Monthly Lichfield Pint and Politics

- George IV Pub, [not the George Hotel!] meeting room 34 Bore St, Lichfield WS13 6LU
(meeting room is sitting area at front of pub on left as you enter)

- contact Keith LePla 07736 248846 for details

Hugh Warner, Chair of Lichfield, Tamworth and Burton Lib Dems has written to all members today:

"I think that the result of the election on Thursday was very different from what we all imagined it would be on the day we heard it had been called. Despite having been cut out of the national media exposure for two years nationally we have increased the number of our MPs to twelve, but lost four of our existing MPs, including Nick Clegg. We now have four women MPs.

Paul Ray, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Lichfield and Burntwood in the General Election has urged voters to VOTE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT as election day approaches.

Paul Ray said "During the campaign I have had the opportunity to set out the key and distinctive policies of the Lib Dems. These have been really well received on the doorstep.

The Liberal Democrats have criticised Theresa May as "cold and heartless," following the shock revelation she blocked attempts to guarantee the right to stay for EU nationals immediately after the referendum.

In a scathing editorial in the Evening Standard today, George Osborne revealed that "in the days immediately after the referendum, David Cameron wanted to reassure EU citizens they would be allowed to stay. All his Cabinet agreed with that unilateral offer, except his Home Secretary, Mrs May, who insisted on blocking it."

It comes as the Liberal Democrats have set out a list of four demands that must be addressed in the government's paper on the rights of EU nationals on Monday, including ending the "bureaucratic nightmare" faced by EU citizens applying for permanent residency.

A recent report revealed that at the Home Office's current workrate, it will take around 11 years to process the millions of expected residency requests from EU nationals.

Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said:

The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for Britain to stay the single market and customs union.

The party is now calling on both Labour and Conservative MPs to support the amendment and inflict a historic defeat on the government, forcing Theresa May to soften her extreme approach to Brexit.

The Trade Bill announced in the Queen's speech is simply a job creation scheme for Liam Fox, the Liberal Democrats have said.

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson, said: "In reality this is an Anti-Trade Bill, as it means leaving the single market and customs union, despite clear opposition from the Chancellor and the Bank of England.