The Liberal Democrats have launched an attempt in Parliament to block corporations from using secretive tribunals to water down environmental or worker protections, and safeguard human rights and transparency in post-Brexit trade deals.

Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled an amendment to the Trade Bill - which is due to be debated in the House of Commons on Monday - to require the Government to assess each new trade agreement's impact on citizens' rights with regard to gender, age, race, class and economic well-being.

The UK's creative industries went into the COVID19 pandemic as world leaders, but without the necessary recovery support, they will emerge smaller, weaker and with lasting damage.

But with so much continuing uncertainty, the Government must do much more to prevent a cultural catastrophe and protect people's livelihoods from the twin threats of COVID and Brexit.

Yesterday, Acting Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey secured a commitment from the Prime Minister to an independent inquiry into the Government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis and called for the timetable to be set out immediately.

The UK has suffered one of the worst death rates in the world.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Ed Davey warned that under Boris Johnson's leadership the country has suffered one of the worst death rates in the world and Europe's worst death rate of health and care workers.

Last week's leaked letter by Liz Truss to her colleagues Michael Gove and Rishi Sunak has caused so much fun among the Brexit commentariat it is worth reproducing here in full. Reading it makes for a freshing change to all the pro-Brexit guff so-often declaimed by Conservative ministers.

The Sunday Times reported that, following the leak, Truss had recieved a "b*llocking" from the PM's chief advisor Dominic Cummings and, that as a result, she may get fired in an autumn reshuffle. I am tempted to think Truss may already be planning her exit from the government before things take a turn from bad to worse at the end of the transition period.

Sir Ed Davey, who is co-leading the Liberal Democrats, has written to the Prime Minister, urging him to abolish often harmful and discriminatory Section 60 "suspicionless" Stop-and-Search powers.

Kate Smith, Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner candidate, agrees and says, "Normal Stop-and-Search exists for good reasons, but under suspicionless Stop-and-Search by Police, a Black person is 47 times more likely to be stopped and searched than a White person.
Too often it seems just being Black is enough for someone (like Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams) to be a criminal. Boris Johnson must get rid of this category of Stop-and-Search, and end the injustice it brings to so many people from the UK's black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities".

Countless families are facing serious financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis. More than a million people have lost their jobs and many more are worried about losing theirs in the weeks and months ahead.

We are also facing big challenges in deep-seated inequality and the climate emergency.

We must ensure no one is left behind.

At the virtual Full Council meeting of Derbyshire Dales District Council held on 2nd July, some details were provided of the promised 'Independent Review' into the events of 8th June in Asbourne.

This was the day when a controversial pub sign was removed without apparent regard for health and safety guidance by a group that apparently had the permission of the District Counci Leader - Conservative Cllr Gary Purdy. Conservative Councillors were present as the head was removed. The A515 was closed during the procedure and the pub sign only returned to the District Council on 11th June.

Coronavirus has changed the world we know in so many ways and has highlighted many problems within British society.

As Liberal Democrats, we've always looked to the future with hope to build a better world - and we want you to be part of crafting our vision for the world after Coronavirus.

We've launched an exciting new member project - PolicyLab. It's a crowdsourcing forum where members and registered supporters can share their ideas and debate key topics, all within a safe and constructive environment.

Responding to Matt Hancock's interview on The Andrew Marr Show, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and care spokesperson Munira Wilson said:

"The Health Secretary talks a lot about wanting to protect our NHS, but the best way to protect it is by actually creating a comprehensive Test and Trace system that allows local authorities to keep the virus under control. Ultimately if we want to avoid a second peak that will put untold pressure on our NHS and cost lives, we need a fully functioning Test and Trace system.

"It is incredibly disappointing that Matt Hancock has failed to commit to properly recognising health and care workers who have made such great sacrifices through the Coronavirus.

"As we celebrate the birthday of our NHS the Government must address the serious concerns about Test and Trace and give hard working staff the recognition they deserve."

Kate Smith, Lib Dem Candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner writes

Derbyshire's PCC Hardyal Dhindsa recently highlighted how slowly justice is moving in the county at the moment. But it's not just because of Coronavirus.

Even before the virus crisis, delays of up to 2 years in both Magistrates' and Crown Courts were common. "Hardyal's right, but only up to a point", says Kate - "Covid apart, court resourcing has fallen in real terms by 18 % over the last few years."