Lib Dem Manifesto Launched

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey launches election manifesto, which aims to boost the UK economy and fix the country’s broken relationship with the EU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the UK Liberal Democrats, today launched the Liberal Democrats' election manifesto which aims to repair the UK’s ‘broken relationship with Europe, which acts as a brake on the economy and costs the UK investment, jobs and tax revenue.’

The manifesto outlines a series of proposals aimed at boosting the UK economy by investing in green infrastructure and skills, while tackling the climate crisis. It also highlights the party’s ambition to fix the country’s ‘broken relationship with Europe, forge a new partnership built on cooperation, not confrontation, and move to conclude a new comprehensive agreement that removes as many barriers to trade as possible.’

The manifesto states that fixing the broken relationship would involve a four-stage roadmap.

‘Once ties of trust and friendship have been renewed, and the damage the Conservatives have caused to trade between the UK and EU has begun to be repaired, we would aim to place the UK-EU relationship on a more formal and stable footing by seeking to join the Single Market.’ EU membership, it states, ‘remains our longer-term objective.’

The Lib Dems are also proposing to expand the Youth Mobility Scheme which currently applies to a small number of countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea. The party proposes negotiating with the EU to extend the scheme and raise the age limit to 35. (For certain countries such as Japan and Iceland, the age limit is currently set at 30). The Lib Dems also propose to ‘reverse the Conservatives’ unfair increase to income thresholds for family visas, so that no more families are torn apart.’

Lib Dems Abroad, the party’s overseas wing, have been campaigning to encourage Brits abroad to register to vote before the June 18th deadline.

Due to changes in the UK’s electoral law in mid-January, some 2.1 million additional British citizens who had previously lived in the UK have regained their right to vote, bringing the total to an estimated 3.5 million eligible voters abroad. Previously British citizens had been barred from voting if they moved abroad more than 15 years ago or never voted when they lived in the UK. The large number of votes from Brits abroad could be pivotal in marginal seats.

For many Brits overseas who have elderly parents back in the UK or who may be considering moving back home themselves, fixing the National Health Service and social care are of critical importance.

In a moving speech, Davey highlighted what care means to him personally as he has acted as a carer for his mother and son.

The Lib Dems are putting forward a bold and ambitious plan to tackle the health and care crisis which proposes recruiting 8,000 more GPs and bringing down waiting lists. Davey said the plans are fully costed at £9 billion a year which would be paid for in part by reversing tax cuts to banks.

He said the party would also introduce free personal care for people who need help with daily tasks such as eating and washing.

As social care has proved a controversial issue in the past, with successive governments failing to tackle it, the Lib Dems are proposing that a cross-party commission be established ‘to forge a long-term agreement on sustainable funding for social care’.

Notes to editors

● The Liberal Democrats are a UK political party which seeks to build and safeguard a fair,
free and open society.
● Lib Dems Abroad have been reaching out to British voters overseas to ensure they are
fully informed of their new voting rights, as requested of UK political parties by the
Electoral Commission. For more information about the electoral changes, go to
https://www.britsabroad.vote/
● Liberal Democrats Abroad comprises of members of the UK Liberal Democrat party
living outside the UK and has three constituent organisations: Liberal Democrats in
France, Liberal Democrats in Europe, and Liberal Democrats Overseas.

Interview availability

● The chairs of Liberal Democrats in France (Jenny Shorten), Liberal Democrats in Europe
(David Sapiro), and Liberal Democrats Overseas (George Cunningham) are available for
interviews or quotes.

Contact information
Stuart Pallister +34 675 612 355 (WhatsApp)
press@libdemsabroad.org

The manifesto can be read online here:

https://libdems.org.uk/manifesto