28Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Mini-Budget: £13 billion a year removed from NHS and social care funding

Mini-Budget: £13 billion a year removed from NHS and social care funding

Borough news, health and social care
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has warned that social care services “face collapse” across the country after the government’s ‘mini-budget’ scrapped the so-called NHS and social care levy (N.I increase). The plan was in the first instance the extra cash would go to the NHS and then after that go to social care. Councillor Sykes predicted at the time not a penny would reach social care and would all be absorbed by the NHS. He has been proved right and now neither the NHS nor social care will see a penny of it. Councillor Sykes said: “The government was already underfunding social care and expecting councils to foot the bill. The Chancellor’s mini budget has just added £13 billion to the shortfall. Social care urgently needs funding…
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25Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Mini-Budget: Government is rewarding the rich while the country struggles

Mini-Budget: Government is rewarding the rich while the country struggles

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have slammed Conservative Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng MP for “rewarding the rich” in his ‘Mini-Budget’ today. Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “People in Oldham are facing huge energy bills and soaring costs in supermarkets. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are giving huge tax cuts to the highest earners, handing bankers unlimited bonuses; and protecting the profits of big energy companies while household bills skyrocket. “Oil bosses and London bankers will be popping the champagne while people in Oldham will be worrying about the cost of the weekly shop,” he added. In a move that will be welcomed by multiple homeowners, the Chancellor has also announced that stamp duty – the tax applied to property purchases – will be cut. Councillor Sykes said, “Cutting stamp duty will…
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25Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Statement regarding Oldham councillor arrested on suspicion of rape

Borough news
The Political Secretary (Councillor Mark Kenyon) of Oldham Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council has released the following statement. As a result of Press information, we are aware that a male Oldham Borough Councillor has been arrested by Greater Manchester Police as a result of an allegation of rape of a female and is currently on police bail. We can confirm this individual is NOT a Liberal Democrat councillor, and we have received no notification from Oldham Council or any other body as to the person’s identity or any proposed actions in relation to the individual concerned or actions the councillor’s political group have taken or intend to take.
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21Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Prosecutions needed after fly-tippers smash up cameras

Prosecutions needed after fly-tippers smash up cameras

Borough news, environment
Prosecutions must happen, says Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, after new CCTV cameras were destroyed just days after being installed at a fly-tipping hotspot in the village.  Holts Lane – running across the Leesbrook – has been blighted for years by fly-tippers dumping waste, where the brook runs across the road. Cameras were finally installed just two weeks ago, after a long-running campaign by the local councillors to address the problems, but have been immediately smashed down by the people doing the tipping, and more waste immediately dumped. “It is a stain on a beautiful area. One moment you are walking through a wood, alongside the brook, and the next you come out on to a tatty road covered with rubbish,” said Councillor Al-Hamdani. “People are out to make money by…
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21Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillor Sykes offers condolences after the death of former council leader Jean Stretton

Borough news, fairer council
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has offered condolences to the family of former Oldham Council Leader Jean Stretton. Councillor Sykes said: “I’ve known Jean since she was first elected for Hollinwood in 2003 and I’ve worked closely with her in number of roles; not least when she was Leader of the Council between 2016 and 2018.” “She was Oldham’s first female Leader and a great advocate for so many causes during her time on the council, including Oldham Foodbank and the Credit Union. Jean will be sorely missed by all who worked with her and today my thoughts and prayers go with her husband John, her two stepchildren, five grandchildren and her great granddaughter at this very difficult time.”
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12Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
A nation in mourning

A nation in mourning

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Councillor Sykes said: “Across Oldham and across the country people are saddened and shocked by the death of the Queen. I have always admired Her Majesty for her commitment to public service and her dedication to our country. It is now right that the nation will come together to mourn but also to celebrate her life and reign.” “The Queen has been our Head of State for a remarkable 70 years and she has steered the country through enormous change in that time. From the ruins of war, through periods of hardship and prosperity; and into the modern digital age. When she first addressed the nation as a young princess,…
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07Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government ministers refuse Oldham Liberal Democrats request for a public inquiry into child sex exploitation

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, Parliamentary news
Home Office minister Amanda Solloway MP has ruled out an independent public inquiry into child sex exploitation in Oldham. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE wrote to the Home Office back in July urging Conservative ministers to open a full and independent public inquiry into the failings of Greater Manchester Police, Oldham Council and other services that resulted in horrendous cases of child sexual abuse. In his letter to the Home Secretary, Councillor Sykes said: “I hope you will use your position to show people in Oldham that failure to protect children can never be accepted in our public institutions. It is only through meticulously investigating these failings that we can have true accountability and begin to earn back the trust of the people of Oldham.” But the…
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07Sep 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham Council bosses secretly blacklist twelve

Oldham Council bosses secretly blacklist twelve

Borough news, CSE, fairer council
After recent chaotic council meetings, Oldham Council bosses have not only beefed up security, but also secretly blacklisted 12 people who are banned from attending council meetings. Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Kenyon said: “My colleague noticed security staff with a list of names and photos of 12 people. He was told they were the people banned from Oldham Council meetings.” The councillor for Grotton, Springhead and Lees has requested a copy of the blacklist from senior council officers only to be turned down. He continues: “Behaviour at council meetings from some people – both councillors and those watching – has been abhorrent and behaviour does need to improve but banning people and keeping that ban secret is just plain wrong. Me and my colleagues were elected, in part, to ask…
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31Aug 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Fresh campaign against child and fuel poverty as Oldham braces for cost-of-living crisis

Fresh campaign against child and fuel poverty as Oldham braces for cost-of-living crisis

Borough news
At a meeting of Oldham’s Full Council on Wednesday (07/09/22), Liberal Democrat Councillors will set out a plan to tackle the rising cost-of-living in the borough. In Oldham, one in every three children live in poverty according to charities such as ‘End Child Poverty’ - the average across the UK as a whole is one in five. Yet Oldham’s primary schools are facing a funding cut of £212,797 from infant free school meals budgets. Families across the borough are also braced for energy price rises of up to 80% in October. The Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion calling for a reverse of the cuts to free school meals as well as for the Council to step up its cost-of-living support by working with local food banks. “The party is…
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24Aug 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Change in law barring sex offenders from standing for or holding elected office is welcomed

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, fairer council
After years of campaigning, Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has welcomed the news that laws will be changed to prevent people on the sex offenders register holding elected office. Councillor Sykes said: “I am pleased that the common-sense law change is finally coming into effect. Rishi Sunak announced that the government would adopt this proposal back when he was a Local Government Minister in 2018 but he’s dragged his feet on getting the law changed.” The changes to the Local Government Act were finally put before MPs in June and were signed off by both Houses of Parliament on July 6th. The Statuary Instruments (S.I) to make this law have now also been approved. The new regulations come into effect immediately for all local elections in England.…
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