MP for South Devon
Animal Rights
The Liberal Democrats believe that humans have a responsibility to care appropriately for animals. We should respect animals and understand that every animal has specific inherent needs, regardless of their circumstances. I, and my Liberal Democrat colleagues, absolutely support calls for higher animal welfare standards. We are determined to ensure that the humane treatment of animals is upheld. That’s why we opposed the decision by the previous Conservative government to scrap its planned ban on the imports of fur and foie gras. Given this, I welcome the current government’s calls to strengthen the law on fox hunting and will support any such legislation. On the topic of badger culling, I would first like to say that I would very much like to see an end to the cull. The killing of wild animals is always extremely distressing. However, I am also aware of the distress, both financially and emotionally, caused to farmers when their cattle must be killed due to the transmission of bovine tuberculosis. The mental health crisis among farmers is chilling and many have taken their own lives after losing their herds. While I agree that the science does not universally support the effectiveness of badger culling as a preventative measure, it also does not unambiguously state that such measures are ineffective. Local farmers have reported to me a 60% reduction in incidences of bovine TB since the culls started. While I recognise that this reduction could be a result of improvements in the control of cattle movement and better TB testing, the science at this time remains genuinely inconclusive. We must continue existing trials on new and more accurate TB tests so that farmers can have more confidence in the test and the transmission between cattle is reduced. Date: May 2026
Community Energy
I, and the The Liberal Democrats are strong advocates for Community energy. We believe that communities should have the power to generate their own clean, renewable energy, putting them at the heart of the fight against climate change. We are committed to making it easier for communities to get these projects off the ground. This includes ensuring access to funding, simplifying planning processes, and providing the technical support that local groups need to succeed. We believe that with the right government support, Community energy can thrive and play a significant role in the UK’s transition to a green economy. At its core, Community energy is about giving power back to people, enabling local communities to take control of their energy future, lower their bills, and contribute to tackling the climate crisis. The Liberal Democrats will continue to champion these initiatives as part of our broader commitment to a sustainable, green, and fair society. Date: May 2026
Dementia Support
Dementia is a significant public health issue, and it is essential that we ensure adequate resources and support are available. The financial burden should not fall on patients and their families, and I am committed to advocating for comprehensive services under the NHS that reflect the seriousness of this disease. It is shocking that in a county with a high number of elderly residents, there is no dementia strategy and this is something I will be raising with NHS Devon. The waiting times for diagnosis and the gaps in social care are pressing issues that need our attention, and I am committed to trying to improve the situation for my constituents in South Devon. Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay, which provides a vital service to local residents in our constituency, have exciting plans to transform care in the community with a remodelled hospice, a world class specialist dementia care unit, assisted living and a nursery. The plans envisage bringing multi-generational care to this glorious wooded parkland site, with the very young and very old engaging on a daily basis. The dementia care facility would be unique in the UK, modelling an exemplary way to care for patients with dementia in a village like setting. It is genuinely exciting, and could inspire hospitals and hospice sites across the country to try and offer care in a different way – better for the patient, easier for families and genuinely better for the community itself. I truly believe that initiatives like this can truly transform the landscape of dementia care and serve as a blueprint for future developments elsewhere and I will be championing it as a model. Dementia is affecting my own family, so I am only too aware of the distress and burden it places on family members. I was proud to lead a debate on dementia care in parliament. You can watch my speech here: https://www.carolinevoaden.com/post/watch-my-speech-on-dementia-care Date: May 2026
Digital ID
Digital ID cards pose a serious risk to privacy by centralising vast amounts of personal data. This increases the potential for misuse and cyberattacks. We only need to look at India's Aadhaar system, the largest digital ID project in the world, which experienced numerous data breaches, exposing millions of people to identity theft. The Netherlands’ DigiD system also suffered security issues, eroding public trust. These examples show that no system, no matter how secure, is immune to failure. Furthermore, the financial cost is immense. The previous Labour government's ID card scheme, projected to cost over £5 billion, was scrapped in 2010 due to ballooning expenses and public backlash. A digital version would require ongoing investment in cybersecurity and infrastructure, which is money that could be better spent on vital public services like the NHS and social care. In addition to these issues, Digital ID cards will undoubtedly deepen social inequality. In rural areas like South Devon, where internet access can be unreliable, many people would struggle to engage with an entirely digital system. With 7% of UK households still without internet access and rural areas facing slower, less reliable connections, we risk excluding those who are most in need of public services. Many older residents, lower-income families, and those lacking digital skills would find it difficult to navigate a system dependent on technology. This digital divide could leave many unable to access basic services, worsening existing inequalities. As Liberal Democrats, we have consistently opposed ID card schemes, whether physical or digital. You will be reassured to know that I believe in protecting individual privacy and am against creating invasive systems that could open the door to government overreach or surveillance, as feared in France, where protests arose over concerns about digital IDs. Updated: May 2026
Sewage Crisis
South West Water has been underperforming for over a decade, yet millions of pounds have been paid in dividends each year while hundreds of thousands pounds have been paid in bonuses. The Liberal Democrats have been campaigning hard on water issues for some time and we will continue to do so. We want to see the water industry reformed, with local environmental experts on company boards, and legally binding targets on sewage discharges. We have called for Ofwat to be abolished and replaced with a new body that would be given powers to ban bonuses for water company bosses, revoke the licence of poorly performing water companies and force water firms to publish the full scale of their sewage spills. We also need the Government to properly fund the Environment Agency so it can regulate effectively. We had been hoping to make progress with the protection of our wild waters through the Water (Special Measures) Bill. The Bill was welcomed by the Liberal Democrats, however, with just 15% of English rivers in good ecological health – and given the state of water quality, infrastructure, regulation and finances, this Bill should be even more ambitious. In terms of greater regulation in the water industry, Liberal Democrats would like to see: > Regulatory reform, including replacing Ofwat with by a new regulator to bring the environmental and financial regulation of water companies together, to better hold water companies to account and to protect public health and the natural environment. > The protection of consumers; water bills and public health. Strengthening of the powers of local authorities to monitor the health of our rivers, lakes and coastlines, restore our natural environment and tackle climate change. > The creation of a public benefit model and a new water regulator with more powers to hold companies accountable. This model would be debt-free and operate as a not-for-profit. All mutual company ‘profits’ would be reinvested back into the water system for public benefit. By putting debt back onto private companies, customers and taxpayers will be better protected. > Improving the quantity and quality of bathing waters and sensitive nature sites with legally binding targets and more regular, independent and transparent testing of water quality. During Committee stage of the Bill, Liberal Democrat Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP, and Liberal Democrat Charlie Maynard MP tabled 44 amendments to the Bill. The amendments included topics such as: > Setting clear pollution reduction targets to we can measure progress and hold water companies to account against them. > To require creditors – largely hedge funds and other big financial companies – who have loaded debt onto water companies and then profited from the interest, who should cover those costs instead. The Bill stipulates that when a water company goes into special administration, customers can be asked to pay for any losses the Government incurs. Labour opposed our amendment on this at committee. > Introducing a clear threshold for when a failing water company should be put into the bankruptcy process – rather than letting them continue to rack up more and more debt indefinitely, with customers paying the price for the ever-increasing interest payments. Stopping water companies using offshore holding companies. > Ensuring there is a timeline in the Bill for when the ban on bonuses for water company bosses would come in. Labour voted to remove a binding timeline from the Bill. > Preventing a revolving door between the regulator and water companies by banning Ofwat from employing people who have recently worked at a water company. > Including champions for the environment and for customers on boards of water companies. > Making water companies install volume flow meters so they can properly monitor sewage spills. > Making water companies report the amount of sewage spilled into our water. > Scrapping Ofwat who have clearly failed to hold these companies accountable and introducing a new regulator with more powers and funding. > Limiting the amount of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances in drinking water. Of course, with such as strong majority across the floor, it’s always going to be an uphill battle to ensure the changes we would like to see, but please be assured that I, and my Lib Dem colleagues, will continue to hold the Government to account on these issues, especially as a new Water Bill progresses through Parliament. In terms of our own supplier, South West Water, there was at least some good news. South West Water submitted a guilty plea to supplying water unfit for human consumption during the cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham. This admission has been a very long time coming and is a vital step towards accountability. I am glad SWW have finally owned up to their serious failures. But let's be clear: this awful event should never have happened. The fact that it did is symptomatic of our broken water industry. The industry needs a serious refit and as part of that the Liberal Democrats want to see a new ownership model introduced where water companies are mutually owned by customers and professionally managed. Updated: May 2026
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
You can read my latest statement on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill via the button below. Updated: May 2026
WASPI Women
For years, the Liberal Democrats have pushed the Government to fairly compensate WASPI women to reflect the Ombudsman’s recommendations. The Conservative party left our economy in a shambles, but asking wronged pensioners to pay the price of their mismanagement is simply disgraceful. Years of needless anguish have been inflicted on millions of women. Now, the Government must work without any further dither and delay to put things right. Updated: May 2026
Youth Homelessness
The Liberal Democrats have fought hard to ensure that the Government scrapped the Vagrancy Act of 1824, which criminalised homelessness. We believe homelessness should never be treated as a criminal issue, but rather as a social problem that requires a compassionate and comprehensive response. We are committed to ending rough sleeping and ensuring no one is left behind. In power, the Liberal Democrats would: > Urgently publish a cross-Whitehall plan to end all forms of homelessness. > Exempt homeless people and those at risk of homelessness from the Shared Accommodation Rate. > Introduce a ‘somewhere safe to stay’ legal duty to provide emergency accommodation for anyone at risk of sleeping rough and assess their needs. > Ensure sufficient funding for local authorities to implement the Homelessness Reduction Act and support survivors of domestic abuse. > Ringfence emergency funding for local councils to provide permanent accommodation for rough sleepers. Date: May 2026