Derbyshire Dales
Liberal Democrats

News Archive

This section contains News articles written by local members on both local and national issues that we feel are important to the lives of those living in Derbyshire Dales. We hope that these give you an understanding of the values that we, as Liberal Democrats, feel are important.

IMMIGRATION - THE BACKLOG

The issue of immigration is one of the most difficult political issues across the world. Despite the appalling language used by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, the UK only receives a modest number of asylum applications in comparison with other European countries. In 2021 we had 50,000 applications whilst France had over 100,000 and Germany over 150,000. When you look at applications per 100,000 population we have 80 per 100,000 - behind most European countries with Austria at over 400 and Belgium at over 150. Recent reports in the press about a 'fast track processing system' and 'amnesty' are driven not by increasing numbers of applicants but Government failures since Boris's 'oven ready deal' that was enacted in 2020. We have a backlog of applications, over 120,000 up from 30,000 in 2019. This is because we are taking 15.5 months to process an application, whereas Germany takes 6.5 months and France 8.5 months. The Government blames the ECHR but this applies in Germany and France so clearly is just a

MIJ
23 Feb 2023
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Why solving the NI Protocol matters

Peace in Northern Ireland matters for the whole UK. A return to turmoil is in no-one's interest and the lack of political will to engage properly creates uncertainty, of which there is more than enough in the world already. The Conservative Party is riven with ignorance and worse indifference of the affairs of NI and Ireland. The ERG and other anti-european brexiteers unfortunately still hold a disproportionate sway within the ranks of the party. Notions of deferred sovereignty that have fixated this powerful minority of politicians are being played out, dangerously, in their opposition to any rapprochement between the UK, Ireland and Europe over trade. They cannot envisage a unique arrangement, especially not a Red/Green customs system, even though it would facilitate good relations, trouble free trade and probable increased prosperity. They are wedded to a jingoistic viewpoint. Similarly the Democratic Unionist Party belies it's name by refusing to take part in forming a functioning assembly. They have the

JD
16 Feb 2023
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