Stafford and Stone
Liberal Democrats

If you are a Green Liberal Democrat and a Trade Unionist you may wish to accept the invitation below to attend the launch of TUCAN - the Trade Union Clean Air Network - on Wednesday 6th February at 2.00pm. Air Pollution has been described as a Public Health Emergency that affects every sity and most, if not every, workplace. It is not only a Trade Union issue it is an issue for everyone. We should not forget that Air Pollution is associated with 40,000 premature deaths each year in the UK.

Across the UK, we are asking teams to head out onto the doorsteps and campaign for a final say on the weekend of 12/13th January, just a few days before Parliament votes on Theresa May's disastrous deal.

It is clear Brexit is a national embarrassment and the Conservatives are making an absolute mess of it.

Green Liberal Democrats Conference, May 2018, Nottingham

Agriculture & Environment - Counter-Intuitive Truths

A presentation by Phillip Bennion

Biography

After leaving school Phillip took a degree in Agricultural Botany at Aberdeen followed by a PhD on oilseed rape, agronomy and plant breeding at Newcastle University.

The past few years have seen the worst refugee crisis since the Second World war, as conflict in places like Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Eritrea have forced many thousands of refugees to flee for their lives.

Just 239 of these refugees have attempted to cross the Channel and find refuge in Britain this winter.

As Liberal Democrats and Green Liberal Democrats we are all aware that Climate Change is the number one issue facing humanity. The IPCC Report in October 2018 made it very clear that we only have twelve years left to radically alter our impact on the planet to limit the climate change dangers of extreme weather, drought, floods and poverty.
Inevitably Air Pollution is linked to climate change most obviously through the burning of fossil fuels to power cars, planes, buses, motorbikes and other forms of transport. Air Pollution is not a new problem it has been with us for decades, you only have to read about the reasons for the introduction of the original Clean Air Act in 1956 to know that (Life before the Clean Air Act - your memories and pictures: The Guardian 05/07/16 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/05/life-before-the-clean-air-act-your-memories-and-pictures

As we enter 2019, time is ticking down on Brexit, and with it the whole future of the country.

The history books will look back on these coming three months as critical.It is almost unbelievable that Parliament is waiting a further week to return!

After two long years of negotiation, the Prime Minister has brought back a Brexit deal that satisfies no-one. Her reaction is to try to scare people with the prospect of a 'No Deal' Brexit. In reality, that can't happen unless she decides it should.

So the only way forward - now - for the country and the Prime Minister is for the public to have the final say, and the option to Remain.

It's a campaign we Liberal Democrats started more than two years ago. Now millions of people have joined us in demanding a better future than Brexit Britain has to offer.

And the power of the millions who have signed petitions, lobbied their MP, or marched on Parliament - 700,000 of them just this year - is beginning to bear fruit. A People's Vote has moved from being a possibility to being a probability.

But only if we keep the pressure up. If we succeed, 2019 will be a year remembered not because we harmed our country with Brexit, but because we - the people - stood up and stopped it.

And if we do that, our Parliament and Government can once again deal with big issues like climate change, rising crime, the social care crisis, homelessness and housing supply, all of which have been neglected because of Brexit.

Enjoy your New Year celebrations and then let's get out there in 2019 and win the fight for a People's Vote and a brighter future for Britain.

The 2018 edition of Ad Lib Magazine is out now. Read it here:

Read the latest edition

Starting next year, Ad Lib will now be an online-only publication, released quarterly. We'll also be sending some of the editions to our members who aren't on email as well.

If you'd like anything included in future editions, please email membership@libdems.org.uk.

We've passed an amendment in the Lords so that people in care are only deprived of their liberty when it is necessary to prevent them from harm.

People in care deserve their freedom too. That's why we've ensured that their freedom is only restricted when they're at risk to themselves.

Vulnerable people deserve protection - and the government has a duty to protect them.

This Christmas, I have worked with St Giles Trust to learn more about the gang culture which is fuelling knife crime and tragically costing young people their lives. St Giles works directly with those affected, providing education, mentoring and support to fill the void into which gangs otherwise slip.

In the film, I discuss the causes of knife crime with Liam, a St Giles Project Co-ordinator. And we hear the incredibly brave voice of Sophie Kafeero whose own son, Derick, was killed last year - now she is campaigning with her local MP, Ed Davey, to take knives off the street.

As we sit down to our Christmas festivities, I hope the film helps to remind us of those who have lost someone; who have an empty chair at their Christmas table. And helping charities like St Giles is one way we can make a difference.

Since learning of Paddy Ashdown's death last night people have been taking to social media to share their memories of this incredible man.

We've collected a few of those memories of Paddy from members, supporters and the public at large here. You can also share your memories of Paddy and add your name to the book of condolence here: www.libdems.org.uk/book-of-condolence-paddy-ashdown