LDDA - The Liberal Democrat Disability Association

Today the Liberal Democrats have launched our campaign for the local elections in England on 6 May.

Vote Liberal Democrat on 6 May and you'll get a local champion who will get things done in your community. You'll get a cleaner, greener neighbourhood where recovery comes first and local people are listened to.

As the Black Lives Matter protests highlighted so powerfully, too many people's lives both in the UK and across the world are blighted by discrimination, inequality and injustice. It is unacceptable.

There is still so much to do to tackle racial injustice in our country.

Black and Asian children are more than twice as likely to grow up in persistent poverty as White children. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, Black Caribbean and mixed-race children are significantly more likely to be excluded from school than other pupils.

This motion called not just for support, but for acceptance for autistic people.

This Autism Acceptance Month comes soon after a Young Liberals motion, Autism Support, was passed at Liberal Democrat conference.

This motion called not just for support, but for acceptance for autistic people.

Autistic people are more likely than the general population to have other learning difficulties, mental health illnesses and even physical disabilities.

Today, just like 31 March every year, is the Trans Day of Visibility. It's a day for lifting up and celebrating trans voices in public life. We know that there are countless brilliant trans politicians and activists doing amazing work in their communities - here are just 7 to get your started!

Got someone you think we should add to this list? Let us know!

FCEC met last week, immediately after conference and for the final time before the run-in to May elections.

In short, from now to Thursday 8th April, the nominations of thousands of Liberal Democrat candidates are being collected and submitted to local councils across the UK in the biggest round of elections in recent years.

New members of the team

Our most recent meeting saw two new members join the committee. Shelley Snelson takes up a new position as Deputy to the Registered Party Treasurer.

In this role Shelley will provide support to the Chair in committee work in particular managing communication to sub-committees, special projects, and communications with the Parliamentary Office of the Liberal Democrats (POLD).

At sundown tonight, Jewish communities in the UK and around the world will mark the beginning of Passover, the eight-day festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites after 400 years of slavery in ancient Egypt.

The story of the Exodus has inspired generations; it's a story of hope and triumph. It shows us what's possible when we hold tight to faith in the midst of darkness and uncertainty. This is a message that's relevant, even today.

The killing of Sarah Everard shocked the nation. She was described by family and friends as "bright and beautiful", "kind and thoughtful" and caring and dependable". My thoughts have been with Sarah's family ever since we heard she was missing, and my heart still goes out to them.

Sarah's death has jolted our society into finally taking violence against women seriously. At the Spring Conference, I delivered a statement reaffirming the Liberal Democrat's commitment to ending violence perpetrated by men and the misogynistic culture allowing it to manifest. While the killing of a woman by a stranger is particularly awful and relatively rare - violence against women and girls is not. On average a woman is killed in the UK every three days. Most of them are killed by their partner or their ex. Male violence has become a normal part of life in the UK. No longer.

When Liberal Democrats say put recovery first, we mean creating a fairer, greener, more caring society, and at the heart of this plan is ensuring the recovery is green.

Britain can not only recover but become the world's first green powerhouse."

A recovery that faces up to the existential threat of climate change. We have all seen the warnings. Floods devastating communities across the UK. Fires burning the Amazon and across Australia.

Our country is hurting right now.

125,000 lives have been taken by this cruel virus. So many families, mourning the loss of a loved one.

Even those who have been spared the agony of bereavement are suffering enormous hardships. A whole year of isolation, fear, grief.

After so much hurt, we need hope. And that is what our wonderful NHS staff and volunteers are injecting into our lives as they work tirelessly delivering vaccines.