13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Johnson must slash taxes now instead of making “empty promises”

Johnson must slash taxes now instead of making “empty promises”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have piled pressure on Boris Johnson to help families by bringing in an emergency tax cut now. Speaking on a campaign visit to Tiverton and Honiton today, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "Families are facing record fuel prices and soaring bills, but Boris Johnson is still insisting on hammering them with tax rises. This is a government in crisis, too divided and weak to offer the help people need to cope with the cost of living emergency. "Instead of making yet more empty promises about tax cuts in the future, Johnson should listen to Lib Dems calls for an emergency VAT cut now to put money back into people's pockets. Every day that Conservative ministers fail to act means more pain for families struggling…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
‘Keep Clean Air Zone free’ say Oldham Liberal Democrats

‘Keep Clean Air Zone free’ say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Borough news, environment
Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called for common sense as Andy Burnham’s war of words with the government over the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) continues. The Greater Manchester Mayor is locked in a bitter stalemate with Conservative ministers after he rejected Government proposals to limit the Clean Air Zone to Manchester City Centre only. Councillor Sykes said, “It’s about time we had some common sense instead of bickering between Mayor Burnham and the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats want to see people’s jobs and income protected at a time when many are struggling. Keeping CAZ free is the best way forward if we want to protect jobs during the cost-of-living crisis. “If the Conservative government force a charging zone on Greater Manchester then the area affected by…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Gove gives green light to gas drilling in Surrey area of natural beauty

Gove gives green light to gas drilling in Surrey area of natural beauty

Parliamentary news
In a decision published yesterday, the Conservative government announced it will grant planning permission to explore for gas in Dunsfold, by the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It comes despite concerns raised by the local community and environmental campaigners about the damage the drilling could do to the countryside and the UK’s climate ambitions. In a report by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove admits that “there are significant harms to the character and appearance of the landscape from the proposal,” and that it would “degrade the quality of the setting of the AONB.” However, he concludes this is outweighed by the benefits of gas exploration. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “It is shameful that the Conservatives have ignored the concerns of…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Vagrancy Act: Moran condemns ‘duplicitous’ proposal to bring back Act

Vagrancy Act: Moran condemns ‘duplicitous’ proposal to bring back Act

Parliamentary news
Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, has slammed the Government as ‘duplicitous’ for including a clause in the new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which would allow for the reintroduction of the recently repealed Vagrancy Act. The clause allows for the Secretary of State for DLUHC to re-criminalise rough sleeping, despite the House of Commons voting to repeal the Vagrancy Act earlier this year. The Government claims that this is ‘placeholder text’ which will be amended at the Committee Stage of the Bill, but has not given assurances that rough sleepers will be protected from the return of this legislation. The repeal of the Vagrancy Act was the culmination of a campaign which began in 2018 for Layla, after it was brought to her attention by…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conductors on trams needed tackle anti-social behaviour and restore user confidence

Conductors on trams needed tackle anti-social behaviour and restore user confidence

Borough news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat councillors have renewed their calls for Metrolink conductors/staff presence to be put in place on the Rochdale – Oldham line after it emerged that fear of anti-social behaviour preventing people using Metrolink, something the Liberal Democrats have said for several years now (2018). Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes said, “The Metrolink is a huge asset for our communities. The continuing failure of Metrolink and Oldham’s Council to tackle anti-social behaviour has led to residents telling us that they are afraid to use the tram.” Last month, a report from Onward UK gave a damning insight into the realities of travelling around Oldham by tram. One respondent to the Onward UK study confessed they felt as though “you take your life into…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
NI Protocol: Govt must come clean and publish full legal advice

NI Protocol: Govt must come clean and publish full legal advice

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Brandon Lewis' refusal to commit to publishing the government's full legal advice around its plans to overhaul the Northern Ireland protocol. It comes after Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael raised the issue in Parliament last week and demanded the government publish its legal advice in full. Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “The refusal to publish this legal advice looks like yet another attempt to cover up Boris Johnson’s repeated lies and law-breaking. The government must come clean and publish what legal advice was received and who from in full. “The public deserves full transparency over the legality of plans to rip up the Northern Ireland Protocol and risk a trade war with our closest neighbours. If Conservative ministers have nothing to…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call for fuel duty cut in rural areas

Lib Dems call for fuel duty cut in rural areas

Parliamentary news
Rural fuel duty relief scheme should be doubled to 10p a litre and expanded to cover more areasHouseholds in rural areas paying £2,000 a year more on transport costs than those in urban areas The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to cut fuel duty in rural areas to help families bearing the brunt of record petrol prices. It comes as analysis of official figures by the party reveals that households in rural areas pay £114 a week on transport costs, almost £40 more than those in urban areas. It means that rural households are shelling out almost £2,000 more a year on transport than those in urban areas. The Liberal Democrats are calling for an expansion of the rural fuel duty relief scheme, which is currently only offered…
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Food strategy: PM claims to be backing farmers are “empty words”

Food strategy: PM claims to be backing farmers are “empty words”

Parliamentary news
Responding to Boris Johnson's comments on the government's Food Strategy, Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: “Boris Johnson has slashed basic payments for farmers and undercut our world-leading animal welfare standards. His claims to be backing farmers are nothing more than empty words from a prime minister who has consistently broken his promises to rural communities. “If this Conservative government was serious about supporting British farming, they would scrap their short-sighted plans to cut basic payments to farmers by a fifth this year. “Voters in Tiverton and Honiton have a chance to speak for farming communities around the country and force Boris Johnson to act instead of taking them for granted.”
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13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
GDP fall: Barrage of tax hikes is leaving people to suffer

GDP fall: Barrage of tax hikes is leaving people to suffer

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS data revealing GDP fell by 0.3% in April, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “The Government’s barrage of tax hikes and lack of cost-of-living support are leaving people to suffer, and now that’s translating into worrying economic figures. “The UK has the best universities, the best services sector and the best workforce – yet this Government is in such disarray that we’re headed for the lowest growth in the G7. Their incompetence is nothing short of dangerous. “Instead of giving speeches full of empty promises, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak need to start listening to people and give them real help with the cost of living.”
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07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham falls behind as demand for electric vehicle charging points grows

Oldham falls behind as demand for electric vehicle charging points grows

Borough news, environment
Council plans to increase electric vehicle usage across Oldham Borough have been labelled as “ineffective and empty words” by Oldham’s Liberal Democrats after it emerged that Oldham has just 36 charging points and has missed key opportunities to expand its supply. Oldham Liberal Democrat councillors have previously raised concerns about the Labour controlled Council’s strategy for electric vehicles, pointing out existing plans would not be good enough if Oldham is to reach the key target of 3,000 charging points by 2025. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Labour have dragged their heels on this for too long now. We have Mayor Burnham rolling ahead with Clean Air Zone plans that will make electric vehicles ever more important, but lack of action from our Labour controlled council has…
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