Welsh Liberal blogs

Commenting on the decision by the Conservative Party to impose a three-line whip to stop MP Owen Paterson being suspended for 30 days and potentially being subject to a recall petition Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS stated:   “ While I understand Owen Paterson MP has faced a difficult few years, publicly elected members of the UK’s political system must be held to the highest of standards in order to maintain trust with the public and protect the integrity of our democracy.   “Today’s developments mark a shameful move by Conservative MPs to rewrite the rules to look after one of their own. It’s also sheer hypocrisy after ministers claimed they couldn’t change the rules retrospectively to allow Rob Roberts MP to be voted out by his constituents.   “This Conservative Government is continuously marred by sleaze and now is watering down the independent scrutiny we need to prevent more scandals dragging our politics through the mud.   “The p...

Liberal Democrats will vote against Boris Johnson’s threadbare deal because it is bad for jobs, business, security, and our environment. is clear that this is a bad deal that will make people’s lives poorer. Liberal Democrats will vote against this deal So the Liberal Democrats will vote against it. This  botched deal  leaves the services sector in limbo and is the only ‘free’ trade deal in history to put up barriers and increase red tape, bringing long delays and higher costs. We all are desperate to move forward, to see our country united again, to restore our economy and our communities after a terrible year.

  On Human Rights Day, we must redouble our efforts to save the Human Rights Act from the Tories. Conservatives are at it again.  Trying to strip away the protections that stop governments from trampling on people’s rights. First, they launched their review of judicial review in the summer. And now – before that one’s even finished – they’ve launched a second review, this time of the Human Rights Act. Liberal Democrats are committed to promoting justice and human rights and building a free, fair and open society. The Human Rights Act protects everyone’s rights to a fair trial, to keep your private life private, to marry the person you love.  And not to be tortured, discriminated against or forced to work against your will. It was thanks to the Human Rights Act that the families of those who died because of poor care at Stafford Hospital secured an inquiry, which led to major improvements in accountability and patient safety. It was thanks to the Human Rights A...

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Wales Baroness Christine Humphreys has applauded Lord Nick Bourne’s principled decision to resign as a Wales Office Minister in opposition to the UK Government’s pursuit of a no deal Brexit. Lord Nick Bourne was a Wales Office and Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister and had been asked to continue in government. Lord Bourne was the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly between 1999 and 2011. Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Wales Baroness Christine Humphreys commented:  I applaud Lord Bourne’s principled decision to resign as a Wales Office Minister because of his opposition to a no deal Brexit. Lord Bourne has put his principles above his career. It is disappointing colleagues like Alun Cairns aren’t willing to do the same. We know a no deal Brexit would be catastrophic for Wales, devastating our economy, pushing more people into poverty and threatening our ability to access vita...