18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems use Urgent Question to challenge Govt on DFID merger

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat International Development spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain has today challenged the Foreign Secretary on the “wrongheaded” decision to merge the Department of International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In an Urgent Question in the House of Commons, Wendy Chamberlain blasted the Prime Minister’s description of DFID as a “cashpoint in the sky”. She also raised mounting concerns about future funding for DFID projects and the risk of job cuts for current DFID staff in the midst of a public health emergency and economic crisis. Following the Urgent Question Wendy Chamberlain said: “This merger has already been condemned by NGOs and no less than three former Prime Ministers. The Foreign Secretary's desperate scramble to mention just one NGO that supports the move demonstrates how unpopular it is. “The fact…
Read More
18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems support amendments to put humanity at heart of Domestic Abuse Bill

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has today spoken in favour of amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill to put “humanity at the heart” of the Bill. If passed, the amendments would ensure an abuse survivor’s immigration status does not affect the support they receive. The Bill currently fails to make provisions to support “one of the most vulnerable groups” affected by domestic abuse: migrant women. This is a direct result of the Conservative Government’s Hostile Environment policies, which prevent immigrants accessing public funds and key support services. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Christine Jardine, who is on the Bill Committee, spoke in favour of amendments to: Change the rules to grant indefinite leave to remain to migrant survivors of domestic abuse.Allow migrants who are survivors of domestic abuse to access…
Read More
18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems slam Government’s £900k makeover of RAF Voyager as “absurd waste”

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Government is set to spend £900k to repaint RAF Voyager in the colours of the Union Jack flag, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, Jamie Stone MP said:  “This absurd waste of nearly £1 million at a time when so many families are struggling to put food on the table and so many are worried about their job security is insulting. “The country is facing the biggest crisis in generations but Boris Johnson is concerned with the colours of his plane. “This government continue to astound with their posturing. It is disgraceful. They should halt these plans and use the money to help those who need it most right now instead.”
Read More
18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats vow to protect green, open spaces

Borough news, Campaigns
Saddleworth Liberal Democrats are campaigning for local footpaths and green spaces to be kept open and accessible to all.  The recent lockdown measures have again shown how vital it is for everyone to have local green spaces, and the benefits these places have on mental and physical health.  Whether a local park, playing field, the open countryside, or just a little corner of greenery, access and enjoyment is important to all, especially those in poorer households and areas, who usually have less green space nearby – some of the people we must protect the most. Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness said: “I am very pleased that my campaigning with local people to restore the bridges around Diggle, Dobcross and Uppermill has worked, and we will soon be able to return to…
Read More
17Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must think again on DFID in face of COVID-19 global health emergency

Parliamentary news
Responding to the COVID-19 update from the Prime Minister, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “News that a drug has been identified that can help treat COVID-19 will be welcomed by all. But - to get a grip on this global pandemic - finding a vaccine remains vital. “Given the ongoing public health emergency, the Prime Minister must show global leadership, not least by working with our international partners to develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, he has chosen to set out plans to abolish the Department of International Development, which for years has funded vital work in public health, including the work of GAVI - the global Vaccine Alliance. “It was the Liberal Democrats who enshrined the 0.7% aid commitment into UK law. This is…
Read More
16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Wrongheaded to reject spare spaces for schools, Lib Dems warn

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's new guidance for schools, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The real test of this guidance is whether it will build the confidence needed for parents, teachers and pupils to go back to school without fear of putting their health at risk. “For schools that don’t have the capacity to have more pupils return within existing guidelines, the Government must do more. That includes providing laptops and internet access to all disadvantaged children in need. “It is also wrongheaded to reject Liberal Democrat proposals to use suitable empty buildings in the community as learning spaces. Ministers should think again.”
Read More
16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call on PM “not to turn your back” on child refugees

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to commit to resettling 10,000 unaccompanied refugee children from elsewhere in Europe over the next ten years, following the closure of the Dubs scheme last month. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine warned child refugees who have been “forced to flee their homes and separated from their families” and is urging the Government to “do all we can to protect them.” In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, over 40 Liberal Democrat parliamentarians call on the Government to reverse its position in the Brexit negotiations not to seek to maintain the current arrangements to reunite unaccompanied asylum-seeking children with their family members. The Dubs scheme, closed by the Government last month, resettled 480 unaccompanied refugee children despite…
Read More
16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must act to address disproportionate impact of pandemic on BAME communities

Parliamentary news
Responding to Public Health England’s report on the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups, which highlighted the adverse effects of the Government’s Hostile Environment policy and ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ rule, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented threat, leaving the most vulnerable in society at risk. We must ensure that BAME communities are not left behind by the Government’s response to this crisis. “The Government must act urgently to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on BAME communities, and to solve the deep-seated inequalities and injustices they face. “It is appalling that the Conservatives’ discriminatory Hostile Environment policies and their refusal to suspend the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ rule are preventing migrants and other BAME people from accessing the…
Read More
16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Governmentt must go beyond u-turn on free school meals to give every child best start

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister’s u-turn on free school meals, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Too many vulnerable children face falling through the cracks. I am grateful to Marcus Rashford and all those campaigners who have helped force the Prime Minister to rediscover his conscience, but it should never have been needed. "The Government must now work cross-party and with parents, teachers and local governments to do more. We must ensure no child is left behind. "That starts with Liberal Democrat proposals to combine the free school meals voucher scheme with an emergency uplift in child benefit and a ‘catch-up premium’ to ensure every child has the best start in life.”
Read More
16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

From rail to refuge, let’s keep victims safe!

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, is trying to rally Greater Manchester bosses around a new way to help victims of domestic abuse.  The ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme, is an essential but little-known lifeline.  It provides a lifeline to those fleeing domestic violence.  Rail to Refuge supports victims of domestic abuse by advising them to seek safety in a refuge well away from their abuser.  There have been worries that the scheme is not well publicised and that this is a temporary fix. Rail to Refuge helps by purchasing a rail ticket for the victim to flee a situation of abuse.  Unfortunately, the Scheme has been time limited to the Covid-19 lockdown period.  Councillor Sykes is calling for…
Read More