Your Latest Briefing from the Liberal Democrats. | |
 | For the second Budget in a row, the Government has failed to take the bold action needed to grow our economy and tackle the cost of living crisis.
Instead of fixing our broken relationship with Europe - the single biggest thing we could do to turbocharge our economy - the Government has hiked taxes to historic highs.
This was a low-growth, high-tax budget from a Government that isn't listening. | | | | ⏲️ Watch time: 13 mins | Despite some welcome changes - taxing big online gambling companies more fairly, scrapping the two-child benefits cap, and bringing down energy bills - the Government could achieve so much more by listening to our bold plans for growth.
A new customs union with the EU would slash costs for businesses and begin to repair the £90 billion a year black hole in Government finances left by the Conservatives’ terrible Brexit deal - money that could be used to support families with the cost of living and fix the NHS and social care.
Will you sign our campaign to fix Britain’s trade, and share it with your friends and family, to help our economy grow? | | | | If you believe in our bold vision for the economy, join the Liberal Democrats today. | | | | | Already a member?
Please contact [email protected] so we can check your records. | |
 | Lib Dem win: PCCs to be abolished! | After years of campaigning, the Government has finally listened to our calls to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 3 mins | This failed Conservative experiment wasted serious money and resources, stretching our police forces. But transferring their powers to Mayors, who have weak democratic mandates and face little scrutiny, is not the answer.
We’re calling for these powers to be invested in crime and police boards to ensure the resources wasted on PCCs go into what really matters - improving frontline policing and properly staffing community policing and rural crime teams.
Read our plans for the police, passed at Autumn Conference, here: | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 2 mins | |
 | A Liberal councillor who made LGBT+ history | Earlier this month, Ed Davey visited Durham to unveil a blue plaque in honour of a true liberal trailblazer - Sam Green - the first openly gay man to be elected as a councillor in the UK.
Elected in 1972, Sam reflected the same values liberal councillors hold today - a firm commitment to community politics and local campaigning - but did so with immense courage, being openly gay at a time of prevalent homophobia.
Society has come a long way - there are now 75 openly LGBT+ MPs - but there’s still much more work to do to build the truly equal society we aspire to be.
The life of Sam Green is a reminder to continue the fight for equality, respect and the rights of all people. | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 3 mins | |
 | Lib Dem win: Giving certainty for Hong Kongers in the UK | Lib Dems achieved a huge win this month to help ensure Hong Kongers coming to and living in the UK have the stability they deserve.
British National Overseas (BNO) status helped many Hong Kongers flee the Chinese Communist Party’s crackdown on freedoms in the city - but there was mounting concern that the UK Government would include the BNO pathway in its planned reforms to extend the pathway to settlement from five to ten years.
After tireless Lib Dem campaigning, the Government has announced that those with BNO status will retain the existing five-year pathway to permanent settlement.
Retaining the five-year pathway for Hong Kongers gives them the security and stability they need to build a life here in the UK; whether it be pursuing a career or education, or raising a family.
It’s a huge win for MPs Bobby Dean and Luke Taylor, who raised the issue in Parliament, and is a key part of our policy to protect the rights of Hong Kongers, passed at Autumn Conference. | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 1 min | |
 From 13 - 19 November, we marked Trans Awareness Week, a time to listen to and act on the voices of transgender and non-binary people, celebrate their contributions and resilience, and recognise the barriers they continue to face.
20 November also marked Trans Day of Remembrance, to remember those who have lost their lives in transphobic violence, and reflect on how we as a society can end this loss of life.
Read more about our policies to do this here: | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 2 mins | |
| Liberal Democrats will always stand up for the rights of everyone in the LGBT+ community.
Most recently, Marie Goldman MP, our Spokesperson for Women and Equalities, wrote to the Minister to raise her grave concerns over the leaked draft of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s new code of practice. You can read that here. | |
 Achievements from Lib Dem councillors
Liberal Democrats in councils across the country continue to work hard for their communities, putting the party’s values into action. Here are a few recent examples:
🔶 Congratulations to our group on Cornwall Council who continue to show that the Lib Dems are the alternative to Reform – the Lib Dems are now the largest group on the Council! Find out what has happened to the Reform group here.
🔶 Lib Dem-run St Albans Council have built 14 new family-sized council homes and adapted bungalows that all have air source heat pumps.
The Lib Dem administration is also saving money and helping tackle climate change having won a grant to install solar power on a leisure centre.
🔶 Well done Lib Dem-run Portsmouth Council for improving youth clubs and adventure playgrounds when many other councils have been forced to cutback.
Over 70 more good examples of Lib Dem achievements on our councils can be seen here:
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 Remembrance Sunday
Earlier this month, we remembered and honoured those who have defended our country and protected our freedoms.
On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey MP laid a wreath at the Cenotaph during the National Service of Remembrance on 9 November. | |
 Throughout November, we have marked Islamophobia Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the experiences of Muslim communities in the UK and to stand with them against prejudice, discrimination and hatred.
Liberal Democrats stand shoulder to shoulder with Muslim communities, and are committed to pursuing meaningful change to end Islamophobia.
You can read a statement from Marie Goldman MP, our Equalities Spokesperson, to mark the month here: | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 2 mins | |
 | This month, we’re celebrating a fantastic milestone - we’ve now won 50 council by-elections since the local elections in May! That’s more than the Conservatives, Labour, and the Greens combined!
As we continue to win against all parties, Lib Dem-Reform races become ever more common.
This month, we beat Reform to gain a seat from the Conservatives in Tandridge. We also saw off Reform to hold a seat in Stratford-on-Avon, and almost gained another from the Conservatives, missing out to Reform by just a few votes.
Elsewhere, we gained a seat from the Greens in West Devon - the third Lib Dem gain in the Conservative Shadow Chancellor’s constituency in recent months.
We also held a seat in Vale of White Horse and Pendle.
Congratulations to those elected and thank you to all our candidates for standing and their hardworking teams and volunteers. | |
 | Work with us | We’ve got a wide variety of vacancies - both paid and voluntary - currently available. If you’re keen to contribute in whatever capacity suits you best, we’d love to hear from you! | | | |
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