07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
A glorious day for a glorious occasion in Shaw and Crompton

A glorious day for a glorious occasion in Shaw and Crompton

Borough news
In Shaw Memorial Gardens on Thursday evening the community of Shaw and Crompton came together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the lighting of the beacon. Councillor Diane Williamson, Liberal Democrat for Crompton said: “I was absolutely thrilled with the amount of people that came along to the event, to watch the performances from Crompton House School choir and band as well as the phenomenal Elizabeth Phillips – they were fantastic.” The event would not have happened without New Image, who provided lighting and music, Shaw & Crompton Town Crier, First Response, Liberty, Crompton House School, Elizabeth Phillips, the six Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors and the District Co-ordinator. "The weather held off so we could light the beacon at 9:45pm; the community was in fine voice…
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07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems table no confidence motion in “lying lawbreaker” Boris Johnson

Lib Dems table no confidence motion in “lying lawbreaker” Boris Johnson

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats will today table a Parliamentary no confidence motion in Boris Johnson after he narrowly avoided being removed from office by his own Conservative MPs. The party has called for Parliament and the people to have a say on Johnson’s position after he marginally won support from his own MPs, despite breaking the law and misleading Parliament following his involvement in a string of illegal parties held at Number Ten during lockdown. It comes after 148 Conservative MPs voted to say they have no confidence in Johnson to hold the office of Prime Minister and to be the leader of the Conservative Party. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The lying lawbreaker in Number Ten is clinging on by the skin of his teeth. Yesterday’s events have unleashed…
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07Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham recycling rates are the worst in Greater Manchester and 231st in the country

Oldham recycling rates are the worst in Greater Manchester and 231st in the country

Borough news, environment
Oldham Council has been slammed for its pitifully low recycling rates. Data from LetsRecycle.com shows that, in Oldham Borough, only 36.7% of household waste was sent for reuse, recycling or composting last year. Labour controlled Oldham council ranks 231st on the national recycling league tables and is tied with Manchester City Council as the worst local authority in Greater Manchester for recycling. The best local councils in the country are St. Albans, South Oxfordshire, Three Rivers District and Vale of White Horse District Council Councils. All four are run by the Liberal Democrats. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “These figures are a disgrace. Residents expect the council to be leading on recycling. People want to do their bit for the environment, but these figures show that…
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01Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham Council shamed by staff survey results

Oldham Council shamed by staff survey results

Borough news, fairer council
A survey into council staff satisfaction has exposed a culture of slipping standards at Oldham Civic Centre, with 50% of council workers saying they would not recommend Oldham Council as a place to work. Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Leader of the Opposition, councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “These results show that a long-term culture of falling standards is developing under Labour’s leadership of Oldham Borough Council. The Labour administration has failed to get the basics right under successive council leaders and we now have a mountain to climb to get our staff back on board.” Sykes’s comments come after 2021 staff survey data revealed that the council’s performance as an employer had dropped sharply across the board when compared with the last staff survey which was completed in 2016.…
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01Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Travel chaos: Send in the army to get Britain moving

Travel chaos: Send in the army to get Britain moving

Parliamentary news
Army logistic personnel should run travel command centre to keep airports, roads and ports movingMore flight cancellations on the way and motorways tipped for deadlock The Liberal Democrats have called for the army to be brought in to help solve unprecedented levels of travel disruption as queues at airports up and down the country reach critical mass going into the Platinum Jubilee weekend. With families facing their bank holiday getaway being cancelled or heavily delayed, the party has urged the Government to call on the Armed Forces “best and brightest” to run point on logistics. This would include the running of a command centre to sort out airports, keep roads moving and get ports unblocked. It comes after the party’s transport spokesperson called for an emergency COBRA meeting to be…
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01Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey’s Platinum Jubilee message

Ed Davey’s Platinum Jubilee message

Parliamentary news
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has joined tributes paid to the Queen on the Platinum Jubilee. Ed Davey said: “I would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty's remarkable reign which has been the bedrock of our country for the past 70 years. The Queen has led our country through both good and challenging times, and for that we owe Her Majesty a great gratitude. “One of the particular joys of any royal Jubilee is seeing how it brings people together. In every corner of our country from Caithness to Cornwall, communities will be coming together this weekend - which will be extra special, given how we weren’t able to gather during the pandemic. “So whether for a concert, street party or parade, I hope we can all…
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31May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Travel chaos: “Missing in action” Shapps must hold daily press conference

Travel chaos: “Missing in action” Shapps must hold daily press conference

Parliamentary news
Grant Shapps has been blasted for going “missing in action” as Britain’s airports grind to a halt, with the Liberal Democrats calling for the Transport Secretary to hold a daily press conference to update the public on travel chaos. The party has called for Shapps to hold a daily briefing which would update on the latest situation at terminals up and down the country. He would be expected to outline steps that the Government is taking to work towards a resolution, as well as giving advice to travellers. The Lib Dems are demanding that Shapps apologises to the public for failing to resolve the situation sooner with thousands of families already caught up in chaotic scenes at airports. Yesterday, the party’s transport spokesperson called for the Government to convene a…
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30May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shaw and Crompton Jubilee Celebrations

Borough news
Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillors are delighted to announce that they will be hosting an event in the Memorial Gardens, on Thursday 2 June for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (see below). Cllr Diane Williamson said: “There have been a number of complications, but we can finally announce what will be happened on the start of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.” 2pm in the Memorial Gardens – the Town Crier will read the proclamation. Evening Running order:8:30pm - Performances Choir / Band / Soprano9:00pm - Performances Choir / Band / Soprano9:35pm – Flute player – Dui Regnard (Flute player from Crompton House School)9:40pm – Cornet Players – ‘Majesty’9:45pm – Lighting of the beacon in conjunction with the Choir and Soprano singing ‘A Life Lived With Grace'9:50pm - Event ends “We…
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30May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Hospital trusts accountability must return

Borough news, health and social care
Oldham’s patients will be left unrepresented and uncared for if Oldham Council persists with no scrutiny of the new Northern Care Alliance, says Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Louie Hamblett, with the Council having not replaced the board which previously oversaw the activities of the now dissolved Pennine Care. With current IT failures causing huge problems across the Alliance, the importance of being able to scrutinise the trust has been placed firmly in the spotlight. The Shadow Cabinet Member for Health said: “No-one will be speaking up for patients in the new system, and there is already confusion over services being provided in different hospitals. “Currently there are patients who are getting services in hospitals which are not covered by the Northern Care Alliance – they are contracting in services in…
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30May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
British drivers paying more taxes on petrol even after fuel duty cut

British drivers paying more taxes on petrol even after fuel duty cut

Parliamentary news
Drivers shelling out £44 per tank on taxes as petrol prices soarBrits paying more in taxes per tank than most European countriesNew poll finds one in two blame government for petrol price rises British drivers are paying £44 in taxes on petrol when filling up their car, new figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed. The figures also show that motorists in the UK are forking out more in taxes per tank for petrol than most other European countries, including Ireland, Italy and Spain. Meanwhile diesel drivers are paying over £45 a taxes per tank, more than anywhere else in Europe. Brits paid 80p a litre in taxes on unleaded petrol in April 2022 as prices continue to soar, the analysis shows. It means for a typical car with…
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