Today's Headlines

Tories' Immigration Bill will deal enormous blow to NHS and British business

Last night the Immigration Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons.

• The passage of Priti Patel's Immigration Bill is hugely disappointing for so many people. MPs from all parties tried to transform this Bill into something which valued human dignity, the needs of our NHS and the interests of British business, but sadly the Government rejected our amendments.
• Ending free movement will deal an enormous blow to our NHS, social care providers and employers across the UK - just as they are working to recover from the coronavirus crisis.
• It was especially galling to see so many Conservative MPs line up to turn their backs on unaccompanied child refugees; to continue locking people up indefinitely in inhumane conditions; and to keep the ban on migrants receiving the financial support they need during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Liberal Democrats will continue to fight to end the Conservatives' Hostile Environment, and to build a fair immigration system that the public can have confidence in and treats everyone with dignity and respect.

Govt must end debt crisis for renters to avoid homelessness trebling in 2020

A report published today by Generation Rent has found that homelessness is set to treble this year as a result of the economic shock of coronavirus.

• The fact that homelessness is set to treble this year is yet more proof that the consequences of the pandemic are set to be devastating for those struggling to get by. The Government must take action now to stop these statistics becoming a reality.
• This Conservative Government seem content to ignore the realities of the debt crisis renters are finding themselves in, whilst simultaneously withdrawing their support. Unfortunately rent holidays are not enough - they must also provide security for those tenants who are now in arrears.
• The Liberal Democrats are clear that the Government must back Generation Rent's campaign to introduce a new Coronavirus Home Retention Scheme, which would clear rent arrears not covered by the welfare system, as well as further raising the Local Houisng Allowance. The consequences of this pandemic are far from over, and as long as this crisis continues, so must the Government's support.

Johnson's speech offers no green recovery plan and no help for vulnerable people

Yesterday the Prime Minister made a speech about the Goverment' plans for economic recovery following the pandemic.

• Many people have been waiting to hear from the Prime Minister about how we deal with the challenges we face, but all we saw was a lot of Boris bluster.
• The Prime Minister says he will "build build build" but all his government is building is a wrecking ball for our economy as he recklessly pursues Brexit at all costs.
• Johnson promised a green recovery from the pandemic, but as usual his promises are meaningless. We're seeing yet more mass investment in road building rather than in new infrastructure for cycling, and the construction of new homes without also tackling our existing draughty houses.
• Liberal Democrats will continue to hold this government to account, to campaign for more support for the vulnerable in our society and for a £150 billion Green Recovery Plan.