30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Leaked letter shows thousands of care home residents being exposed to virus

Parliamentary news
Responding to a leaked letter from Care UK showing that they no longer have access to regular testing for staff and residents, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “If we needed any evidence that this Government is still throwing care homes to the wolves, then this is it. From the very beginning of the pandemic this Government failed to ensure care homes had access to adequate testing and PPE, whilst discharging patients with the virus into their homes. "This letter is damning. With a potential second peak on the horizon, the UK's largest provider of social care no longer having access to regular testing for staff and residents will leave thousands of our most vulnerable exposed to coronavirus. "The Prime Minister and his Government are not learning the lessons they need to if…
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Highest levels of excess deaths demands Government learns lessons

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS statistics that reveal England has had the highest excess mortality across Europe in the first half of 2020, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The unforgiving consequences of the pandemic have left too many families mourning loved ones. It didn't need to be like this.  "It is clear the Government has made mistakes. With a possible second wave occurring in countries across Europe at the moment, the Prime Minister must launch an independent inquiry immediately. "This is not a time for protecting political interests. This is a time to learn from mistakes and protect the country from more heartache."
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call for review into school exclusions

Parliamentary news
Responding to new figures for permanent and fixed-period school exclusions in England for 2018/19, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “These figures make appalling reading. Every year thousands of children - often the most vulnerable - are being written off by our education system. Children eligible for free school meals are more than four times as likely to be permanently excluded - that says it all. "This Government should be ashamed that they have presided over continually high rates of permanent exclusion. Cutbacks to school budgets undoubtedly play a part in this. So too does the culture which prizes exam results and league table rankings over care and support.  "We need see action to address the disproportionate number of exclusions among pupils on free school meals, as well as Black…
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Tories’ appeasement of anti-immigration lobby will cause chaos

Parliamentary news
Responding to a report from Migration Watch criticising the Government’s planned “points-based” immigration system, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “This shows how short-sighted it is for the Conservatives to focus all their attention on appeasing the anti-immigration lobby who will always want more. "Groups like Migration Watch are still not happy, even though the Government's new immigration system will be incredibly damaging to the NHS, social care and small businesses across the UK by excluding people with a valuable contribution to make. "Six months is nowhere near enough time for either employers or the Home Office to get ready for these new rules and all the red tape they will bring. Far from restoring public confidence in the immigration system, this will just cause chaos and confusion. “Liberal Democrats…
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29Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader welcomes summer offer from Company Shop

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council has given a warm welcome to a recent announcement from Company Shop that families in receipt of free school meal vouchers can receive a £15 weekly top-up voucher and also take advantage of the discount prices they offer over summer, but he advises they act quickly to get in before the deadline. Councillor Sykes said:  “Company Shop sells a wide range of surplus grocery and household products to its members at discounted prices.  It does this by working in collaboration with manufacturers and retailers from the industry.  This benefits members with stretched personal budgets to provide for their families and it ensures that perfectly good food and household items do not end…
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29Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government gaps in support for freelancers leaving employers to pick up the tab

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have today urged the Chancellor to step in and support freelancers excluded from existing government support schemes. This comes after the announcement that the BBC will offer financial support to around 600 freelancers who they regularly employ.    Liberal Demcorat MP and Chair of the Excluded UK APPG Jamie Stone demanded Rishi Sunak step in after the BBC confirmed it will pay average earnings for March, April and May capped at £2,500 to around 600 freelancers who have not been eligible for any of the UK Government’s support schemes. Liberal Democrat MP and Chair of the Excluded UK APPG, Jamie Stone commented: “This is a responsible and compassionate move by the BBC. Although it has come late on in the arc of lockdown, it is welcome nonetheless. Freelancers are of immeasurable valuable to our arts and…
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29Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must apply same human rights standards to US when it comes to exports

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the UK will continue to export tear gas and rubber bullets to the US despite continued use of force against protesters, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “From the use of gas and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters, to the arrest of over 70 journalists, it is clear that there are serious ongoing questions regarding the use of this equipment in the United States. "The UK must ensure that human rights are upheld and protected. Supplying tear gas to those who use it inappropriately is unacceptable. It's appalling that Boris Johnson's Government have given the green light to continued exports."The UK must apply the same standards to the US as we would expect from any other trading partner. The Government must make the review into these sales…
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29Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must do more to get young people into work

Parliamentary news
Responding to a Sutton Trust report finding that 61% of employers offering work experience placements have had to cancel and that 39% of graduate employers say they expect to hire fewer graduates or none in the next 12 months, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Young people are rightly worried about their job prospects in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis. Politicians and employers must do all they can to safeguard their future. “Despite recent announcements, Government seems unprepared for the scale of the challenge ahead. The Chancellor’s new traineeships plan seems a drop in the ocean, and schemes keeping businesses alive are due to end in just a few months, pulling the rug out from under employers.  “To protect the next generation we need far more decisive…
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29Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must act now on National Food Strategy recommendations

Parliamentary news
Responding to the National Food Strategy review suggesting that free school meals should be extended to every household receiving Universal Credit, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said:  “The Government must waste no time in acting on these recommendations. We know that giving school children a hot, healthy meal at lunchtime greatly improves their health, behaviour and results.  “The Liberal Democrats are proud to have introduced free school meals in government and have long been calling for them to be extended to more pupils. “We need to invest in giving every child the best start in life as we come out of this crisis."
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28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats baffled at Labour refusal to stop clothing waste and oppose modern slavery

Borough news
Liberal Democrat councillors Diane Williamson and Garth Harkness were left baffled when Labour councillors voted against their motion at the full meeting of Oldham Council on Wednesday 15th July 2020.  Councillor Harkness’s and Williamson’s motion asked Oldham Council to work with representatives from the clothing manufacturers and retailers; the trades unions in these sectors; and campaign groups to develop a strategy to end clothing waste, meet clothing need and tackle the exploitation of garment workers in this Borough. Councillor Williamson said:  “Across the country there are schemes where people donate clothing and the third sector and local authorities then direct people, who are in need, to these places so that they can get clothing for a special occasion, as well as job interviews.  People are given vouchers and some organisations put a…
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