Sam Al-Hamdani – Page 17 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

22May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Dentist shortage “time bomb” revealed as one in eight nearing retirement

One in eight (13%) NHS dentists are approaching retirement, at a time when NHS dental appointments are scarceTop 10 worst areas for NHS dentist retirement timebomb includes rural areas cut off from health servicesLiberal Democrats have warned of a NHS dentist “retirement time bomb” facing local communities One in eight NHS dentists are approaching retirement, research by the House of Commons Library commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. The party warned the figures show the dentist shortage crisis could soon get worse, especially for rural communities. The data reveals that 3,416 dentists who carry out NHS work in England are over 55 years old and therefore close to retirement. This amounts to 14% of the 23,733 dentists carrying out NHS activity in 2020/21. The figures also show the number…

22May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government threatens to scrap levelling up plans days after they were announced

The government came under heavy criticism from councils and developers after it emerged that plans had been made to scrap their Levelling Up plans just days after the Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Howard Sykes MBE said, “The government have promised to deliver a levelling up agenda for years now and when we finally see a Bill being brought forward, they’ve left themselves a sneaky hidden option to drop it all together when things get tough. Clearly ‘Levelling Up’ is just a political slogan to this Conservative government and they want to make sure they can still use it at the next General Election. “The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill commits the government to ‘levelling up missions’ around the country. These missions – which…

20May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservative MPs vote against tax cut in “betrayal” of families

Parliamentary news

Conservative MPs have voted down a Lib Dem amendment today in Parliament calling for an emergency tax cut. The amendment to the Queen's Speech would have cut VAT to 17.5%, saving the average family £600 a year by cutting prices in the shops. Rishi Sunak is refusing to cut VAT, despite being forecast to cash in £39 billion in extra VAT receipts over the next four years due to soaring inflation. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “Cutting VAT would put money straight back into people’s pockets, and the Chancellor could do it at the stroke of a pen. “Rishi Sunak’s refusal to do so while cashing in billions in extra VAT receipts is a betrayal of pensioners and families feeling the pain of soaring prices. “People won’t forgive this…

20May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Met Partygate fines: Sue Gray report must be published without delay

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news the Met Police have concluded their partygate investigation with a total of 126 fines issued, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “This police investigation confirms Boris Johnson’s Downing Street was fined more times for breaking Covid laws than any other address in the country. It exposes a shocking level of criminality at the heart of Johnson’s Number 10. “It beggars belief that Conservative MPs are allowing our great country to be run by a prime minister who broke the law then repeatedly lied about it. “The full Sue Gray report should now be published without delay, and the parliamentary inquiry should be launched into Johnson’s lies. “The public made huge sacrifices while Boris Johnson partied, they deserve the full truth."

20May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems announce former Army Major as Tiverton and Honiton by-election candidate

Parliamentary news

Ed Davey declares by-election a two-horse race between "Boris Johnson’s Conservatives and hard-working Liberal Democrat local champion"Lib Dem candidate will campaign on the need to slash taxes, cut GP waiting times and secure a fairer deal for Devon farmers The Liberal Democrats have announced that Richard Foord will be their candidate for the upcoming Tiverton & Honiton by-election. Richard lives in Uffculme with his wife and family. He grew up in the West Country and served for ten years in the Army after Commissioning from Sandhurst, reaching the rank of Major and receiving three campaign medals for service in Iraq and the Balkans. Living locally, Richard is active across the community. He volunteers at two scout groups in the area and has raised thousands of pounds for charities, including running…

17May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Petrol profiteers: Haul bosses into Downing Street

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on Boris Johnson to haul petrol firm bosses into Downing Street, after research by the RAC found they have failed to pass on nearly half of the fuel duty cut to consumers. The Liberal Democrats are also calling for an emergency VAT cut that would save the average family £600 a year. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “This Conservative government is sitting on its hands and allowing petrol firms to rake in eye-watering profits at the expense of hard-pressed families. “This government’s failure to tackle soaring prices of petrol and diesel is hitting our rural communities hardest. They need help now, instead we have a government in chaos that is raising taxes again and again. “It’s high time Boris Johnson hauled petrol…

17May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservatives trashing Britain’s reputation as a development superpower

Parliamentary news

Responding to the release of the International Development Strategy, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “The Conservative Government is trying to run and hide from the devastating impact of their aid cuts. The callous decision to slash aid spending is so scarcely mentioned in the Strategy it’s like they’re pretending it doesn’t exist. “The Foreign Secretary won’t even appear before Parliament to announce this new Strategy - because she knows that she will face difficult questions on how this broken Conservative promise is harming the most vulnerable around the world.” “The Conservatives’ true strategy on international development is demonstrated by their actions, not their words. Development has been relegated from the Cabinet table, the aid budget has been slashed, and the UK’s proud reputation as a development…

17May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Wages down confirm we are facing “cost of living nightmare”

Parliamentary news

The latest ONS figures show regular pay fell by 1.2% in January to March 2022. Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "These figures confirm families are facing a cost of living nightmare, with wages failing to keep up with soaring energy bills and food prices. "It is the worst possible time to be raising taxes on struggling families, yet still the Chancellor is ploughing ahead. "Rishi Sunak has cashed in billions of pounds in extra VAT receipts this year as prices go through the roof. He needs to put some of this money back into people's pockets through an emergency tax cut, instead of cashing in on their misery. "Slashing VAT would cut prices, reduce inflation and boost spending, it should be a no brainer." The full ONS…

16May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Jeremy Hunt is too cowardly to say what everyone else in Britain is thinking

Parliamentary news

Responding to Jeremy Hunt refusing to answer if Boris Johnson is an honest man, Liberal Democrat Business spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: "Britain needs new leadership to get through this cost of living crisis yet all we have is unfair tax hikes and a Prime Minister who can't tell the truth. Jeremy Hunt is too cowardly to say what everyone else in Britain is thinking. Boris Johnson is a serial liar and not fit to govern this country. "It is time Jeremy Hunt carried out his patriotic duty and called time on Boris Johnson as Prime Minister." "As a Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt should know the sheer anger felt in former Conservative heartlands at this Government. From Chesham and Amersham to last week's local election results, it is clear the…

14May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

No housing for social rent built in Oldham for seven years

Borough news, housing and development

After Oldham Council has accepted that no houses have been built for social rent in the borough in the last seven years, Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing Sam Al-Hamdani called it ‘a betrayal of the needs of the poor, and the Government’s claims about levelling up’. He said: “When people talk about what is needed in Oldham, they want housing that people can afford. Unfortunately, the Government has hijacked the term ‘affordable housing’, which they have defined as anything that is rented or sold at 20% below the market rate for that area. “What most people actually want to see more of are the homes defined as for ‘social rent’, in Government language, which in Oldham would normally be at around 50% of the market rate, and which is retained…

Author: Sam Al-Hamdani