Liberal Democrats Your exclusive briefing is here



Having trouble viewing this email?
View online
<[link removed]>


<[link removed]>


Your Latest Briefing from the Liberal Democrats




Andy Burnham has a short window to fix the country’s problems


Our message to the new Prime Minister this week is simple: you have the power
to change the country - use it!

People are tired of being constantly promised change, only for nothing to
materialise.

If the Government is serious about fixing the country’s problems, we will
help them.

Although Andy Burnham has made some small positive steps so far (read below
for more on this), he must be much bolder.

That means real action to resolve some of the greatest challenges we face,
likeending the social care crisis, stopping sewage dumping, and fixing our
broken relationship with Europe.

And it means addressing the root as to why these issues have been ignored for
far too long - our electoral system.

Instead of a system which allows parties to ignore the majority of voters, by
handing them a huge majority on a small share of the vote,we need proportional
representation to give everyone an equal voice in our democracy.

Watch Ed Davey’s speech calling for this at the Institute for Government last
week:


Watch ➜ <[link removed]>

If Andy Burnham is serious about addressing these issues and fixing our
politics, our door is open.

Share our demand to fix our broken voting system with your friends and family,
so we can finally address the big issues impacting our country:

<[link removed]>


Share:

<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>

Join our party today to help us deliver the bold solutions our country needs:


Become a Member today ➜
<[link removed]>

Find out more about membership ➜ <[link removed]>

Already a member?
Please contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> so we can
check your records.



A better way to slash energy bills


Andy Burnham’s plan to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills in October
will give some light relief to households, but it won’t fix the broken system.

An average £45 of savings will barely scratch the surface for families
struggling in this cost-of-living crisis, nor will it fix the long-term issues
causing high energy prices.

Instead, our Essential Energy Guarantee would save the average household
around £100 a year, by giving all households discounted rates for their basic
energy needs.

More support would be available for those who need it most, saving the
poorest fifth of households around £140 a year, and we would provide an extra
portion of discounted energy for every child, saving roughly £15 per child.
Meanwhile, those on means-tested and disability benefits would get all their
energy discounted.

We would also pursue wider reforms to fix the system and halve energy bills
over the next ten years, through a new home insulation scheme, removing the
renewables obligation levy, breaking the link between gas and electricity
prices, and stimulating a rooftop solar revolution.

If Burnham is serious about bringing bills down, he should back our plans.


Back our Essential Energy Guarantee ➜ <[link removed]>


Lib Dem policy wins


Although we’re waiting to see if the Government tackles other big issues,
like those outlined above, we’re delighted to have achieved two significant
campaigning victories this week.


Digital ID to be scrapped

After fierce Lib Dem campaigning, the Government announced it would scrap its
planned digital ID scheme.

Digital ID would have forced people to turn over their private data just to
go about their daily lives. It would have excluded millions of older people,
people living in poverty, and disabled people. And it would have been a huge
waste of taxpayers’ money.

Scrapping it is a victory for people’s freedom and privacy, defending civil
liberties against government overreach.


Bus fares cut

We firmly opposed the Starmer Government when it hiked the bus fare cap from
£2 to £3, so we’re glad the Government has listened by reversing it this week.

This is a good start, helping those struggling with the cost-of-living and
giving a boost to local economies.

But the way it has been funded is the wrong one. By replacing grants for
international climate projects with loans, we are piling debt onto the world’s
poorest people, while undermining our role as a reliable global partner.

The Government must go further to reduce the cost of travel, including by
capping national bus fares at £1, slashing rail prices by 10%, and cutting fuel
duty by 10p per litre - and they should pay for it using the unexpected extra
tax revenues the Treasury is raking in due to higher fuel prices.


Back our campaign to Keep Britain Moving ➜ <[link removed]>


Revitalising our High Streets


Town centres and high streets are the beating heart of communities up and
down the country. We all want to see them thrive.

Although the Government’s 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live
music venues this week is a good first step, the broken business rates system
needs a complete overhaul so it stops penalising high street businesses, while
letting off the likes of Amazon warehouses.

High street businesses will also still be hit by the jobs tax - leaving many
hospitality businesses in serious trouble, and leaving young people without
valuable first job opportunities.

We’re urging the Government to take up our plan to Save our High Streets,
which includes an overhaul of business rates, removing ‘ghost landlords’, and
rejuvenating town centres.


Read more ➜
<[link removed]>



New Liberal Democrats in the Lords


We’re delighted to announce five new Liberal Democrat Peers who will be
entering the House of Lords in the coming weeks:


* Julia Aglionby: Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land,
Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, and agricultural valuer.
* Hannah Kitching: former NHS physiotherapist, current Mayor of Penistone,
and former Leader of the Opposition on Barnsley Council.
* Tim Leunig: Chief Economist at Nesta, Senior Visiting Fellow at the
Institute for Government, Director of Economics at Public First, and former
senior civil servant.
* Dave McCobb: Liberal Democrat Director of Campaigns who masterminded the
party’s best ever election results, and former Hull City Councillor.
* Mark Petterson: entrepreneur and pioneer in offshore wind.

We look forward to seeing what they will achieve in Parliament!


Find out more about our new Peers ➜
<[link removed]>



We enjoyed a bumper set of results in council by-elections this July!

We began the month
<[link removed]> by gaining a seat
from the Conservatives in Powys, and holding seats in Gloucestershire and the
Cotswolds.

We then continued our winning ways
<[link removed]>, holding seats in
Surrey, Flintshire, and North Norfolk, while gaining a seat from the Greens in
Lambeth.

Later in the month, we held a seat in Cherwell
<[link removed]>.

Congratulations to those elected and their teams, and thank you to everyone
who stood and helped our campaigns, whether you won this time or not.



Update from the LGA Liberal Democrat Group


Liberal Democrat councillors and councils are fighting for local communities
across the country. Here are just some of the latest examples:

🔶 Lib Dem-run Watford Borough Council
<[link removed]>
have been supporting greener travel through e-bikes.

🔶 Lib Dem-run Somerset Council
<[link removed]>
is helping more children access free school meals.

🔶 Lib Dem-run Sutton Council
<[link removed]>
has welcomed new tenants into 92 new high-quality, energy-efficient council
homes.




Ed Davey MP calling for bolder action
<[link removed]> to fix our economy.

Lisa Smart MP on what Andy Burnham ignored
<[link removed]> in his first
speech as PM.

Munira Wilson MP supporting our calls
<[link removed]> for the FA and
UEFA to withdraw from FIFA.

Change voting system before next election, Davey urges Burnham
<[link removed]>

Lib Dems urge FA and Uefa to withdraw from Fifa
<[link removed]>

Lib Dem leader calls for Farage by-election to take place after investigation
<[link removed]>

Lib Dems call on PM to push for suspension of ‘bungled, malfunctioning’ system
as overseas holiday travel peaks
<[link removed]>




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!


Find out more ➜ <[link removed]>




Did you like this email?
Yes
<[link removed]>
|No
<[link removed]>
|Give Feedback
<[link removed]>
View email in browser
<[link removed]>


You're receiving this email because you have signed up for our emails.

Want to change the kind of email you're getting? Update your email preferences

<[link removed]
0AB&id=0033z00002pr9VrAAI>

Don't want to get our emails anymore? Click here to unsubscribe
<[link removed]>
.

Promoted by Liberal Democrats <[link removed]>, 66 Buckingham
Gate, SW1E 6AU.