Europe – Page 2 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

21Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

NI Protocol: Government “taking us all for mugs”

Reacting to Lord Frost's statement on the NI Protocol, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs and Northern Ireland Alistair Carmichael MP said: "This is a joke. The Government is taking us all for mugs when they say this mess could not have been predicted. They signed up to the Protocol knowing full well businesses would be caught up in a game of political football. It is time to get a grip and sort it out. "Their confrontational attitude will get us nowhere. Instead, they must focus on working together with the EU to help those people caught in the middle of it all. "The reality is that a solution to the Protocol’s problems is on the table by aligning with animal and food standards, which is what businesses want. That…

24Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government recklessly gambling on farmers retirement

Parliamentary news

The Conservatives have proposed a retirement scheme to support farmers who wish to leave the industry, freeing up land for new entrants. However, no analysis has been done on the number expected to take up the scheme, nor how many new entrants will replace them. Questions from the Liberal Democrats have revealed that the Government only “think” that new workers will enter the industry. Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Tim Farron MP, said: “This news is deeply concerning. The farming industry has already been battered by the Conservative’s mishandling of Brexit, the failure to protect animal welfare standards and the cuts to support payments without the replacement even being ready. “Now the Government is encouraging people to leave the industry, with no idea who will replace them. This risks…

10Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

NI Protocol: Blame slinging must stop

Parliamentary news

Commenting on the latest round of talks aimed at simplifying the Northern Ireland Protocol post-Brexit, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael MP said: "This meeting was an opportunity for constructive attempts to fix the problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol. Instead, all we get is blame slinging and briefing wars which do nothing to help the people caught in the middle of all this. "Continual insistence on unilateral action will get us nowhere. The issues with the implementation of the protocol will only be solved by the UK and EU working together to find a solution. "There needs to be a wholesale change in focus, with the aim of reaching alignment on sanitary and phytosanitary standards and securing a veterinary agreement."

21Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems review to plot paths to closer relationship with EU

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrats have voted to launch an internal review that will set out roadmaps to rejoining EU agencies such as the Customs Union and Single Market, with a view to membership of the European Union in future. It comes in the wake of the devastating impact of Boris Johnson’s trade deal, which has left millions of British businesses and workers worse off. The Liberal Democrats notably stood as the only major, UK-wide party who opposed the deal at every stage it was presented to Parliament. With today’s policy motion they pledged to continue to hold the Government accountable for its inadequacies. The motion, passed at their Spring Conference this weekend, also sets out a desire for closer cooperation with the EU on areas such as climate change, health, science and…

15Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Carmichael: No shock or surprise at EU legal action against UK

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the European Union have launched legal action against the UK for an alleged breach of the Northern Ireland Protocol trade agreement, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Northern Ireland, Alistair Carmichael MP, said: "Given the Government’s track record on negotiating with the EU, this comes as no shock or surprise. "Boris Johnson and his Government have made a pig’s ear of all of this. They have let down everyone – from farmers and fishermen, to businesses needing certainty for the months ahead. “I’ve always been keen to stress that there were other, more collaborative ways, to go about an extension of the grace period which would work in everyone’s best interests. “Instead, this Government was all too quick to take unilateral action. Reneging on an agreement you…

12Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Brexit trade & GDP: Livelihoods are being ruined

Parliamentary news

Responding to ONS figures showing UK goods exports to the European Union fell by 40.7% and the UK economy has shrunk by 2.9%, Treasury Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, Christine Jardine MP, said: “These figures are disastrous. Businesses, jobs and livelihoods are being ruined and this botched, unnecessary Brexit deal just makes everything worse. "The Chancellor needs to come up with the long-awaited long term strategy now. We need the big and bold action to save our economy. The budget was a missed opportunity and time is fast running out to save our economy before its too late. The Government cannot continue to blame this on the pandemic. The blame lies solely at their door." “It is small businesses, already on the brink after months of lockdown, which will be…

11Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

UK recovery damaged by Amsterdam taking London’s crown

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that Amsterdam has overtaken London as Europe's share trading hub, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The news that Amsterdam has taken London's crown as Europe's leading share-trading hub will send shockwaves through the economy. "As well as the immediate impact on jobs in London this will have a profound effect on a vital UK industry. Our financial services industry creates hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and contributes more than £70 billion of tax revenue - that is money we need to invest in a strong recovery. "The costs of Boris Johnson's botched trade deal with the EU are now mounting up. It is vital to the UK's recovery that the Prime Minister gets back around the negotiating table and secures a…

04Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Brexit export fiasco: Lib Dems call on PM to meet businesses now

Parliamentary news

Today a new poll by YouGov/HSBC has found that 42% of British exporters said the exit from the single market and customs union has had a “negative impact” on their business. Responding to these findings, Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Business, Trade, and Transport, said: “Boris Johnson has betrayed British business in his bodged Brexit deal. These new findings serve as a harsh reminder that this Government showed no interest in securing a trade deal which would work for the British people. It was a deal signed purely out of political self-interest. “I call on Boris Johnson to meet with British exporters, particularly small businesses, struggling with his new regime of red tape and listen to their concerns. The Government must own up to their mistakes and rectify…

30Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Use of Article 16 wrong and short-sighted

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the EU is set to impose restrictions on vaccine exports and invoke Article 16, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “The effectiveness of the COVID vaccine depends on countries working together. “The use of Article 16 to restrict the supply of vaccines is both wrong and short-sighted. I urge all sides to work together to find a resolution as soon as possible. “Liberal Democrats believe that global problems can only be solved by countries working together. Calm heads must prevail now and right the way through to the end of this crisis both at home and abroad."

20Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Musicians left high and dry by Brexit deal

Parliamentary news

Liam Gallagher, Sir Elton John and Bob Geldof have called on the Government to make it easier for musicians to tour around Europe. In an exclusive to The Times more than 170 musicians have urged Ministers to organise paperwork-free travel in Europe for artists on tour. The Brexit deal makes it extremely difficult for touring artists because they now need a costly work permit and face a mountain of paperwork for their equipment. The extra costs will make many tours unviable, especially for young emerging musicians. Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Peter Strasburger, said: “Predictably the government is trying to blame the EU, but the fact remains that when the going got tough during the talks on the trade deal, Tory ministers just ducked for cover and hoped the problem would…

Tag: Europe