Broadland Lib Dems

Yesterday the Government announced it would undertake a cross-governmental commission to address the inequalities that BAME communities face.

It is vital that the commission has full representation from across different BAME communities.

The Liberal Democrats have joined with BAME communities in calling for a government-wide race equality strategy, so this commission is a welcome first step.

The Liberal Democrats need a New Direction. This is why I'm standing for leader.

In this election, we need to make a clean break with the coalition

Ten years ago, we were filled with great optimism for our future as a party. However, we have ended the decade with real disappointment; eleven MPs, the most right-wing government in recent history, and a departure from the EU.

Welcome to the Weekly Whip. Your one-stop shop for Lib Dem Parliamentary updates, covering the week that was and the week to come.

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Weekly Whip w/c 8th June

Monday 8th June

Alistair secured the first emergency debate of this Parliament. The previous week, the government had not scheduled time to debate the plans for proxy voting, nor its motion for virtual participation for self-selecting members. Given the importance of the matter, Alistair's application for a debate was granted and on Monday he led a two hour debate on the subject.

The Black Lives Matter protests have demonstrated the urgent need to tackle racial injustice and address the pain and harm these injustices cause.

A Black person is 47 times more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person.

We are urging the Prime Minister to look again at some of the harmful policies his Government is pursuing. One of these is his expansion of Stop and Search powers.

Coronavirus teaches many lessons. For me, one stands out: the importance of caring and carers - in care homes, supporting vulnerable people at home and millions of unpaid carers looking after loved ones.

A caring revolution isn't only the right campaign, it's smart politics too

People who've never appreciated how the NHS and care sector needed to work more closely together have seen that all too clearly, with the tragedy of COVID care home deaths.

We all want schools to reopen to more pupils when it is safe for them to do so. Our school leaders, teachers, school staff and governors have been working incredibly hard to already make this happen for some children.

Our children's futures must come before party politics

The safety of teachers, staff, pupils and their families has to be paramount, and we must always follow the science. The only thing worse than keeping our children from learning would be a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After failing to provide adequate PPE, testing and public health advice, it's no surprise that public trust in the Government is waning. People have made heartbreaking sacrifices. They deserve to know the truth. The Government must commit to a public inquiry to ensure it does not repeat the mistakes of the past.

To this day, the Stonewall riots are widely considered to be one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT+ rights.

On the morning of June 28 1969, police raided an underground gay bar in New York city called Stonewall Inn. The raid wasn't unusual but that morning the response was.

The last weeks and months have been a difficult time for all of us - but it's also been a time when a huge number of people across the country have stepped up as active citizens in their communities. And Liberal Democrats have been at the heart of community responses.

the best thing we could do was to empower communities"

Tom Morrison, Cheadle Liberal Democrats

It's no surprise that reactions to protesters' removal of Edward Colston's statue in Bristol have included liberals worrying about the rule of law. The outrage, not at the statue honouring a slave trader, but at its removal by a 'mob' rather than by democratic means without visible legal ramifications, has been notable.