Appalling that Tories are willing to jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland. Lib Dem Press Release 25th January

Davey: Appalling that Tories are willing to jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland

Responding to the concerns of Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that no-Deal Brexit could lead to border controls, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:

It’s essential Theresa May puts keeping the peace in Northern Ireland above keeping the peace in the Conservative Party.

The Irish Prime Minister could not be more clear that Brexit is already posing a challenge to that hard-won peace. His warning today over the threat to the peace from a no-deal Brexit is surely the final argument Theresa May needs to take such a disastrous outcome off the table.

It’s appalling that the Brexiteer Tories are willing to jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland for the sake of their Brexit obsession.

The people of Northern Ireland deserve better, and the Liberal Democrats demand better. Theresa May must immediately rule out a no-deal Brexit and put her deal to a People’s Vote, with the option of an exit from Brexit.

Davey: Appalling that Tories are willing to jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland

Responding to the concerns of Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that no-Deal Brexit could lead to border controls, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:

It’s essential Theresa May puts keeping the peace in Northern Ireland above keeping the peace in the Conservative Party.

The Irish Prime Minister could not be more clear that Brexit is already posing a challenge to that hard-won peace. His warning today over the threat to the peace from a no-deal Brexit is surely the final argument Theresa May needs to take such a disastrous outcome off the table.

It’s appalling that the Brexiteer Tories are willing to jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland for the sake of their Brexit obsession.

The people of Northern Ireland deserve better, and the Liberal Democrats demand better. Theresa May must immediately rule out a no-deal Brexit and put her deal to a People’s Vote, with the option of an exit from Brexit.

Airbus warning a stark reminder of the livelihoods at risk.Lib Dem Press Release 24th January

Cable: Airbus warning a stark reminder of the livelihoods at risk

Responding to Airbus’ latest warning that a no-deal Brexit could force it to pull out of the UK, describing the Brexit process as a “disgrace”, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said:

The warning from Airbus is a stark reminder that the livelihoods of thousands of British workers are at risk from the UK leaving the EU with no deal.

The longer the Prime Minister runs down the clock and fails to give businesses certainty to plan, the greater the risk to jobs.

An extension of Article 50 is now the only responsible course, and the Government should back a People’s Vote and to give the public the final say with an option to remain in the EU.

Theresa May’s Brexit Position Untenable Lib Dem Press Release 21st January

Theresa May’s Brexit Position Untenable – Welsh Lib Dems

The Welsh Lib Dems have criticised Theresa May’s statement to the Commons on Brexit this afternoon, claiming simply persisting with her utterly failed approach is not a viable solution.

Theresa May again ruled out a People’s Vote, extending or revoking Article 50 or staying in the single market and customs union.

Instead her approach appears to be that her deal is still the best option, despite the fact it was defeated by 230 votes last week in the Commons.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:

Theresa May’s statement to the Commons this afternoon was deeply disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising. The Prime Minister’s intransigence is now putting the entire country at risk and pushing us closer and closer to a disastrous no deal Brexit.

Theresa May’s deal is dead, it suffered a humiliating defeat by 230 votes last week, the biggest UK Government defeat in history. No amount of tinkering can save this deal now, particularly since Theresa May’s attempts to improve the deal over Christmas failed so abjectly.

Brexit continues to be a national embarrassment, but it can be stopped. Theresa May must accept that only the people can end this Brexit chaos.

A People’s Vote is the only viable way forward and the only option that is supported by the people and could gain the support of Parliament. We must give the people the final say and the opportunity to choose an Exit from Brexit.

New laws only help domestic abuse victims if there’s cash to enforce them. Lib Dem Press Release 21st January

New laws only help domestic abuse victims if there’s cash to enforce them

Responding to the publication of the long awaited Draft Domestic Abuse Bill, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:

Every case of domestic abuse is an abhorrent and unthinkable crime. So we must get behind this welcome work to improve the law and court procedures.

However, Ministers have taken rather too long to come forward with these ideas, and if we are to get people the support and justice they deserve, there must not be any more unnecessary delay.

And Ministers must be honest enough to admit that new laws won’t make any difference if there aren’t higher budgets to enforce the laws and protect victims too.

Liberal Democrats want more funding for refuges and rape crisis centres and a new national rape crisis helpline to support victims, increase the chances of convictions and back up any legal change.

GP postcode lottery shows vital need for a national workforce strategy for the NHS. Lib Dem Press Release 20th January

GP postcode lottery shows vital need for a national workforce strategy for the NHS

Responding to the analysis done by the BBC which shows the huge variation in the availability of GPs in different parts of England, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Judith Jolly said:

Getting access to your GP should never be a postcode lottery. The clear shortage of GPs is leaving patients stranded, waiting weeks for appointments when they could have serious health issues.

One of the key problems with the NHS ten year plan was that it was completely undermined by a lack of serious workforce planning. It is vital the Government produce a national workforce strategy, ensuring people can access GPs when they need them.

The Government must look at the long term solutions in training more GPs and ensuring we retain the ones we have. Whilst there is inadequate planning for the NHS workforce, the NHS ten year plan will not be deliverable.

Labour and Tories ad sea on Brexit. Lib Dem Press Releases 19/20 January

Labour failing their duty as Official Opposition on Brexit

This morning Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit Secretary, refused to answer how any Brexit deal that Labour could negotiate could pass Labour’s ‘six tests’.

Responding to the exchange on the Andrew Marr show, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said:

It is clear that Labour’s policy on Brexit is no closer to getting any clearer. After a week in which the Conservative Government’s deal was destroyed in an historic Parliamentary defeat, it is a dereliction of duty for the Opposition to continue without an alternative plan.

The shadow Brexit secretary could not answer how any Brexit deal they negotiated would pass Labour’s six tests, the most crucial being to provide the exact same benefits we currently enjoy as EU members.

The Liberal Democrats are clear; the best deal is the one we currently have. That is why we are continuing to fight for a people’s vote, with the option to remain in the EU.

It is time the Labour Party joined us in holding this shambolic Conservative Government to account.

Fox’s failure to sign trade deals shows Brexiters’ ‘Global Britain’ does not exist

Today Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, has admitted the UK has yet to finalise agreements to replace the existing free trade deals that the EU has with 40 big economies if there is a no-deal Brexit.

Responding, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said:

Liam Fox has confirmed that the tumult of trade deals that he promised would be signed, the day after Brexit, are stalled. There will not be, and never was going to be, any significant trade deals that could offset the loss of trade with our closest and largest partner.

It is time Fox admitted his grand project is ideological, not economic, and will leave us all poorer. The Brexiters’ vision of ‘Global Britain’ does not exist.

This Conservative Government has not only had two and half years worth of negotiating defeated this week in the House of Commons, but is completely unprepared for a no-deal scenario.

The only serious option left on the table is a people’s vote, with the option to remain in the EU.

Final fig leaf of leave campaign falls off with Fox. Lib Dem Press Release 18th January

Lib Dems: Final fig leaf of leave campaign falls off with Fox

Commenting on Liam Fox’s admission that he hasn’t yet secured any trade deals in preparation for a no deal Brexit, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said:

The final fig leaf of the leave campaign has finally fallen off as it turns out several trade deals Liam Fox said would be ready for Brexit will not be, perhaps not even one.

Not only has Liam Fox’s ‘easiest trade deal in history’ failed to materialise, so to have new trade deals disappeared from view.

This is why it is time to go back to the public with a people’s vote, with an option to remain.

Lib Dems fight Tory threats to human rights. Lib Dem Press Release 19th January

Lib Dems fight Tory threats to human rights

Responding to a letter suggesting that the Conservative Government will consider repealing the Human Rights Act after Brexit, the Liberal Democrats vowed to “continue to lead the fight to protect our human rights”.

The letter, from Justice Minister Edward Argar to the House of Lords’ EU Committee, states that the Government will not repeal or replace the Human Rights Act “while the process of EU exit is underway”, but will “wait until the process of leaving the EU concludes before considering the matter further”.

This follows concerns raised by Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey over the lack of a proper commitment to the European Court of Human Rights in Theresa May’s Brexit deal. As Mr Davey pointed out in a letter to the Prime Minister dated 22nd November 2018:

The draft political declaration published today (22nd November) merely states that: ‘The future relationship should incorporate the United Kingdom’s continued commitment to respect the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights’.

In that letter, Mr Davey asked the Prime Minister to explain this weakened wording, and to commit to the UK remaining a party to the ECHR.

Commenting on the Government’s letter, Ed Davey said:

This new Conservative threat to repeal the Human Rights Act and withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights is a scandal, and will undermine the Prime Minister’s attempt to win consensus.

The European Convention is totally separate from the EU, so the Conservatives have no mandate to attack British freedoms, yet it seems if Brexit goes through, that is their plan.

The Liberal Democrats demand better. We will continue to lead the fight to protect our human rights against Conservative attempts to undermine them.

Outrageous that army reserves are on standby due to Tory Brexit mess. Lib Dem Press Release 17 January

Lib Dems: Outrageous that army reserves are on standby due to Tory Brexit mess

Responding to the news the Government has put the army reserves on standby due to a no-deal Brexit, Liberal Democrat Armed Forces Spokesperson Jamie Stone said:

The Conservatives have made such a mess of Brexit that now even soldiers are being put on standby. It is outrageous. What kind of message to the country is this? It does nothing to alleviate the worry and uncertainty people feel.

All this nonsense can be stopped by the Prime Minister ruling out a chaotic ‘no deal’ scenario. But better yet, Liberal Democrats would give the power back to the people through a People’s Vote with the option to remain in the EU.

UK facing energy crunch. Lib Dem Press Release 17th January

Davey: UK facing energy crunch

Responding to the news that Hitachi have stopped work on the Wylfa plant, former Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy Ed Davey said:

Japanese businesses have warned about Brexit’s economic consequences since the 2016 referendum, so this latest set back to the Conservatives’ energy policy is not a surprise.

The UK will face an energy crunch in the next decade and fall behind on climate change targets if the Government just continues to sit on its hands.

Liberal Democrats demand better. The much cheaper opportunity of renewable power backed up by cutting edge technologies like new-generation batteries, interconnectors and tidal lagoons must now take priority over nuclear.