Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder comments on the departure of the Italian Five Star Movement from the UKIP group: “I look forward to working constructively with the Five Star Movement in areas where we share the same values, in particular protecting the environment upon which I have worked closely with some of their leading MEPs […]

Watch Tom Brake‘s urgent intervention on the Emergency Debate on International action to protect civilians in Aleppo and Syria, commenting on the humanitarian crisis. Commenting on the humanitarian crisis in the Syrian city of Aleppo, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tom Brake said: “While Assad has brutally torn Syria apart, the UK government has failed to […]

The European Union has begun legal proceedings against seven of its members for failing to police emissions standards in the wake of the VW scandal. In particular Germany and Britain have been urged by the European Commission to account for refusing to share details on breaches of EU emissions laws uncovered in earlier this year. […]

Last week, MEPs have voted for tough measures to combat the growing trade in illegal wildlife products which is destroying the planet’s ecosystem. The report by Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder makes the following recommendations to tackle wildlife trafficking: Minimum prison sentences for wildlife traffickers across the EU by listing wildlife crime as a “serious crime” […]

The following article was written by the Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and published on Monday 31st October on the London Evening Standard Website. The MP for Richmond Park had little influence in the Tory party and, if re-elected, will now have even less I was pleasantly surprised by David Cameron’s reaction. I had […]

The European Parliament, last Thursday (13th October) voted overwhelmingly in favour of Catherine Bearder MEP’s report on the EU’s Action Plan against wildlife trafficking. The report to the Environment Committee demanded that wildlife crime is included in Europol’s 2017 SOCTA (Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment), upgrading wildlife crime to a “serious and organised crime” as they […]

The following article was written by Lib Dem MEP, Catherine Bearder and published today on the Liberal Democrat Voice Website. I was honoured to be part of the European Parliament’s observer delegation to the CITES CoP17 in South Africa. As a campaigner for wildlife protection I know the opportunity to influence protection at the highest […]

Commenting on today’s landmark decision by the Government to overturn the decision by the local council and to approve fracking in Lancashire, Liberal Democrat Climate and Energy Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone said: “This decision sets a very dangerous precedent, with the government riding roughshod over the will of the local people. “Fracking poses a huge risk […]

The Guardian today reported that the Labour party strengthened its opposition to fracking, saying it would ban the controversial technique for extracting shale gas if it came to power. Speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool, shadow energy and climate secretary Barry Gardiner is to announce the party will be going further than its previous policy […]

Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Spokesperson Lynne Featherstone has accused the Conservatives of trashing the coalition government’s green legacy, including by slashing subsidies for renewable energy while spending billions subsidising Hinkley Point. The Government’s own impact assessment has predicted up to 19,000 job losses in the wind and solar sector. The Liberal Democrats are […]