David Chappell

Next month more than 100 local parties are facing council elections. If yours isn't one of them, you can still make a huge difference to the party's overall local election effort - and help us elect more Liberal Democrats in May.

There is a secret phenomenon in British politics.

It is occurring in by-elections all over the country, week in, week out, to local authorities from Sunderland to Somerset. Against the Tories. Against Labour. In Leave areas. In Remain areas.

Since the general election in 2017, the Liberal Democrats are up 15 seats, double Labour's increase of 7, while the Conservatives are tanking - they have lost 18 seats.

I am certain that many Britons are as appalled as I am about the horrific scenes coming out of Syria.

The use of chemical weapons is barbaric. It is a crime against humanity and it is a clear violation of international law.

The Liberal Democrats are an internationalist, outward-looking party - and part of that is being willing to play our part in upholding international law.

1. Working to end homelessness being criminalised.

Vagrancy isn't a word we often use in the 21st Century. That's why the law that makes homelessness a crime dates back to the 19th century. Layla Moran MP, our excellent MP for Oxford West and Abingdon has brought forward a bill to repeal this draconian law and stop people being arrested just for not having a roof over their head.

There is a secret phenomenon in British politics.

It is occurring in by-elections all over the country, week in, week out, to local authorities from Sunderland to Somerset.

Against the Tories. Against Labour. In Leave areas. In Remain areas.

Since the general election in 2017, the Liberal Democrats are up 15 seats, double Labour's increase of 7, while the Conservatives are tanking - they have lost 18 seats.

These real votes in real ballot boxes show Liberal Democrat support at double our national opinion poll rating.

Millions of Jewish families and friends across the world will come together tonight to celebrate Passover.

They will reflect on the struggle of the Jewish people to be free.

For people of all faiths and none, the story told at Passover is a reminder of the importance of freedom, and standing up for the oppressed.

Swinson's report, which outlines the use of plastics by all major Easter egg manufacturers, highlights the need for companies to cut down the use of plastics to protect our oceans and reduce the amount of unnecessary plastic waste ending up in landfills.

Key findings of the report:

• According to recent figures, 147.7 million hollow Easter Eggs are sold each year.
An average Easter Egg box as found in this report contains 22 grams of plastic packaging, so this could mean over 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year from hollow Easter Eggs alone.

We're launching the BIGGEST most AMBITIOUS campaign the Liberal Democrats have ever run outside an election.

Why?

Quite simply, we want to stop Brexit.

And why now?

Well, it's a year since Theresa May's calamitous government triggered 'Article 50', formally starting the process for the UK to leave the EU.

A UK torn apart from its closest friends and neighbours is not a future we want and not a future we are going to stand by and let happen.

I couldn't have been prouder of Lynne Featherstone and the Liberal Democrats in government when we changed the law in England, bringing in equal marriage.

It is, without doubt, one of the best things our party did in government.

Equal Marriage is, without doubt, one of the best things the Liberal Democrats did in Government.

Today, I've written to the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Yvette Cooper, calling on her to investigate the alleged illegal activity of Vote Leave.

I believe that the Home Affairs Select Committee should immediately launch an enquiry into the serious accusations against the Vote Leave campaign, including deliberate overspending, illegal coordination and a significant cover-up of their relationship with the smaller campaign group BeLeave.

The allegations against Cambridge Analytica, and the legal opinions of Helen Mountfield QC and Clare Montgomery, only strengthen the case for an urgent investigation.

If true, these allegations call into question the very foundations of our democracy, and I have no doubt Yvette will agree with me that full disclosure must be given to Parliament and the British public on this extremely serious matter.