Your Latest Briefing from the Liberal Democrats. |
 | Every day counts, John. | English local elections are less than two months away on 2nd May. A General Election may fall on the same day or follow soon after.
Weâve made great progress reaching hundreds of thousands of voters this year so thank you to everyone who has already helped. Together, we are taking the fight to the Conservatives across the country.
But if you donât normally volunteer or want to do more, can you lend a hand?
You could deliver leaflets, speak to voters, or help with office work - anything makes a huge difference.
Please sign up below if you can spare any time: | | | This is our chance to transform the country. John, will you join as a full member or register as a supporter to back our Fair Deal? | | | | | |
- Budget response
- Cancer survival rates
- International Women's Day
- International Affairs Update
| - A Fair Deal for Farmers
- Council by-election wins
- In the Media
- Work for Us
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 | âA bottom of the barrel budgetâ | The Conservativesâ budget last week offered families no real help with the cost of living.
The national insurance cut will be more than wiped out by the Governmentâs years of stealth tax rises. Overall, the average worker will be ÂŁ383 worse off over two years!
Watch Ed Davey MPâs response on the BBC here: | | | | â˛ď¸ Watch time: 1 min | Frozen income tax thresholds will also increase taxes for millions of pensioners, giving them an average ÂŁ1,000 hit by 2027/28. This news, plus the response of Sarah Olney MP, was featured on the front page of The Mirror and in The Sun.
Read the full story here: |  | | | | â˛ď¸ Est. reading time: 5 mins | Our research also shows that a revolt by pensioners against these plans could threaten 39 key Blue Wall and West Country seats, including Jeremy Huntâs: | | | | â˛ď¸ Est. reading time: 3 mins | |
 | Boosting cancer survival rates | Ed Davey MP has unveiled our plan to improve cancer survival rates.
Currently, we rank 28th out of 33 comparable countries for stomach and lung cancer five-year survival rates. The Government has consistently missed its targets since 2015 for cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days.
Our plan will grant patients a legal right to treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, and invest in more cancer staff, diagnostic equipment and cancer research. | | | | â˛ď¸ Est. reading time: 5 mins | |
 | International Womenâs Day | The 8th March marked International Womenâs Day, celebrating womenâs achievements and raising awareness about discrimination.
We must keep challenging biases and stereotypes on the path to gender equality. This yearâs theme, #InspireInclusion, called for a more inclusive world for women.
You can read the messages of Ed Davey MP and Christine Jardine MP below, reflecting on the progress the Lib Dems have made, as well as the long road ahead. | | | | â˛ď¸ Est. reading time: 2 mins | | | | â˛ď¸ Est. reading time: 1 min | |
International Affairs update đ |  The conflict in Israel and Gaza
In February, Ed Davey MP visited Israel and Palestine to meet those impacted by the conflict, and speak to politicians and civil society about how to secure two states and a lasting peace.
Ed called for the far-right Israeli ministers and extremist leaders of the illegal settlement movement, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, to be sanctioned by the UK.
You can read all about Edâs visit here: | | | | â˛ď¸ Est. reading time: 4 mins |  2 years since Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine on 24th February
Two years on and our support for Ukraine is unwavering. We must provide the military, financial and humanitarian assistance Ukraine desperately needs.
Thatâs why we were appalled at the Governmentâs decision to end the Ukrainian Family Scheme, which allowed Ukrainians to join family members taking sanctuary in the UK. Alistair Carmichael MP raised this in the Commons: | | | | â˛ď¸ Watch time: 1 min | |
 | A Fair Deal for Farmers | The Conservatives have long neglected farmers and rural communities, cutting the farming budget and signing flawed trade deals. Tim Farron MP attacked the Government at the NFU conference in February: | | | | â˛ď¸ Watch time: 1 min | Our farming communities deserve better. Our Fair Deal will raise the farming budget by ÂŁ1 billion, address workplace shortages and fix the botched trade deals.
Read about our plans, adopted at last yearâs Autumn Conference, here, and please back our campaign to support British farmers: | | | | â˛ď¸ Est. reading time: 4 mins | Will you support our Back British Farming campaign? | | | |
 | Another month and more incredible council by-election wins for the Lib Dems!
We won against Labour in Hull and against the Conservatives in Blue Wall Hampshire and Hertfordshire, and in Devon. We also had a huge gain from the Conservatives in Wiltshire, plus 2 big wins in East Riding of Yorkshire.
Congratulations to all those elected and to their amazing teams! | |
 | Work for Us | Weâve got a wide variety of vacancies - both paid and voluntary - currently available. If youâre keen to contribute in whatever capacity suits you best, weâd love to hear from you! | | | |
| The coming weeks see a number of religious and cultural festivals, including Easter, Ramadan, Passover and Holi - if you're celebrating, we wish you a happy and peaceful time.
Best wishes, |  | Liberal Democrats | | |
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