Liberal Democrats Defending the BBC, protecting the environment, and backing a
fair and effective immigration system



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Your Latest Briefing from the Liberal Democrats in Parliament.



Dear John,

Over the past month, our MPs and Peers have been standing up for our
fundamental principles in Parliament - from protecting the environment to
standing up for freedom and democracy, both at home and abroad - and have
secured vital concessions from the Government towards these ends.

Read more about this and other recent contributions from Lib Dems in
Parliament below. 🔽





Protecting the BBC



The BBC is the world’s number one source of trusted news but today it is under
attack from US President Donald Trump and his cronies like Nigel Farage.

The BBC’s edited clip of Trump was clearly wrong, but the reaction from Trump
and others marks a dangerous moment for our democracy. Trump has pressured the
BBC over its leadership, branded its journalists ‘corrupt’, and is pursuing
legal action.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Ed Davey MP urged the Prime Minister to tell
Trump to drop his demands so he doesn’t get hold of any licence-fee payers’
money.

Ed also raised concerns about threats to the BBC’s independence here at home.
He asked Keir Starmer whether he wouldremove Robbie Gibb from the BBC Board
<[link removed]>
- a Boris Johnson appointee, former Theresa May communications chief, and GB
News adviser who has been accused of meddling in BBC editorial decisions.


Watch ➜
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⏲️ Starts at: 12:13:19 ⏐ Watch time: 3 mins



The BBC must be strong enough to stand up to political pressure, and it should
not be bullied into giving too much coverage to the loudest, most divisive
voices.

Back our campaign to Trump-proof the BBC:


Add your name ➜ <[link removed]>





Lib Dem Win: Improving access to electric vehicles



In a major step for the green transition, the Government has agreed to take
forward Liberal Democrat plans to help people without driveways switch to
electric vehicles and access affordable home-style charging.

About 40% of households lack their own off-street parking and rely on public
chargers, which can cost up to ten times more than charging at home. Because
people without driveways are disproportionately renters, lower-income
households, and people in urban areas, it creates an unfair barrier to owning
an electric vehicle.

Helen Maguire MPs' amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
<[link removed]>, which were taken forward by Baroness
Pidgeon in the Lords, would make it easier to install charging points on public
pavements, giving more people access to affordable home-style charging.

The Government has now committed to taking the contents of these amendments
forward, making home charging easier, fairer, and more affordable - and
supporting the switch to cleaner transport.


Watch ➜
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⏲️ Starts at: 11:48:27 ⏐ Watch time: 3 mins






Lib Dem Win: Standing up for Ukraine



Liberal Democrats secured a major win in support of Ukraine this month, as the
Government finally agreed to ban British shipping firms and insurers from
helping export Russian liquified national gas (LNG) - a vital change we’ve
pushed for since the summer.

As the war, and Putin’s appalling targeting of civilians, continues, it’s
shameful that British companies have been helping fuel Russia’s war machine
through its fossil fuel exports.

It’s been revealed that UK-owned or -insured carriers have facilitated the
transport of £45 billion of Russian LNG from the start of Russia’s full-scale
invasion to the end of this March.

James MacCleary MP, our Defence Spokesperson, called for this ban last month
and now the Government has finally listened.

But there remain many other steps to pile the pressure on Putin - James also
urged the Government to seize frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s
defence.


Watch ➜
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⏲️ Starts at: 13:52:38 ⏐ Watch time: 3 mins






Lib Dem Win: Stronger environmental protections in the planning system



Baroness Parminter has secured an important change to the Planning and
Infrastructure Bill <[link removed]> to strengthen
environmental safeguards. After her campaign in the House of Lords, the
Government agreed to work with her and passed a joint amendment at Third
Reading.

The amendment requires Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) to follow the
mitigation hierarchy - an established principle that says developers should
avoid harming nature first, reduce damage where it can’t be avoided, and
compensate only as a last resort.

EDPs will be an option for some developers with particular environmental
impacts. Applying the mitigation hierarchy will better protect nature while
giving developers clearer, fairer rules.

Baroness Parminter said this change will help deliver the new homes the
country needs whilst building new homes for nature and our wildlife.


Watch ➜
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⏲️ Starts at: 15:47:58 ⏐ Watch time: 4 mins






Supporting a fair and effective immigration system



This week, the Government announced reforms to fix the immigration system left
broken by the Conservatives.

Max Wilkinson MP, our Home Affairs Spokesperson, said efforts to bring order
to the system is right, but warned the plans lack ambition and contain serious
missteps.

Max welcomed the commitment to create safe and legal routes to stop dangerous
Channel crossings while providing safe refuge to those who need it.

But he criticised reported plans to confiscate asylum seekers’ jewellery and
the Government’s failure to address the impact of Brexit.

Max also championed our policies, including lifting the ban on asylum seekers
working and using “Nightingale-style” processing centres to clear the backlog
within six months.


Watch ➜
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⏲️ Starts at: 18:08:27 ⏐ Watch time: 4 mins


We’re urging the Government to act with fairness, efficiency and compassion -
for UK communities who want a functioning system, and for the asylum seekers
who deserve one.






Calling for peaceful resolutions to international conflicts



The humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan has involved systematic murder, rape and
torture, including the targeting of ethnic groups and widespread sexual
violence against women and girls.

We have repeatedly raised the crisis in Sudan in a media and political
landscape that has given it far too little attention, with ourAutumn Conference
motion
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setting out steps toward a peaceful resolution.

Responding to a statement from the Foreign Secretary, Calum Miller MP, our
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, urged the Government to lead efforts at the UN to
implement a country-wide arms embargo and support the UN inquiry so those
responsible for atrocities are held to account.

In the week the UN Security Council backed the Gaza peace plan, Calum also
welcomed progress on peace in the Middle East, but pressed the Foreign
Secretary for details on its implementation and stressed the need for a
long-term resolution, with a clear road map toward a two-state solution.


Watch ➜
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⏲️ Starts at: 14:13:59 ⏐ Watch time: 2 mins





Ed Davey MP - on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
<[link removed]> talking about
Trump's attacks on the BBC.

Daisy Cooper MP - on BBC Breakfast
<[link removed]> calling for a 5%
VAT cut for hospitality businesses.

Max Wilkinson MP - on Sky News
<[link removed]> talking about the
need for more pro-business policies.

Munira Wilson MP - on BBC Politics Live
<[link removed]> warning against
the Trumpification of our politics and media.

Josh Babarinde MP - on BBC Question Time
<[link removed]>.




Stay up to date



We can’t share everything that happens in Parliament with you here, so you can
find out more about our MPs and Peers, explore their websites, and find their
social media accounts, here:




Our MPs ➜ <[link removed]>

Our Peers ➜ <[link removed]>



Best wishes,





Liberal Democrats


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