03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Johnson and Cummings acting like despots with plans to restrict judicial review

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government’s announcement of an Independent Review of Administrative Law to consider restrictions to judicial review powers, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “From failings in universal credit, disability rights and safeguarding, British citizens have used judicial review as a powerful tool to take the Government to court over its failings. "Threatening to weaken people’s ability to challenge the Government because the courts sometimes rule against you is the act of dictators and despots, not democrats. "With these plans, Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings are trying to enable the Government to ride roughshod over people’s rights and allow Ministers to break the law with impunity. "Liberal Democrats will always defend individuals’ abilities to challenge the Government and uphold their rights. We will not stand by and allow…
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03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM’s decision to give his cronies peerages further bloats House of Lords

Parliamentary news
Responding to the announcement of the new peerages appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords Dick Newby said: “Theresa May agreed to limit the number of new Conservative Peers she appointed, but Boris Johnson has ripped up this policy. By giving a large number of his cronies peerages, he has shown that the Tories have abandoned any pretence of reducing the size of the bloated House of Lords. "The Liberal Democrats have long fought to try and get an accountable House of Lords - we must have a properly elected second chamber where individuals are paid a salary, removing any need for outside work to supplement their income. "Even without such fundamental reform, we could reduce the House to a sensible…
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03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Greater Manchester Liberal Democrats call foul on the Government’s snap Covid-19 announcements

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leaders from across Greater Manchester have heavily criticised last night's shambolic announcement to impose social restrictions across the 10 Boroughs in the region in response to a rise in Covid-19 cases. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, said: "It would appear that the Johnson administration with its focus on the South-East doesn't have a handle on what's going on in the North.” “As well as sending mixed messages encouraging people to use restaurants and pubs by offering them discounted meals next week, people are feeling scared by confusing messaging about not being able to meet in their own gardens, but a pub beer garden is ok." Councillor Sykes also has real concerns about the timing of…
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03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Government have deserted care homes entirely

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that the Government has abandoned their pledge to test all care home residents regularly throughout the summer, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The decision to drop the pledge to test all care home residents regularly would be a decision to desert care home residents entirely. The reports today, if true, are sadly just another example of a Government that is either woefully incompetent or one that simply doesn’t care. "The Government has made clear right throughout the coronavirus crisis that protecting those in our care homes is not a priority for them - from the beginning of the crisis, Ministers failed to equip care homes with sufficient testing and PPE, whilst discharging patients with the virus into their homes. "The…
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03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt’s planning reform shows they’re not serious about tackling housing crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's announcement of planning reform in England which will allow new homes and hospitals to be granted automatic permission to be built, Liberal Democrat MHCLG Spokesperson Tim Farron said: “The announcement to reform England’s planning laws today reveals that once again Ministers are not serious about solving the housing crisis. It is not the lack of planning permission that prevents new, genuinely affordable, homes being built, but this Government’s refusal to properly invest in social housing. "Across the country thousands are on housing waiting lists – but with councils approving nine out of ten planning applications, it is clear that these changes announced today will not help those on waiting lists or those saving to buy a home. "Rather than tinkering with planning laws, what Robert Jenrick…
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03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

BBC licence fee should be set by independent body, Lib Dems plan

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are to debate plans at their Autumn conference to ensure the BBC licence fee level is set independently next year after government cuts forced the BBC to end free TV licences for most over-75s. Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Daisy Cooper, who will move the motion at the Party's first digital conference, warned the Government must never again be allowed to "force the BBC into a corner where it has to choose between cuts to programming or raising these fees on the most vulnerable." The Party, which led a cross party group of 106 parliamentarians calling for a review of the decision to cut hundreds of BBC staff working across regional programmes, will put forward plans to protect the long–term future of the BBC.   They will call…
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31Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lockdown announcement shows Government still doesn’t have a grip on virus crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's change in guidance stating that separate households will not be able to meet indoors from today in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “Throughout this crisis, the Government’s communications have been an utter disaster. To announce a regional lockdown of millions of people not only just hours before it’s enforced, but with no clarity on the new rules coming into place, is beyond comprehension. "Considering their ability to tackle this pandemic relies on the clarity of messaging coming from the Government, it is unsurprising that just yesterday it was announced that England has had the highest excess mortality across Europe. If the Government want the British public to follow the rules they are announcing, then they…
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government are failing survivors of sexual violence

Parliamentary news
The Crown Prosecution Service has announced a new strategy to tackle the drop in charging and prosecutions for rape, as it was also reported that the number of rape convictions in England and Wales had fallen to a record low. Responding, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “Survivors deserve justice. They must be properly supported to come forward, and be listened to when they do. However, Government inaction is failing survivors of sexual violence and allowing too many criminals to walk free. "Although the CPS' new strategy is clearly badly needed, this move alone will not overturn the dramatic drop in convictions. "The Government announced a review to identify why convictions have fallen more than a year ago, but the group conducting it has only met four times and we still haven’t seen…
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must step in with green incentives to save the car industry

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the UK car industry is likely to have its worst year since 1954, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “This pandemic has left the car industry on its knees. The Government must step in to stem the tide of job losses. But the recovery must also be an opportunity: the car industry must change to produce low emission, green vehicles. "The Tories have slashed support for electric vehicles and have failed to invest properly in new infrastructure such as charging points, promising only a green number plate as consolation. Unsurprisingly, sales for electric vehicles remain low. "Liberal Democrats are calling for a green recovery for the car industry. The government should ensure that 100% of all new cars sales are electric by 2030 and they should consider slashing…
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Record high of self harm in prisons shows extent of crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to the statistics released today showing that self-harm incidents in custody have risen again, reaching a record high, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “Our prisons are in crisis. The number of self-harm incidents, especially in women’s prisons, is shockingly high and rising. "Because of overcrowding and under-staffing, prisoners spend far too much time locked in their cells, with a lack of support or purposeful activity. To make matters worse, the Conservative Government has introduced new laws that its own assessment says could well lead to more violence and self-harm in prisons. "Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to end overcrowding, including by scrapping pointless short sentences that cause overcrowding and actually increase re-offending. "Women should only be sent to prison where absolutely necessary: for the most…
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