Today, Her Majesty The Queen opened the new parliamentary session. But we have exactly the same problems as we did in the last session: a government with no majority, no leadership and no realistic plan for our country.

I used my speech in Parliament today to give a warning to my fellow MPs.

Here's my speech in full:

The Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that Angela Smith will stand in the key Conservative battleground, Altrincham and Sale West, against Sir Graham Brady in the next general election.

Former Labour MP Angela Smith joined the Liberal Democrats in September. She will now stand in the Remain-voting constituency, Altrincham and Sale West, against Brexiteer and 1922 Committee Chair Sir Graham Brady.

Angela Smith has been welcomed by Jane Brophy, who stood in Altrincham and Sale West in the last three general elections. Brophy is now one of two Liberal Democrat MEPs for the North West, a councillor in the constituency and leader of the group on Trafford Council.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Altrincham and Sale West Angela Smith said:

"I'm delighted to be standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Altrincham and Sale West at the next general election, whenever that comes.

"It has been an honour to serve as the Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge and before that Sheffield Hillsborough. Representing local people is a huge privilege and I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the years.

"We have a fantastic opportunity to beat a Brexiteer MP and the Conservatives in Greater Manchester. As well as leading the fight to stop Brexit, I will stand up for the people of Altrincham and Sale West in the face of brutal Conservative cuts to our NHS, police and schools.

"Labour and the Conservatives have consistently let us down on Brexit. Only the Liberal Democrats are committed to stopping Brexit."

Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West Jane Brophy said:

"I am delighted that Angela Smith will be running for the Liberal Democrats in Altrincham and Sale West. Since defecting to the Lib Dems earlier this year, Angela has already taken a leading role in our fight to stop Brexit.

"She is resilient, dedicated, passionately pro-European and I can't wait to help get her elected as the newest Liberal Democrat MP in the North West.

"Altrincham and Sale West is a Remain constituency being represented by a Brexiteer and the Chair of the 1922 Committee. The people of Trafford deserve better and only the Liberal Democrats will Demand Better."

It's time to stop measuring the UK's success on GDP, the Lib Dems have said on World Mental Health Day (10/10/19).

The party will "revolutionise" NHS funding and introduce a 'Wellbeing Budget' as part of the Government's Annual Budget.

Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West, and an NHS worker for 30 years, Jane Brophy said:

"Conversations around mental health are opening up, and that is a positive step.

"But these warm words have not been met with resources. Mental health is not a political football. It requires serious funding, a nationwide plan and cross-party effort if we want to make a positive change.

"A UCL study a few days ago revealed that suicide rates amongst young people are higher in the North. It was a stark reminder that it's time to stop measuring the UK's success only on the state of our finances.

"That's why Liberal Democrats will revolutionise our health care in this country. We will add a penny on the pound of income tax, to raise £6 billion for our overstretched NHS and mental health services.

"Lib Dems will also introduce a Wellbeing Budget to ensure we prevent mental ill health. Happiness, wellbeing and good health are just as, if not more important to creating a successful and sustainable country."

Plans by Manchester Council to push forward with the much-maligned Homeless Tax on World Homeless Day (10/10/19) have been scrapped.

Reacting to the news that Manchester Council had planned to push forward with the Homeless Tax on World Homeless Day, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Manchester John Leech said there was a "dark and sinister sense of irony."

John Leech has been leading the campaign to scrap the Homeless Tax. His open letter to Council Leader Richard Leese has amassed more than 7,000 signatures.

Liberal Democrat Leader John Leech said:

"There's a dark and sinister sense of irony in Manchester today. On World Homeless Day, Manchester Council had planned to push forward with plans to implement the truly sickening Homeless Tax.

"If enacted, the Homeless Tax will be remembered as one of the most unforgivable and deplorable misuses of power in local government history.

"Today, on World Homeless Day, we should renew our collective fight to get everyone off our streets and into decent homes. We must tackle the social and affordable housing crisis in Manchester and stop wasting money on vanity projects.

"But this policy kicks those already on the floor and hanging this over the heads of our city's most vulnerable is just shameful."

When I became an MP in 2015, I could never have imagined we would find ourselves in this position. Through the prudent and practical decisions taken during the coalition years, the economy was recovering and our country was on the up.

Coming from business, joining the Conservative Party seemed the logical thing to do. But two general elections and an EU referendum later, the landscape has shifted beyond all recognition.