By Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Kingston & Surbiton
I would like to send my warmest wishes to Tamils around the world celebrating Thai Pongal, the four day harvest festival.
It's been a huge privilege to come to know many Tamil people in my constituency and across the UK since being elected to Parliament back in 1997, and I can therefore say with total certainty, that the contribution of British Tamils to our country and society has been exemplary, with the hard work, intelligence and dedication of so many amazing British Tamils.
Celebrations like this are an opportunity to remember the exceptional contributions we witness everyday from entrepreneurs, public servants and of course our frontline workers. Thank you for all you do.
Current lockdown measures mean this year's Pongal celebrations will feel distinctly different as so many of us remain separated from friends and loved ones. Despite these challenges, let us look to the future with hope and let us strengthen our collective efforts to beat this virus.
To everyone celebrating, I wish you overflowing happiness and good health for the year ahead. Iniya Thai Pongal Nalvazhthukkal!
Maggie Kellman, a Lib Dem Councillor for Walton, contacted major supermarkets about their plans to put reverse vending machines into their Chesterfield stores. These machines repay customers a small deposit paid on plastic bottles and will be required by law from 2024.
Lib Dem Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran responds to the Trump-inspired attacks on the US Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Like you, I watched domestic terrorists and insurrectionists storm the US Capitol last night with a sense of horror and shock.
A symbol of democracy worldwide was shown to be fragile, vulnerable.
It is a stark reminder that will remain etched in our memories.
Donald Trump failed to fulfil his oath to protect the US Constitution, inciting his supporters to engage in violence and attack elected officials in Congress, backed up by Congressmen, Congresswomen and Senators afraid of being deselected in primaries and willing to undermine faith in democracy to save their own skins.
An attack on democracy anywhere is an attack on democracy everywhere.
All I could think was: if this could happen there, this could also easily happen here.
We often see the US as a bastion of stability. To see how easily that was threatened and attacked should remind us that democracy and freedom can never be taken for granted. The Liberal Democrats can and will lead the fight to protect and defend them every single day.
That is my duty as an MP, and it is all our duties as citizens.
News that members of Trump's cabinet may be discussing invoking the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution, making Pence Acting President until 20 January, reaffirms what we already know: Donald Trump is not and never has been fit to hold the office of President of the United States.
Frankly, the Tories should be ashamed of how they cosied up to Donald Trump and his administration. How they stood by as he flouted the international rules-based order. How they have mimicked his populist agenda.
While it comes too late to avoid the damage Trump has done in the US and beyond, there is new hope in the inauguration of Joe Biden on the 20th.
Liberal Democrats call on the Prime Minister to end Britain's long walk towards isolation and to seize this opportunity to re-enter the world stage as a strong ally in the fight to promote peace and end climate change and injustice.
Democrats must stand together against those who would seek to undermine and end our way of life, whether they are members of a violent mob or politicians in positions of responsibility.
As Senator Mitt Romney said on the Senate floor when Congress reconvened late last night:
"Today was heart-breaking.
And I was shaken to the core, as I thought about the people I met in China, and Russia, and Afghanistan and Iraq and other places who yearn for freedom, and who look to this building and these shores as a place of hope.
And I saw the images being broadcast around the world, and it breaks my heart."
At the full council meeting on the 16th December, Lib Dem Councillor Tom Snowdon asked the leader of the council to submit a bid for Chesterfield to host a major new UK government project.
Tom Snowdon says "This is a huge opportunity to create thousands of new jobs in an industry that will help us move forward towards a carbon free future. It would make Chesterfield a major hub for fusion power".
Campaigners fighting to stop the abolition of local Borough and District Councils and their replacement with large, remote and unaccountable countywide Unitary authorities have welcomed progress in their campaign.
118 Liberal Democrat Councillors from across the East Midlands signed a letter co-authored by Hinckley and Bosworth Councillor Michael Mullaney and leader of the Lib Dem group on Chesterfield Borough Council Paul Holmes, to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government calling on the government to drop plans that could see Borough Councils in the region abolished and replaced with larger Unitary authorities.
Boris Johnson must address growing concerns before Liberal Democrat MPs can vote for the new tier system.
The country is desperate to get life back to normal, particularly given how much has already been sacrificed.
But time and time again, the Government has squandered the sacrifices the British people have made through Ministers' unbelievable incompetence.
Once more, they have failed to put together a strategy to bring the virus under control and keep people safe.
The new tier system announced by Boris Johnson is arbitrary, confused and chaotic. As it stands, we cannot in all conscience vote for this unsafe plan.
What the country needs is a transparent system of local restrictions, an exit plan with a comprehensive strategy to roll out vaccines and a test, trace and isolate system that works.
That's why Liberal Democrats have called on the Prime Minister to first address a series of concerns before the Party's MPs will vote for a new system, including:
Full release of the scientific evidence underpinning the tier system, including economic and health impact assessments.
An ongoing commitment that tier decisions and local rules will be made in partnership with local authorities, and subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.
A new approach to the failed test, trace and isolate system that partners properly with local authorities on tracing, and provides proper incentives for people to isolate, to keep people safe and prevent new surges.
Urgent financial support for pubs, including removing the requirement for alcohol sales to be accompanied by a substantial meal in outdoor areas.
A clearer exit route from tiering with a comprehensive strategy to roll out a vaccine.
Given that less than 50% of people understood the rules last time, it's crucial that the Government addresses growing concerns and keeps people safe.
It's been a hard year for families across Britain this year. A public-sector pay freeze is completely unacceptable.
With the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the Chancellor needed to ensure that no one is left behind. That was the litmus test, and he has failed
In a year when our NHS and care staff, teachers, police officers and many others have gone beyond the call of duty, a pay freeze reveals just how callous the Chancellor truly is.
Many public sector staff have worked on the front-line throughout the pandemic, putting their lives on the line, and a pay-freeze is not how they should be rewarded.
The Conservatives have consistently underfunded the public sector, and now the Chancellor is allowing those who have worked so hard to slow the spread of this virus and keep the country going to be the first in line to foot the bill.
Freezing public sector pay will have a negligible effect on the national debt. We need to balance the books by growing our economy through investment in green technologies.
They deserve better than this.
Public sector workers deserve a Government that recognises and rewards their sacrifices and service during this terribly difficult time.
The Government is currently reviewing the first round of, often controversial, traffic management measures that were hastily introduced during the first Covid Lockdown in March -May 2020.
In Chesterfield the experience has been that the use of ugly concrete blocks and temporary plastic and metal barriers, to block off parking spaces and widen pavements/narrow roads has been a badly thought out failure. It has made Chesterfield streets unattractive and has done nothing to encourage pedestrians. It has also reduced disabled access.
Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains to honour Rama.
He returned to his people after 14 years of exile during which he and Hanuman fought and won a battle against the demons and their King Ravana who had kidnapped Rama's wife Sita.
In the story of Diwali, diyas are used to light the way for Rama and Sita's return home. A Diwali Diya is a small lamp that is lit especially at Diwali (New Year's in India) Diyas are typically made of clay with Ghee or oil used as the fuel and cotton wool as the wick.
Typical Diwali traditions include family and friends gathering to light lamps (diyas) and fireworks, exchanging gifts and sharing food. This year, due to Coronavirus, families will be celebrating remotely. Many temples and communities are putting on services through zoom and facebook, giving people ways to feel connected to their loved ones.
Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. 2020 has been a dark year for many of us, and Diwali's message that light will triumph in the end is of comfort for us all.
On behalf of the Liberal Democrats I'd like to wish everyone celebrating a joyous Diwali!
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
Chesterfield Liberal Democrats support the two-minute doorstep silence this Remembrance Sunday, we can still remember in 2020 even if we cannot join together in Acts of Remembrance.
