Josie Ratcliffe

Lewis G Burton on stage with a red dress and sexy goth make up.

Lewis just said over 100k people this year at London Trans+ Pride! Record breaking levels of attendance this year! 🙌🙌🙌

Young liberals' concerns over the online safety bill

It was never about protecting the young for Labour. With the convenient excuse of online safety, this government has restricted access to: footage from protests across the UK footage from Gaza, Ukraine and many more zones of atrocity support forums for sexual assault victims and LGBT+ activism Discord, Reddit, Wikipedia and many more sites of social discussion All in under 24 hours OfCom's unchecked power to dictate what is "harmful" risks silencing dissent and chilling open discourse, particularly for those who dare to challenge the status quo.

We are concerned that this is an effort to gain control over what we say, what we see, and how we think, given that this government has repeatedly shown a lack of respect for freedom of speech, expression, and protest. Who will stop them if they come for encryption and VPNs? Who will protect our sensitive data in the hands of private companies? Therefore, we, the Young Liberals, strongly encourage our federal party to speak against this draconian attack on free speech and society under the guise of online safety.

For freedom, Young Liberals UK Bristol Young Liberals Oxford Students Liberal Association Cambridge University Liberal Association Edinburgh University Liberal Association Highland Young Liberal Democrats University of Warwick Liberal Democrats London Young Liberals King's College London Liberal Democrats Berkshire Young Liberals Lancaster University Liberal Democrats Ealing Young Liberals University of York Liberal Democrats Durham University Liberal Democrats

A joint statement from YL and our branches regarding the Online Safety Bill.

The UK should be leading on this, not falling behind.

Recognise the independent state of Palestine now and take the lead on securing a two-state solution and a lasting peace.

Mass starvation in Gaza and over 1,000 Palestinians killed while seeking aid since May. The government says the situation is intolerable yet they continue to tolerate it. The UK needs to stop all arms exports to the Israeli Government - today.

The UK needs to stop all arms exports to the Israeli Government - today.

Spotlight on who we’re not seeing while the broadcasters wax on about Farage 24/7! 3 hard working new Lib Dem MPs the broadcast media hardly ever covers. Edward Morrello, Josh Babarinde and Bobby Dean. All key members of Select Committees (justice and treasury) All impressive communicators.

I'm absolutely delighted that at tonight's West Norfolk Full Council meeting, we voted to underwrite our internationally-significant cultural heritage project to relaunch St George's Guildhall in King's Lynn as the UK’s oldest working theatre. This venue has tantalising links to Shakespeare!

🎉Announcement 🎉

I didn’t need the legal funds you donated but I found a cause that did.

When I was arrested at the Sarah Everard vigil in 2021, thousands of you contributed to help cover the legal costs if the case went to court.

Bystanders No More just launched a joint statement signed by an extraordinary coalition of leaders demanding the EU act decisively on Gaza by suspending its agreement with Israel at the July 15 Ministerial Council.

Will the EU act before more lives are lost to genocide?

Lovely day to enjoy brunch at the new Fork Handles 😉 tea room at Stow Hall Gardens, followed by a cuppa in the shade watching Downham Stow 3rd XI in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance league 🏏

My arrival at today's council meeting was hailed by the bell-ringers at St. Margaret's Church (King's Lynn Minster) which faces the Trinity Guildhall (King's Lynn Town Hall) across the Saturday Market Place 🔔

Leaving via the less ornate, but nicely planted, rear courtyard of King's Lynn Town Hall (in the Trinity Guildhall, second pic, taken last week) after today's 'Environment & Communities' panel at the Borough Council.

Petition: Legally enshrine the right of adults to physically transition using NHS services Introduce a law to legally protect the right of those aged 18 and over to transition using NHS services. This should specifically cover physical transition, including hormone treatment and surgery, as...

Okay folks! We’ve a real opportunity here. This petition is at 78,000 (ends 28 July!). With a good push, we can get it over the line.
MPs *don't need to stick to the exact petition topic*. We can brief them to discuss any & ALL issues with trans healthcare.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
1/🧵

Today I joined productive meetings in very different civic buildings in King's Lynn.

Firstly in the modern Kings Court council office building.

Then we debated plans for the Guildhall of St George, a 600-year-old theatre with links to Shakespeare, in the Trinity Guildhall (King's Lynn Town Hall).

A big red elephant sat on top of a couple in an NHS waiting room. The image is captioned 'you can't ignore the social care crisis if you want to fix the NHS'.

Don't ignore the elephant in the waiting room: You can't fix the NHS without fixing social care.

Today I enjoyed a tour of local pumping stations (yes, really 😊) with fellow board members on Stoke Ferry IDB.

Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) carry out essential work reducing flood risk to people and property, and managing water levels for agricultural and environmental needs.

Very impressed with the Borough Council's plans for restoring St. George's Guildhall in King's Lynn, with new lifts to improve accessibility to this incredible 600-year-old theatre space! And I've been assured there will be gender-neutral toilets - and a Changing Places as well - fantastic news 👏

Hey everyone, be safe and ask your doctor for tests if you notice any changes - like needing to pee more frequently, often during the night. Luckily Graham asked, and got a PSA test and scans, and finally a diagnosis of prostate cancer 😢 But he's getting excellent treatment from our wonderful NHS ❤️

The PM told me today that he would do everything he can to get desperately needed aid into Gaza, but words are not enough and I will hold him to account until we see action.

Charlotte Cane MP gave a clear and compassionate speech today about the current tough environment experienced by trans friends ❤️

End-of-the-week treat 🍷 ☕ at Downham Cafe 🙂 We're lucky to have a great choice of food venues in Downham Market 😋

Their speeches were emotional, and a lovely reflection of their commitment to public service ❤️ Congratulations also to the cadets who represented their youth services very smartly.

I'm delighted that Mayor Andy Bullen represents a ward in Downham Market, and Deputy Mayor Steve Bearshaw is a serving member of the armed forces; RAF Marham is a significant employer in West Norfolk (and security asset). Outgoing Mayor Paul Bland is a true 'Linnet' and ambassador for the town.

This evening, I enjoyed taking part in our Annual Council meeting, which is when the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor are appointed. They represent the Borough Council at events - and continue a civic tradition in King's Lynn that dates back 800 years!

Date night with Graham at Arbuckles, Downham Market ❤️

Excellent local restaurant with American classics, breakfasts to burgers, ribs to fajitas and a great mix of everything! 100,000 check-ins on Facebook(!) tells you everything 😋

Pecksniff: The election results swing not to Reform, but to the left In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life

Since the general election, Labour has lost more than three times as many voters to the Lib Dems as to Reform.

So why is Labour so terrified of the populists?

By Mr Pecksniff - follow him on his account!
@pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social

US removes tariffs on UK steel and aluminium, and cuts car rate to 10%, as Trump and Starmer unveil deal - follow live In return, the UK says it has

What do we see? Tariff reductions for cars, in return for access to the UK market for US beef. Devon's farmers have been sold-out once again. 2/3 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...

I am wearing glasses and a red jumper and jacket and a rainbow lanyard. In front of bookshelves with very old books containing historical Parliamentary records.

Today, I attended West Norfolk Borough Council's 'Regeneration & Development' panel in historic King's Lynn Town Hall.

However, we discussed very modern projects including the emerging "Norfolk Whole System Energy Plan", for decarbonisation and energy security including Community Energy projects.

Across the country this week, Councillors are taking part in meetings to debate local government reorganisation. I spoke at West Norfolk to emphasise that we must find the best solution for our residents. Struggling families, the vulnerable and elderly deserve better than current creaking services.

Wow, that's a remarkable workload, and mostly unseen by the public (especially for supporting individual residents)