28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Planning rule changes mean more substandard housing

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Changes to permitted development announced by the Government mean that far more substandard houses are likely to be built in the UK over the next few years. Sam Al-Hamdani, the shadow cabinet member for Housing and Homelessness on Oldham Council said: “We cannot abandon housing standards for the sake of getting these extra houses. The Conservative Government is rushing through rules that are going to create a new generation of slums. And the places that are most going to be affected are the places which are already struggling to get new housing – such as Oldham.  On the same day that the changes were rushed through, a damning report investigating the results of the previous changes to permitted development showed that only 21% of houses created using permitted development would meet…
Read More
28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham has backlog of 120 requests disabled parking spaces – and enough money for five this year

Borough news
Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Mark Kenyon has discovered that Oldham Council’s budget for disabled parking spaces is only enough to provide five this year, even though the Council now has a backlog of 122 residents waiting, after none were provided last year. He said: “Residents should be told what is going on when they are applying. At this rate, it would be over 20 years before the people currently on the list would get a parking space. “The cost of getting a space put in is £3,000 per space. If it costs this much, a budget of £15,000 for the year really is a drop in the ocean. We either need to get them done for less, or get realistic about how much we would actually need to spend.” The…
Read More
28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey calls for PM to put Martin Forde QC in charge of a coronavirus Inquiry

Parliamentary news
Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has written to the Prime Minister with a plan for an immediate inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.  Ed has called on the Prime Minister to appoint Martin Forde QC as the chair of an independent coronavirus inquiry and to start work immediately. Martin Forde was the independent adviser on the design of the Government’s Windrush Compensation Scheme and is chair of the independent inquiry into Labour’s report on the party’s handling of antisemitism complaints.  Ed also released proposed Terms of Reference for the independent inquiry agreed to by the Covid19 Bereaved Families for Justice. A spokesperson for the Covid19 Bereaved Families for Justice said: “Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice are relieved that Ed Davey has seen the urgent need for a rapid inquiry. “The Government’s own ‘Preparing for a challenging winter 20/21’ report (The Academy of Medical Sciences) predicts over 119,000 excess…
Read More
28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PAC report on social care demands lessons are learned

Parliamentary news
Commenting on a Public Accounts Committee report which condemns the “slow, inconsistent and at times negligent approach” to the social care sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, Liberal Democrat MP and member of the committee Sarah Olney said: “The coronavirus has left people worried about their future and mourning loved ones. While we have relied on frontline staff to protect us, the Government's PPE shortages seriously let NHS and care workers down.  "People deserve better. Ministers must read and act on this report before it is too late to prepare for a second wave. That means rapidly upscaling the strategy to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus to keep people safe and prevent new surges. "To improve public confidence, the Prime Minister must set out a timetable for the independent inquiry into the Government’s actions. With…
Read More
28Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: PM must take second wave risk seriously

Parliamentary news
Responding to comments from the Prime Minister that several countries in Europe are facing a second wave of coronavirus, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Prime Minister is right that to warn that some countries face the possibility of a second wave of Coronavirus. However it is extremely worrying that he has not acknowledged or acted upon the risk of a second wave here in the UK. “Yesterday I met with families who had lost loved ones due to COVID-19. Many just want the Prime Minister to start an independent Inquiry immediately, so that the Government does not make the same mistakes that cost so many lives earlier this year. “Back in March, as the coronavirus wreaked havoc across Spain and Italy, Boris Johnson acted too slowly. The UK was not immune and…
Read More
27Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Third time lucky: Liberal Democrat Leader calls again for special Council meeting to discuss Labour’s green belt homes plan

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Leader of Oldham Council to ask once more for a special meeting of the full Council to be convened to consider a one-item agenda – the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and its impact on the Oldham Borough. Councillor Sykes first asked the Leader for such a meeting in the Full Council meeting in September 2018, and again in December of that year.  Council minutes have since recorded that the matter is ‘in progress’.  After almost two years of waiting for a meeting, Councillor Sykes’ patience has worn thin and he is concerned that time for further meaningful debate on the issue is fast running out. Commenting Councillor…
Read More
25Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems attempt to block renter evictions

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords have tabled a motion in an attempt to block new Government orders which will allow evictions of private renters in England to resume from 23rd August. Liberal Demcorat Housing Spokesperson in the Lords Olly Grender has tabled a 'pray to annul' motion to the Government's statutory instrument which was laid before Parliament last Friday (17th July 2020). The Statutory Instrument requires landlords who are seeking possession of their property to submit a ‘reactivation notice’, but concerns were raised when it became clear that judges will have no legal means to prevent a ‘no-fault’ eviction, even when faced with evidence that the tenant has been impacted by the pandemic. The motion put forward by Baroness Grender is the strongest form of objection a motion in the House…
Read More
25Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Any review of our democracy must be truly independent, Lib Dems warn

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Government have dropped plans for a Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Political Reform, Wendy Chamberlain, said: “Given the widespread fears that this Commission was going to be used as a vehicle for Boris Johnson to attack the judiciary and slash checks and balances on his own powers, the fact it has been dropped is extremely welcome.  "If this Government is serious about reviewing the workings of our democracy, then they should be committing to a fully transparent and independent process. "Ministers must be prepared to put the real issues on the table. Issues like whether the First Past the Post voting system is fit for purpose, and why we continue to unfairly disenfranchise 1.5million 16 and 17 year olds".
Read More
25Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader seeks Covid-19 safety guarantees amidst a No-Deal exit from the European Union

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council has written to the local MP over his concerns over the likely impact of a No-Deal Brexit, when combined with the Covid pandemic, on public safety.  On Friday 12th June, the UK government decided not to seek an extension of the existing transition period before exiting the European Union.  The UK will leave the European Union entirely on 31 December 2020. Councillor Sykes worries for the most vulnerable in society if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal whilst still reeling from the impact of Covid-19.  Commenting he said:  “A No-Deal Brexit combined with Covid would represent a double whammy.  Progress made so far on securing a future trade deal between the UK…
Read More
25Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Drop in overseas visitors points to support need for tourism

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has called for more support to help the tourism sector as ONS statistics published today revealing there were 1.4 million visits to the UK by overseas visitors in March 2020, 54% fewer than in March 2019. The Party has previously pushed for a review into the impact of coronavirus on the sector, to take into account options such as an extension of the furlough, grants and loans schemes until 2021. Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: “Countless businesses are facing serious financial hardship and many more are worried about job losses, particularly across the tourism sector. “With half the usual footfall from flights in March, which we know has been worse since, Ministers must see this as a reminder that the tourism industry must be…
Read More