LibDems set out plan for December 9th General Election

Posted on By Rowena Lewis

This week, the Liberal Democrats proposed a Bill that should break the deadlock between Johnson’s government at the EU. 

The Bill amends the Fixed Term Parliament Act to hold a General Election on Monday December 9th.

It is well know that we believe a ‘People’s Vote’ is the best way forward to stop Brexit, but currently we have not been able to get enough support in parliament, from either  left or right, to make this happen. 

Boris Johnson has failed to meet his October 31st ‘do-or-die’ deadline to get out of the EU, and cannot get his Bill through Parliament, so we have been in gridlock.

This Bill succeeds in three direction at the same time: First it forces a General Election on December 9th. It also takes no-deal off the table, and removes from Boris Johnson any control of when the next General Election takes place. 

The Liberal Democrats want to stop Brexit, and have led the campaign for a People’s Vote. 

We have put down 17 amendments arguing for a PV and voted for PV amendments seven times. In contrast, 19 Labour MPs backed Boris Johnson’s Brexit Bill and Jeremy Corbyn refused to back our People’s Vote amendment last week.

There are millions of people in the UK who believe that we are better off inside the EU, and they deserve a better choice than two Brexiteers in Johnson and Corbyn.

We are ready to take our pro-European message to the country, where our policy will be that a Liberal Democrat majority government will revoke Article 50 to Stop Brexit.

Voices from the Family of #StopBrexit

Posted on By Rowena Lewis

Throughout my time traveling across the South East and through various European Hubs as part of this role as MEP, there are people who have heartened me, inspired me and also challenged me to keep fighting for the #StopBrexit family.

I wanted to introduce you to a few of them….

Chris from #remainernow spoke at one of the events that I went to in the South West during conference. The team were also exhibiting at the conference, and I know they were then moving on to the Labour conference afterwards. His is a broad church. The important point for themovement is that people CAN change their minds and should be supported when doing so. People chose many reasons to vote leave in 2016, a lot of people have researched the realities of a No Deal and of Leaving the EU and have chosen to make a change in their view and support a Peoples Vote on the final deal. He highlights that those who do change their mind need a safe space to do that without attracting negativity.

#RemainerNow have successfully built a vibrant and passionate community of people willing to say they’ve changed their mind. Its activism has been broad, engaging in everything from signing petitions, media appearances and speaking directly to MPs. It has cultivated a vast following on social media, with over 37,000 followers on Twitter and 6,000 on Facebook. It also runs a podcast where, each week, a different Leaver-turned-Remainer tells their own stories and encourage others to do the same. These kinds of stories are enormously important as they remind us that we can achieve so much more when we engage in open dialogue and embrace a wide range of beliefs in pursuit of common ground.

Having taken social media by storm, its aim now is to take to the streets and go door-to-door, speaking to the people whose futures are at stake. But to achieve all of this, they need your help! You can find out how to support #RemainerNow at remainernow.com.

Our Future, Our Choice (OFOC) is an organisation which believes that there is simply no good Brexit deal for young people. For the past few years it has been campaigning tirelessly for the next generation to be given a say on the decision that will affect them long after the rest of us are gone! After all, let’s not forget, young people voted overwhelmingly to remain in the referendum. It is committed to a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal to ensure future generations are not left facing less opportunity, a tougher job market and fewer rights.

I was fortunate enough to recently meet Chief Spokesperson, Femi. He’s been working endlessly to spread the message and gather as much support as possible across a variety of different broadcast platforms. A law-graduate, he’s been able to bring some much-needed fact-based evidence to a debate sorely lacking in it. It’s vital that we continue to meet and work alongside like-minded individuals such as Femi. The Remain family may contain many different voices and badges, but only by working together can we achieve the result we all desire.

The final person that I want to introduce you to is Madeleina Kay (EUSupergirl) I have met with her a couple of times as I have spoken around the South East. She exudes passion for Europe and being European throughout her speeches and music. She has campaigned tirelessly up and down the country at a range of Remain campaign events and anti-Brexit demonstrations. Using her creative talents she has published children’s books as well as writing and performing a number of songs in support of the Europe.

Her work saw her recognised as the ‘Young European of the Year’ in 2018 by the European Parliament and awarded the Young Talent Prize in 2017 by the Great British Postcard Competition. She’s amassed an impressive following on her Twitter account, with over 30,000 followers and has appeared regularly on platforms such as the BBC, Euronews and Channel 4. Madeleina is a crucial part of our fight to remain in the EU. She is helping to shine a light on all that is good in the EU, and all that we stand to lose if we sever our ties with our closest and oldest allies. Her creativity and vibrancy are helping to cultivate exactly the kind of excitement and positivity that the fight to Remain must be rooted in.

Local traders say Brexit is bad for business. Survey Results.

Posted on By Lindsey Middlemiss Newbury Doula

Version 2

  • “After the referendum result we spent six months absorbing cost increases. Since January we have had no choice but to pass these increases on to our customers”.Jon Gage, Rivar Sand and Gravel (see photo).

Two thirds of local traders and service providers who took part in West Berks Business Brexit Survey survey think their business is going to be hurt when we leave the EU and the single market.

The consultation was part of a national exercise for small businesses. Newbury and West Berks Liberal Democrats wanted to make sure that the views of our local traders and employers were properly represented in the national results. The consultation ran online from 19th October to 14th December 2016.

  • “If tariffs are introduced for British businesses trading with the EU,
    the effect on my business will be catastrophic!”

The news is that two thirds of local traders and service providers who took part in the survey think their business is going to be hurt when we leave the EU and the single market. Many report that their costs have gone up already and that they have no choice to but to pass these onto their customers through increased prices.

  • “EU funding supports nearly 45% of the post 16 funding.
    There is     nothing in the plans to show how this loss will be addressed.”  

The Liberal Democrats continue to believe that Britain is better off in Europe, but our immediate priority is to make sure small local businesses do not pay the price of a rushed withdrawal.

The results of the survey are being used to draw up a list of negotiating requirements, which the Liberal Democrats will call on the Government to achieve.

This report was first published in 2017. See the report from the Newbury Weekly News, here:
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/20695/west-berkshire-business-bosses-reveal-fears-for-the-future-in-brexit-survey.html

RESULTS

Q: Do you expect Brexit to have a positive or negative impact on your business?

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q1-graph
66% of people who responded expect Brexit to have negative impact on their business

Q: Do you export to the EU?

q3-numbers

q3-graph
27.08% say they export to the EU

Q: Do you import products or materials from the EU?

q4-numbers

q4-graph
47.92% import products or materials from the EU

Q: Do you have suppliers or business partners who do business with EU countries?

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81.25% of respondents have suppliers or business partners who do business with EU countries

More comments from the survey responses will follow
in separate posts, published in the next few days.

Newbury and West Berkshire March for Europe

Posted on By Lindsey Middlemiss Newbury Doula

This post was first published in 2017.

West Berkshire was well represented at the March for Europe in London, with members of West Berkshire Stronger Together EU (WBSTEU) and Newbury and West Berkshire Liberal Democrats on the move.

We joined with many thousands of people to march from Marble Arch, down Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square, then along Whitehall to Parliament Square. We heard rousing speeches from Tim Farron on Park Lane, before the march began. He was in front of the crowd again at Parliament Square with the Guardian reporting (at 14:10) as follows: ‘Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron cemented his growing role as the political leader of the Remain movement with a well-received address to the Unite For Europe march in Parliament Square.’

Many speeches followed, with excellentt contributions from Alistair Campbell, Peter Tatchell and David Lammy. The big finish came with Nick Clegg, who was excellent, as ever: “Sadness has given way to a perpetual sense of anger about the choices that Theresa May and her government have taken since [the EU Referendum].”

“It was a choice to pull us out of the customs union, it was a choice to embark on that demeaning bout of transatlantic obsequiousness,” Clegg explains, as he accuses the prime minister of “threatening to turn our country into a bargain basement cowboy economy”. (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/mar/25/brexit-protest-thousands-march-in-london-to-unite-for-europe-live?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other)

If you would like to join your local Liberal Democrats and work with us,
please sign up online and drop me a line at judith.bunting@wbld.org.uk.

The Great Repeal Bill – The Liberal Democrat perspective

Posted on By Lindsey Middlemiss Newbury Doula

The Great Repeal Bill starts the arduous task of transposing EU law into British law, but leaves tens of thousands of pieces of critical regulation subject to the whim of this hard-Brexit Tory government.

Theresa May has chosen to pursue the hardest, most divisive form of Brexit, taking us out of the Single Market and seeking to create low regulation, low-grade Britain.

Up and down the UK, Liberal Democrats will continue to fight to maintain the high standards for the environment, health, safety, consumer protection, employment and equalities that the UK currently adheres to as an EU member.

Nobody voted to diminish their rights, make themselves poorer or to make their country less safe.  

We are the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government and the only party fighting for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united.

Fighting for the British people to have a say on the final deal: We will try to use this opportunity to ensure that the Great Repeal Bill is only enacted after the British people have their say on the final deal.

Fighting for the UK to maintain our rights and standards: Liberal Democrats will not support anything which weakens vital human rights and environmental and consumer protections, or that threatens freedom to travel, study and work, employment rights, research funding, or security co-operation arrangements.

Fighting to protect British business from crippling bureaucracy: Businesses were told that Brexit would protect them from red tape, but hard Brexit means dealing with thousands of new regulations, changing codes and uncertainty.

Fighting for transparency: The Leave Campaign told us Brexit would give back control to our Parliamentary democracy, but it has become a power grab by ministers and civil servants who want to use ancient Henry VIII powers to stop MPs from scrutinising the process.

 

This bill will cover fundamental rights and protections for British people, and it must not be stuffed through without due process.    

“I think it is almost lemming like …”

Posted on By Lindsey Middlemiss Newbury Doula

lemming-cartoon

What could be done to minimise the potential impact of Brexit on your business?

Here is a selection of comments from the local business people who completed the Liberal Democrats’ West Berkshire Business Brexit Survey. Businesses are not named, as many prefer to to keep their worries anonymous:

(Thanks to Arranology for use of the cartoon, above.)

What could be done to minimise the potential impact of Brexit on your business?

  • Stay in the EU.  Brexit will destroy our business.
  • Don’t do it! Seriously I think a raft of guarantees have to be forthcoming IMMEDIATELY from the government.
  • Not leave the EU.
  • Clarity is needed on the long term support for farming and conservation in the UK. Investment in farm infrastructure is costly and needs the ability to plan for the long term. Uncertainty and the lack of planning is a real risk to our charity and to many local farm businesses.
  • Remaining in the EU, keeping single market and freedom of movement.
  • Stay in single market and allow free movement of people across Europe.
  • Stay in the EU! Full membership of Single Market and Customs Union essential if this is not possible.
  • Remain within the free market and avoid putting limits on EU workers.
  • Gov’t to stop imposing austerity measures and new initiatives that mask the impact of change – personally I think it is almost lemming like and we look set to leaping off the White Cliffs of Dover before the dangers are realised – which will be an extreme disappointment!
  • Get on and pull us out as soon as possible.
  • Leave eu as soon as possible.
  • Less project fear from remoaners.
  • Nothing, lets just look forward to a brighter and independent future trading with the world.
  • Negotiate in good faith and show goodwill.
  • Sourcing UK products. We can do little else. We are reliant on consumers having enough weekly spend to continue to purchase our products and use our services.
  • No Visas, no clamping down on immigration, a lot of people I employ and work with are from the EU and it would be difficult to replace them. People looking down on Britain for the decision and our standing in the world.
  • Beyond the effect of the falling pound.  We have products to EU trading standards – our producers will not want to get involved in UK standards as well and we have not got the resource for expensive lab testing.
  • Staying in customs union is critical to us. Also, v important to keep access to EU science & engineering funding/research programmes such as Horizon 2020.
  • Change as little as possible from status quo – stability is key. EU Workers a key source of Workers, there is already a shortage of labour with the right skills from this country and even the EU.
  • Tax reduction.
  • Not go ahead with it! Brexit is a business nightmare and to push ahead when only a quarter of the population choose it, (and a mainly elderly quarter at that, whose working lives are over) is utter folly. Not quite sure where they think their pensions are going to be coming from, or how we will fund the NHS to keep looking after them when the get ill and face end of life. Business is this country’s lifeblood and Brexit threatens to chop it off at the roots.
  • Stay in the single market.

“It is the effect on access to European labour that worries us and the risk of inflation.”

Posted on By Lindsey Middlemiss Newbury Doula

im-so-angry-i-made-a-sign-_-fuck-brexit-roskilde-festiva-_-flickrIf the UK does not have membership of or full access to the single market, what impact would this have on your business?

Here is a selection of comments from the local business people who completed the Liberal Democrats’ West Berkshire Business Brexit Survey. Businesses are not named, as many prefer to to keep their worries anonymous:

If the UK does not have membership of or full access to the single market, what impact would this have on your business?

  • It would significantly handicap our ability to deliver services and products to Europe. Considering Europe is where the majority of our business takes place, it is highly likely that we will leave the U.K.
  • It is the effect on access to European labour that worries us and the risk of inflation.
  • Risk of high value, time-sensitive goods being held up in customs, especially as much of our supply chain is non-EU. Late delivery to our key customer would result in contract termination, so we will have to assume customs delays & build early, increasing our inventory costs.

  • Higher prices.

  • Cost of raw materials would rise hence cost of product would rise.
  • Problems with customs delaying shipment. Tariffs also a concern. Medical devices regulated by the Medical Devices Directive from EU, with MHRA responsible for policing in the U.K. What happens after Brexit to these regulations?
  • I would lose business as my clients cut back on consultancy services.
  • Small businesses will have less money to spend. Large companies will remove their HQs from London. Our clients will not be interested in marketing to the British, they will look elsewhere.

  • Without EU membership our business is decimated

  • Very little.

  • Very little as we can operate under WTO rules.

  • Anticipate an increase in paperwork, more difficult shipping of products, and possible travel problems for visiting customers.

  • I would lose business as my clients cut back on consultancy services.

  • Deferred and lack of business confidence will effect commercial property market businesses relocating to Europe will suppress demand.

Join us for an optimistic, tolerant Britain

Posted on By Lindsey Middlemiss Newbury Doula

 

If you would like to become part of the Liberal Democrats and fight for an open, optimistic, liberal, diverse, and tolerant Britain, please click here and join us: https://libdems.secure.force.com/LiberalDemocrats/NewMemberRegistration

The outrage around the country, since the EU referendum, has grown not just because Remain lost.

If the Brexit camp had come forward with a prompt, coherent plan, if they were discussing any well constructed timetable, the situation would be different. As it is, residual anger is fuelled by the clear lack of sense coming from Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and co since the polls closed.

Boris gave a good performance on Friday morning. I was willing to sit back and weep, but move on. Then … nothing.

So I stand with Tim Farron when he says:

“The British people deserve the chance not to be stuck with the appalling consequences of a Leave campaign that stoked that anger with the lies of Farage, Johnson and Gove.

“The Liberal Democrats will fight the next election on a clear and unequivocal promise to restore British prosperity and role in the world, with the United Kingdom in the European Union, not out. If you agree with us, join us to make this happen.”

Some weeks after the referendum, Stronger In held a demonstration in  Newbury Market Square which was very well attended. The largest I have seen in Newbury for quite a while. A great showing from the thousands of people in West Berkshire who voted to Remain in the EU. 

If you would like to become part of the Liberal Democrats and fight for an open, optimistic, liberal, diverse, and tolerant Britain, please click here and join us: https://libdems.secure.force.com/LiberalDemocrats/NewMemberRegistration

See more at:

Newbury and West Berks Lib Dems

Judith Bunting for Newbury

#Notmyvote.eu