Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Jim Hume MSP today called on the Health Secretary to review support provided for Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) after new figures revealed the average waiting time for a first appointment at two of Scotland's GICs is more than a year.
October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a day for raising awareness and improving education about mental health. In Government, the Liberal Democrats put mental health on equal priority with physical health, and at the election we pledged a further £8bn for the NHS to help deliver this. Norman Lamb MP has written about the subject today, and this week the Welsh Liberal Democrats passed a motion in the Assembly calling for better mental health support in Wales, which you can support through this petition.
Liberal Democrat parlimentarians have been quizzing the government on transgender prisoners, following the news that Tara Hudson has finally been placed in the correct prison. The move follows interventions from a number of senior politicians including LibDem leader Tim Farron to ensure that Tara Hudson, who has lived her entire adult life as a woman, was not placed in a male prison.
The Liberal Democrats have led the way on LGBT+ campaigning for decades, including our recent policy on trans and intersex rights. One way you can support our work is to help our Christmas Draw - there are some great prizes on offer including a £2,000 holiday voucher, and all money raised supports Lib Dem campaigning.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron MP has called for urgent reform following the death of trans woman Vicky Thompson who was being held in a men's jail. Recently, Farron had also intervened in the case of Tara Hudson, along with Lib Dem peer Lord Marks. Baroness Liz Barker has tabled a question for discussion in the House of Lords, and there will also be an urgent quesion in the Commons at 11am.
Liberal Democrat peer Liz Barker is due to question the government later today, Tuesday 24th November, on it's handling of transgender prisoners. The move follows the controversy over the case of Tara Hudson and the tragic death of Vicky Thompson whilst in prison last week. Oral questions start in the Lords at 2:30pm, with Baroness Barker's question expected at around 3pm.