Caroline Voaden
@carolinevoadenmp.bsky.social
Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon and Schools Spokesperson. Former leader of Lib Dem MEPs. 🔶
Education Select Committee member.
UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly member.
E:Caroline.voaden.MP@parliament.uk
Education Select Committee member.
UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly member.
E:Caroline.voaden.MP@parliament.uk
Pinned
Caroline Voaden Maiden Speech
YouTube video by Liberal Democrats
www.youtube.com
It was a real honour to make my maiden speech in the House of Commons - here it is for anyone interested.
The first non Conservative to do so from my part of the UK in over 100 years 😊
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lg1...
The first non Conservative to do so from my part of the UK in over 100 years 😊
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lg1...
Remember when Brexiteers raved about the trade deals we’d sign once we left the EU.
Well, five years on from Boris’s botched deal, let me show why these deals are worth absolute peanuts compared to what we lost thanks to Brexit. 🥜
#Brexit #CustomsUnion @libdems.org.uk
Well, five years on from Boris’s botched deal, let me show why these deals are worth absolute peanuts compared to what we lost thanks to Brexit. 🥜
#Brexit #CustomsUnion @libdems.org.uk
December 31, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Remember when Brexiteers raved about the trade deals we’d sign once we left the EU.
Well, five years on from Boris’s botched deal, let me show why these deals are worth absolute peanuts compared to what we lost thanks to Brexit. 🥜
#Brexit #CustomsUnion @libdems.org.uk
Well, five years on from Boris’s botched deal, let me show why these deals are worth absolute peanuts compared to what we lost thanks to Brexit. 🥜
#Brexit #CustomsUnion @libdems.org.uk
The UK rejoining the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme is a moment of real opportunity and a clear step towards repairing the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal.
December 17, 2025 at 10:53 AM
The UK rejoining the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme is a moment of real opportunity and a clear step towards repairing the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal.
Reposted by Caroline Voaden
I'm glad Keir Starmer has listened to our calls for this inquiry following the Reform Russian bribery scandal.
Nigel Farage should be the first to give evidence.
Nigel Farage should be the first to give evidence.
🚨 BREAKING: Keir Starmer has launched a formal investigation into foreign election interference
It comes after former Reform UK Welsh Leader Nathan Gill was sentenced to over 10 years in prison last month for making pro-Russia statements for bribes
It comes after former Reform UK Welsh Leader Nathan Gill was sentenced to over 10 years in prison last month for making pro-Russia statements for bribes
December 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I'm glad Keir Starmer has listened to our calls for this inquiry following the Reform Russian bribery scandal.
Nigel Farage should be the first to give evidence.
Nigel Farage should be the first to give evidence.
Whether it’s his National Security Strategy or the spurious lawsuit against the BBC, it’s clear Donald Trump is no friend of the UK.
The Prime Minister must stand up for our national broadcaster and tell the President that this is unacceptable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Prime Minister must stand up for our national broadcaster and tell the President that this is unacceptable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump sues BBC for defamation over Panorama speech edit
The US president has requested $5bn (£3.7bn) in damages, according to court documents filed in Florida.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Whether it’s his National Security Strategy or the spurious lawsuit against the BBC, it’s clear Donald Trump is no friend of the UK.
The Prime Minister must stand up for our national broadcaster and tell the President that this is unacceptable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Prime Minister must stand up for our national broadcaster and tell the President that this is unacceptable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
For families and businesses, the damage of the budget will outweigh any festive cheer.
What the economy really needs this Christmas is an emergency VAT cut for hospitality – letting high street businesses make the most of the festive period and boosting growth across Britain.
What the economy really needs this Christmas is an emergency VAT cut for hospitality – letting high street businesses make the most of the festive period and boosting growth across Britain.
UK unemployment rose to four-year high of 5.1% before budget
October figure from ONS suggests employers laid off workers, as earnings growth excluding bonuses fell
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:37 AM
For families and businesses, the damage of the budget will outweigh any festive cheer.
What the economy really needs this Christmas is an emergency VAT cut for hospitality – letting high street businesses make the most of the festive period and boosting growth across Britain.
What the economy really needs this Christmas is an emergency VAT cut for hospitality – letting high street businesses make the most of the festive period and boosting growth across Britain.
Last week, I joined @eddavey.libdems.org.uk and our Education Spokesperson @munirawilson.bsky.social for a roundtable with parents of SEND children.
Their stories are shocking and painted a system that is not only fundamentally broken but almost designed to traumatise parents and their children.
Their stories are shocking and painted a system that is not only fundamentally broken but almost designed to traumatise parents and their children.
December 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Last week, I joined @eddavey.libdems.org.uk and our Education Spokesperson @munirawilson.bsky.social for a roundtable with parents of SEND children.
Their stories are shocking and painted a system that is not only fundamentally broken but almost designed to traumatise parents and their children.
Their stories are shocking and painted a system that is not only fundamentally broken but almost designed to traumatise parents and their children.
Last month, the Chancellor claimed her tinkering with business rates would bring in ‘permanently lower tax rates for more than 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties.’
If only that was the case!
If only that was the case!
December 15, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Last month, the Chancellor claimed her tinkering with business rates would bring in ‘permanently lower tax rates for more than 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties.’
If only that was the case!
If only that was the case!
I loved presenting the winner of my Christmas card competition to the Speaker of the House of Commons last week.
Congratulations again to Harriet, who’ll be receiving a card signed by the Speaker and me, and to all the other entrants to my Christmas card competition!
Congratulations again to Harriet, who’ll be receiving a card signed by the Speaker and me, and to all the other entrants to my Christmas card competition!
December 15, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I loved presenting the winner of my Christmas card competition to the Speaker of the House of Commons last week.
Congratulations again to Harriet, who’ll be receiving a card signed by the Speaker and me, and to all the other entrants to my Christmas card competition!
Congratulations again to Harriet, who’ll be receiving a card signed by the Speaker and me, and to all the other entrants to my Christmas card competition!
Here is my take on Labour's Child Poverty Strategy. 👇
December 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Here is my take on Labour's Child Poverty Strategy. 👇
While it’s great Labour has finally taken its head out of the sand over Brexit, the fact they are now publicly talking about the damage leaving the EU has done while still doing little to fix our relationship is annoying to say the least.
December 2, 2025 at 4:44 PM
While it’s great Labour has finally taken its head out of the sand over Brexit, the fact they are now publicly talking about the damage leaving the EU has done while still doing little to fix our relationship is annoying to say the least.
Disappointed to hear little from Chancellor on schools in the Chamber. Just shows what a low priority education is.
But statement says SEND funding to transfer to central govt from 2028.
I hope it’s properly funded & local authorities can control where spending is allocated
But statement says SEND funding to transfer to central govt from 2028.
I hope it’s properly funded & local authorities can control where spending is allocated
November 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Disappointed to hear little from Chancellor on schools in the Chamber. Just shows what a low priority education is.
But statement says SEND funding to transfer to central govt from 2028.
I hope it’s properly funded & local authorities can control where spending is allocated
But statement says SEND funding to transfer to central govt from 2028.
I hope it’s properly funded & local authorities can control where spending is allocated
Disappointing absence of any support for rural areas in Chancellor’s statement:
Dawlish Rail Link ❌
Bus transport ❌
Farm IHT ❌
Rural broadband ❌
Help for hospitality also disappointing
But Northern Rail ✅ - what a surprise
Dawlish Rail Link ❌
Bus transport ❌
Farm IHT ❌
Rural broadband ❌
Help for hospitality also disappointing
But Northern Rail ✅ - what a surprise
November 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Disappointing absence of any support for rural areas in Chancellor’s statement:
Dawlish Rail Link ❌
Bus transport ❌
Farm IHT ❌
Rural broadband ❌
Help for hospitality also disappointing
But Northern Rail ✅ - what a surprise
Dawlish Rail Link ❌
Bus transport ❌
Farm IHT ❌
Rural broadband ❌
Help for hospitality also disappointing
But Northern Rail ✅ - what a surprise
Reposted by Caroline Voaden
Political speeches, particularly in parliament, can sometimes run a difficult line between scathing and just a bit nasty, and it strikes me that Kemi Badenoch's budget response risks falling into the latter camp.
November 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Political speeches, particularly in parliament, can sometimes run a difficult line between scathing and just a bit nasty, and it strikes me that Kemi Badenoch's budget response risks falling into the latter camp.
Nasty, pathetic response from the leader of the opposition.
You can disagree with the policy all you like.
You can disagree with the policy all you like.
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Nasty, pathetic response from the leader of the opposition.
You can disagree with the policy all you like.
You can disagree with the policy all you like.
Scrapping the two-child benefit isn’t just the right thing to do for children in poverty – it’s also what’s right for our economy and public services.
Children growing up in poverty face worse educational outcomes, poorer physical and mental health, and fewer opportunities in adulthood.
Children growing up in poverty face worse educational outcomes, poorer physical and mental health, and fewer opportunities in adulthood.
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Scrapping the two-child benefit isn’t just the right thing to do for children in poverty – it’s also what’s right for our economy and public services.
Children growing up in poverty face worse educational outcomes, poorer physical and mental health, and fewer opportunities in adulthood.
Children growing up in poverty face worse educational outcomes, poorer physical and mental health, and fewer opportunities in adulthood.
Deeply disappointing to see the Chancellor resist reality and refuse to scrap the inheritance tax for farmers in the Budget.
The Government has its head in the sand about this.
I surveyed farmers in South Devon: the average bill they face is £300k!
How can farmers be asked to shoulder this?
The Government has its head in the sand about this.
I surveyed farmers in South Devon: the average bill they face is £300k!
How can farmers be asked to shoulder this?
November 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Deeply disappointing to see the Chancellor resist reality and refuse to scrap the inheritance tax for farmers in the Budget.
The Government has its head in the sand about this.
I surveyed farmers in South Devon: the average bill they face is £300k!
How can farmers be asked to shoulder this?
The Government has its head in the sand about this.
I surveyed farmers in South Devon: the average bill they face is £300k!
How can farmers be asked to shoulder this?
The OBR document also revealed that the cost of asylum accommodation will cost more than 3x what was previously thought over the next 10 years!
The Government must urgently listen to the Lib Dems and set up nightingale-style processing centres to get our asylum backlog down.
The Government must urgently listen to the Lib Dems and set up nightingale-style processing centres to get our asylum backlog down.
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
The OBR document also revealed that the cost of asylum accommodation will cost more than 3x what was previously thought over the next 10 years!
The Government must urgently listen to the Lib Dems and set up nightingale-style processing centres to get our asylum backlog down.
The Government must urgently listen to the Lib Dems and set up nightingale-style processing centres to get our asylum backlog down.
In *that* OBR document it was also revealed the digital ID will cost £1.8bn and that the scheme is currently unfunded.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
In *that* OBR document it was also revealed the digital ID will cost £1.8bn and that the scheme is currently unfunded.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
That is a colossal amount of money for a scheme that promises so little in return.
Imagine where else that could be better spent.
The Government must think again.
Reposted by Caroline Voaden
The Chancellor is giving secondary schools £5 million in the #Budget for new libraries - shame it works out at just £1,200 for each school!
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The Chancellor is giving secondary schools £5 million in the #Budget for new libraries - shame it works out at just £1,200 for each school!
Reposted by Caroline Voaden
Thank you to @CarolineVoadenMP.bsky.social, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, for meeting with members of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group Children, Young People and Families Committee this afternoon.
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Thank you to @CarolineVoadenMP.bsky.social, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, for meeting with members of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group Children, Young People and Families Committee this afternoon.
Reposted by Caroline Voaden
Brexit has cost each and every one of us £3,700 a year.
But instead of solving the problem, Labour are using Brexit as an excuse to raise your taxes.
My message ahead of the Budget: Stop blaming Brexit and start fixing it!
But instead of solving the problem, Labour are using Brexit as an excuse to raise your taxes.
My message ahead of the Budget: Stop blaming Brexit and start fixing it!
November 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Brexit has cost each and every one of us £3,700 a year.
But instead of solving the problem, Labour are using Brexit as an excuse to raise your taxes.
My message ahead of the Budget: Stop blaming Brexit and start fixing it!
But instead of solving the problem, Labour are using Brexit as an excuse to raise your taxes.
My message ahead of the Budget: Stop blaming Brexit and start fixing it!
Remember when they said Brexit would save us £350m a week?
Well, it has actually cost us £250m a day this year.
And that goes a long way to explaining why our taxes are high why productivity low.
It’s never been clearer that the key to growth is fixing our relationship with Europe.
Well, it has actually cost us £250m a day this year.
And that goes a long way to explaining why our taxes are high why productivity low.
It’s never been clearer that the key to growth is fixing our relationship with Europe.
Brexit costing UK up to £90bn in lost tax revenue , new analysis shows
Exclusive: Britons also up to £3,700 worse off, leading to calls for the Labour government to improve relations with the EU
www.independent.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Remember when they said Brexit would save us £350m a week?
Well, it has actually cost us £250m a day this year.
And that goes a long way to explaining why our taxes are high why productivity low.
It’s never been clearer that the key to growth is fixing our relationship with Europe.
Well, it has actually cost us £250m a day this year.
And that goes a long way to explaining why our taxes are high why productivity low.
It’s never been clearer that the key to growth is fixing our relationship with Europe.
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, part of an international campaign to stamp out male violence against women.
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, part of an international campaign to stamp out male violence against women.
For months, I’ve been calling on the Education Secretary to expand free school meals so while I’m pleased she has finally listened, I’m concerned about how this policy will be paid for.
November 24, 2025 at 12:42 PM
For months, I’ve been calling on the Education Secretary to expand free school meals so while I’m pleased she has finally listened, I’m concerned about how this policy will be paid for.
Absolutely devastating report from Stanford on Brexit’s impact.
📉Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%.
📉The Treasury would have £40bn more each year if Britain had remained in the EU.
Imagine the Chancellor could do with that extra money this week more than most!
📉Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%.
📉The Treasury would have £40bn more each year if Britain had remained in the EU.
Imagine the Chancellor could do with that extra money this week more than most!
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Absolutely devastating report from Stanford on Brexit’s impact.
📉Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%.
📉The Treasury would have £40bn more each year if Britain had remained in the EU.
Imagine the Chancellor could do with that extra money this week more than most!
📉Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%.
📉The Treasury would have £40bn more each year if Britain had remained in the EU.
Imagine the Chancellor could do with that extra money this week more than most!