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  • Levy Briefing
    Briefing: The Energy Profits Levy
    Article: May 26, 2022
    By Francis Thomas

    On the 26th May 2022, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a new tax on the profits of oil and gas companies operating in the UK and the UK Continental Shelf.

    At 25%, the so-called 'Energy Profits Levy' is positioned as similar to the Windfall Tax that the Liberal Democrats first called for on October the 24th of last year.

    Great news, right? The Conservatives bowed to our pressure, recognising that we had won the argument?

    Well.

    Not all is as it seems.

    Rather, the Levy finances the increased production and dependence on fossil fuels.

    Christine Jardine MP, our Treasury spokesperson, said:

    "This is more a levy lite than a windfall tax. The Chancellor could have raised double the cash from oil and gas companies if he had the bottle."


    In this Green Liberal Democrat Briefing, we will cover all you need to know about today's 'Energy Profits Levy'.
  • LEAF header
    The Green Liberal Democrat LEAF - Post Election Update
    Article: May 26, 2022
    By Green Liberal Democrats

    This year, we donated bundles of 1,000 petitions to our Accredited Candidates throughout the UK. This effort was funded by the LEAF - the Local Environment Action Fund - designed to assist campaigning Liberal Democrats who have committed to delivering greener, cleaner, healthier communities.

    Your generous donations allowed us to support 50 Accredited Candidates in the first year. We want to talk with you about some of our wins.

    Of our 50 supported candidates, 31 were entrusted to represent their communities as Councillors.

    Our Accredited Candidates won in England, Scotland, and Wales, whilst many now sit as Cabinet members in councils newly under Liberal Democrat control.

    From ousting the leader of the Conservative Administration in Colchester, to beating the the head of the Conservative Party HQ 'Liberal Democrat Unit' in Somerset, Green Liberal Democrats held the inaction and arrogance of this Government to account.

    Alongside 30% swings from Labour to win in Greater Manchester and topping the poll in a 'strong SNP' ward, no party remained safe from our campaigns.

    Again, that's 31 new Councillors. 62% of the Accredited Candidates that we directly supported through the LEAF won their seats.

    Many of these Councillors - and others besides - are joining us at our Summer School & Conference - A Turning Point.

    Our 'Green Debut' training will inform how you can deliver climate action on your council from administration or opposition, using the positions granted by our communities to work for greener, cleaner, healthier communities.

    Attend 'Green Debut' training at A Turning Point

    Alongside our training, get a ticket to attend:

    • Keynote speeches.
    • Panel discussions.
    • Special Interest Groups.
    • Campaign planning.
    • Networking opportunities.
    • Vegan lunch!
    P.S: We hope that for new councillors, attending our Summer School & Conference will be particularly informative.

    But if you're an incumbent looking for the next big idea, our training, panels, and Special Interest Groups would be perfect for you also. We have something for everyone!
  • Lib Dems mark IDAHOBIT
    Article: May 23, 2022

    Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

    Many Lib Dems have sent messages of support including tweets like these:

  • Alex Cole-Hamilton headshot
    Cole-Hamilton welcomes Kirk move
    Article: May 23, 2022

    Scottish Lib Dems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP welcomed the news that the Church in Scotland voted to bless same-sex weddings today.

    He tweeted, "This is lovely. Well done to the Kirk."

    The Church of Scotland becomes the largest faith group solemnising same-sex marriage in the UK, alongside the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, the Unitarians and the Quakers.

  • Richard Foord is our Tiverton and Honiton by-election candidate
    Article: May 20, 2022
    By Liberal Democrats

    Richard Foord will be our Liberal Democrat candidate for the upcoming Tiverton & Honiton by-election.

    I was proud to serve my country in the Armed Forces for ten years and now want to serve my community in Westminster.

    Richard Foord

    Richard lives in Uffculme with his wife and family. He grew up in the West Country and served for ten years in the army after graduating from Sandhurst, reaching the rank of Major and receiving three campaign medals for service in Iraq and the Balkans.

  • T&H Let's Win
    Let's Win in Tiverton & Honiton!
    Article: May 19, 2022
    By Green Liberal Democrats

    A byelection has been called.

    Only weeks away, on Thursday 23rd June.

    A rural seat, with a huge Conservative majority, held by the party under various conceptions since the 1800s, bar a brief Liberal interlude for Tiverton in 1923.

    An MP resigned in disgrace.

    Liberal Democrats already the bookies' favourite.

    Sounding familiar?

    The stage is set for another brilliant Liberal Democrat victory in Tiverton & Honiton.

    But to win we need your help.

    The new office in Honiton is nearly election-ready, and there are big action days this weekend. Events are available for registration and all information can be found here:

    Join us in Tiverton & Honiton!

    The tide is with us, but we won't even come close to winning without you.

    We've shown what we can do twice now in the last 12 months; in Chesham & Amersham, and then again in North Shropshire.

    If we can bring that level of passion and enthusiasm once again to Tiverton & Honiton, we can prove that those amazing victories were not flukes, and that the Liberal Democrats are back, and a force to be reckoned with.

    There's no secret recipe to Liberal Democrat election success, just the energy of activists and commitment to a weekend, an evening, and whatever support or time they can offer.

    We've made history twice in a row.

    Let's do it again.

    P.S: We want to get off to a flying start this weekend in Tiverton and Honiton. In North Shropshire, we learned just how vital it is to frame the conversation early.

    This is what the London School of Economics said about our campaigning following Helen Morgan MP's election:
    Donate here
  • Overriding the Northern Ireland Protocol would be deeply damaging
    Article: May 17, 2022

    Here we find ourselves again. It is now coming up on two years since the Conservatives' first threatened to break international law over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Then, this time last year, we heard the continued threats over Article 16 which threatened to overshadow the G7 summit in Cornwall. And now, we are awaiting a rumoured announcement from the Foreign Secretary regarding legislation which will, reportedly, unilaterally rip up the Protocol.

  • Autumn Conference Update - back in-person!
    Article: May 16, 2022

    Since Spring Conference, most members will have been focused on the Local Elections which took place in many parts of the country - and rightly so: the hard work has paid off, with some truly fantastic gains made from both the Conservatives and Labour. Particular mention should go to our amazing Chief Steward at Conference, Mike Ross, who is now the Leader of Hull Council! Massive congratulations to Mike and the whole team.

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