It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of our friend and colleague Anita Lower. She will be sorely missed by many in local government, in Newcastle and further afield, and by her constituents who she has served with great commitment over many years.

Cllr Anita Lower was first elected to the Council in 1994, serving continuously as a councillor since then until her death. She was councillor for Blakelaw ward for 10 years and then councillor for Castle ward from 2004 to 2021. Anita held many important roles in the Council, including serving in the Council's cabinet during the years of the Liberal Democrats administration between 2004 and 2011. She also held the post of Leader of the Opposition between 2013 and 2020. Anita had been serving as chair of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee, a role which won her great respect across the Council, for her ability to work constructively in ensuring that council decisions and decision-makers were open and held to account.

The Liberal Democrats have accused Conservative MPs of "placing anti-immigration ideology ahead of tackling the scourge of modern slavery", after the Tories voted for new legislation that will weaken safeguards for victims and lead to more of them being held in immigration detention centres.

The Immigration (Guidance on Detention of Vulnerable Persons) Regulations were passed by 358 votes to 270, with all Liberal Democrat MPs voting against.

According to the latest unemployment statistics, 80% of those losing their jobs in the year to March are under 35. Cllr Robin Ashby, who speaks for Newcastle Liberal Democrats on employment issues, said he was appalled and called for action.

"People all across the UK - especially young people - are worried about their future. Millions still rely on job support and thousands are still out of work. We can't leave any of them behind as we get out of lockdown", he said.

The House of Lords has passed a Liberal Democrats amendment that would allow individuals trapped in unaffordable mortgages, known as 'mortgage prisoners', to access mortgages with much fairer rates.

Mortgage prisoners had their mortgages nationalised after the financial crash (like Northern Rock) and then sold on by the Treasury to vulture funds or inactive lenders, and therefore have been stuck paying what MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has called "obscene interest rates".

The amendment, tabled by Liberal Democrats Peer John Sharkey, would require the introduction of a cap on the rates charged to mortgage prisoners and, under specified circumstances, ensure their access to fixed rate interest deals.

Treasury spokesperson in the Lords for the Liberal Democrats, Susan Kramer said:

"So many stories from mortgage prisoners have been shared with me over the past few weeks, many of them quite frankly heartbreaking.

The Liberal Democrats are fighting for a fairer, greener and more caring country where everyone has a chance to get on in life. In a message to Cllr Nick Cott, who leads a 20-strong group of councillors in Newcastle, Ed Davey MP (pictured here with Nick last year in Newcastle) said:

" I know that local people who vote for Liberal Democrats on May 6th in Newcastle upon Tyne will get strong local champions who will get things done in your important city.

Opposition Liberal Democrats on Newcastle council are seeking further clarity from the North East Joint Transport Committee and transport bosses on their intentions for a new bus strategy for the region, after the Government's publication of a National Bus Strategy in March. Tyne and Wear has lacked an up to date bus strategy in recent years following the collapse of Nexus plans for a Quality Contract Scheme, and the JTC has not yet set out its full response to the Government's blueprint, having received only a brief update at its last meeting in March.

Opposition Liberal Democrats councillors in Newcastle are calling on the council to rethink its removal of litter bins from parks, and to draw up a "summer strategy" for the city's parks and green spaces to reduce repeats of the tidal wave of litter affecting many city parks last week.

They believe the council would save money and improve the appearance of city beauty spots by reinstating some of the bins removed as part of council budget cuts in recent years, suggesting that the cost of emptying bins during warm weather weekends would potentially be less than the cost of large scale clean ups after heavy public use of the parks.

After the Government rammed through the Coronavirus Act extension despite unease amongst MPs of all parties, Liberal Democrats Leader Ed Davey MP said: "This vote hands Conservative Ministers a blank cheque to use draconian powers they don't need. I am proud that Liberal Democrats voted against it.

The UK is due to host the 26th United Nations climate change conference (COP26) in Glasgow from 1-12th November. But there are now reports of a delay to until Spring 2022. Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency, Wera Hobhouse MP commented: "Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government for immediate clarification over the potential delay to COP26. It is deeply unfair to leave developing nations in the lurch with so many conflicting reports about the future of the COP.