07Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: we need a devolution revolution to drive the green revolution

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has delivered a keynote speech to the Local Government Association outlining his plan for a devolution revolution to drive a green revolution. Ed Davey called for the government to make £45bn new funding available to local authorities over three years alongside a range of new powers so that local government can spearhead the green recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Even as coronavirus has caused unbearable heartbreak and hardship, it has been truly uplifting to see the great work councils right across the country are doing to support local people. “The sheer cost of failing to prepare for the predicted risk of the pandemic crisis should be a dramatic wake up call to prepare properly, now,…
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07Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government decision on arms sales to Saudi Arabia shows lack of humanity

Parliamentary news
Responding to a written statement from the Secretary of State for International Trade confirming that the UK will resume selling arms to Saudi Arabia, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “The situation in Yemen is horrific, with Saudi Arabia persistently violating human rights and the rule of law. Arms sales to the regime should be banned until further notice. "Last year the Conservative Government breached the Court of Appeal ruling on the licensing of arms for use in Yemen and now they are trying to make out as though Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses are a one off. "The Government need to gain some humanity on this - Saudi Arabia should have been ruled out as an arms trading partner long ago. If they are serious about defending…
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07Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Chancellor must act to help those excluded from Government support

Parliamentary news
After the initial meeting of the APPG for ExcludedUK today, Liberal Democrat MP and Chair of the APPG Jamie Stone has joined with the other co-chairs in calling on the Chancellor to help those who have so far been left out of the financial support measures introduced by the Government. The APPG has been set up with the help of ExcludedUK to represent the 3 million individuals who have not been entitled to the Government support in response to the coronavirus crisis. The first meeting this morning was the largest of any inaugural APPG meeting, seeing over 150 MPs join online. In a joint letter to the Chancellor ahead of his speech tomorrow, Jamie Stone and the co-chairs of the APPG (William Wragg MP, Tracy Brabin MP, Alison Thewliss MP,…
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07Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government green recovery plans do not match ambition of other countries

Parliamentary news
Responding to Chancellor Rishi Sunak's announcement of a package of measures worth £3bn, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Across our country millions face an unprecedented economic and health crisis. We need a radical new direction to meet this challenge. We need a massive green stimulus so we both provide jobs and tackle this crisis and the climate crisis.  “The Government’s spending on climate change simply does not match the scale of ambition necessary to reshape our economy, nor does it match the sums other countires have pledged. That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to do more and invest £150 billion over three years through a Green Recovery Plan.  "We must not forget this pandemic hasn't affected everyone equally. Amongst the worst hit are self employed workers, many of…
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05Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems secure cross-party support to protect migrant women in “historic” Domestic Abuse Bill

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have hailed as “historic” the Domestic Abuse Bill, which is due to be passed by the House of Commons today, while also securing cross-party support for amendments to protect migrant survivors of abuse. Christine Jardine, the party’s Home Affairs Spokesperson who sat on the Public Bill Committee last month, praised the cross-party pressure that has finally brought the legislation to this point and forced the Government to include children as victims in the new statutory definition of domestic abuse. Jardine also vowed to continue the Liberal Democrats’ efforts to improve the Bill further. The party has tabled two amendments to protect migrant women who experience domestic abuse: one to grant them leave to remain in the UK and the other to prevent their personal data being shared with…
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05Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillors call for Shaw and Crompton to support treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Louie Hamblett has put forward a motion in his capacity as the peace champion for Shaw and Crompton Parish Council in conjunction with The Oldham Pledge to Peace Forum, for the Parish council to declare its support for the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a historic international treaty which once ratified will result in the complete prohibition of developing, testing and using nuclear weapons. Councillor Hamblett said: “Only nine countries have nuclear weapons. Many countries could make nuclear weapons but have as of yet decided not to do so.” He continued, “As it is written in The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons booklet; ‘a hundred and ninety-one countries have joined the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which prohibits the acquisition of nuclear weapons. The United States,…
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05Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Health Secretary failing to create comprehensive and trace system

Parliamentary news
Responding to Matt Hancock's interview on The Andrew Marr Show, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The Health Secretary talks a lot about wanting to protect our NHS, but the best way to protect it is by actually creating a comprehensive Test and Trace system that allows local authorities to keep the virus under control. Ultimately if we want to avoid a second peak that will put untold pressure on our NHS and cost lives, we need a fully functioning Test and Trace system. “It is incredibly disappointing that Matt Hancock has failed to commit to properly recognising health and care workers who have made such great sacrifices through the Coronavirus. “As we celebrate the birthday of our NHS the Government must address the serious concerns about…
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03Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government’s claim of protective ring around care homes “completely bogus”

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest ONS figures showing almost 20,000 care home residents have died with coronavirus, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The devastating scale of the coronavirus crisis in our care homes is heartbreaking. It shows the Government's claim that they had a "protective ring" in place was completely bogus. "We must learn the lessons of this crisis in real time. Alongside adequate protective equipment, routine testing for residents and care workers could not be more important. The Government must ensure every care home has access to regular testing now and for as long as is required to stop more families losing loved ones. "The failure to protect those in care is yet more evidence of the pressing need for an independent inquiry into…
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03Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must publish scientific basis for air bridges

Parliamentary news
Responding to the publication of the list of countries for which quarantine will not apply for people arriving back in England, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The coronavirus crisis remains deeply worrying, particularly for the most vulnerable. While we all want to get back to normal life, we must ensure it is safe to do so. "Where quarantine is concerned, the Government have been all over the place. Clearly, that hasn't changed. People deserve better. To avoid yet further confusion, Ministers must publish the scientific basis for their decisions. “Underpinning everything the Government does must be the motivation to keep people safe. Ministers can only do that by delivering a comprehensive strategy to test, trace and isolate to prevent a new surge."
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03Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government shouldn’t need to mull on EU coronavirus vaccine scheme

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the UK Government is considering whether to participate in the EU coronavirus vaccine scheme, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “When it comes to saving lives, there should be no mulling to do. Joining the EU’s coronavirus vaccine scheme is not about the old arguments of Brexit. It is simply the right thing to do. “It is all very well Boris Johnson claiming he regrets the loss of life but if he then refuses to do something because of politics then his regret is worth nothing more than a bucket of cold sick.  "The Prime Minister must put ideology aside and commit to participating immediately."
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