07Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Govt needs to stop hitting people with higher energy bills

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that more than half of households are set to see an increase in energy costs with Ofgem raising price caps, former Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said:“The Conservatives introduced the price cap claiming it would save people money. But it was never going to do so, and it was inevitable that they would instead have to put the cap up at some point. “Now the truth on the price cap is clearer to people, the Government needs to stop hitting people with higher energy bills thanks to their policies.“Competition in the energy market is under threat due to this cap. Yet it is precisely that competition which has helped many more consumers reduce their energy bills than the cap. “Liberal Democrats believe people deserve better. We would take meaningful steps…
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06Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Thousands dying waiting for social care as Govt ignores crisis

Thousands dying waiting for social care as Govt ignores crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to the research by Age UK showing that more than 50,000 older people have now died waiting in vain for care during the 700 days since the Government first said it would publish a Social Care Green Paper, Former Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb said: “These figures are tragic for many families and the stories of some of those who have been impacted should give many in government and across politics pause for thought. “People are turning for help in their old age and help is not there. Despite the crisis in adult social care the Conservatives are consistently and consciously underfunding these services and the social care green paper promised in March 2017 has now been delayed six times.“The Conservative Government is incapable of solving this problem themselves. They must now…
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03Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cable: Nissan decision symbolises the loss of confidence in the UK

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that Nissan is expected to announce that it is cancelling a planned investment at its Sunderland plant, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said: “The Conservatives have lost the right to call themselves the party of business. If these reports are true, the extent to which the Government have destroyed businesses' confidence in the UK is clear. “This is a massively significant decision which has largely been driven by Brexit. Nissan has been a big British success story based on confidence in the United Kingdom.  This decision is just as symbolic as it is important. “The Liberal Democrats are clear that the only way to give business the certainty they need and get the country out of this chaos is to offer a people's vote, with…
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03Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Nuclear treaty withdrawal risks global instability

Nuclear treaty withdrawal risks global instability

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that Russia has suspended its involvement in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, following the United States’ decision to also suspend their involvement yesterday evening, former Liberal Democrat Leader Lord Campbell said:“These developments are both alarming and depressing. Gradually piece by piece the security architecture which followed the end of the Cold War has been destroyed. “The world is a much less safe place with nuclear weapons when they cease to be the subject of treaties and agreements. Although both Putin and Trump deny it, there is a severe and continuing risk of a nuclear arms race which will bring instability throughout the world.”
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01Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Landmark conviction in fight to stamp out FGM

Landmark conviction in fight to stamp out FGM

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports of the first conviction of female genital mutilation in the UK, former Liberal Democrat Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone said: “We have waited a long time to see a conviction for female genital mutilation. The victim here was just three years old. There is no doubt that this is child abuse and this prosecution makes clear this practice is against the law. “I welcome this prosecution and hope to see other perpetrators of this vile crime brought to justice. Communities in the UK will now know that if they commit FGM they will be brought before the courts. “Prosecution is crucially important, but it is vital that the Government work to support those working in the communities to stamp out FGM, ensuring no future generations of girls…
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01Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Cavity appearing in NHS dental workforce

Cavity appearing in NHS dental workforce

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that 1 in 4 new patients not currently on the books with an NHS dentist have tried and failed to secure an appointment due to recruitment problems, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Judith Jolly said: “This statistic is appalling and should be to Matt Hancock and those in the Conservative Government. As we see more and more dentists leave the NHS, it is clear that it is part of the wider NHS struggles to hire and retain staff. “One of the key problems with the NHS ten year plan was that it was completely undermined by a lack of serious workforce planning. The failure of the Tories to tackle the problems in recruitment and retention, in dentistry and across health professionals, is frankly unacceptable. Especially, considering over 26,000…
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01Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories failing to act on modern slavery in car washes

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to tackle modern slavery in hand car washes after Conservative Ministers rejected a licensing scheme in their response to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Commission. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: “Yet again the Tories are failing to take the necessary action to tackle modern slavery, even though Theresa May once called it ‘the great human rights issue of our time’. “Both a committee of MPs and the Government’s own Director of Labour Market Enforcement have called for a trial licensing scheme to prevent car washes exploiting vulnerable people. Conservative Ministers, however, have decided to ignore them. Instead they are leaving it up to the public to choose ‘responsible’ businesses on the basis of a kitemark. “The victims of human trafficking…
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31Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Shocking new figures expose prison crisis

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to tackle overcrowding and recruit more prison officers following new figures showing a dramatic increase in deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison. The statistics, published today by the Ministry of Justice, show that in 2018 there were 325 deaths in prison, up 10% since 2017. They figures also reveal self-harm incidents and assaults have reached new record highs. In the 12 months to September 2018, there were: 52,814 incidents of self-harm, up 23% year-on-year;33,803 assaults, up 20% year-on-year & the highest on record;This includes 10,085 assaults on staff, up 29% year-on-year. Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:“These shocking statistics are yet more evidence that our prisons are in crisis. They are stuffed full of people on short sentences, leaving overstretched staff simply unable to cope and unable to provide…
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31Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt must follow evidence not chase headlines in fight against knife crime

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to the Home Secretary's plan to give new powers to the police to tackle knife crime, Liberal Demcorat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:  “The UK is in the grip of a knife crime epidemic, so all ideas should be considered, especially ways to stop the glorification and incitement of this violence on social media.  “But Ministers must remember that ASBOs have a very mixed record - they were often seen as a “badge of honour’ by young offenders and required significant police resources which no longer exist thanks to the Conservatives’ police cuts. “Worse still, this plan ignores the evidence and the policy of the current Justice Secretary, that short term prison sentences won’t deter young people from carrying knives and instead increase the risk of re-offending. “Ministers must…
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31Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Moran: Rough sleeping shames our whole country

Moran: Rough sleeping shames our whole country

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have today called for cross-party support for Layla Moran's Bill to scrap the Vagrancy Act following the publication of official figures which reveal there were 4,677 rough sleepers across England in Autumn 2018.Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said:“The fact that thousands of people sleep rough every night shames our whole country. These figures don’t even capture the many more ‘hidden homeless’ in insecure and unsuitable accommodation. “Even worse, hundreds of homeless people die each year, as the tragic death of Kane Walker in Birmingham on Sunday reminded us. The Tories are failing our most vulnerable people."The Liberal Democrats demand better. We want the Government to be building up to 100,000 social homes a year, provide accommodation and support to those in need, and finally back my Bill to scrap…
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