Stockton Liberal Democrats

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 6th July

Monday 6^th July

There are some two million victims of domestic abuse a year. More than one in ten of all offences recorded by the police are domestic abuse related. In 2017, the Conservative government committed to introduce a bill to transform the approach of the justice system and wider statutory agencies. It has now been 3 ½ years since this commitment, but the Domestic Abuse Bill finally passed through the House of Commons on Monday night with cross-party support.

On Thursday 16th July, the two candidates for leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey and Layla Moran will be answering questions from a panel of experts in a new hustings format.

So you want to be leader? Is styled like a job interview. Candidates will get to make their pitch to the panel on why they should be leader and that'll be followed up by questions from the panel on the skills they'll need to make being leader a success.

Over the last 2 weeks, members have been nominating candidates to stand as the next leader of the Liberal Democrats.

This is the first time that the system has been run mostly online and also the first time we have published these totals.

We decided to publish the totals as we felt it gave candidates a chance to demonstrate some of the key skills they'll need as leader.

What are Party Awards?

Party Awards recognise publicly those who have given the party outstanding service and commitment in the past year. They are presented at Autumn Conference (national conditions allowing) and each winner receives a trophy to keep and a special mention.

Candidates must themselves be party members, and be nominated and seconded by two party members.

Yesterday's Business Insider scoop of a leaked letter from Trade Secretary Liz Truss to two Cabinet colleagues is a major crack in the Brexit edifice.

The story reminds among other things that international law trumps domestic law, be it based on WTO, EU or any other treaty-based agreement, and that such commitments can land a country in trouble if they are not met. It also shows how replacing all the benefits of our EU membership by the end of this year continues to be a Tory fantasy.

Last week NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts and ALDC chief executive Tim Pickstone co-hosted a one-hour webinar on topics faced by rural communities post-Brexit and post-Covid that is now available to replay.

Further details and links to related resources here.

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Liberal International President of Honour, First Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly and former leader of the Alliance Party Lord (John) Alderdice will give a talk on Re-imaging the United Kingdom on Monday 13 July from 6pm on-line. Further details and Zoom registration here.

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Countless families are facing serious financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis. More than a million people have lost their jobs and many more are worried about losing theirs in the weeks and months ahead.

We are also facing big challenges in deep-seated inequality and the climate emergency.

We must ensure no one is left behind.

This morning, Acting Leader Ed Davey addressed the Local Government Association's online conference. He spoke about the crucial role of local government - not just in keeping our communities safe during this coronavirus pandemic, but also in building a fairer, greener, more prosperous country as we emerge from this crisis.

The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill is due to be passed by the House of Commons today.

Survivors desperately need the new legal protections and support that this Domestic Abuse Bill will bring.

More than two million people experience domestic abuse every year. Survivors desperately need the new legal protections and support that this Domestic Abuse Bill will bring.