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| General election 2019: Lib Dems 'to protect worshippers from attacks' | General election 2019: Lib Dems 'to protect worshippers from attacks' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have promised to protect places of worship from hate crimes and terror attacks if they win the general election. | The Liberal Democrats have promised to protect places of worship from hate crimes and terror attacks if they win the general election. |
| The party is promising more funding for security - and also says it would bring in tougher sentences for hate crime. | The party is promising more funding for security - and also says it would bring in tougher sentences for hate crime. |
| The Remain-supporting party has been criticised for running candidates against other pro-EU politicians. | The Remain-supporting party has been criticised for running candidates against other pro-EU politicians. |
| But Lib Dem health spokeswoman Luciana Berger said people wanting to stop Brexit "have to back" her party. | But Lib Dem health spokeswoman Luciana Berger said people wanting to stop Brexit "have to back" her party. |
| The Conservatives say they want to "get Brexit done" by 31 October, while Labour is promising another referendum after the election, on a revised deal it hopes to reach with the EU. | The Conservatives say they want to "get Brexit done" by 31 October, while Labour is promising another referendum after the election, on a revised deal it hopes to reach with the EU. |
| In other developments on Thursday: | In other developments on Thursday: |
| Home Office figures released last month showed a 10% rise in hate crimes - offences motivated by hostility towards someone's race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity - in England and Wales in 2018/19. | Home Office figures released last month showed a 10% rise in hate crimes - offences motivated by hostility towards someone's race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity - in England and Wales in 2018/19. |
| The Liberal Democrats say they will turn all such crimes into "aggravated offences", meaning maximum sentences would rise. | The Liberal Democrats say they will turn all such crimes into "aggravated offences", meaning maximum sentences would rise. |
| Currently, crimes committed for homophobic, disablist or transphobic reasons carry lower maximum jail times than those for aggravated by race or religion. | |
| Just under half of religious hate crime offences were targeted against Muslims in 2018/19, the Home Office said, and 18% were targeted against Jewish people. | Just under half of religious hate crime offences were targeted against Muslims in 2018/19, the Home Office said, and 18% were targeted against Jewish people. |
| The Lib Dems are promising more funding for security at places of worship, schools and community centres "vulnerable to hate crime and terror attacks". | The Lib Dems are promising more funding for security at places of worship, schools and community centres "vulnerable to hate crime and terror attacks". |
| The party says it wants "complete data" to be collected on the ethnicity of people going through the justice system, and an end to "disproportionate" use of stop-and-search powers by police on people from ethnic minorities. | The party says it wants "complete data" to be collected on the ethnicity of people going through the justice system, and an end to "disproportionate" use of stop-and-search powers by police on people from ethnic minorities. |
| It is pledging to ensure "equal marriage" for all, including allowing the Church of England and the Church of Wales to carry out same-sex weddings. | It is pledging to ensure "equal marriage" for all, including allowing the Church of England and the Church of Wales to carry out same-sex weddings. |
| It wants to amend the Gender Recognition Act, so it no longer includes a requirement for medical reports to be submitted and recognises non-binary gender identities. Applicants for passports would be able to fill in an "X gender option" under its plans. | It wants to amend the Gender Recognition Act, so it no longer includes a requirement for medical reports to be submitted and recognises non-binary gender identities. Applicants for passports would be able to fill in an "X gender option" under its plans. |
| Ms Berger said: "Discrimination has no place in 21st century Britain. Unfortunately this is not the reality for too many in the UK." | Ms Berger said: "Discrimination has no place in 21st century Britain. Unfortunately this is not the reality for too many in the UK." |
| She criticised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, for having "inexcusably failed to root out anti-Semitism" in the party and having "betrayed the values of equality and anti-racism against all". The Conservatives, Ms Berger added, were "encouraging ugly nationalism". | She criticised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, for having "inexcusably failed to root out anti-Semitism" in the party and having "betrayed the values of equality and anti-racism against all". The Conservatives, Ms Berger added, were "encouraging ugly nationalism". |
| Mr Corbyn has described anti-Semitism as a "poison and and evil", adding that his party has taken action to root it out. | Mr Corbyn has described anti-Semitism as a "poison and and evil", adding that his party has taken action to root it out. |
| Earlier this week, the Conservatives expelled a number of members alleged to have posted Islamophobic content on social media, saying it would "never stand by when it comes to prejudice and discrimination". | Earlier this week, the Conservatives expelled a number of members alleged to have posted Islamophobic content on social media, saying it would "never stand by when it comes to prejudice and discrimination". |
| Brexit divisions | Brexit divisions |
| The Lib Dems have entered a "Remain alliance" with the Green Party and Plaid Cymru in dozens of constituencies, meaning only the party with the best chance of a win will run in them. | The Lib Dems have entered a "Remain alliance" with the Green Party and Plaid Cymru in dozens of constituencies, meaning only the party with the best chance of a win will run in them. |
| Ms Berger, who quit Labour earlier this year and joined the Lib Dems in September, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme her old party had "refused to engage" in talks aimed at creating a wider anti-Brexit alliance. | Ms Berger, who quit Labour earlier this year and joined the Lib Dems in September, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme her old party had "refused to engage" in talks aimed at creating a wider anti-Brexit alliance. |
| The Lib Dems are still contesting the seat of Canterbury, in Kent, despite their candidate quitting this week, saying he did not want to divide the Remain vote between himself and an anti-Brexit Labour rival. He has since been replaced. | The Lib Dems are still contesting the seat of Canterbury, in Kent, despite their candidate quitting this week, saying he did not want to divide the Remain vote between himself and an anti-Brexit Labour rival. He has since been replaced. |
| The Lib Dems are also fielding a candidate in South West Hertfordshire, where former Tory cabinet minister David Gauke - who was expelled from the Conservative parliamentary party after voting to block a no-deal Brexit - is running as an independent. | The Lib Dems are also fielding a candidate in South West Hertfordshire, where former Tory cabinet minister David Gauke - who was expelled from the Conservative parliamentary party after voting to block a no-deal Brexit - is running as an independent. |
| Ms Berger said: "I know and like David very, very much but, as I understand it, David would like a soft Brexit. People want a choice at this election." | Ms Berger said: "I know and like David very, very much but, as I understand it, David would like a soft Brexit. People want a choice at this election." |
| For Labour, Mr Corbyn has said that, if he becomes prime minister, he would "get Brexit sorted" within six months, after getting a new deal with the EU and putting it to voters in a referendum. | For Labour, Mr Corbyn has said that, if he becomes prime minister, he would "get Brexit sorted" within six months, after getting a new deal with the EU and putting it to voters in a referendum. |
| Conservative leader Boris Johnson says his agreement is "oven-ready" and can get through Parliament if he wins a majority at the election. | Conservative leader Boris Johnson says his agreement is "oven-ready" and can get through Parliament if he wins a majority at the election. |