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:[email protected]
Education Select Committee member.
UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly member.
E:[email protected]
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...
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!
Despite making up half the population, women remain underrepresented at the entry level of the government.
The UK has never had a Parliament that is truly 50:50. We’re currently at 40%, so we’ve still got some way to go.
The UK has never had a Parliament that is truly 50:50. We’re currently at 40%, so we’ve still got some way to go.
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Despite making up half the population, women remain underrepresented at the entry level of the government.
The UK has never had a Parliament that is truly 50:50. We’re currently at 40%, so we’ve still got some way to go.
The UK has never had a Parliament that is truly 50:50. We’re currently at 40%, so we’ve still got some way to go.
Let’s hope the Government is watching Australia very closely at the moment.
While the Liberal Democrats aren’t calling for a social media ban, it’s clear much more is needed to protect children from the wild west of the online world.
While the Liberal Democrats aren’t calling for a social media ban, it’s clear much more is needed to protect children from the wild west of the online world.
November 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Let’s hope the Government is watching Australia very closely at the moment.
While the Liberal Democrats aren’t calling for a social media ban, it’s clear much more is needed to protect children from the wild west of the online world.
While the Liberal Democrats aren’t calling for a social media ban, it’s clear much more is needed to protect children from the wild west of the online world.
My thoughts and prayers are with all those who lost loved ones during the pandemic, and everyone who suffered.
As the report makes clear, thousands of lives could have been saved and a national lockdown avoided if the Government had acted sooner.
As the report makes clear, thousands of lives could have been saved and a national lockdown avoided if the Government had acted sooner.
November 21, 2025 at 9:19 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with all those who lost loved ones during the pandemic, and everyone who suffered.
As the report makes clear, thousands of lives could have been saved and a national lockdown avoided if the Government had acted sooner.
As the report makes clear, thousands of lives could have been saved and a national lockdown avoided if the Government had acted sooner.
Today, I asked the Prime Minister if he would back a smartphone ban in schools.
Given the Government’s desire to improve educational outcomes and the wellbeing of our children, you’d think it’d be a no brainer.
But, to my deep disappointment, he refused.
Given the Government’s desire to improve educational outcomes and the wellbeing of our children, you’d think it’d be a no brainer.
But, to my deep disappointment, he refused.
November 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Today, I asked the Prime Minister if he would back a smartphone ban in schools.
Given the Government’s desire to improve educational outcomes and the wellbeing of our children, you’d think it’d be a no brainer.
But, to my deep disappointment, he refused.
Given the Government’s desire to improve educational outcomes and the wellbeing of our children, you’d think it’d be a no brainer.
But, to my deep disappointment, he refused.
Proud to chair a fantastic and thought-provoking roundtable this morning on smartphones at schools.
I hope the Government will listen to the headteachers and educational experts and bring in a ban that is sorely needed.
I hope the Government will listen to the headteachers and educational experts and bring in a ban that is sorely needed.
November 19, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Proud to chair a fantastic and thought-provoking roundtable this morning on smartphones at schools.
I hope the Government will listen to the headteachers and educational experts and bring in a ban that is sorely needed.
I hope the Government will listen to the headteachers and educational experts and bring in a ban that is sorely needed.
This week marks another meeting of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, where MPs get together with MEPs from the European Parliament to talk about improving the relationship between the UK and the EU.
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This week marks another meeting of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, where MPs get together with MEPs from the European Parliament to talk about improving the relationship between the UK and the EU.
Teachers are the most important asset in our education system, so it is heart-breaking that their wellbeing rates have dropped to an all-time low. The Government must do more to support them, starting with tackling the recruitment crisis, which leaves so many teachers overstretched.
Teacher wellbeing plunges to lowest in six years
Teacher wellbeing rates have dropped to the lowest levels since they were first recorded in 2019, a report by Education Support has found.
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Teachers are the most important asset in our education system, so it is heart-breaking that their wellbeing rates have dropped to an all-time low. The Government must do more to support them, starting with tackling the recruitment crisis, which leaves so many teachers overstretched.
This shocking study reinforces why the Government was right to ban online porn showing choking. And why it must go further. Our pornography laws are dangerously outdated, the consequences of this and the contribution it makes to a culture of violence and abuse, particularly against women, are clear.
Nearly half of sexually active young people in UK have experienced strangulation, study shows
Survey reveals crisis of distress, consent issues and physical harm caused by strangulation during sex
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:23 AM
This shocking study reinforces why the Government was right to ban online porn showing choking. And why it must go further. Our pornography laws are dangerously outdated, the consequences of this and the contribution it makes to a culture of violence and abuse, particularly against women, are clear.
Hardly surprising, though no less shocking, from Reform here.
Remember this is a party actively stripping support for SEND children in Kent, and whose leader thinks children as young as five should walk miles to school.
Now, the deputy is slamming devices that help autistic children.
Remember this is a party actively stripping support for SEND children in Kent, and whose leader thinks children as young as five should walk miles to school.
Now, the deputy is slamming devices that help autistic children.
November 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Hardly surprising, though no less shocking, from Reform here.
Remember this is a party actively stripping support for SEND children in Kent, and whose leader thinks children as young as five should walk miles to school.
Now, the deputy is slamming devices that help autistic children.
Remember this is a party actively stripping support for SEND children in Kent, and whose leader thinks children as young as five should walk miles to school.
Now, the deputy is slamming devices that help autistic children.