02Nov 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Johnson and Corbyn running scared of Swinson

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that ITV will host a head to head debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Ed Davey said: “Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are running scared.  “They appear determined to block the woman leader of the strongest party of Remain from the debate stage. “They know that their vision for our country can’t compare to the Liberal Democrat plan to stop Brexit and build a brighter future.”
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02Nov 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Fracking move won’t make up for Tory neglect of the environment

Parliamentary news
Responding the Government ending support for fracking in the UK, former Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said: “A moratorium on fracking is welcome but it is not a ban. Liberal Democrats back an immediate ban now - given the evidence we are now in a climate emergency. “The law Liberal Democrats passed to protect communities from earthquakes and seismic tremors caused by fracking has done alot to prevent the Conservatives pressing ahead with fracking. It is not surprising to me that our brake has now led to this. “But this belated, eve of election policy pause won’t distract voters from the Tories’ shocking record on the environment - not least the Prime Minister’s, when he lobbied to relax air pollution laws. “With Johnson desperate to please his climate change denier…
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17Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Record high knife crime offences shows Tories failure to act

Parliamentary news
Responding to the statistics released today from the ONS that show knife crime offences have hit a record high in England and Wales, rising 7% in the last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Christine Jardine said: “To hear that knife crime has hit a record high in England and Wales demonstrates more than ever this Tory Government’s failure to tackle the rising violence across the UK. “Far too many young lives are being lost due to this epidemic of serious violence. Rather than talking tough, it is time Boris Johnson looked at the evidence and made changes that will actually help cut crime. “The UK already imprisons more people than any other country in Western Europe, and whilst the Conservatives have already tried to introduce tougher prison sentences for knife crime, knife crime…
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15Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call for urgent action to tackle rising hate crimes

Parliamentary news
The government has today released figures which reveal that the number of hate crimes that took place last year was a ten per cent increase on the previous year. There were 103,379 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales in 2018/19. Responding, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Christine Jardine said: “There can be no doubt that divisive, inflammatory rhetoric from right-wing, pro-Brexit politicians – including Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage – has contributed to this shocking rise in hate crime.“All of us with a public platform must stand up to those whose language spreads hate – whether on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or anything else.“Liberal Democrats will tackle the appalling rise in hate crimes by making them all ‘aggravated offences’, so that hate…
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14Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Swinson: Queen’s speech is a charade

Parliamentary news
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson has today slammed this Queen’s speech as nothing more that a “charade”. Jo Swinson said: “This Queen’s speech is a charade. “Boris Johnson is pursuing a Brexit deal that will be hugely damaging for our economy, our NHS and our security. “There is nothing in this Queen’s speech that will bring comfort to the factory worker set to lose their job, or the families struggling to put food on the table because of his Brexit policy. “The Liberal Democrats want to stop Brexit, and keep the best deal we have as members of the European Union.”
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14Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Urgent action needed in mental health and learning disability services – Lib Dems

Parliamentary news
Today the publication of CQC’s ‘State of Care 2018/19’ report reveals a rise of inpatient services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism that were rated inadequate. The report also shows a rise of child and adolescent mental health inpatient services rated inadequate. Responding to the report, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Vince Cable said: “It is rare for a public body such as the Care Quality Commission to be so scathing of the effects of Government policy. Their honesty is to be congratulated. “They highlight graphically the decline in standards for mental health and learning disability inpatient services. This means some of the most vulnerable are not receiving anything like the standards of care that they need. “Staffing shortages, coupled with inadequate funding solutions has…
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08Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat conference outlined ambitious UK strategy on climate change, young carers and business reforms

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has welcomed plans agreed by Liberal Democrat Conference (14–17 September 2019), which he attended, to tackle economic, social and environmental problems. The conference held last month in Bournemouth debated net zero-carbon emissions in the UK by 2045.  It also aimed to tackle the ever-growing number of Young Carers who are still missing out on important life skills due to heavy care responsibilities.  Conference voted to draw clear support guidelines for Young Carers and declare a series of initiatives to combat the UK’s carbon footprint. The Liberal Democrats also backed a radical tax shake up for businesses.  Liberal Democrats have already brought the issue forward locally in Oldham Borough at the July 2019 Council meeting.  They want big companies to pay their fair share just like everyone else…
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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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