The Labour Government has decided to defund rural communities. Here in Cumbria, the Government is cutting its funding for Westmorland and Furness Council by nearly a third. This is an attack on every single one of our communities and the services we all rely on.

Justice delayed is justice denied. Rather than introducing appalling plans to reduce access to jury trials, the Government should be increasing capacity in our courts so that the victims of crime aren't forced to put their lives on hold. My question to the Justice Secretary 👇

Many people across rural Britain who use heating oil are being hammered with price rises. I've tabled a motion in Parliament that calls for an immediate three-month VAT holiday on heating oil and the introduction of a proper price cap. My interview with the BBC 👇

Congratulations to Councillor Barbara Jayson - a fantastic result despite the utterly shocking weather!

The Labour Government is failing rural communities. Here in Cumbria, we've seen cuts to rural health services, cuts to farm incomes, and cuts to Westmorland & Furness Council. The Chancellor's Spring Statement this week failed to undo any of this damage.

Enjoyed speaking at the launch of Wildlife and Countryside Link's Clean Water Now campaign. To protect our rivers and lakes from pollution, we need radical change - including reforming how water companies are run so that the environment is prioritised over shareholders.

The despicable Supreme Leader is gone, but what happens next? What is the plan, and what are the ultimate intentions of the Israeli and US Governments? How will this make the lives of the Iranian people any better, and the lives of people across the Middle East more secure?

This week, @timfarron.bsky.social, @victoria-collins.bsky.social & I travelled to Israel and Palestine to listen, learn and ask questions of a range of people. We had robust discussions about aid access, tackling corruption, settlement expansion, overcoming terrorism, and delivering accountability.

Great to meet with local farmers and representatives of the Country Land and Business Association in Watermillock. We talked about how government policy can be changed to help keep Britain food secure and support more young people into farming.

We need radical reform of water companies, with a completely different ownership model that prioritises customers, clean water, and the environment over shareholder profits.

I'm deeply concerned by the news that there were no bids to take on the Coniston GP surgery vacancy. I'm urging health bosses to rerun the ad, with a better contract, so that residents do not lose access to vital medical services.

Soaring energy prices are hammering businesses. Today, I challenged the Energy Secretary about the Government's plans to reduce costs.

This afternoon, I joined residents and business owners from Tebay to present our petition to Number 10 Downing Street, calling for changes to controversial plans to partially close Junction 38 of the M6 for four years.

On Holocaust Memorial Day, I signed the Holocaust Memorial Book on behalf of Westmorland and Lonsdale. The Holocaust did not start in the gas chambers but with hate-filled words. It's absolutely critical that we challenge antisemitism, prejudice, and bigotry in all its forms.

Outdoor education can transform lives. But too many children from less well-off areas are missing out on these opportunities. Grateful to the Secretary of State for her time and her support for our campaign to give every young person the chance to experience outdoor learning.

"There's a real injustice here." "You've got an industry that allows profiteering rather than focusing on what matters, which is water supply." @TimFarron.bsky.social

A fantastic turnout in Kirkby Stephen on Saturday to protest against plans to partially close Junction 38 of the M6 for four years. The impact of this disruption on local residents and businesses will be absolutely devastating - unless temporary slip roads are built to keep the junction open.

''Anybody who is a true patriot this morning will be raising an eyebrow at Trump.'' @timfarron.bsky.social

We must completely overhaul how water companies are run. We need a new ownership system where the money made through the water industry is reinvested into protecting our lakes, rivers, and seas from pollution. Labour's plans announced today fail to do that.

How on earth can a plan to transform rail services in the North fail to mention Cumbria and Lancashire? This week’s announcement shows that this Government actually believes that the North of England stops at the M62.

A quarter of the homes in Westmorland and Lonsdale were built before 1900. They are expensive to heat and very difficult to insulate. We need the Government to come forward with a bespoke plan to insulate those properties, to help keep people warm and cut energy bills.

Banks save £2 billion a year from abandoning our high streets and town centres. Our post offices pick up the slack, but they are not funded by the banks anywhere near enough to be able to maintain their presence. This must change.

Cumbria has a high number of unpaid carers. Many of those carers do seasonal and variable work in order to make ends meet. It's vital that they don't miss out on getting the Carer's Allowance support that they deserve. My question to the Social Security Minister 👇

Outdoor education can provide life-changing experiences for young people, helping to build resilience and create a love of both learning and the outdoors. But far too often, children from less well-off areas miss out on these opportunities. This must change.

We must treat food security more seriously. @TimFarron.bsky.social's plan would boost funding and give young people the training and incentive they need to choose farming for the future.

Liberal Democrats are calling for a fundamental cultural shift in our attitude towards farming. Our Farm First scheme would treat food security with the seriousness it deserves, finally giving young people the training and incentive they need to choose farming. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This week, I led a debate on the huge disruption caused by plans to close J38 of the M6 at Tebay for 18 months southbound, and then for another 18 months northbound. I'm glad that the Roads Minister said that National Highways will now be conducting a review into proposals for temporary slip roads.

Tonight, the Liberal Democrats will be voting against the Government's appalling family farm tax. The Conservatives threw farmers under a bus by botching the transition to the new payment schemes. And now Labour are hammering farmers with a huge tax bill.

Residents in Newbiggin, near Penrith, have had their lives made unbearable due to the poor management of the nearby Flusco landfill site. I'm continuing to work alongside residents and local Lib Dem councillor Judith Derbyshire to get the authorities to take action.

Penrith South ward (Penrith Town Council) By election result: Alex Deacon (Lib Dem) 225 (55.3%) Reform UK 140 (34.4%) Green 42 (10.7%) Lib Dem gain from Labour (No Labour or Conservative candidates) Congratulations Alex on a superb triumph!

Today, many farmers came down to Westminster to plead to the Chancellor for her support. In return, the Government doubled down on their plans to hit them with a family farm tax. Liberal Democrats will keep fighting for British farmers.

The Tories have got some nerve claiming they back British farmers. They sold out our farmers in trade deals. They cut farm incomes by botching the transition to the new payment schemes. And they created an agricultural policy that actively disincentives the production of food.

Liberal Democrats are proud to fight for British farmers who are essential to Britain's food security and to our environment. Today, the Chancellor must axe the appalling family farm tax AND stop the cuts to farm incomes after the Conservatives botched the new payments scheme.

Westmorland and Furness is the fifth-worst area in England for empty homes. Today I asked the Local Government Minister what plans her department has to support the council to bring these properties back into use for local people and families.

The next time Reform UK come looking for your vote at an election, claiming to love our country - remember that these are the kind of people they appoint as their leaders. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...

Pubs are at the heart of our communities - but many are really struggling due to rising costs. Today I urged ministers to consider Liberal Democrat calls for a 5% cut in VAT for hospitality businesses.

By investing in tidal power, we could create jobs and our own renewable energy. It would be great for our economy, and for Britain's energy security.

Britain has the second-highest tidal range on the planet, behind Canada. And yet we make use of nearly none of it. If we seriously invest in tidal power, then we can create jobs, generate clean and cheap energy, and slash bills. My message to the Government 👇

More than one in five hospital beds in Morecambe Bay are occupied by people who are medically fit but don't have the appropriate social care to be discharged. The Government urgently needs to bring forward their plans to fix social care. My letter to the Health Secretary 👇

It's disapointing that the Transport Secretary has not made a statement in Parliament about the serious derailment which happened on the West Coast Main Line near Shap. There are questions that need to be asked, including the overdue need to modernise the line and make it safer.

Outdoor education can help build confidence, resilience, and love of learning and the outdoors. Really glad to see such a positive response from the Education Secretary today about supporting our cross-party campaign to give every young person these life-changing opportunities.

An absolute joy to spend time recently at the brilliant outdoor activity centre run by the Brathay Trust in Ambleside. Experiences like these are absolutely transformative for young people in building their confidence, developing their teambuilding skills, and creating memories that last a lifetime

In many of our town centres, there are plenty of empty buildings (especially above shops) which could be used for affordable housing. This would help many shops to recruit staff, boost footfall in our town centres, and give people and families an affordable place to live.

I want to pay tribute to the emergency service workers, Avanti West Coast staff, Network Rail engineers, and the brilliant team at the Shap Wells Hotel for all their dedicated work today in the aftermath of the derailment at Shap. Thank you all.

🚨BREAKING: Lib Dems have won more local by-elections than any other party this month. In real elections, up and down the country, Liberal Democrats are winning.

97% of Gaza's water is unfit for human consumption. This week, I asked the Foreign Secretary how the UK will help to ensure that the Gaza peace plan includes measures to restore access to clean and plentiful water. There can be no just peace amidst thirst and squalor.

By 2028, the average hill farm income will only be 55% of the national minimum wage. And now the Government is forcing those farmers to pay a huge inheritance tax bill. This is a disaster for our environment and our nation's food security. I'll keep fighting for our farmers.

The Chancellor is blaming Brexit for the mess we're in but not making the changes needed to fix it, can you really call that a strategy?

Skills Bootcamps in Cumbria provide fantastic funded training opportunities. They benefit businesses looking to upskill their staff, and are also great for job seekers looking to learn new skills. I asked the Work and Pensions Secretary to continue funding this brilliant scheme.