20Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Pay carers who accompany claimants to medicals, say Liberal Democrats

Borough news, Campaigns, Saddleworth News
PLiberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Amber Rudd MP, asking for carers or companions who accompany claimants with disabilities to medicals to be reimbursed their travel expenses and for travel expenses to be reimbursed in cash on the day. Councillor Harkness said: “The Department of Work and Pensions encourages claimants who apply for Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payments to take along with them a carer or companion if they need assistance or support to attend their medical assessments.” “Most assessments are carried out at Albert Bridge House in central Manchester requiring travel for most claimants by public transport, yet only the claimant is currently entitled to the reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses. This seems manifestly unfair; it disadvantages…
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20Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Liberal Democrats propose action on dog fouling and microchipping

Borough news, Campaigns
The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council has proposed a motion to the Council (Wednesday 20 March) calling for more action on dog fouling and microchipping by adopting good practice from other local authorities, by making use of new technologies, and by working with the Dogs Trust charity. The motion is being proposed by Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Gloster, who recently showed his support for the Dogs Trust campaign ‘A Tail of True Love’ which calls on all dog owners to take responsibility and show ‘true love’ to their pets by cleaning up after them. Councillor Gloster said: “Dog fouling remains one of my constituents’ biggest bugbears. As a ward councillor, I receive many complaints as do my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Shaw and Crompton. Not only is dog…
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20Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Liberal Democrats suggest new measures to tackle speeding

Borough news, Campaigns, Saddleworth News
Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness has proposed a motion to Oldham Council (Wednesday 20 March) asking for further measures to be adopted to tackle speeding across the borough, including in his own ward. Councillor Harkness first asked for action in a letter sent last September to the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Arooj Shah. Unfortunately six months on, nothing seems to have changed. Councillor Harkness said: “Speeding is one of those issues that every ward councillor receives complaints about on a regular basis, yet action on this issue by this Labour Administration seems so slow. In contrast, the Liberal Democrats seek action on road safety issues.” “We have previously proposed 30mph zones on residential streets but, after a long look by the Overview and Scrutiny Board, nothing…
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20Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Greater Manchester pension investments in fracking ‘a dilemma’

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Councillor Derek Heffernan has proposed a motion to the Oldham Council (Wednesday 20 March) asking the Greater Manchester Pension Fund to review its investments in fracking operations and in fossil fuels in light of the recent decision by the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the leaders of the ten local authorities making up the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to ‘presume’ against fracking when considering planning applications. Councillor Heffernan, who has previously served as the representative of Oldham Council on the board of the Pension Fund, described it as a ‘dilemma’. “How can we retain investments in fracking and in fossil fuels when the presumption is because of their environmental impact that these are a bad thing and to be avoided? We need our pension fund managers to take…
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03Mar 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

New Saddleworth school application approval welcomed by Lib Dems

Borough news, Campaigns, Saddleworth News
For many years we have had students at Saddleworth school who were promised a new school and yet are now well on into adulthood. Other school proposals have come and been built yet in Saddleworth we have a generation who have missed out. For too long the wishes of the school and the children have been ignored. We praise the work done by Saddleworth parents and children amongst many others who want the school built. The Liberal Democrats have always unanimously supported a new school wherever the Education Funding Agency saw was appropriate. We wanted a new school and have been open about this. We along with others have been abused at times for our position on the school. Having different views is fine but threats and abuse over someone’s…
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25Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Moran: Use of Vagrancy Act should shame the Government

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
A Freedom of Information request has shown that 6,518 ‘offenders’ were found guilty under the Vagrancy Act (1824) between the years 2014 to 2017 in England and Wales.  The Metropolitan Police were the most likely force to use the Act, which criminalises rough sleepers, averaging 459 convictions a year. West Midlands police force area averaged 161, and Merseyside averaged 148 per year.  Commenting on the findings, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who has brought forward legislation to scrap the Vagrancy Act, said: “The Government, and local authorities, should be ashamed that they have continued to allow the use of a law that makes rough sleeping a criminal offence, and for it to be used so prolifically with little regard for the people afflicted. “This law was controversial 200 years ago,…
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25Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems produce Bill to properly tackle plastics crisis

Parliamentary news
Today, Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment, will present his Plastic Pollution Bill to Parliament. The Bill will set targets to help fix our plastics crisis and require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for the reduction of plastic pollution. The Bill has been backed by a cross-party group of MPs as well as Friends of the Earth and the Women's Institute. Ahead of presenting his Bill, Mr Carmichael said:“Plastic pollution is the scourge of our oceans. The Government must start taking action to reduce our plastic to change our throwaway culture. The answer will need international cooperation but the UK can give a lead for other countries to follow. “The Government’s approach has been about grabbing headlines on easy parts of the agenda – banning cotton buds and plastic…
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25Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Nearly 600 deaths on our streets is a ‘national disgrace’

Parliamentary news
Figures released this morning show that of the 597 homelessness deaths in 2017, Manchester (21) and Birmingham (18) were the cities worst affected, with Bristol, Lambeth and Liverpool (all 17), also registering more than one death a month. Responding to these statistics, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who has introduced legislation to scrap the archaic Vagrancy Act, said:  “The fact that nearly 600 people died on our streets in 2017 is not just a tragedy, it is a national disgrace of which we should be deeply ashamed. “These figures show that all over the country, our homelessness crisis is at epidemic levels and people are indefensibly losing their lives. We must do more to protect vulnerable people and support those at their lowest ebb. “The Liberal Democrats demand better. We want…
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20Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems indicate hazards for driving abroad after Brexit

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have tabled a regret motion to the Government's Statutory Instrument on Compulsory Insurance for Motor Vehicles, which will be debated later today in the House of Lords. Currently, if a UK resident is injured in a traffic accident in the EEA and the injury was caused by the negligence of another person, they can pursue a claim for compensation in the UK. However, if the Conservative Government does not secure a reciprocal agreement with the EEA or the UK leaves the EU without a deal, motorists abroad will be left to fend for themselves. Commenting on the motion, Jenny Randerson said: “Access to justice is a right and should never be treated as a privilege to be gained in a negotiation. “British holiday-makers in Europe are currently protected and can claim compensation with their local…
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20Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cable: Govt must level the playing field between the high street and online

Parliamentary news
Responding to the report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee calling on the Government to consider the options of an online sales tax and reforms to business rates, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said: “While our high streets are going through an extremely difficult time, with the right action from government, councils, businesses and local communities, they can prosper once again. “Instead of trying to recreate the high streets of the past, our towns and cities need to tailor their offer to local tastes and focus on experiences at a time of growing demand for online shopping. “There must be a level playing field between brick and mortar businesses and online companies. Business rates should be replaced with a land value tax that encourages businesses to invest.…
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