Thames "Water" is HQ'd here in Reading #RdgUK - we are appalled at their approach to @libdems.org.uk MP @charliemaynard.bsky.social for daring to stand up to them. It is past time that this cartoonishly-awful company was held to account and made a Public Benefit Corporation.

This is now the official party position

The ending of two party politics is looking rather like two party politics.

Another good week of local elections for the @libdems.org.uk including for our neighbours in Hart - well done to @alexkbrewer.bsky.social and team! Its clearer than ever that we're the only party that can consistently stand up to Reform, rather than folding like napkins as Lab and Con are. 👇

Tomorrow (Sat. 11/10/25) is the start of National Hate Crime Awareness Week. We're proud of Reading's diversity and will always stand with victims and allies against hate. Statement from us below. 👇

Ming's leadership in opposition to the Iraq War and ID cards, against discrimination, and support for same-sex adoption, led to many of our current members joining the party in the first place. He was an honest and kind politician, and he'll be missed by many.

imagine getting qt dunked by ed davey. unrecoverable. you’re furious and he is serenely going down a log flume in bognor regis.

With this latest defection, the big news is that Reform are now on 5 MPs, the same number they had after the General Election. They seem to have adopted the government's "1 in, 1 out" policy.

Proud to be at @readingprideuk.bsky.social with @pluslibdems.bsky.social today painting the town pastel and rainbow. Trans+ rights are human rights, now and always. Wonderful to see so many people at Pride too. 🧡

We're delighted and humbled that @readingprideuk.bsky.social have decided we, along with the local branch of the Green Party, can attend Reading #Pride in #RdgUK this summer. 🧡💚 We'll see everyone there in a month's time - but we're in the fight for LGBT+ equality for the long haul. 💪

Going swimming in @readingcouncil.bsky.social pools? Don't forget your: 👙 Swimming Costume 🥽 Goggles 💧 Towel 📃 Birth Certificate Reading Lib Dems challenge Labour’s “Papers, please” approach to Council toilets and changing rooms. 👇 www.readinglibdems.org.uk/news/article... #RdgUK

Five years ago, the murders of David, James and Joe shocked Reading, and the world. They were kind, popular members of our community taken from it far too soon. Today, Reading remembers them. Each of them made Reading that much better, and they are deeply missed. Love from us to all who knew them.

Eid al-Adha mubarak to everyone celebrating!

We’ve gone from 25% steel tariffs, to 0%, up to 50%, and now back to 25%. We’ve all seen this routine before. Trump causes chaos, Nigel nods along, and British workers pay the price. It’s time the government got serious about trade with our European and Commonwealth allies.

Liberal Democrats will keep fighting until we can finally build a society where everyone is free to be who they are.

It's Pride Month 2025 - wherever you are, we hope you have a safe one. 🧡🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ People have rightly been asking what we mean when we say we @libdems.org.uk need to 'do better' or 'step up' as a party. There's no such thing as 'done' of course - but this is what we're pushing for currently. 1/2

This will hardly be cause to celebrate for the millions of Thames Water customers who continue to face eye-watering bills. The Government must act now and replace Ofwat with a new regulator with real power that can properly hold water companies to account.

Carers are a vital part of our nation's fabric. It's time the government recognised that. Thank you to @eddavey.libdems.org.uk for continuing to press them on this.

We think it's important to stand in solidarity with @werahobhouse.bsky.social - and with Hong Kongers, as we have done for decades now, and will continue to for decades to come. 💛🖤

Always good to see Lib Dems doing well, as we have across Berkshire of late. Work to do to make this permanent, both in Reading and beyond. If you want to help us, head on over to www.readinglibdems.org.uk and join the fun. The more, the merrier - and we're growing all the time!

What a diabolical joke Thames "Water" have become.

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. #Idahobit We're proud that Reading #RdgUK is a town that has always stood clearly against these things in recent decades. Our party does too, and so do we. Our work isn't done though. We're with you. 🔶🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Excellent Early Day Motion by @libdems.org.uk Equalities spokes @cajardinemp.bsky.social on the work ahead to regain our community's trust in politics. 💛🏳️‍🌈 (It's up to Pride organisers who to admit, of course. We are determined to regain their trust and look forward to attending those welcoming us.)

Huge relief across Reading #rdguk with this great #ReadingFC news. We agree with local Lib Dem MPs like @clivejonesmp.bsky.social and @leedillonmp.bsky.social that no football club should be put in this position again. Thank you to them, and everyone else, who campaigned to save the club.

This is fantastic news for all Readings fans, but also for everyone that truly cares about football and its place in the community. Never again should a football club be in this position. (1/2) www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/2515946...

Ten years ago, the UK was the best in Europe. Now under Starmer's Labour, we've fallen to 22nd. Of the last five Prime Ministers we've had, the best on LGBT+ rights was *checks notes* Theresa May. This decline is a badge of shame, and that includes for our party. We *must* reverse this fall.

Thames "Water" needs flushing out.

No elections in Reading this year - our first year off since 2013!* - but good luck to all our @libdems.org.uk colleagues up and down the country today. 🧡 * (No, 2020 doesn't count)

That's 34 *years* of sewage spills, just in 2024. It's past time for radical change: #Ofwat must be replaced with a regulator worthy of the name. #LibDems in #ReadingUK #rdguk and beyond will fight for the water industry the UK needs - not the one it has. www.readinglibdems.org.uk/news/article...

Congratulations to @sloughlibdems.bsky.social - and welcome to the #LibDem family to the new members of the council group there. We're looking forward to meeting you and working with you on pan #BerkshireUK issues. 🧡 www.sloughlibdems.org.uk/news/article...

More good news. These were an affront to civil society (which was the point). Efforts to make people illegal will always fail.

My warmest congratulations to Mark Carney. Voters in Canada have elected a Liberal government on a mandate to combat Trump's dangerous populism. Across the globe, it is liberals who are taking the lead in standing up for prosperity, security and democracy in the face of Trump, Putin and the rest.

It's not as if it was a central plank of their election campaigns or anything, was it? - oh. The #RoyalBerks #RBH was built in 1839 - we mocked Johnson for listing it as one of his "new" hospitals, and we'll hold Labour's feet to the fire for waiting for its 200th anniversary to rebuild it. 🥀 1/2

You may have noticed we've been quiet about this until now, but we are now very glad to see the official @libdems.org.uk party response to last week's Supreme Court ruling. Thank you to HQ and to @cajardinemp.bsky.social for listening to concerns from us and from @libdemwomen.bsky.social. 💛

Absolutely brilliant speech by our 2024 GE candidate @helenbelcherobe.bsky.social at the Trans Rights protest in Reading on Saturday. Welcome to Gilead, indeed. #LibDems #transrights #ReadingUK #rdguk @pluslibdems.bsky.social

1/2 Happy Lesbian Visibility Week 2025! #LVW25 🧡🤍💜 This week's theme is to uplift incredible LGBT+ women and non-binary people from every generation, in every field and in every country around the world (and not just as defined by some straight men in the UK Supreme Court!)

A sad day for many - his compassion will be missed. Our thoughts are with millions who are worried about what the future will hold, and whether their humanity will be celebrated or trampled by those in power. There is entirely too much trampling going on at the moment. Keep uplifting each other. 💛

Heartening to see so many people outside the Reading town hall earlier rallying for #transrights, and great speeches from our vice-chair, former deputy council leader, and Reading Pride trustees chair Kirsten Bayes, and our 2024 @rwmblibdems.bsky.social candidate @helenbelcherobe.bsky.social. 💛🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

I am increasingly disappointed that the concerns of the #LGBTQ+ community over what the Supreme Court judgement means for them are not yet being addressed. I have written to the Government asking them to make clear how trans and non binary rights will be protected.

Statement from us on today's ruling: "As LGBT+ Liberal Democrats... we don't think Britain is the sort of country where people should have to show their 'papers, please' in order to use the loo. ...we do not support efforts to legislate in ignorance to enforce conformity." 🔶🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🧡

Trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary and intersex folks are valid just as they are. It's time this was reflected in the law of the land, and LGBT+ Lib Dems will be at the forefront of pushing for that change. Lots of love to our trans+ siblings and their loved ones today. 💛🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

We are studying today's judgement by the UK Supreme Court. Nothing they rule will change our solidarity with the trans+ community and with everyone who seeks to live their lives under control of their own bodies, and free from poverty, ignorance or conformity.

As in all these cases, wondering what the right number of vegans would be.

First one of Reading's MPs is refused entry into Israel, and now Wera is refused entry to Hong Kong on a family visit. We stand in solidarity with both Wera and Yuan Yang.

This is deeply shocking. I feel for Wera, on a personal trip and unable to meet her baby grandson. Her only crime? Being a British MP. David Lammy must demand answers from the Chinese ambassador for this initimidatory behaviour.

📈 Another +2 increase for the Lib Dems 🔶 Westminster Voting Intention - Techne, 11 Apr ➡️RFM: 24% (=) 🔴LAB: 24% (=) 🔵CON: 22% (-1) 🔶LDM: 15% (+2) 🟢GRN: 9% (=) 🟡SNP: 2% (-1) Keep door knocking🚪 & keep delivering 📬

Three polls in a row showing Lib Dems gaining 🧡 Keep campaigning and pounding those pavements 👋 🗳️ Westminster Voting Intention - FindoutnowUK, 9 Apr ➡️RFM: 26% (-2) 🔴LAB: 22% (=) 🔵CON: 21% (+1) 🔶LDM: 14% (+1) 🟢GRN: 11% (=) 🟡SNP: 3% (=)

👀 Lib Dems once again tracking upwards. We don't have elections in Reading #rdguk this year, but now's a great time to get involved! 🧡

🔶 Best overall poll rating since 2019 ↗️ Former Labour voters switch to the Lib Dems More and more people agree with us that it's time to stand up to Trump's bullying and fix our broken relationship with Europe.

Highest Lib Dem score ever with this pollster. And the same (17%) as another poll yesterday.