High Peak
Liberal Democrats
Lib Dem logo bird projected on blockwork

Migration myths and unravelling of Brexit promises

The recent increase in hate crimes against Eastern Europeans in the UK has rightly been met with condemnation from across the political spectrum. Some dismiss this is a post-referendum spasm which will quickly ebb away. I fear that may not be the case and the Brexit decision may cause long-term damage to community cohesion and open a Pandora's box of nasty populist politics. Let me explain why. Brexiteer leaders - Farage, Fox, Johnson - made promises which are already unravelling. They told voters that leaving the EU would lead to better NHS services, improved job prospects and smaller class sizes. Those promises were largely based on migration myths which, unfortunately, many people believed.

JL
11 Sep 2016
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Reversing Conservative cuts remains the big social security challenge

The conference policy paper on "Mending the Safety Net" contains lots of good stuff on a wide range of welfare policy, even if I say so as a member of its working group. But, at Conference and beyond, I think it's important not to get distracted from the big issue of the £13bn of cuts planned by the Conservatives. Reversing these - and indeed going further - is what will make the biggest difference to people's lives, to UK inequality and even to the economy (and hopefully win a few votes in the process). Within this, here are three goals that the party should be fighting for. Increasing working-age benefits in line with inflation - and ultimately earnings George Osborne announced that most non-pensioner benefits would be frozen at their 2015 levels for 4 more years. Even before the Brexit vote, this was expected to be a massive drag on living standards. But inflation over the next few years is now expected to be higher than previously predicted - driven by rising import prices due to the weaker pound - and un

AC
10 Sep 2016
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EU Exit route

Brexit talks role for Belgian EU veteran Guy Verhofstadt

A veteran European federalist, Belgian ex-Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, will be the European Parliament's negotiator in Brexit talks with the UK. Mr Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal MEPs, tweeted that the parliament would play a "central role" in the talks "and any future EU-UK agreements".

10 Sep 2016
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Save Eramus!

When I launched our petition to save studying abroad, I didn't quite expect the reaction we got. In no time at all, we've collected almost 10,000 signatures and our campaign is growing bigger every second.

CBMEP
9 Sep 2016
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Dramatic Lib Dem gain from 4th place in Sheffield

Pre-2010 this was a Labour / Lib Dem ward with the Lib Dems winning out in 2008, but then the Lib Dem slide started with Labour winning in May 2010. By 2014 the Lib Dems were third and in 2015 fourth. No longer. Congratulations Gail Smith, who previously had been a councillor for this ward 2008-12. Note again the slump in the Ukip vote, this time in a ward where the party had moved up to being the challenger to Labour in recent years.

MP
10 Sep 2016
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Tim Farron in Whitehall

The Liberal Democrats will fight Brexit. Labour is not doing its job

More than two months have passed since the referendum and those of us who campaigned to remain have had some long, hard thinking to do. For Theresa May and the Conservatives, the painstaking task of delivering Brexit has begun - or at least it should have. For Labour, it is still deciding whether it's even a pro-European party. Owen Smith has made clear he wants it to be, but Jeremy Corbyn's ambivalence was plain for all to see in the referendum campaign, and he has already made clear he wants to see the Brexit process get underway.

TFMP
8 Sep 2016
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UK Lib Dem news

Ed Davey making a speech, a crowd of people are in the background holding signs reading "Britain Leading Again" and "For a Fair Deal"
International Affairs

Britain Leading Again

The UK must once again stand tall, leading on the world stage and working closely with those who share our interests – including, above all, our partners in Europe.

ED
by Ed Davey
16 Jan 2025
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Munira Wilson speaking in the House of Commons
Latest UK News

Protecting children from sexual abuse

No child should ever have to experience sexual abuse. These are horrifying crimes that cause so much harm to the children who are victims. We will keep up the pressure so that the action needed to make our communities safe all children finally happens.

MW
8 Jan 2025
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High Peak Liberal Democrats AGM Notice 4 Dec 2024 Download File
High Peak Liberal Democrats AGM Notice 7.30pm, 4 December 2024

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