These are uncertain times, worrying and distressing in many ways, but also encouraging in terms of the community response with people rallying around to help each other. It is certain that there are many 'twists and turns' still to come in the story of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we should be careful not only to focus on the 'here and now'. We should also look to the future.
During the Second World War the great Liberal economist, William Beveridge, published his report which paved the way for the establishment of the Welfare State and the NHS. It was a report that received much discussion even during one of the darkest hours in our nation's history. We have a similar opportunity now to look for fundamental change in British society.
Today we publish a short survey looking at some of the options for the United Kingdom #postcovid19. We'd be very grateful for your assistance in telling us what you think the priorities for our country should be once we have mastered this dreadful virus. One thing is certain; if Liberal Democrats do not lead this discussion then the Conservatives will be looking for a 'return to normal'. We just don't think that the 'old normal' is good enough.
Welcome to the Weekly Whip. Your one-stop shop for Lib Dem Parliamentary updates, covering the week that was and the week to come.
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Weekly Whip w/c 1st June
This week in the House of Commons the Corporate Insolvency Bill, the Parliamentary Constituencies Bill and a motion relating to our future relationship with the European Union were debated and discussed. However, these were not the main stories this week. As much as I would like to get my constitutional nerd on and tell you all about the reasoning behind the structure of Parliamentary constituencies. Some things are more important.
The murder of George Floyd has led to a global outpouring of anger and grief.
From Windrush to Grenfell, from Stephen Lawrence to Mark Duggan, we are not short of our own examples of institutionalised, deep-rooted injustices that shame us all
Racism has been exposed in the most shocking and tragic of ways in Minneapolis but make no mistake - it exists in Britain too.
The disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on people from BAMEgroups is extremely alarming.
My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have written to the Prime Minister to express our grave concern at the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on people from black, Asian and minority ethnicity (BAME) backgrounds and are urging the government to take urgent action now to address this.
