The Liberal Democrats have challenged Downing Street to hold Viktor Orban to account during his visit to Downing Street. The Hungarian Prime Minister has been accused of antisemitism, islamophobia and making a sustained assault on democracy and the freedom of the press.

In a joint letter to Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP and Lib Dem Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Layla Moran MP wrote:

The Tories headline policy of creating "freeports" to benefit apparently from "Brexit freedoms" looks as if it will be a damp squid as the Financial Times reports. The government has failed to include clauses in its new trade agreements to allow the freeports to benefit from these agreements. Apparently the agreements with 23 different countries, including Singapore, Norway and Switzerland, include clauses that specifically prohibit manufacturers from benefitting from the deals if they are located in a Freeport. Any exports from these freeports will be subjected to tariffs.

Liberal Democrats voted on Saturday to launch an internal review that will set out roadmaps to rejoining EU agencies such as the Customs Union and Single Market, with a view to membership of the European Union in future. It comes in the wake of the devastating impact of Boris Johnson's trade deal, which has left millions of British businesses and workers worse off.

Human rights are under threat in our twinned towns in Poland: across the UK it's time to help

We're asking local councils twinned with towns in Poland to start active diplomatic engagement to champion equality and human rights in the face of the "LGBT ideology free" zones Poland has created. Local communities in our twinned towns are now under threat, people are discriminated against, and human rights have been attacked.

The Independent newspaper has reported on our campaign to persuade councils twinned with Polish towns and cities to lobby against "LGBT-free" zones.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/poland-lgbt-free-zone-twinned-towns-lib-dems-b1815049.html

More details here.

Layla Moran and the Liberal Democrats have launched a major new campaign asking local councils twinned with towns in Poland to a period of engagement to reflect the need for education and humanity in the face of the 100+ "LGBT ideology free" zones created so far in Poland.

Calling on UK towns to "protect our twins", Layla said many UK councils are twinned with Polish towns where communities are now under threat, people are discriminated against and human rights have been attacked. Many twinning relationships date back generations and signify deep cultural ties. Liberal Democrats value the twinning relationships and are asking other parties to join us to "protect our twins". As part of the campaign, councils are being asked to pass motions to begin a formal period of diplomacy to reflect the need for education and humanity.

The Federal Conference Committee (FCC) has picked Europe among the topics for debate at the Party's Spring Conference.

The online event takes place between Friday 19 and Sunday 21 March. The motion accepted for debate and supported by LDEG is available here.

Until the 8 March deadline there is the opportunity to propose amendments that alter and/or improve the final policy statement.

This notice opens the process of electing the officers and executive members of the Liberal Democrat European Group for the next two-year period.

According to the LDEG Constitution there are 23* open positions as follows:

• Six officers: Chair, Vice-Chair (Campaigns), Vice-Chair (Communications), Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Data Officer
• One member representing each of 13* Party regions or nations (11* in England, Scotland and Wales)
• Four ordinary members

A policy proposal to the Party's Spring Conference on 19-21 March was submitted today and is copied below.

Publication here is without prejudice to decisions of the Federal Conference Committee (FCC) and does not preclude drafting and other amendments in due course.

UPDATE 19 January: The motion has now been selected for debate.