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.

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.

Recall of Parliament, 30 December 2020 - Voting Recommendation

At its meeting on Tuesday the LDEG Executive agreed unanimously to reject the Tory Government's Brexit Deal and calls on the Party's MPs and peers to vote against the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill when it comes before Parliament this week.

LDEG is led by an executive committee of up to 25 people. While three seats are reserved for co-option 22 seats including six officers are are subject to elections every two years. Twelve of these seats correspond to Scotland, Wales and the ten party regions in England.

At its 21 November meeting the current Executive agreed the appointment of an independent Returning Officer and the timetable for election as follows: