Sam Al-Hamdani – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

02Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Out with the old – what about the new

Borough news, domestic abuse and violence

At this week’s [27/06/22] meeting of full Council, GM Mayor Andy Burnham said that former Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was replaced because of a lack of progress in providing information to the CSE inquiry in Oldham. This contradicts the statements put out at the time that he had resigned because of the police being put into special measures. It also fails to address the subsequent 11-month gap between his resignation and ANY information being provided to the CSE inquiry, and fails to explain why information was only provided on one of the 11 cases under review – with that one showing serious failures on the part of GMP. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This is an absolute failure. “GMP has been warned about failing victims of domestic abuse repeatedly…

02Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Great news as Shaw and Crompton Health Centre redevelopment now back on track

Borough news, health and social care

The Oldham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have announced that plans to redevelop Shaw and Crompton Health Centre are back on track after the decision to pull the plug on the development sparked interventions from local Liberal Democrat councillors. Shaw councillor Howard Sykes MBE said on behalf of all his Shaw and Crompton colleagues that the announcement from the CCG was: “long overdue and was after hours of work behind the scenes to thrash out the problems that had held the project up". Councillor Sykes continued: “This is great news for Shaw and Crompton. Access to modern healthcare facilities is a top priority for the people we represent. They deserve the security of knowing those services will be there when they need them. What we’ve had is a long and…

02Jul 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must support no charging Clean Air Zone says councillor Sykes

Borough news, environment

Oldham’s Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to support a no charging Clean Air Zone as new plans emerge for the next phases of CAZ today. Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw councillor Howard Sykes said: “Common sense has finally prevailed on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. We welcome the proposals for a no charging Clean Air Zone. The government must not impose charges on Greater Manchester that would hurt jobs during the cost-of-living crisis.” Councillor Sykes also said that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Andy Burnham had questions to answer. Councillor Sykes said, “Why has it taken so long to get to this stage? It was clear that a no charging zone was the common sense approach from the outset. So why has Mayor Burnham spent time and…

24Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ed Davey on Tiverton and Honiton: Wake-up call for Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has said the party’s stunning victory in Tiverton and Honiton should be a “wake-up call” for Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson. Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Foord overturned a Conservative majority of over 24,000, the biggest ever majority overturned in a by-election. Richard Foord gained a majority of 6,144 with a massive swing of 29.9%. It marks the third Liberal Democrat by-election victory in a formerly safe Conservative seat in just over a year, following the party’s shock wins in North Shropshire and Chesham and Amersham. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The Liberal Democrats have made political history with this stunning win. It is the biggest by-election victory our country has ever seen. “This should be a wake-up call for all those Conservative MPs…

23Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Former St Paul’s Church, Shaw Town Centre

Borough news

Local Shaw and Crompton councillors are aware of the works currently taking place at the former St Paul's Methodist Church, on Rochdale Road, Shaw. These works are part of the previously approved demolition consent granted in 2019. “As part of ensuring that these works are carried out in line with the planning consent, we have asked Oldham Council's Planning Enforcement to monitor the works and ensure that they are taking place lawfully and appropriately,” stated councillor Chris Gloster. Council enforcement officers visited the site last week and sought assistances from the owners that they were complying with the requirements of the planning consent and are monitoring the site clearance along with maintaining a visual record of works taking place. “These are the facts of the matter as we know them,”…

23Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

‘Vicious cycle’ of tax avoidance must be combated

Borough news, fairer council

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has written to Oldham Council’s head of finance to push for more action on ensuring that tax avoiding companies are kept away from Council contracts. In 2019, the Council’s passed the Liberal Democrat motion supporting the Council’s for Fair Tax declaration. During Fair Tax Week, Councillor Al-Hamdani returned to the motion to question how much the Council had done to encourage businesses – particularly those closely linked to the Council to sign up to the Fair Tax Mark. Sam said: “The Council reported two years ago that it was going to speak to its arms length companies about signing up for the Fair Tax Mark, but we have heard nothing since. It also agreed to promote fair tax – ensuring companies pay the right amount,…

23Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Families facing £1,300 bombshell from inflation and tax hikes

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives as not having “any sense or any soul” for inaction on the cost of living crisis as families face a near £1,300 bombshell from inflation and tax hikes. Today’s ONS data reveals that a typical household now spends £5,780 a year on food, drink and clothing - £425 more than a year ago. Meanwhile record petrol and diesel prices mean that a typical family re-filling its car once a month pays an additional £310 a year. The hit to families from soaring food and fuel prices is being practically doubled by an additional £640 in extra National Insurance, Income Tax and VAT this year. The rise in costs means households are being left with a near £1,300 blackhole due to this Government’s failure…

23Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

No answers and no help on cost of energy lifesaving medical equipment

Borough news, health and social care, Parliamentary news

People in Oldham with urgent medical needs are being ignored after the rise in the energy cap has massively increased the cost of life saving energy equipment. After a resident contacted local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, worried about rising energy costs stopping them from running their BPAP machine which they have to use overnight, he contacted the Council to ask what support was available. There was no national support, and the Council was organising a working group to look at the problem. The working group had no timescale for reporting, and despite his requests for updates, nothing has happened in the two months since. Sam said: “I can’t understand why the response to this is a working group? Given that the cap on energy costs has been massively increased,…

23Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats back climate and biodiversity declaration

Borough news, environment

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat councillors have signed a declaration calling on the government to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss ahead of the COP 27 summit in November. Liberal Democrat Group Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “At this critical time for our planet, we have a government which is allowing harmful sewage dumping practices and reversing bans on pesticides that are proven to be harmful to local ecosystems. Liberal Democrats are sending a clear message on climate change and the risks of biodiversity loss.” The Zero Hour Declaration – signed by the Liberal Democrats – calls for: That all efforts are made to keep the global temperature increase to 1.5°C.That biodiversity loss is halted and on the path to recovery by 2030.That the Government delivers a more ambitious and integrated…

20Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham’s Child Sexual Exploitation report to be released Monday – reaction

Borough news, domestic abuse and violence, fairer council

Oldham Liberal Democrats have said that due care must be taken with responses to the independent inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Oldham, to be released on Monday, and it “must be viewed in the knowledge of the terrible and lasting impact CSE has had on the lives of many of this borough’s most vulnerable young people”. The report is being released with a background of serial failings of the senior management of Greater Manchester Police, including the botched introduction and inadequacies of the now-abandoned iOPS computer system, and the force being placed into special measures. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sam Al-Hamdani said: “People must know that Oldham Council, the police, and the services that they rely on have changed, and will continue to change, so that others will not have…