Liberal Democrats Your exclusive April briefing is here 🔶



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John’s April Briefing from the Liberal Democrats in Parliament.



Hi John,

Parliament is now on its Easter recess, but it has been another busy month for
Liberal Democrats, both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Here is just some of what we’ve been up to in Parliament:


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Making a difference internationally



At Spring Conference in York, during a Q&A session with party leader, Ed Davey
(MP for Kingston and Surbiton) answered a question by Shiva, a British-Iranian
woman.

Shiva explained how hopeless she felt, watching the awful scenes in Iran and
the brutal repression of those brave women who have taken to the streets. She
asked what we were doing, and whether there was any more we could do.

Following this exchange, Liberal Democrats tabled a motion in Parliament
calling on the UK Government to take a stronger stance against the Iranian
regime.

As an internationalist party standing up for human rights around the world,
the Liberal Democrats will stand up for Iranian people being persecuted by the
regime.

And Layla Moran (MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and Spokesperson on Foreign
Affairs) has been leading calls in Parliament to get the UK Government to do
more as part of her continued campaigning on this issue.

Layla has also been working hard on another important international matter -
recently putting forward a Bill which would ensure the British Government
formally recognises the sovereign and independent state of Palestine.



Watch Ed's Response ➜
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Follow Layla's Bill ➜ <[link removed]>







Government and police failing to protect children




Last week a damning report
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was released by the Children’s Commissioner which detailed Government and
police failings which led to 2,846 children being strip-searched under stop and
search powers in England and Wales in the last 4 years.

Those affected were disproportionately from black and minority ethnic
backgrounds.

Liberal Democrats secured time on the order paper in both the House of
Commons and the House of Lords to question a Home Office Minister on these
shocking statistics.

“Childhood lasts a lifetime and the mental trauma, mistrust, abuse and
humiliation suffered by these children will stay with them” - Floella Benjamin



Watch ➜ <[link removed]>


“We need immediate action before another child is strip-searched in such
humiliating, traumatising circumstances again. No child can afford to wait.” -
Munira Wilson



Watch ➜ <[link removed]>




Responding to the out-of-touch Budget



One of the big political moments of this past month was Jeremy Hunt delivering
the latest Budget. Sarah Olney (MP for Richmond Park and our Treasury
Spokesperson) led our response in the House of Commons, which you can watch
below.

“Nearly three million people are expected to fall into poverty over the next
two years. And in four years’ time, over a third of children could be growing
up in poverty, the highest at any point this century. That’s the true cost of
the cost-of-living crisis under the Conservatives.

And that’s why Liberal Democrats are calling for more help with energy bills,
mortgages, and investment in our public services.” - Sarah Olney MP

Sarah also reflected on the Budget a couple of days later in her speech at
Spring Conference. You can read the full text of Sarah’s speechhere
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, or watch ithere <[link removed]>.



Watch Sarah in Parliament ➜
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Beating the Government on Housing




Liberal Democrat Peer Kath Pinnock tabled a motion calling on the Government
to fix a mistake they made which proved costly to leaseholders.

The Government made an error which created a loophole allowing landlords to
pass the costs of remedying building defects to their leaseholders.

Baroness Pinnock triggered and won a vote on her motion which called on the
Government to identify those affected and provide them with guidance on how to
remedy the costs incurred as a result of the Government’s incompetence.



Find out more ➜ <[link removed]>








Gove grilled by Liberal Democrat MPs




Four Lib Dem MPs questioned Michael Gove during Department for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities questions last week:

Daisy Cooper (MP for St Albans) on the national planning policy framework,
Sarah Olney MP on service charges for leaseholders and social housing tenants,
Wera Hobhouse (MP for Bath) on affordable housing, and Wendy Chamberlain (MP
for North Fife) on giving overseas voters the right to vote.

Gove was clearly rattled by our questioning, at one point remarking
“Honestly, the Liberal Democrats have a right cheek on this” - but we won’t
apologise for campaigning hard for the rights of our constituents and the
British people.




On Broadcast



Here are a couple of highlights from our media rounds from the last month:



* Ed Davey MP - BBC Breakfast
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recruiting GPs
* Helen Morgan MP - Question Time
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* Daisy Cooper MP - Newsnight
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* Sarah Olney MP - Politics Live
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Plus, our Local Elections campaign launch was featured across all major
broadcasters!






Of course we aren’t able to share everything that happens in Parliament every
month in these newsletters or you’d be scrolling for hours - but if you want to
find out more about what individual MPs or Peers are working on, be sure to
check out their social media accounts or MP’s websites where many also have
newsletters you can sign up to for updates on their work.

You can find out more about our MPs and Peers by visiting our website below.



Our MPs ➜ <[link removed]>


Our Peers ➜ <[link removed]>



As we gear up to Local Elections across most areas of England, and move
towards a General Election - it’s important we spread the word on what Liberal
Democrats in power can achieve so why not forward this email with your friends
and family so they too can see the important work we are doing?



Received this email from a Liberal Democrat Member or Supporter?


Why not join us today and support our work in Parliament and across the
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Not ready to join us just yet but interested in what we are doing? Sign up to
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Keep up to date


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Best wishes,






With best wishes,
Liberal Democrats



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