We need bold and urgent action to help families pay their bills and heat their homes this winter. There is no other choice.

Families and pensioners across the country are in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis. We have already seen energy bills rise by £700 this year. They simply cannot afford another, even bigger rise of £1,400 in October.

Our NHS dental system is in tatters, with most surgeries closed to new patients and appointments near impossible to get.

This Conservative Government is forcing people into costly private care and unsafe DIY dentistry that can leave your teeth in worse condition.

Put simply, it can't go on.

A survey today shows that 91% of dental practices in England are not currently open to new patients, with that tally rising to 98% here in the North West. (BBC report here).

Congratulations to our Penrith Lib Dems team who gained a seat yesterday.

Results of the byelection for Carleton ward, Penrith Town Council:

Lib Dem: 337
Ind: 92
Ind: 24

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Green Party, who did not stand.

Many thanks to everyone who voted for us and congratulations Councillor Deb Holden and team!

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP says the Tory leadership contest is taking place when a much bigger one should be:

"The Tories have trashed the economy, and neither Sunak or Truss have a plan to get us out of this mess.

"We need a general election to offer the change our country so desperately needs."

Lib Dem campaigning has helped expose the influence of Russian oligarchs on UK politics, writes Layla Moran on twitter.

The Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon today tweets:

"For years, Lib Dems have campaigned to ensure that Putin's cronies couldn't funnel their wealth into the UK undetected.

"Today, the Register of Beneficial Ownership finally goes live.