Lichfield, Tamworth and Burton Liberal Democrats

Brexit continues to threaten us with national catastrophe. The Prime Minister's Chequers plan (which must now be dead in the water) would leave us complying with EU rules, but without our current ability to influence them. Extremism within her own party is a growing problem; polls show that a majority of pro-Brexit Tory voters in England would prefer to break-up the UK and jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland than stay in the EU.

As a local party we are strong supporters of new housing and especially affordable housing in Lichfield district. On this subject Lichfield Tories have failed to deliver. The Conservative led Council's target for 2017/18 was planning permission for 1300 homes. In fact, permission was granted for only 416 homes, and only 120 affordable homes were built. We simply must do better.

What's YOUR take? What are YOUR ideas for Friarsgate? We'd love to hear from you.

Please use survey in following link friarsgate-survey

With the original plans for the Lichfield Friarsgate development now in ruins, Miles Trent has spoken on behalf of the Lichfield Liberal Democrats on the subject, and presented some ideas for the future.

"A People's Vote is now the only way to escape from this mess" - Vince Cable

Any Brexit deal will leave the UK weakened and the public poorer.

"And before the ink is dry, the Conservative Party will tear into what little Theresa May has been able to agree. The Prime Minister now faces a defeat in Parliament, as a majority will be hard or impossible to secure for what she has come up with."

The short answer is no. But what we spend needs to be spent much better.

The truth is that the Defence budget has a Brexit shaped hole. The biggest cost in defence, after skilled professionals, is equipment. In the vast range of investments needed three items stand out; the new aircraft carriers, planes required to fly from them, and replacement for the Trident missile system.

This week is Transgender Awareness week, and if you haven't had a chance to read my blog on the importance of supporting and standing alongside our transgender friends and colleagues, you can read it here: libdems.org.uk/trans-rights-are-human-rights.

Transgender and intersex communities are too often marginalised, and many forget that in the fight for equality, trans rights are human rights. We must, and we are, endeavouring to ensure that a vulnerable group of people are able to live as they are entitled to under our laws.