Commenting following the debate in PMQs over votes at 16, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, said:

“Theresa May and her Tory party are shamelessly behind the times. They stick to arguments of tradition rather than trusting in the next generation.

With ever-decreasing funding for social care, and the Council announcing £50 million of cuts that need to be made, the Council should be preparing to focus its spending on the services that most support our local communities.  The local Liberal Democrats were shocked, therefore, to discover last weekend that the Council is intending to spend £1.3 million to convert the beloved Raines House into a "community hub".

Raines House is an historic part of Wapping's local heritage, and provides a number of services including dance classes, tea dance, bingo and social evenings.  It is clear that the venue could benefit from some redecoration, but local residents are concerned that the proposed redesign will take away from the unique East End character, and threaten some of the activities that elderly residents rely upon.

In particular, the proposed £1.3 million cost of the renovation is shocking at a time when local residents are facing cuts in so many vital services.  We understand that use of these funds are restricted to certain initiatives, as it is "section 106 funding" (reciprocal investment funded from development projects).  However, there is surely a better use of this money.

We call on the Council to tell us what other uses for this money were considered, and why this was decided on as the most valuable investment, without consulting local residents first.  Contact wapping@towerhamletslibdems.org.uk to let us know what you think.

Lib Dem activist, Paul Kohler, has today launched a legal challenge to the London Mayor’s plans to close 37 police stations across the capital.

The legal challenge is seeking permission to take the decision to close more than half of the current police stations in London to Judicial Review. Lawyers acting on half of Mr Kohler have argued that the public consultation and consequent decision were legally flawed and unlawful.

A hard Brexit that would see Britain no longer trade energy in the Internal Energy Market is likely to increase British energy bills, the House of Lords' EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee is expected to say on Monday. 

Rough sleeping in England rose by 15% in the year to autumn 2017, according to new government figures. 

The government must urgently spell out its aims from the second phase of EU negotiations and on transitional arrangements, the Lords EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee has warned. 

Commenting on ONS figures released today showing an 82,000 fall in the number of self-employed workers, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Stephen Lloyd MP said:
 
“Liberal Democrats are deeply concerned by this huge drop in the number of people working for themselves, reversing a shift towards increasing self-employment and entrepreneurial risk-taking.

Today marks 100 days until local elections in Tower Hamlets and across London.

This is an important moment for Tower Hamlets. Our local communities are struggling to cope with harsh cuts imposed by the Conservatives from Westminster, and our Labour council are just making things worse — failing to use what powers they do have. Whatsmore, our borough is stung time and time again with corruption allegations. 

Commenting on the lMF's latest global forecast, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, said: 

“It is clear that Britain is under-performing relative to much of Europe, the USA and the rest of the world. It is especially unfortunate that the UK is entering an extended period of economic stagnation just as the rest of the world experiences a growth burst.

Councillor Andrew Cregan called on the Council this week to use existing power to bring empty homes into use, after a Liberal Democrat Freedom of Information Request discovered that 500 homes across Tower Hamlets have sat empty for more than 6 months, and 117 have sat empty for two years or more.