James MacCleary MP

Another day, another betrayal. It's always been clear that Trump preferred Putin. The truth is he has more in common with a violent dictator than with European allies. He won't stop now so we must redouble our efforts to back Ukraine and protect Europe. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three years on from the tragedy of October 7th it is tragic to see the conflict continue to take the lives of innocent people. We must work together to build a real peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

Just another gimmick from a party with no credibility on defence. £10bn wouldn't even touch the sides for a complete UK-wide 'Iron Dome'. The Tories need to review their dodgy sums or be honest about which parts of the country their Patchwork Dome wouldn’t cover. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It’s not been fully spotted but to pay for 50,000 extra prison places the Conservatives have said they would cut foreign aid to £1bn a year, or 0.03% of GDP, a 90% cut. This would not even cover UN and World Bank contributions. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

It appears that the US is withdrawing these planes because they do not believe they are safe on a UK airbase. That is a major concern following the breach at RAF Brize Norton in June. The Defence Secretary and the govt need to get a grip on this issue. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's not good enough for the Greens to try to brush this off. Fanning the flames of division makes them no better than Farage. I've worked locally with Green cllrs who will be appalled. I'm sure some will be considering if they can remain in the Green Party. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The motion passed at Green Party Conf' actively undermines a 2-state solution, and does not address the rising threats of Islamophobia and Antisemitism here in the UK. This is a divisive motion that pours fuel on the fire of tensions in the UK, and will leave many British Jews feeling less safe.

Great to join Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, and Katy Bourne, Sussex PCC to record BBC South East Politics today. We discussed the increase in shoplifting, the need to reform the water industry and campaigns for community pubs. It'll be broadcast this Sunday morning if you fancy a watch.

Incredible how little attention this has got. Masked men come to Dover in a planned action and block our nation's busiest port. None were detained. Good job they weren't pensioners holding signs about Palestine or climate change activists or they'd be in court by now! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great to join the @libdems.org.uk team in Uckfield today to support Tim Murray who is standing in the by-election. It will be between Tim and the Reform Party candidate. So many residents were saying that they are backing Tim and the @libdems.org.uk to win.

Britain doesn't take orders from Moscow. We will keep arming Ukraine with every drone it needs to defend itself and strike back against Russian aggression. Threats from the Kremlin only harden our resolve. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three of the four stories on the BBC News app's Sussex section today are about rail disruption or accidents. This is not normal or acceptable. I am calling govt to ditch its policy of refusing to invest in South East infrastructure projects as it is becoming dangerous.

Another serious incident on the railways locally just days after a shocking derailment at Lewes. I am meeting with Network Rail today to understand what urgent action they are taking to ensure the safety of passengers in our area. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"Drill baby drill' say the Tories while Europe burns. A natural disaster on our doorstep. The climate emergency means every summer will have intense heat leading to devastating fires. It's time to speed up our transition to renewables, not slow it down. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Another fine for Southern Water. These companies keep getting away with hiking up our bills while dumping sewage. We have a new PM. He should put water companies into special administration and return them to public control as public-benefit mutuals. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Donald Trump is threatening to commit war crimes against Iranian civilians. He must back down from these reckless plans. He and Tehran must stop holding the world to ransom in the Strait. The only way out of this quagmire is a negotiated settlement. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great to be on the BBC Politics Show South East sofa filming the show today. We discussed assisted dying, the EU's new border control system, and the Bayeaux Tapestry coming to the UK. Tune in on Sunday morning to have a watch.

Today the Defence Investment Plan will finally appear. Late, underfunded and leaving gaping holes in our ability to defend the UK and NATO. Labour's promises lie in tatters. This Plan fails our armed forces, our defence industry and leaves us less secure. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Last week I joined @eddavey.libdems.org.uk, @calummillerld.bsky.social and fellow Lib Dem MPs in writing to Andy Burnham about our Defence Bonds idea. We face growing threats but the Govt still lacks a plan to fund our armed forces. £20bn in Defence Bonds would help close that gap.

I called for this at last week's Commons statement on the operation to board this vessel. @libdems.org.uk have called for stronger action on the shadow fleet for months and for the seized oil to be sold to support Ukraine. Good to see the govt now agree with us www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06...

It is looking like a coronation for Burnham. That is not healthy at all. Having got rid of Starmer, Labour MPs are now stitching things up to ensure that there isn't even a contest to be our new Prime Minister. Maybe they don't want us seeing how few ideas they really have.

We are harming our own country through all these changes of PM. There is no good reason for Starmer to go. He is unpopular but that has never stopped PMs before. This is a palace coup by Labour MPs only interested in self preservation and not the overall interests of the country.

Britain’s economy is being held back by low growth and small businesses are paying the price. That’s why the @libdems.org.uk are pushing for a bold new partnership with Europe to cut red tape, back SMEs and grow our economy.

It's time for a bold new deal that puts Britain back at the heart of Europe. 🧡

Reports of a Russian warship firing warning shots in the English Channel are deeply concerning. Russia is quite literally on our doorstep. Intimidation in our waters must not be tolerated. A reminder that we cannot afford any more delays to the Defence Investment Plan www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Healey's resignation reflects poorly on the PM. We should be setting an example for our allies, but this whole messy process has just been embarrassing.

Trump appears finally to have realised what he started. He followed Netanyahu into this war and has pursued it without clear goals and with casual indifference to the consequences. Now he is claiming he can rein in Netanyahu. For once, let’s hope he’s right. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

What kind of message does this send to our Ukrainian allies? Every pound for Russian oil goes to Putin’s war chest. The Government must reverse these weak waivers, focus on diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait, and implement Lib Dem plans to cut the cost of travel www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Social care is already under severe pressure. Families are waiting too long, providers are struggling to recruit and care workers are not being properly valued. The Government needs to get to grips with this crisis and bring forward a serious plan for social care.

It is good to see Keir Starmer finally recognising the threat the IRGC poses to the Jewish community and the Iranian diaspora, but this should have come a long time ago. Lib Dems will back any emergency legislation required to proscribe the IRGC. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

Proud to speak at the Lib Dem Conference setting out our approach to defence: standing firmly with Ukraine against Putin, restoring trust with our European allies, and fixing procurement to cut waste. In a more unstable world we remain committed to NATO, international law and our nuclear deterrent.

Watch James' speech in full: youtu.be/SPoWzsdcmJk

At a time of global crisis, Britain should be leading on the world stage – not following Trump like a poodle, as the Conservatives and Reform want to do.

Great to see @makeuk.bsky.social backing defence bonds. We need urgent funding to rearm. Despite big talk from Labour and Tories, only the @libdems.org.uk have a plan. Bonds would raise £20bn over two years and allow everyone to invest in our nation's defence. inews.co.uk/news/britons...

Kemi Badenoch claims the Type 45 Destroyer can’t intercept missiles. That is literally what they are designed to do, and they’re world-renowned for it. The Conservatives should wind their neck in and stop warmongering. We will not gain anything by getting involved in a conflict with Iran.

🇺🇦 🇬🇧 It is sobering to think that today marks four years since the start of Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine. I am proud of the support Britain has given, but we must not become complacent. We must continue to stand with our Ukrainian allies who fight for all of our freedom. Slava Ukraini.🇺🇦

We do need to urgently increase defence spending and it's good that the PM is finally realising it. He should adopt the @libdems.org.uk proposal for defence bonds to generate £20bn over the next two years. A serious plan to get the cash boost our armed forces need. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Navalny showed incredible bravery standing up for freedom and a democratic Russian future and was murdered for it. Now we know how, it should redouble our resolve to resist Putin and that begins in Ukraine. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Starmer is finally waking up to the threat of relying on Trump for our security. The PM should be personally leading negotiations to get us into the EU SAFE defence fund and adopt the @libdems.org.uk defence bonds for an urgent cash injection for our armed forces. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...

I'm pleased to see the High Court overturn the absurd proscription of Palestine Action. Labour abused the parliamentary system to get them proscribed, but it was clear this was a blatant misuse of terror legislation. Just think how much police time was wasted with this nonsense.

It was great to meet Royal Marine Commandos at Parliament ahead of their deployment to Norway for a NATO exercise. They showed us their kit and spoke about the vital work they’re doing to keep us safe in an increasingly unstable world.

The situation in Iran is shocking. The regime’s brutal crackdown has reportedly cost tens of thousands of lives. The UK Government must go further and proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Ayatollahs’ iron fist, as a terrorist organisation.

We need to know how the Government plans to deal with Iran - and with Donald Trump’s plans for Iran. @jamesmaccleary.bsky.social and I have written to the Defence and Foreign Secretaries today asking them to hold Iran’s leaders to account and to tell Parliament their plans.

The cruelty of Putin's war in Ukraine has reached new levels. These attacks are designed to make civilians suffer. Children and the elderly shiver as Putin tries to break them. Deliberately targeting civilians is a war crime and Putin is a war criminal. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I am appalled that the Government has once again chosen to ignore the WASPI women’s demand for fair compensation. These women were failed by poor communication and shifting goal posts. They deserve justice, not delay or dismissal. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

There is great irony that the man Reform have selected to win Gorton and Denton for them is the same man (in his previous life as a serious academic) who co-wrote a superb book called National Populism that dissects the very same ideas he now promotes.

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, marking 81 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. We remember the six million Jews murdered for being Jewish and honour the survivors. As witnesses grow fewer, we must bridge generations and ensure their memories are never forgotten.