Put the nation first, Prime Minister. This is about stopping the disaster of food shortages, medicine shortages, and our international reputation, says a leading Liberal Democrat.

"Boris Johnson must start putting the nation first, rather than sacrificing everything and anything in his ideological pursuit of Brexit. His efforts will drag the country's reputation through the mud by breaking international law," says Cllr Aidan King, who was a Liberal Democrats candidate for the North East in the 2019 European Parliament elections.

Talks between the EU and the UK on a free trade agreement have shown no signs of progress, and amidst mounting controversy over Government plans to break international law over Brexit.

"I am delighted that the Liberal Democrats have made a commitment to campaign to protect and enhance the rights of UK citizens in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, and to uphold the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and Charter of Fundamental Rights.

"With our country already facing the biggest economic and health crisis in generations, it is unthinkable that the UK would crash out of the transition period without a deal.

"At every step of the Brexit process, Liberal Democrats have been clear in our pro-EU position. We'll never turn our back on our pro-European values because we are so much better off standing together than we could ever be alone.

"That is why our duty now is to put every last ounce of political energy towards stopping a no-deal and opposing Boris Johnson's efforts to drag the country's reputation through the mud by breaking international law," said Dr King.