'How do we make a difference?' That was the question the Party Body Review Group was asked to answer. Looking at the range of Party bodies, there was only one way to find out!
As a Review Group we decided to ask those Party Organisations what they thought, where the gaps were, how they could make a difference to the Party going forward and how they might help one another. The Review captures their views, their potential and the opportunity for the Party as a whole to benefit from changes and how they and the Party relate to one another.
More than 170 musicians have urged Ministers to organise paperwork-free travel in Europe for artists on tour.
The extra costs will make many tours unviable, especially for young emerging musicians.
The EU Trade 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 Liberal Democrats are the most pro-European party in British politics. We truly believe that we are stronger together, and internationalism will always be one of our core values.
That hasn't changed now that we have left the European Union.
I am proud how we Liberal Democrats campaigned tirelessly against Brexit, and proud that last month all Liberal Democrat MPs voted against Johnson's dreadful EU Trade Deal - already proving so disastrous to small businesses, fishermen and the wider economy.
The Federal Conference Committee met via Zoom call on Saturday, 16 January for the agenda selection for our second virtual conference. The meeting was a lengthy one, which was in part due to the large selection of varied and interesting motions we received, but also to give us breaks from staring at computer screens for a number of hours.
The Government are refusing to accept cross-party amendments to the Trade Bill that would put human rights at the heart of our trade policy.
The UK and the world can't just stand by and do nothing.
This is particularly important because of what is happening to the Uyghur people in Xinjiang and across China. The Foreign Secretary last week described the mounting evidence to the Commons:
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 goods they produce to high environmental and animal welfare standards.
Liberal Democrats back British farmers.
The Conservatives have continually failed to protect our farmers from these risks.
Welcome to the Weekly Whip. Your one-stop shop for Lib Dem Parliamentary updates, covering the week that was and the week to come.
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Weekly Whip w/c 11th January
Monday 11thJanuary
Monday started off with a statement from the Chancellor who has been notably quiet as of late. He came to the House to update MPs on the most recent packages of support for individuals and businesses during the pandemic.
For years, this Government have promised our fishing industry a sea of opportunity, but, today, our boats are tied up in harbour, their propellers fouled with red tape manufactured in Whitehall.
Our boats are tied up in harbour, their propellers fouled with red tape manufactured in Whitehall.
Boats that are able to go to sea are landing their catches in Denmark-an expensive round trip of at least 72 hours, which takes work away from processors and other shoreside businesses in this country.
I tabled the Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21, which was due for its second reading on Friday.
Lib Dems will continue to fight for healthcare workers' rights
But the Government have decided to axe all sitting Fridays until the end of March, meaning dozens of Private Members Bills will effectively be shut down.
