Stafford and Stone
Liberal Democrats

This festival of lights signifies the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and joy over despair. It is a time of hope and rejuvenation.

Seeing Diwali celebrated by so many here in Britain is also a reminder of the rich diversity of our country and the communities who have contributed so greatly to our nation's success.

In common with both other parties we have seen a dip in our income in the year after an election, made all the more acute after two elections (and a referendum) in two years. Donation fatigue and lower revenues are understandable at this point.

Millions of EU citizens in the UK have been living under a cloud of uncertainty for more than two years. After being quizzed by MPs on two separate occasions, the Immigration Minister has utterly failed to offer them any clarity.

The Minister was still unable to answer what immigration checks EU citizens will be subject to after Brexit

The result of the EU referendum changed an awful lot: the Prime Minister, the economic outlook, Britain's political discourse and our standing in the world. But there are 3.6 million people whose lives have been affected more than most. These are the citizens of other EU countries who live in the UK.

This is a relatively new campaigning group who are campaigning for Local Clean Energy. They are currently campaigning for the Local Electricity Bill, which is supported by 79 MPs, to become law. Currently only 4 Liberal Democrat MPs have given their support to the bill and these are Wera Hobhouse, Tom Brake, Layla Moran and Ed Davey.

Liberal Democrat MPs Layla Moran and Stephen Lloyd are calling on the Government to create a 'Women's Equality Day' to fall on the Spring Bank Holiday.

2018 marks the centenary of the extension of suffrage to some women and the 90th anniversary of universal suffrage.

To mark this, Stephen Lloyd challenged female pupils from Willingdon School in his constituency to come up with a campaign which he could deliver in Westminster on their behalf. The winning idea was to create a Women's Equality Day.

It is heart-breaking that the epidemic of violent crime is claiming the lives of so many children.

A senior police office has now revealed that children as young as nine are being caught carrying knives.

We urgently need more police officers on our streets to restore the community policing that helps to prevent violent crime.

Tonight the Liberal Democrats voted against the Government's indefensible tax cuts for higher earners. Despite the best efforts of their whips, 20 Labour MPs put principle above party and voted with the us.

It is beyond belief that a party which claims to stand 'for the many, not the few', decided not to oppose the Government on this.

The delay in implementing a planned and much needed reduction in the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals is completely unacceptable.

These machines are a blight on our society and undeniably damaging to vulnerable people.

The Government's inaction is ruining lives and they must not be allowed to continue making these excuses that only benefit bookmakers.

The dodgy Brexit demagogues should start getting worried about transparency and criminal investigations shining a light on their actions.

Aaron Banks is facing a criminal investigation over loans to leave campaigns. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats are piling on the pressure over the lack of transparency surrounding donations to Northern Ireland political parties.