The Federal Conference Committee met via Zoom call on Saturday, 16 January for the agenda selection for our second virtual conference. The meeting was a lengthy one, which was in part due to the large selection of varied and interesting motions we received, but also to give us breaks from staring at computer screens for a number of hours.

The Government are refusing to accept cross-party amendments to the Trade Bill that would put human rights at the heart of our trade policy.

The UK and the world can't just stand by and do nothing.

This is particularly important because of what is happening to the Uyghur people in Xinjiang and across China. The Foreign Secretary last week described the mounting evidence to the Commons:

Farmers across the country are worried about their future - they're worried that the UK will be flooded with poor quality food that undercuts the goods they produce to high environmental and animal welfare standards.

Liberal Democrats back British farmers.

The Conservatives have continually failed to protect our farmers from these risks.

Sam North has been announced by Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats as their candidate for the upcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections. Sam is a former police officer who is passionate about policing and crime prevention and has a deep understanding of the current limitations of the police service, of the difficulties that they face, and of the very real concerns that have been raised by the police time and time again. Sam has set out a six-point plan for policing in Hertfordshire which includes: Supporting our Officers, Reducing Crime, Mental Health provision, Equality and Opportunity, 21^st Century Policing and tackling Serious, Organised and Gang-Related Crime.

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 11th January

Monday 11th January

Monday started off with a statement from the Chancellor who has been notably quiet as of late. He came to the House to update MPs on the most recent packages of support for individuals and businesses during the pandemic.

For years, this Government have promised our fishing industry a sea of opportunity, but, today, our boats are tied up in harbour, their propellers fouled with red tape manufactured in Whitehall.

Our boats are tied up in harbour, their propellers fouled with red tape manufactured in Whitehall.

Boats that are able to go to sea are landing their catches in Denmark-an expensive round trip of at least 72 hours, which takes work away from processors and other shoreside businesses in this country.

I tabled the Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21, which was due for its second reading on Friday.

Lib Dems will continue to fight for healthcare workers' rights

But the Government have decided to axe all sitting Fridays until the end of March, meaning dozens of Private Members Bills will effectively be shut down.

It's been a huge privilege to come to know many Tamil people in my constituency and across the UK since being elected to Parliament back in 1997, and I can therefore say with total certainty, that the contribution of British Tamils to our country and society has been exemplary, with the hard work, intelligence and dedication of so many amazing British Tamils.

It is completely unacceptable that parents have received woefully inadequate food parcels in place of free school meals.

The Secretary of State must urgently investigate this situation.

The amount of food parents have received to feed their children is not anything like enough to provide an adequate, nutritious lunch every day.

Over the past year, Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled a number of Private Members' Bills that would make important changes to help build a fairer country, tackle deep-rooted inequalities and ensure a more effective response to the Covid pandemic.

Eleven key Liberal Democrat Bills were due to have "Second Reading" - the next stage of their progress through Parliament - over the next three months.