Federal Conference Committee met on 25th May 2021 to consider the feedback from Spring Conference. It was an overflow meeting to deal with the business that could not be considered at the last meeting, which was constricted to facilitate campaigning for the Local Elections.

We discussed the feedback that we received from Spring Conference. We were very happy with it overall. We had attendees from 26 countries. The average person spent 15 hours at conference. In total, there were over 13,000 votes cast and over 17,500 chat messages. We came within 3% of our record attendance for a Spring Conference.

Changing policy by stealth is completely irresponsible.

Changing policy by stealth is completely irresponsible.

Matt Hancock should have made clear the changes he was making to guidance in advance and communicated it to the public and local officials.

He needs to make clear the situation immediately to Parliament.

Clarification on the new rules in these areas is now needed, not only for residents but for those that would normally travel to the affected areas.

Today marks one year since George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was brutally murdered by a police officer on the streets of Minneapolis.

George's murder - and the wave of protests it sparked - forced us all to confront the racial injustice that Black people face every day.

George's murder - and the wave of protests it sparked - forced us all to confront the racial injustice that Black people face every day.

No amount of tough talk and bluster from the Home Secretary can hide the fact that she has utterly failed to get a grip on the UK's broken immigration system.

Priti Patel has been talking tough about immigration for ages, while failing miserably to make the system fairer or more effective.

Years of Home Office failure, coupled with hostile policies and rhetoric from successive Conservative Home Secretaries, have shattered public confidence.

Sixty six children have died since the outbreak of violence last week.

We cannot afford yet another return to a status quo which will only lead to more innocent deaths in the future.

Every death was completely preventable.

And while a ceasefire is welcome, we cannot return to a status quo.

We need to take meaningful action now to prevent innocent deaths in the future.

Letter to UK citizens evidence of a 'hostile environment'.

It appears that thousands of letters have been sent to people who have held British citizenship for decades warning them that 'to carry on living in the UK after June 30^th 2021 you and your family members need to have a UK immigration status'.

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 10th May

Monday 10^th May Parliament did not sit.

Tuesday 11^th May

The theme of this year's International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is resisting, supporting and healing together.

Pre-pandemic there were reports that hate crimes were on the rise.

As we start to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, it perfectly encapsulates many of the needs of LGBT+ people in 2021.

In the middle of March the Government was besieged with criticism over its treatment of LGBT+ people. It got so bad that it lost three LGBT+ advisers. They cited the ignorance of ministers, and said that the government has created a "hostile environment" for LGBT+ people.

The government's failings are clear to see: from a failure to deliver GRA reform, failure to ban conversion therapy, and cutting funding to tackle anti-LGBT+ bullying in schools.

Here's a rundown of the key Bills being proposed by the Government in the Queen's Speech

Sovereign Borders Bill

The bill changes asylum rules, including making claims inadmissible if the person has arrived in the UK "illegally". The government has closed the UK's resettlement schemes, meaning there are no safe and legal routes into the UK. Asylum seekers are being forced to enter the country illegally, then being punished for it, this is inhumane and unacceptable. We should welcome refugees fleeing war and/or persecution with compassion, not treat them like criminals and understand they don't have time to check their plans with the Home Secretary.