18Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Gov consultations on plastic must be followed by action

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's launch of a number of consultations looking at overhauling the waste system, cutting plastic pollution, and moving towards a more circular economy, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael said:“Whilst the Government fail to get a grip of the crisis facing our environment, the detrimental effects to the UK’s wildlife continues. The Liberal Democrats have been clear about the need for a plastic bottle deposit scheme and the Conservative Government must follow through on these consultations with action. “The Liberal Democrats will also continue to fight for a ban on all single-use plastic within three years and the introduction of a levy on all producers and retailers that produce or use single-use plastics." “If the Conservative Government was as good at recycling plastic as they are at recycling consultations then our environment would be…
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15Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories failing on air pollution

Parliamentary news
New figures released today by the Department for the Environment show that emissions of air pollutants have not dropped significantly over the past three years, despite the Government promising to tackle air pollution as a priority. Responding to the figures, Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, said: “These figures show that this Tory Government is failing to tackle air pollution, which they described themselves as ‘the biggest environmental threat to public health.’ “Long-term exposure to these emissions can cause heart and lung problems as well as potentially contribute to cancers, with the young and the old being particularly vulnerable. People deserve better and Liberal Democrats demand better. “Liberal Democrats would pass a new Clean Air Act, giving people the legal right to unpolluted air wherever they live. New Clean Air Zones must also be brought…
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14Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems table amendment to give the people the final say

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have today tabled an amendment calling for a People's Vote with the option to stay in the EU.The Liberal Democrats have ensured that there is a People’s Vote amendment for MPs to get behind on every single Brexit vote in the House of Commons. Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said: “In an attempt to force through this unpopular deal, the Conservative Government have this week kicked the can another few weeks down the road and closer to the precipice. “That is why Liberal Democrats have tabled this amendment. Our party have campaigned for the people to have the final say on Brexit for over two years. We have ensured that there is always an amendment for MPs, from any party, to sign if they agree with…
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14Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservatives pass one of worst pieces of legislation ever witnessed

Parliamentary news
Speaking after the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill was passed in the House of Commons tonight by just 58 votes, former Liberal Democrat Care Minister Norman Lamb MP said: “Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people are at risk of unlawfully having their freedom restricted and receiving inappropriate care. That is the deeply flawed system this Bill should have fixed, but instead the Conservatives produced one of the worst pieces of legislation ever seen.  “I set the Government two tests at the beginning of this process. Does the new system safeguard individuals’ human rights and does the new system result in very vulnerable people being better protected? Conservative Ministers have failed both of these tests.  “It is incredibly worrying that the Conservative Government are still pursuing this change in legislation when there has…
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12Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Tory government prepared to sacrifice people to the electric chair

Parliamentary news
A Liberal Democrat amendment which would have prohibited UK authorities sharing data with overseas agencies where the death penalty could be imposed was rejected by the Conservatives. Speaking in the House of Lords, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson in the Lords Brian Paddick accused the Conservative Government of being “prepared to sacrifice people to the electric chair in America if that is what it takes to secure the kind of agreement this Bill covers.” The amendment to the Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Bill was defeated in the House of Lords by just 19 votes. Speaking after the vote, Lord Paddick added: “The UK has long been committed to eradicating the death penalty wherever it exists in the world. An important part of that commitment is that we only help other countries to prosecute criminals if we…
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12Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Govt must ensure dinosaur MPs can’t obstruct legislation

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have today secured assurances that a Bill on female genital mutilation (FGM) will be introduced in Government time, but have called for the way in which Private Members Bills' are debated to be reassessed. Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse secured the assurance during her Urgent Question today. The Bath MP pressed the issue after a Private Member's Bill on FGM was dismissed on Friday after Conservative MP Christopher Chope objected. Following the Urgent Question, Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said: “It is severely disappointing that I have had to ask the Minister to bring this issue back to the Chamber today. The Conservatives should be ashamed to have Members on their benches with such outdated views about women and who fail to recognise the urgent need to protect vulnerable girls.  “We…
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12Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Digital exclusion shows Universal Credit not fit for purpose

Digital exclusion shows Universal Credit not fit for purpose

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that almost half a million people needed help to apply for the government’s flagship Universal Credit benefit online, DWP Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The Liberal Democrats raised the issue of digital exclusion with Conservative ministers months ago, but these concerns clearly haven’t been taken on board. This underlines the need to look again at Universal Credit, which is clearly not creating the simpler and more accessible benefits system that was intended. “It is failing the very people it was supposed to be designed to help. Now the Government has acknowledged that Universal Credit has created a greater need for food banks, it is time they accepted it needs more than just the tinkering we have seen. “Universal Credit just isn’t fit for purpose, and it’s time the Government accepted responsibility.”
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11Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

No specific funding for NHS in no deal scenario

Parliamentary news
The Conservative Government has refused to reveal how much funding it is allocating to keep the National Health Service running in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Although the Department of Health and Social Care has been allocated £71 million by the Treasury to prepare for Brexit, in an answer to a written PQ it said it was “unable to provide a breakdown of the amount of funding allocated to ‘no deal’ preparations specifically”. Of the 18 Government departments questioned on their no-deal spending in written PQs tabled by Vince Cable, just one – the Department for Transport – provided a specific figure. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said: “Matt Hancock has been boasting about being the world’s biggest buyer of fridges, yet his department doesn’t even appear…
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11Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Property guardians caught in poverty trap

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to the investigation by the I into property guardians, Liberal Democrat peer Olly Grender said: “This undercover investigation shows how desperately bad the housing crisis has become. More and more people are living as property guardians in buildings that are dangerous and insanitary and the law fails to protect them. “Safeguards must be introduced before the Government has another tragedy on its hands such as Grenfell. This is a hidden crisis for people caught in a trap of poverty and lack of decent housing and needs urgent attention. “The fact these properties are unsafe and unhealthy to live in should result in a rapid review of the relevant laws. It is vital that the Government now re-evaluate our HMO regulations to ensure that this form of tenancy, in all but name, cannot…
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08Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats seek more affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly homes – but NOT on Greenbelt

Parliamentary news, Saddleworth News
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has responded to a consultation with Councillors on the proposed new Housing Strategy for the Borough by asking for more affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly homes to be built. Howard Sykes, leader of the opposition Councillor Sykes said: “More affordable homes are needed, including more homes for social-rent and for part-ownership, especially for first-time buyers and renters on a lower income who need a helping hand to get on the housing ladder.  With our growing population, we will also need more accessible properties catering for the needs of older people with disabilities, for families with one or more children with disabilities and for young adults with disabilities wishing to live independently.” “Finally, we are…
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