20Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Extension of no-fly zone will not prevent future drone chaos

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's announcement that the no-fly zone for drones around airports is to be extended following the disruption at Gatwick, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Jenny Randerson said:“Extending the no-fly zone to prevent further drone incidents is futile on its own. The drone chaos in the run up to Christmas was caused by someone deliberately flying a drone in the current no-fly zone, showing that what is needed is a complete wholescale reform to regulate the Wild West drone market. "The Liberal Democrats are clear that there must be compulsory registration for all those owning a drone. It is good that the Conservative Government are finally taking some long overdue action, but a piecemeal approach is not the answer. "Extending the no-fly zone for drones will not prevent future chaos. We have been…
Read More
20Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

More Oldham children being failed: Liberal Democrat Leader disappointed at news of yet another poor school performance

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has expressed his disappointment and dismay on hearing news that another school in Oldham – the Oasis Academy Oldham – has failed the OFSTED test when it comes to performance. Councillor Sykes said:  “Oldham Council and its educational partners have had years to turn around Oldham’s academic performance, but yet again we see another negative report of an Oldham school rated ‘inadequate’ and in need of ‘improvement’ in several key areas, including the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.”   “When the Oldham Education and Skills Commission Chair Baroness Estelle Morris stated on the publication of its long-awaited report in January 2016, ‘we are on the edge of being able to achieve great things…
Read More
20Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Why can’t we use lower housing figure to save greenbelt?

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire MP, to ask him whether it would in fact be permissible for the ten local authorities in Greater Manchester to use the lower figures for expected household growth published in 2016 to decide on the number of homes to be built in the conurbation under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. Thousands of these new homes would be built on Green Belt sites in Crompton, Shaw, Royton and Chadderton. Figures published by Mr Brokenshire’s own department in 2012 indicated that households in Greater Manchester would increase by 213,380 by 2035, or 18.75%, yet by contrast the more recent figures…
Read More
19Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

On short prison sentences, Tories say one thing and do another

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Justice Secretary’s speech this morning where he advocated abolishing prison sentences of six months or less, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said:  “I’m glad the Justice Secretary is finally accepting what the evidence – and the Liberal Democrats – have been saying for years: short prison sentences are destructive and just lead to more crime. “But even as he makes that admission, his Tory colleagues at the Home Office are busy introducing more short prison sentences in their Offensive Weapons Bill. “This Tory Government is saying one thing and doing another, and the Liberal Democrats demand better. Ministers must end short prison sentences and stop creating new ones.”
Read More
19Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Dishonest of PM to say technical education is a priority

Parliamentary news
The Association of Colleges has warned that there is a ”real risk to the long-term economic prosperity of the UK” if the Government's flagship ‘T-Level’ policy is not implemented correctly. T-Levels, which are due to be introduced in September 2020 will be equivalent to 3 A-Levels and it is hoped that they will provide a skills based education to enable people to go straight into work within our industries. Over half (58%) of small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the UK are warning that the country risks being 'left behind' if the Government doesn't address skills gaps through education. Commenting on the warning from the Association of Colleges, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “This is a stark warning about the dire consequences of continuing to chronically under fund our colleges.  “It is…
Read More
19Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Begum should face justice for her crimes in the UK

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports from Shamima Begum's family lawyer that she will lose her UK citizenship, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: “Membership of a terrorist group is a serious crime, as is encouraging or supporting terrorism. But Shamima Begum should face justice for those crimes in the UK. “It is not only hard to see Ms Begum and her baby as constituting a serious threat to national security, but it also seems a huge wasted opportunity. We can learn lessons as to why a young girl went to Syria in the first place; lessons which could improve Britain’s security by helping us prevent this happening again.”
Read More
18Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader surprised at deficiencies in the collection of pothole data

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has been surprised to discover that Oldham Council officers do not record the number of potholes that are reported, nor the number of potholes that are repaired.  Councillor Sykes has written to Helen Lockwood, Deputy Chief Executive – People at Place at Oldham to ask why? Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “This information was disclosed in answer to a Freedom of Information request.  I am very surprised that we do not collect this data as surely we need it to determine how effective our road repair work is?” “Last November (2018), the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group brought a motion to the Council meeting seeking a commitment to the Council to repair potholes posing a hazard to…
Read More
18Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Liberal Democrat leader delighted Turing finally recognised in public poll as greatest icon

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has expressed his delight that in the public vote held in connection with BBC Two Icons Series, Dr Alan Turing topped the poll as the greatest icon of the Twentieth Century. Councillor Sykes said: “This is quite remarkable, especially when it is considered that Alan Turing was up against many other true greats, like Dr Martin Luther King and President Nelson Mandela.” “Alan Turing was treated disgracefully by the British Government after his outstanding achievements in secret public service during the Second World War.  As a mathematician with a brilliant mind, Turing made a major contribution to the war effort in cracking the Enigma code used by the German military forces in their…
Read More
18Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Save our assets – save the Limekiln café

Borough news, Campaigns
Liberal Democrat Councillors Derek Hefernan and Garth Harkness have called for Oldham Council to do everything they can to make a deal with LimeKiln Café at the Brownhill Visitor Centre in Dobcross. The Café have put in an offer to buy the building but it has not been accepted yet. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “We did not want the Council to sell the Brownhill Visitor Centre building. But Oldham Council decided to do so anyway. We then called on the council to do everything possible to allow the Café to buy the freehold. Oldham council should keep discussions open with the café to try to sell to them. “There is concern over the future of the Café, Car parks and toilets if it is sold to someone else. The Saddleworth…
Read More
18Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Farron slams ‘Tory death tax’

Parliamentary news
Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron has taken a swipe at the Conservative Government ahead of the introduction of what he has dubbed a “Tory death tax”. From 16th February, new regulations introduced by the Conservative Government mean the cost of death certificates, as well as birth and marriage certificates, is going up from £4 to £11. Citizens Advice recommends people get “several copies of the [death] certificate, for which there will be a charge.” Upon losing a loved one, people now face a charge hike of £49, on the basis seven copies are purchased. Mr Farron accused the Conservatives of introducing these measures “by the back door” as MPs have been denied a vote on them. The former Leader of the Liberal Democrats added: “These regressive fees, charged…
Read More