trade – Page 4 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

20Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Musicians left high and dry by Brexit deal

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…

18Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Fishing anger should be no surprise – Carmichael

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, has said there should be “no surprise” that seafood exporters have taken to the streets to protest against the disruption they are facing. Dozens of HGVs have been reported around Whitehall in London demonstrating against the blockages they are facing in trade with the EU. Some reports suggest that protestors intend to dump unsellable seafood cargo in the streets. Commenting on the protests, Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael said: “I suspect that it will be a pleasant change for these lorry drivers to be able to drive instead of sitting waiting in a depot or at a port somewhere. It should be no surprise to anyone in Whitehall that our seafood exporters are angry. That anger will…

06Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems back high standards for British food and farmers

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Lords helped defeat the Government by backing a cross-party amendment to the Trade Bill ensuring that future trade agreements meet the UK’s high standards of animal welfare and the environment. The Conservatives have consistently failed to support such a measure, risking that future trade deals could permit the import of food that fails to meet the UK’s high standards. This puts significant pressure on British farmers. Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Farming said: “Farmers across the country are worried about their future - they’re worried that the UK will be flooded with poor quality food that undercuts the food they produce to high environmental and animal welfare standards. “The Conservatives have continually failed to protect our farmers from these risks. This amendment will ensure that our farmers…

13Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Johnson must do more to help British Business

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the EU and UK will continue trade talks, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Whilst it’s essential the UK and EU continue negotiations to avoid a No Deal, it is an outrage for Boris Johnson to leave British business in the lurch, with only a handful of days to plan for new trading arrangements. “The fact that businesses, already on their knees from the Covid crisis, still have no idea how they will trade with the EU in two and half weeks is already costing jobs and is frankly shocking. “That is why Liberal Democrats believe it’s time Boris Johnson put his Brexit ideology aside, to negotiate an adjustment period for British business and secure a full and comprehensive trading arrangement with the…

10Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Poor GDP figures show PM must negotiate adjustment period for businesses

Parliamentary news

Responding to the GDP figures released this morning, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The lack of recovery we're seeing in the GDP figures today is yet another a reminder that the economic effects of the pandemic are far from over, and people right across the UK continue to face immense hardship. "Ministers must not be complacent now we have a vaccine. Instead, they must step up to provide the support that's so desperately needed, particularly by the three million who are still excluded from any financial support from the Government. "The Government must also avoid risking more damage being done at the end of the transition period. The Prime Minister should negotiate a six-month Adjustment Period urgently to give struggling businesses much needed breathing space, rather than the…

08Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government right to U-turn on law breaking Northern Ireland plans

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the Government has abandoned the international law breaking elements in the Internal Market bill, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “This is welcome news but let’s not forget how we got here: the Government wasted months threatening to break international law before spectacularly back-pedalling, damaging Britain’s international reputation in the process. “Now Boris Johnson must focus on securing a good deal that avoids creating barriers to trade with Britain’s closest economic partners and protects British businesses, with an adjustment period to avoid yet another wave of redundancies.”

08Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Government must give UK business time to adjust

Parliamentary news

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has today written to the Prime Minister calling on him to negotiate an adjustment period for British business of three to six months regardless of what happens with the trade deal negotiations with the EU. In the letter, Ed Davey warns the coronavirus crisis has already put British business under extraordinary pressure and any move which pushes them to a cliff edge on the 1st of January will create another wave of redundancies and misery for communities across the UK. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “With only three and a half weeks until the end of the transition period, Boris Johnson still has a the opportunity to give businesses a chance to survive January if he can successfully negotiate…

18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems urge PM to secure Adjustment Period with EU to give businesses breathing space

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats are calling on PM to seek an "Adjustment Period" for businesses to transition to new UK-EU trade arrangements The Liberal Democrats are urging the Prime Minister to negotiate an “Adjustment Period” as part of the deal with the EU, to ensure British businesses have enough time to prepare for the new trading relationship with Europe. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Liberal Democrats warn of a potentially "existential" threat to businesses if they are not given time to adjust and argue that - by phasing-in new rules, regulations and procedures - businesses would have the "breathing space" they need to prepare and adapt. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Businesses cannot afford to be hit with the double whammy of Covid and disrupted…

16Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories’ reckless brinkmanship on UK-EU trade risks livelihoods

Parliamentary news

Responding to George Eustice's comments on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, suggesting that next week is “a week when things need to move” for the UK and EU to agree to a trade deal, Liberal Democrat Brexit and Trade spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Up and down the country people are watching and waiting for the Conservatives to deliver the UK-EU trade deal that they have promised, and that we desperately need. The urgency of this situation could not be clearer. "Yet, with just weeks until the end of the transition period, the Tories' reckless brinkmanship continues to put people's livelihoods and vital supply chains at risk. Our economy is already in crisis due to Covid-19. We need absolute reassurance that Ministers will not take our economy over a new cliff edge.…

10Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dem peers help defeat Government over illegality of Internal Market Bill

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat peers voted to remove the illegal aspects of the Internal Market Bill, with the Government being defeated by 268 votes and 259 votes on the two respective divisions. Following the votes, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Dick Newby said: “The Internal Market Bill reveals just how little regard Boris Johnson and his Government have for the rule of the law – to try and ram through this legislation that breaks our international treaties is a stain on the UK’s reputation. “This Bill does not provide Northern Ireland with unfettered access to the rest of the UK, nor does it strengthen the union as Ministers are pretending – in fact it does the very opposite. This Bill was never anything more than a political…

Tag: trade