On 14 October, Antony Hook published a study examining the cost of living after Brexit. It finds that UK consumers are set to face price increases due to Brexit.

Speaking at the release of the report Antony Hook said:

"With 55% of our imported goods coming from the EU, the adverse effects of Brexit will hit British people and families. Membership of the European Union has allowed us to import more consumer goods at lower prices. Our current zero-tariff trading arrangement as EU members is the best deal for Britain. There are no positive benefits of Brexit on the cost of living. It is a disgrace that the average household will have to spend an extra £260 a year just to have the same consumer goods they have now. We must stop Brexit so that Britons can continue to enjoy a wide range of consumer goods from Europe at competitive prices".

Last week, Dinesh Dhamija, Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with India, welcomed to the European Parliament two delegations of officials from the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Parliament) who came to Brussels for a week-long study visit. The EU visitors programmes enable the participants to gain first-hand information on the EU's values, perspectives and policies. This is a way in which we can strengthen long-term bilateral relations between the EU and other countries.

Judith Bunting has released the 15th edition of her MEP life blog.

In this post, Judith recalls the question she asked in the hearing for Margaritis Schinas - the candidate to become Vice-President of the European Commission for Protecting the European Way of Life:

"I wanted to express my disquiet at the title of this new role. To me, there isn't one "European Way of Life" and I was pleased to receive reassurance that cultural diversity will be protected - the Italian way of life, the Greek way of life, the French and German ways of life, and, of course, the British way of life - all will be protected and promoted by Schinas, in this role. The motto of the EU is 'United in Diversity' and this is where the strength of the Union lies."

Luisa Porritt, MEP for London and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat MEP delegation, has released the first of her 'Brexit Reality Videos' where she analyses the negative impact the vote to leave the EU has already had on the UK and how Brexit (if it takes place) will damage the country.

This video focuses on healthcare and Luisa hears how hospitals are struggling with staff shortages & access to cancer treatment is being restricted due to the European Medical Agency moving out of London. Click here to watch the video.

In her mission to communicate the day to day work of a MEP and bring the European Parliament closer to the British public, Judith gives an overview of her activities in the week 23-27 September.

In this blog as in her previous ones, Judith continues to give us an insight into the exciting and fascinating work the MEPs do on our behalf in the Parliament. For example, she attended the Culture and Education Committee meeting where a discussion about the levels of language competence across the Member States took place. Sadly, the UK came at the very bottom of the list: only 2% of UK nationals reach an 'intermediate' level in any other language.

Do you want to know who the key movers and shakers in the European Parliament are? Do you want to learn how the European Parliament functions on a day to day basis? Are you interested in knowing how EU policy is developed?

If so, the podcast series produced by Judith Bunting and Caroline Voaden is perfect for you. In last weeks episode, our MEPs discussed the hearings of the potential new Commissioners and the proposal that Boris Johnson announced at the Conservative Party Conference.

Antony Hook discussed with Irish MEP Billy Kelleher, from Fianna Fáil, the importance of an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and why Boris Johnson's latest proposals to the EU threaten the peace on the island of Ireland.

Mr Kelleher was critical of Johnson's proposals made on 2 October: "Well I'd think they'd be very damaging being truthful. The Good Friday Agreement is about peace on the island of Ireland, it's not just about trade and commerce it's about how people live on a daily basis in the border areas"

The UK agricultural sector will suffer from Brexit according to an in-depth report launched on 27 September by the office of Antony Hook, Lib Dem MEP for South East England and Phil Bennion, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands.

Key findings include:

• 42% of UK farmers would have recorded losses without direct payments from the EU.
• A no-deal exit will cut the UK off from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Rapid Alert System for food and feed which ensures that food health risks can be quickly notified and managed. Without any transitional agreements in place, the UK would become a third country outside of the EFSA.
• Leaving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will mean farmers will lose vital funding. Ministers have refused to comment on how much farmers will receive under the new scheme.
• In 2016, the UK exported £304m of beef, £285m of beer, £349m of cheese, £342m of lamb and £196m of wine to the EU. British beer, cheese and wine were exported to every EU member state.

On 23 September, Dinesh Dhamija (LibDem MEP for London), in partership with the UK Permanent Representation to the EU and Eurogroup for Animals, opened the exhibition titled Illegal Wildlife Trade.

Open from 23-27 September, the exhibition informed MEPs and visitors to the Parliament that the illegal wildlife trade not only endangers some of our most iconic species of wildlife, but it is a serious organised crime and damages the livelihoods of some of the world's poorest communities.

Join Tom Brake MP, Catherine Bearder MEP, David Chalmers (LDEG Chair) and other leading speakers for the Liberal Democrat European Group's "Brexit Debate" from 13.00-14.30 Saturday 14 September in the Purbeck room, Highcliff Marriott in Bournemouth.

Engage with Parliamentarians from Westminster and Brussels and activists to hear their perspectives and share your experiences and thoughts on how we can Stop Brexit.