Liberal news for a more liberal world
Britain would vote to remain in the European Union, if last year’s referendum were to be held again tomorrow. The latest poll from Survation this week, underreported in the media, shows ‘Remain’ with a lead of 54% to 46%, signifying the public’s growing unease with the development of the Brexit negotiations so far. Two Thirds Against ‘No Deal’ This news will be a worry to the Conservative government, which is…
A prominent Labour Party policy, the abolition of tuition fees, has been revealed to constitute a major financial windfall for the richest in society, according to prestigious and respected think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Huge Bonus for Rich In a report just released, the IFS said that the top 10% of earners would save as much as £60,000 from the move, while lower earners would not save nearly…
The EU has concluded a free trade deal with Japan, the world’s third largest economy, paving the way for the abolition of tariffs and subsequent reduction in price of many goods. The agreement, signed by European Council President Donald Tusk and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been hailed as a symbol of the power of the EU for engaging globally and allowing its member states to access huge markets…
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party will prop up the Tory government, giving them the vital votes they need to pass Brexit laws, it has been announced today. Capitulation Labour Brexit spokesperson, Baroness Hayter, told an event at the Institute for Government that Labour would support the government’s so-called “Great Repeal Bill” – despite it containing provisions to leave the European Court of Justice, which Labour had previously been against, marking another…
The government has backed down on its plans to abolish free school meals for infants after substantial pressure. The u-turn, the latest in a string of reversals by Prime Minister Theresa May, means the flagship Lib Dem policy stays on the statute books. Free school meals had been under threat for apparent reasons relating to their cost, with the Conservatives promising to replace them instead with free breakfasts, which came…
Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party have been caught in another row over fake news today, as they spread what was branded as “misinformation” in an attempt to deflect press attention from their hard Brexit woes. Corbyn’s Twitter account this morning tweeted innuendo about the Liberal Democrats “propping up” the Conservatives, despite repeated refutations over many months by the party. The latest rumours were branded “not true” by the Lib…
Former Lib Dem Health Minister Norman Lamb, long respected across all parties for his record on mental health and social care, today revealed results of an investigation he forced during his time as minister into underpayment of the minimum wage to social care workers, some of the hardest working but lowest paid care staff in the country. “Shocking Findings” The report comes at a time of crisis for social care…
The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has been put under pressure today as her own Cabinet ministers begin to back calls led by the Liberal Democrats and Labour to scrap the public sector pay cap. Pressure To Intervene The cap, which allows for only a 1% pay rise for public sector jobs like nurses and teachers, has been widely criticised over the past weeks, becoming a key issue during the election…
Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party have been left rattled this week as a division has sprung up in his Parliamentary coalition against austerity over Corbyn’s plans for what critics have called “Labour’s hard, extreme Brexit”. The Liberal Democrats, whose twelve votes are vitally important to any prospect of defeating the government during this hung Parliament, chose to abstain on Thursday from an anti-austerity amendment, due to the amendment also…
Sir Vince Cable, the man who looks set to be elected as new Leader of the Liberal Democrats this summer, directly addressed critics this morning and has stood firm on his party’s line on the European Union in an interview with Sky News. Questions Cable was asked about his views on freedom of movement and the single market by Sophy Ridge, protection of which are core planks of the Liberal…