Lie is not a word anyone in politics uses lightly. But Lib Dems Lords Health and Social Care spokesperson Sal Brinton used it today in response to Michael Gove’s interview on the Andrew Marr Show . But this lie that the Gvt has already put a protective ring round care homes is a lie direct. […]
Layla: We need reassurance and clarity before schools can re-open
Lib Dem Education spokesperson Layla Moran was on LBC this morning talking about getting children back to school. Listen here: Growing inequality for school children during lockdown highlights the need to get children back to learning, but parents and teachers face a lack of reassurance and we all still need clarity on the science. See […]
Ten years of living with the Black Dog
Embed from Getty Images My first encounter with what I call the black dog was in the early months of 2010, not long after I went off work the previous autumn. I initially rebuffed my GP’s offer of antidepressants. That was partly because of a misplaced idea that it would be an admission of weakness […]
Civil Liberties and the NHS App
The NHS has launched a tracing App for trialling in the Isle of Wight. How does it measure up against the civil liberties checklist that I authored on Lib Dem Voice on 15th April, along with some excellent additions within the comments? First, the positives: I urged that opting in should be voluntary. It is. […]
Lib Dems lead cross party call for mental health plan in response to COVID-19 crisis
Liberal Democrats are at the forefront of cross party calls for a long-term, cross-departmental mental health plan in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Citing the “acute” impact of the pandemic on mental health, a cross party group of Parliamentarians warn that over half of adults admit the coronavirus crisis has impacted their wellbeing. The group, […]
We must revive Britain’s history of bold policy
Coronavirus has blown open many of the issues contemporary society faces as a whole. The UK Government has acted radically in the last few weeks. The furlough scheme has guaranteed many workers pay, and a huge effort has provided support for charities and businesses. Yet many have been left behind. Those laid off have joined […]
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
Embed from Getty Images ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity’ (A tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens) In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we […]
Public scrutiny of lockdown exit strategy
The Government must publish its “exit strategy” for easing the “lock down” for public scrutiny to avoid repeating past mistakes and ensure that when the time comes it is ready and it does not overlook anything or anyone. For example as a former Director of Social Services and Non-Executive Director of an NHS Trust it […]
Clap For Carers Must Be Followed Up With Action
We have all witnessed or better still participated in the clap for carers initiative which has grown out of the current crisis. I am sure that the carers themselves are lifted by our support. However what they really need is practical help, something that the government has been slow in coming up with. Britain’s carers […]
Going back to normal would be the worst outcome of this crisis
Embed from Getty Images This global pandemic, and the consequent unprecedented changes to how we live, has laid bare the inequality that exists in our society. Covid-19 has given inequality a human face when previously it was understood by many in the form of stats and figures, news reports, policy documents, while many more were […]