Ask your MP to stop hard Brexit by amending the EU Withdrawal Bill
In the next few days, MPs will be voting on amendments to the EU withdrawal bill.
When people voted in the EU referendum last year, little was known about what a future deal with the European Union would look like.
16 months on it is now clearer than ever that no deal will be anywhere near as good a deal as the one we have now. To top that off, a catastrophic “no deal” scenario is becoming likelier than ever, and would cost Lambeth billions.
Read moreA no deal Brexit will cost Lambeth billions
Kate Hoey has recently been pushing for a no deal Brexit. The Vauxhall MP, pictured above campaigning for a Leave vote alongside Nigel Farage during the referendum, recently tweeted: "No deal with the EU? Sounds like a good deal to me."
No deal with the EU? Sounds like a good deal to me https://t.co/mfn9TJ0hVf
— Kate Hoey (@KateHoeyMP) October 20, 2017
🤦🏻♀️ Not to us 🙇🏽 (Unless it’s because there’s an #exitfrombrexit) https://t.co/NryvSG14lm
— Lambeth Lib Dems (@LambethLibDems) October 20, 2017
Now, new research by the LSE's Centre for Economic Performance and the Liberal Democrats has revealed just how damaging a no deal Brexit would be to our borough.
According to the study, no deal Brexit will mean an economic hit of £3.1billion to Lambeth.
If the UK exits the EU in March 2019 without a deal, Britain's economic output (gross value added) in the five years after Brexit would be reduced by 5.3%, or £430 billion nationwide.
Even if the UK agreed to a Norway style arrangement with full single market access, this would still result in a reduction to five-year economic output of 2.9%, or £235 billion.
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Vauxhall, George Turner said: "These figures are a real indictment of Vauxhall Labour's militant Europhobia.
Read more
Lambeth council's backing of Vauxhall bus station plans puts developers ahead of residents - again
TfL have submitted their planning application to demolish Vauxhall's iconic bus station, after Lambeth's Labour-run council backed the plans. The application will now go to Lambeth’s planning committee for approval.
The Liberal Democrats have a long history of opposition to the plans to demolish the bus station.
In January 2014, then Liberal Democrat Councillor for Oval Ward Ishbel Brown tabled a motion to the council calling for a meaningful consultation on the plans, including the option to retain the bus station. Labour voted against that motion.
Read moreWhat World Mental Health Day means to me
Today (Tuesday 10 October) is World Mental Health Day. I love these annual awareness raising events, and I'll be tweeting away all day. But - I can't help also thinking "and then what?"
I was recently selected to stand for the Liberal Democrats in the local elections next year: in Oval Ward, Lambeth. And now I'm thinking about what I can do to use my campaign (and, if I'm lucky enough, my position as a councillor) to improve mental health services in Lambeth. I'm especially keen to hear from local residents on the topic of mental health, and what they need and want from mental health services.
Back in 2012, following many years of depressive episodes, I was hospitalised with a very severe mental illness: Postpartum Psychosis. My baby and I were lucky enough to get a place in a Mother and Baby Unit, at the Bethlem Royal Hospital (part of the South London and Maudsley NHS trust). After 12 weeks as an inpatient, and recovering well from the horrifying Psychosis, I felt truly lucky to be alive. I left psychiatric hospital with an immense amount of gratitude, a long term diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and a realisation that not everyone is so lucky.
I've been able to use much of the last five years to tell our story, to help reduce the stigma of mental illness, and campaign across the country for better mental health services. I've spoken out to large medical conferences, training events, in Parliament, told the Duchess of Cambridge of my experience (pictured in the tweet below) and even helped the EastEnders team with Stacey's Postpartum psychosis storyline!
The Duchess hears from mums who have shared difficult experiences of becoming parents with @bestbeginnings to show it's OK to ask for help. pic.twitter.com/CgNYMYuC0D
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2017
Kathryn, right, on the EastEnders set with James Bye, who plays Martin Fowler, Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, and fellow campaigner Eve Canavan
Awareness around mental health and mental illness has improved. Recent initiatives such as the Government's plan to train at least one Mental Health First Aider for each secondary school in England are very welcome developments - but I know we can do better!
Read moreLiberal Democrat council candidates selected for Oval and Thurlow Park wards
The first six Liberal Democrat candidates who will fight for election to Lambeth Council next May have been confirmed.
Stéphane Croce, Kathryn Grant and Mike Hillier will stand in Oval ward, Vauxhall. Doug Buist, Kathy Erasmus and Bryan Mahon hope to become councillors for Thurlow Park, Dulwich and West Norwood.
Stéphane, Kathryn and Mike will stand in Oval ward
With interests, expertise and experience across a range of topics, including housing, transport, cycling, mental health, childcare and small business ownership, they are committed to campaigning for a better Lambeth and to return a Liberal Democrat presence to the council.
Peter Truesdale, chair of Lambeth Liberal Democrats, said: "Lambeth needs change. We are fighting for change for Lambeth."
Find out how you can help the campaign on our Volunteer page.