”. "His Brexit deal will mean extra costs and bureaucracy for businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, at a time when many are already struggling with the impact of coronavirus. "Liberal Democrats will continue to call on the Conservative Government to do the right thing and protect UK businesses. As part of this, it is vital the…

06May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must extend transition to avoid risk of further economic shock

Parliamentary news

Responding to TánaisteSimon Coveney's remarks that progress in negotiations to reach a post-Brexit trade deal "has not been good", Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “Unless the Government does the right thing and extends the transition period we risk crashing out without a trade deal, inflicting a double whammy just as we try to recover from the current crisis. “The NHS, food supply chains and the economy are all already under huge amounts of pressure. People are rightly worried about their jobs and their loved ones. We need to put Brexit issues to one side for now in order to focus on protecting the most vulnerable.”

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…

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…

10Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories facing £12 billion Brexit black hole

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the govt is a facing £12bilion Brexit black hole in three years according to Financial Times analysis of BoE forecasting, Liberal Democrat acting leader Ed Davey said: “Boris Johnson is not fit to run the UK’s economy. “This grim forecast for the nation’s coffers is a warning that his plan to hollow out our vital trading relationships with Europe is nothing short of reckless. “Johnson’s Brexit is taking Britain’s public finances to the brink. He must halt his charge to a No Deal or Hard Brexit and guarantee instead the closest trading relationship possible with the EU. Otherwise there’ll be no money in the future for the NHS, schools and police.”