North East Fife Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain moved a "Westminister Hall" debate (transcript here) on Wednesday 8th September criticising the closure of offices of the British Council, an important cultural institution financed by the British Government. As Wendy noted "the British Council was created [in 1934] in response to a changing global stage: the United Kingdom was losing its traditional forms of influence, extreme ideologies were on the rise around the world and there was a global economic crisis." Wendy continued that "those problems may not sound unfamiliar to the Minister and others here today as he and his Cabinet colleagues seek to re-establish the UK as a global power outside the EU, respond to extreme ideologies at home and abroad, as we have devastatingly seen over the last few weeks, and tackle the economic and social implications of the pandemic and the climate crisis. Clearly, the British Council remains as relevant today as it has ever been."

The Liberal Democrat Conference on the Future of Europe

Dear member

I hope you managed to have a break of some kind this summer and are now, as we head into the autumn, refreshed and ready for our conference and debating season. For those of us for whom Europe is still the most defining issue of our time - and I suspect that as a member of the Lib Dem European Group (LDEG) that includes yourself - the next couple of months are going to be very exciting. You are being offered the opportunity to have your say.

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.