Update from Party President Josh Babarinde MP

Hello lovely Liberal Democrats!

It’s that time of the month again where I send out my regular newsletter. Here are some of the highlights:

Standing up to racism

Liberals believe your background, your postcode and who your parents are should never decide your future, because we are all equal. 

Racism and sexism is the ultimate betrayal of true liberalism. 

So when an ITV documentary exposed what some (now-former) Reform UK councillors really think of their Black and Brown neighbours and women, I reported those responsible, took the fight to the media, and haven’t stopped making the case since.

On the BBC, I challenged the Reform leader of Kent County Council directly and it was met with squirming.

In the House of Commons, I challenged Reform’s failure to call out describing the Leader of the Opposition as a “Nigerian scammer” as racist.

And in a meeting with the Jewish Leadership Council and Board of Deputies, I was proud to stand together with Ed, Daisy and other senior leaders in our party in condemning the Green Party’s ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion as anti-semitic. Ed confirmed: “I can therefore rule out our party entering into a national partnership with any party that is committed to a dangerous and antisemitic policy like the Green Party’s.”

Liberal Democrats stand up to populist bigotry and racism. 

Snap General Election preparation activated!

With the risk of a snap General Election increasing, Federal Board formally triggered preparation for a snap General Election as early as 10th December. 

While we think it’s more likely that a General Election will come later, the risk is real enough to need to be prepared. General Election campaign chair Mark Pack gave more detail on this in his recent all-member explainer email and you can see more in his monthly report here: www.libdems.org.uk/news/article/perhaps-the-most-pointless-question-pms-are-asked

Challenging a weak Budget

We’ve just had the Budget and I was part of the team out on the airwaves making the case for our values.

I was on Sky News with Sophy Ridge, talking about how the Budget doesn’t break the grip of those corporations and vested interests who are taking our money, taking our freedoms but not taking responsibility. 

I also cannot believe that he did not mention the European Union ONCE. He completely ignored the biggest growth opportunity our country has. 

Huge well done to Daisy Cooper and the Treasury team for their fab work holding the Government’s feet to the fire on this. 

Fighting for veterans

Standing up for those who have served our country is a liberal cause: fairness means no one should be penalised for the sacrifices they made for their country, and that’s the principle Liberal Democrats must fight for. 

To play my part in this effort, I’ve brought together 103 MPs from 11 parties, alongside the Royal British Legion, this Remembrance period to demand the Chancellor stop cutting injured veterans’ benefits just because they’ve received military compensation.

We took the campaign to Good Morning Britain, who ran a brilliant feature on it. Those who put their lives on the line for this country shouldn’t be penalised for the injuries they suffered serving it.

We will keep up the fight. 

Meeting fantastic Lib Dems across the country

It was fantastic to meet the Highlands Liberal Democrats in Inverness, where we just won the Wick and East Caithness by-election with local candidate Julie Calder in the SNP’s own back yard!

Scottish Conference in Edinburgh was buzzing (especially Alex Cole-Hamilton’s keynote speech), where I led the financial appeal for cash to support the 2027 local elections in Scotland. Well done to all the organisers for a brilliant Conference. 

Fantastic to support Vikki Slade MP and her brilliant local team at the Mid Dorset and North Poole annual dinner (and constituency where all but one councillors are Liberal Democrats!)

Down in Sevenoaks, I joined the team for an ‘In Conversation With’ event, hosted by Tara Matthews, where I spoke about my journey from supporting young people out of crime to changing the law in Westminster. 

As ever, thank you for everything you do!