Your Latest Briefing from the Liberal Democrats. | |
 | Thank you for another fantastic year, John! | This year, we have built our momentum following our historic General Election in 2024, winning more elections and winning more votes in Parliament.
In 2025, the Liberal Democrats won more council by-elections than any other party - the only party taking the fight to Nigel Farage’s Reform. In local elections across England in May, we had our seventh set of gains in a row and, for the first time in history, beat both the Conservatives and Labour at a set of local elections.
Our 72 MPs and hardworking Peers achieved great success in Parliament throughout 2025. From extending free school meals to installing solar panels on all new homes, and from protecting domestic abuse victims to banning puppy smuggling - with your support, our team made a difference.
Next year, we’ll continue to fight for local communities and for the liberal Britain we all believe in.
With crucial Senedd, Scottish Parliament and local elections coming up next May, our liberal voice is needed now more than ever.
If you want to play your part in a crucial year for the future of our country, join the Liberal Democrats today!
You’ll not only help us achieve even more in 2026, you’ll access exclusive events and training, the ability to vote on future policy, and much more. | | | | | Already a member?
Please contact [email protected] so we can check your records. | |
 | Fixing our broken relationship with Europe | This month, we’re celebrating two huge wins to fix the mess created by the Conservatives’ botched Brexit deal with the EU.
Earlier this month, Liberal Democrats won a key vote in the House of Commons, calling on the Government to begin negotiations with the EU on a new, bespoke Customs Union.
MPs backed Dr Al Pinkerton MP’s Ten Minute Rule Bill with a majority of one, supporting the removal of trade barriers and red tape to help turbocharge our economy.
With 13 Labour backbenchers also voting in favour, the Government should now listen and give the Bill time for a proper debate in Parliament next year. | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 3 mins | This week, we were relieved to see the Government finally agreeing to implement another key Liberal Democrat proposal - returning the UK to the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme from 2027.
Following years of Lib Dem campaigning, this is fantastic news for our young people, who will be able to learn new skills and make valuable life experiences across the continent as a result.
This is a crucial step - but only the first in repairing our relationship with Europe. The Government must now go for growth by seeking a new Customs Union with the EU, as well as securing and implementing a Youth Mobility Scheme to create more opportunities for the next generation.
Sign our campaign for a UK-EU Customs Union and share it with your friends and family to keep up the momentum: | | | | |
 | Ending the crisis in SEND provision | Last week, Ed Davey and other Lib Dem MPs met with families impacted by the current crisis in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision. Children and their families are being let down by a broken system that leaves far too many children without the support they need.
Sadly, the Government’s reforms announced last week do not go far enough.
Plans to create 50,000 more places for children with SEND needs in mainstream schools in England, and to invest £3 billion over the next three years are good news. But cancelling specialist SEND schools to fund this expansion will do nothing to help build sustainable capacity in our SEND system.
We need ambitious reforms to better diagnose and support impacted children, with a clear plan to recruit and train enough teachers and specialists to staff this expansion of provision in schools.
Liberal Democrats are also calling on the Government to stand up to the private equity firms that are taking families for a ride and draining council coffers. We must introduce a cap on the profits that private equity sucks from the SEND system, and reinvest them into the support children need. | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 3 mins | |
New Lib Dem Peers | Three new Liberal Democrat appointments to the House of Lords were announced this month: former MP and Children’s Minister Sarah Teather, the party’s Chief Executive Mike Dixon and Ed Davey’s Chief of Staff Rhiannon Leaman.
Ed Davey welcomed the new peers saying: “All three are passionate campaigners and dedicated public servants who will continue fighting hard to deliver the change our country desperately needs, including reform of the House of Lords.”
Two Liberal Democrat hereditary peers, Dominic Addington and John Russell, have also been granted life peerages so they can continue their important work in Parliament after the Hereditary Peers Bill passes.
We look forward to seeing what they will achieve in Parliament. | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 8 mins | |
 | Don't let a Trump Tax destroy our BBC | US President Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against the BBC is a threat to our democracy which would hit every licence fee payer in the pocket.
But this is about more than money - Trump’s real intention is to destroy the BBC, a vital source of trusted news across the world. Sadly, the Conservatives and Reform are cheering him on. | | | | ⏲️ Watch time: 1 min | The Prime Minister must stand up for our BBC and call on Trump to drop his lawsuit, and the BBC must fight it every step of the way. We can’t let Trump get his hands on a penny of licence fee payers’ money.
Sign our campaign to Trump-proof the BBC by boosting its independence and impartiality: | | | |
 | Protecting our justice system | This month, the Government announced that jury trials for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years will be scrapped, with decisions instead made solely by judges.
The Liberal Democrats believe in a justice system that is fair, open and accountable - removing juries on this scale is not the answer to resolve the court backlog.
Trial by jury has been the jewel in the crown of our justice system for over 800 years. The horrendous court backlog, which sees victims waiting years for justice, cannot be used as an excuse to rip up the right to a fair trial.
We’re calling for a proper plan to fix the system: more court sitting days, better use of underused courtrooms, fixing broken private contracts that leave defendants stuck in prison vans, and investing in rehabilitation to reduce reoffending. | | | | ⏲️ Est. reading time: 5 mins | |
 | We’re celebrating more Lib Dem wins in council by-elections this month!
We gained a seat from the Conservatives in Torridge - the fourth Lib Dem gain in Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox’s constituency this year!
In East Devon, we enjoyed a gain from the Conservatives and a hold, making it 13 by-election wins for the Lib Dems in Devon this year, along with removing the Conservatives from power and becoming the largest party in May’s county council elections.
We also gained a seat from the SNP in Fort William and Ardnamurchan and held seats in Watford and South Ribble.
In 2025, Liberal Democrats have won 105 council by-elections, more than any other party. |  | | It puts us in a great position to win many more seats in 2026!
Whether you won or not, thank you to everyone who stood and to their teams for an incredible effort throughout the year. We can be truly proud of the progress we are making across the country. | |
Update from the LGA Liberal Democrat Group Liberal Democrat councils and councillors continue to put the party’s values into practice at a local level:
🔶 Building truly affordable housing: Lib Dem-run Sutton Council is increasing the number of council houses it is planning to build in Sutton town centre.
🔶 Supporting local employment: Bristol Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Varney has run a campaign to save a local glassmaking firm. It’s raised the profile of the business’ plight in looking for new premises, and lots of people have come forward with invitations to view different spaces around the city, including council-owned sites. More details here.
🔶 Helping the most vulnerable in our society: Lib Dem-run South Cambridgeshire District Council is providing extra support for vulnerable residents in claiming benefits.
🔶 Protecting our local environment: Lib Dem-run Chelmsford City Council has planted thousands of trees. | |
 | Work with us | We’ve got a wide variety of vacancies - both paid and voluntary - currently available. If you’re keen to contribute in whatever capacity suits you best, we’d love to hear from you! | | | |
| To everyone celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday, we hope you and your loved ones have a time full of joy, fun, and kindness.
We wish everyone all the best for the new year ahead. May 2026 be full of hope, health, and happiness.
Best wishes, |  |
Liberal Democrats
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