13May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Windfall tax “flip flopping” sign of a government in chaos

Windfall tax “flip flopping” sign of a government in chaos

Parliamentary news
Responding to Boris Johnson's latest comments on introducing a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "The mixed signals from Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak over a windfall tax are a sign of a government in chaos that is failing to act on the cost of living emergency. "People want to see decisive action now to help them with soaring energy bills. Instead we have day after day of contradictory statements, while energy companies rake in record profits and families can't afford to put food on the table. "It is a clear sign that Boris Johnson is simply not fit to lead us through this time of national crisis. We need strong leadership, not endless flip flopping."
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13May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Protections for cash machines announced in Queen’s Speech

Protections for cash machines announced in Queen’s Speech

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Shaw councillor, Howard Sykes MBE has been campaigning against cash machine closures in recent years and has welcomed the recent Queen’s Speech announcement about cash machines (ATMs). According to analysis from consumer researchers at ‘Which?’, since 2015, almost half of the UK’s bank branch network has closed. In addition, a further 12,178 free-to-use cash machines have vanished since 2018. During yesterday’s Queen’s Speech, the government pledged to introduce a Financial Services and Markets Bill, which will contain measures to protect cash machines and keep them readily available to businesses and members of the public. “Access to cash is vital for businesses and individuals, even in today’s environment where so many transactions are cashless. We have already lost several cash machines in Shaw and Crompton.…
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13May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
NHS backlog: Health services ran into the ground by the Conservatives

NHS backlog: Health services ran into the ground by the Conservatives

Parliamentary news
Responding to new statistics that show the number of people in England waiting to start routine NHS hospital treatment has grown to a record high of 6.4 million and that A&E waiting times are the worst on record, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: "Blaming this backlog solely on the pandemic is an excuse that just won't wash. The Conservatives' have been running health services into the ground for years. "After years of neglect, health services have been plunged into crisis, with cancer patients waiting months for treatment and families facing deadly delays for an ambulance in an emergency. “Years of driving the NHS into the ground and taking it for granted is putting patients lives at risk. It's high time the Government hatch a serious plan to…
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12May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
GDP figures: Cut VAT to boost businesses

GDP figures: Cut VAT to boost businesses

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest GDP figures, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "These are serious economic times which require serious leadership. Families and pensioners on the brink will never forgive this Conservative Government if they fail to act before it's too late. "The warning lights are flashing red for our economy but the Chancellor is nowhere to be found. If forecasts are correct then Britain is heading for a winter of discontent. "Now is the time to slash VAT to give families and businesses a lifeline. Instead we have a Government piling tax hikes and red tape on businesses which have barely survived the pandemic."
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12May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ambulance Crisis: Ignored for far too long

Ambulance Crisis: Ignored for far too long

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest news on ambulance waiting times reported by the BBC, showing a 77% rise in serious incidents reported by paramedics, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “This Conservative government has ignored this crisis for far too long. Patients are being put in danger and ambulance staff are on the brink. “If the Government doesn't act now there will be more and more distressing stories of patients being left waiting for an ambulance so long that in some cases it will just be too late. “Liberal Democrats have been sounding the alarm for months, calling for an urgent investigation into England’s ambulance services and a review of ambulance station closures - but the Tory government keeps turning a blind eye." The BBC article stated that: "Doctors…
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12May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Making democracy more accessible

Making democracy more accessible

Borough news, fairer council
Oldham Council chief executive Harry Catherall has agreed to a review of the arrangements for the counting of the election vote next year to ensure that all is being done to ensure it is accessible for people with varying disabilities. After local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani wrote to him following this year’s count, highlighting some of the positive aspects, but also some of the weaknesses, he agreed to discuss what could be done next year to make it better. Sam said: “We want as many people as possible to be involved in politics, whether that is increasing the numbers of people voting, or making it easier for people to stand to be elected. “Making the process more accessible is just one of those steps.” Unlike many other counts, results…
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11May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Heart attack patients facing hour wait in ambulance wait times crisis

Heart attack patients facing hour wait in ambulance wait times crisis

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have blasted the Conservative Government for presiding over an ambulance waiting time crisis “spiralling out of control”, as shocking new figures show that people across the country are facing increasingly dangerous delays for medical help. A Parliamentary Question tabled by the party’s health spokesperson Daisy Cooper has uncovered the shocking news that people up and down the country, in need of emergency medical attention, are waiting almost twenty minutes longer on average than they would have two years ago. The Liberal Democrats are calling for emergency action to be taken in the upcoming Queen’s Speech to address the crisis and give paramedics and handlers the support they need. This includes urgent investment in A&E departments and a new Community Ambulance Fund, as well as a review of…
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11May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrat leadership team pledged to be Real Opposition to Labour on Oldham Council

Liberal Democrat leadership team pledged to be Real Opposition to Labour on Oldham Council

Borough news, environment, fairer council, road safety
At a Group meeting held on 7 May, the Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Group elected councillor Howard Sykes MBE as their Leader and councillor Chris Gloster as their Deputy Leader. Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I am grateful once more to my colleagues for their support for my work as Group Leader and delighted that Chris will continue to serve as my Deputy. It was great to welcome newly elected councillor Alicia Marland from Saddleworth West and Lees to the team, and to welcome Dave Murphy and Hazel Gloster back for Crompton and Shaw Wards. After Friday’s results, the Liberal Democrats are up one to nine councillors and I know that all of us will continue to make a difference.” “Liberal Democrats will be the only real opposition party holding Labour…
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11May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ed Davey: Queen’s Speech shows Conservatives are neglecting rural communities

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Queen’s Speech, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “This Queen’s Speech does nothing to help the millions of families and pensioners facing soaring bills and eye watering inflation. The Conservatives have failed to deliver a cut to VAT that would have saved families an average of £600, failed to help pensioners and failed to help the most vulnerable in our society. “The Conservatives are continuing to neglect rural communities. There was nothing in these plans to support farmers on the brink, to tackle soaring ambulance waiting times and GP shortages, or to stop the dumping of filthy sewage into our river and seas. “It shows a Prime Minister refusing to listen to the clear message sent by voters at last week’s local elections who are fed up…
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11May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Emergency budget: £38m tax bill for every day of inaction

Emergency budget: £38m tax bill for every day of inaction

Parliamentary news
Every day without an emergency budget costs the squeezed-middle £38 million extra in taxesHouseholds pay extra £1.6 million in tax for every hour Parliament debates Queen’s SpeechLib Dem MP calls the debate “the most expensive waste of time by Parliament I have ever known” Analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found the additional tax hikes introduced by this Conservative Government is costing households £38 million a day. The figures come as Michael Gove denied the Government would be introducing an Emergency Budget this week despite hints from the Prime Minister in Parliament yesterday. Today, Parliament will be debating the Queen’s Speech, yet hard-pressed families will be forking out an extra £1.6 million per hour in tax hikes. These tax increases include the hit from National Insurance Contributions increasing and the…
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