02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must move faster to improve NHS Test & Trace system

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the NHS Test and Trace system is still failing to find a quarter of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The latest NHS Test & Trace figures suggest the system is not improving at the rate that it needs to. "With lockdown restrictions due to be eased further from Saturday, a robust and effective system to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus to keep people safe is absolutely critical. "Ministers must move much faster to improve the Test & Trace system and local authorities must be at the heart of those efforts. This means providing real-time, postcode-level data now on positive tests so that local Directors of Public Health, who have the…
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02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government woefully underprepared to ensure every young person can return to school

Parliamentary news
Speaking following the statement on schools reopening, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Today's statement shows just how woefully underprepared the Government are to ensure every young person can return to school in September. “Despite the very real risk of further local outbreaks of Covid 19, the Education Secretary refused to give any commitment that children will get the equipment they need to learn from home. Without them, too many will have no chance of catching up on their education and will continue to fall behind. “Every day disadvantaged children go without the laptops they need is another day the digital divide gets worse. This is a complete dereliction of duty by the Education Secretary and he must take immediate steps to address it.”
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02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government making “dog’s dinner” of Brexit negotiations

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the UK Chief Negotiator David Frost has stated that "significant differences" remain as the latest restricted round of talks concludes a day early, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “Last month Boris Johnson asserted that he wanted a Brexit deal by the end of July. “But far from putting a tiger in the tank, David Frost appears to be making a dog’s dinner of the talks. “With the impact of coronavirus already weighing heavy on UK business and the economy, we cannot afford for the Government to continue posturing on Brexit. They must work to secure a deal so that the UK does not leave the transition period with a bad deal or - even worse - no deal at all. “Liberal…
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02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must stop overlooking green investment to create sustainable jobs

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that some 11,000 job losses have been announced in the past 48 hours, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented economic challenge.  “Behind these statistics, there are thousands of individuals and families facing real hardship, who will now be worried about putting food on the table and paying basic bills. “Given the scale of recent announcements of yet more job losses, Ministers need to move faster on their economic response and to look into special help for those sectors still being hit hard by COVID-19. “Ultimately the way out of this crisis is to create new, good quality jobs through a Green Recovery Plan that will tackle climate change while building back our economy. “The Government must stop overlooking…
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02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Guidance for schools raises more questions than they answer

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports the Government’s guidance for schools reopening will include an overhaul of the curriculum, impose strict behaviour regimes and include a continuation of remote learning, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “A raft of guidance is again released, but it is meaningless unless it is accompanied by robust scientific evidence to reassure the public that these plans won’t result in an increased risk of Covid-19 spreading.  “The practicality of the plans also raise concerns. Dropping entire subjects and a continuation of remote learning without much needed equipment is far from an indication that this Government is giving pupils the best start in life. “With the start and end of a school day moving to avoid rush hour, the Government will need to explain what working parents can…
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01Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must not abandon Hong Kong youth

Parliamentary news
Following Raab's statement that China has broken the Joint Declaration by imposing the new 'security law' on Hong Kong, and that the UK govt will now be offering a path to citizenship for BNO status holders, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and Chair of the APPG on Hong Kong Alistair Carmichael said: “It is right that the UK Government are taking swift action to help protect the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, but they must go further. "The UK made a promise to the people of Hong Kong. We must keep that promise. "Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to make sure no one in the region is left behind. The Government’s current proposal abandons many young Hong Kongers, some of whom have been at the fore…
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30Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Johnson’s speech offers no green recovery plan and no help for vulnerable people

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech Ed Davey, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats said: “Many people have been waiting to hear from the Prime Minister about how we deal with the challenges we face, but all we saw was a lot of Boris bluster. "The Prime Minister says he will “build build build” but all his government is building is a wrecking ball for our economy as he recklessly pursues Brexit at all costs.  “Johnson promised a green recovery from the pandemic, but as usual his promises are meaningless. We’re seeing yet more mass investment in road building rather than in new infrastructure for cycling, and the construction of new homes without also tackling our existing draughty houses. “Liberal Democrats will continue to hold this government to account, to campaign…
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29Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must stop spending money on measures that don’t prevent crime

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government’s statement on prisons today, including the announcement that four new prisons are to be built in the next six years, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “The answer to the prisons crisis is not more prisons. Instead of wasting even more money locking people up, mostly on short sentences that don’t work, the Government should spend it on the things that actually prevent crime. “It’s two years since the Government promised to set up five women’s community residential centres, but we still haven’t seen one. That should be the priority, not more prisons. “The Conservatives are continuing their failed approach: trying to seem tough on crime, without doing enough to actually prevent crime. There are already more people in prison in the UK than in…
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29Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must make mental health support available to health and care workers

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that Labour have announced a "Care for Carers" plan, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Over the past months the Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to ramp up mental health support for health and care staff. It is very welcome that Labour have today begun campaigning for Government to introduce crucial projects we have also called for, including 24 hour access to mental health support for health and care staff through a dedicated helpline. “It is so important that opposition parties work together to make sure the Conservatives do more to support our health and care workers during this crisis and beyond. The Government must now listen to the proposals from the Liberal Democrats and Labour, so that health and care workers can get…
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29Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

New Trade and Agriculture Commission must be a “watchdog with teeth” – Farron

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the Government will establish a new Trade and Agriculture Commission, Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson Tim Farron said: “On the face of it this is a very welcome concession from the Government and is thanks to the brilliant campaign run by the NFU that we’ve been proud to support. “However, the announcement contained no details about how this new commission will operate or how Parliament will be able to properly scrutinise any new trade deal and the effect it will have on our world-class food, animal welfare and environmental standards.  “This new body must be a watchdog with teeth that will prevent the Conservatives undermining British farmers, instead of a lapdog that provides cover for the Tories to sell us out in future trade deals.”
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