10Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Spring Statement: Chancellor must put people above figures in his spreadsheet

Spring Statement: Chancellor must put people above figures in his spreadsheet

Parliamentary news
Responding to an IFS briefing on the cost of living and the Chancellor's Spring Statement, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “The Chancellor cannot stand by and watch as households take the biggest hit to their living standards in fifty years. “He needs to avert the real disaster that will be caused by his unfair national insurance tax hike and offer proper support to all those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. “The Chancellor must now put people above the figures in his spreadsheet.” 'Heightened uncertainty and the spectre of inflation hang over the Spring Statement', a press notice by researchers from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, states the Chancellor "will either have to spend and borrow billions more, or allow a hit to household incomes bigger than at…
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10Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Abramovich sanctioned: We need to go further and faster

Abramovich sanctioned: We need to go further and faster

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Chealsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “The sanctioning of more individuals including Abramovich is well overdue. The Government must now confirm that these individuals’ mansions will be used to house Ukrainian refugees. “The Foreign Secretary must also urgently assess whether these oligarchs have been able to sell off any of their assets due to the Government’s delay in acting. “But we also need to go further and faster. There are hundreds of Kremlin-linked oligarchs and following this announcement, we have sanctioned just 18. It’s not good enough. With every day that goes by, Putin’s cronies will be fire-selling their assets and fleeing our jurisdiction." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijinWrEOKAI
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09Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Economic Crime Bill: Oligarch loophole a get out of jail free card

Economic Crime Bill: Oligarch loophole a get out of jail free card

Parliamentary news
In response to votes in the House of Commons on the Economic Crime Bill, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “In light of the horrific war in Ukraine, it’s vital that we end the era of Russian interference in the UK. Unfortunately, oligarchs and their enablers have just been handed a ‘get out of jail free’ card. “The Government promised us that Putin’s cronies would have nowhere to hide - yet tonight they have passed a Bill which contains an oligarch loophole. Under these plans, Conservative Ministers will be able to exempt any individual from crucial dirty money requirements, on the grounds of the economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom. “It’s not too late to take action. The Bill now passes to the House of Lords -…
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09Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ukrainian visa centre in Lille is “yet more chaos and incompetence” from Home Office

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Home Office's visa centre for Ukrainian refugees in Calais will be in Lille, 70 miles away, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: "This is yet more chaos and incompetence from the dysfunctional Home Office. “Ukrainian families fleeing Putin's terror shouldn't be forced to wait for an appointment at a Home Office visa centre that doesn't even exist yet. “People across the UK want to welcome Ukrainian refugees with compassion, but instead Priti Patel is trapping them in limbo. "Our country has a proud history of providing sanctuary for people fleeing war and persecution. The Government must live up to that now, with a simple, fast and safe route for refugees to come to the UK." The UK has currently only granted…
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09Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Javid out of ideas on NHS reform

Javid out of ideas on NHS reform

Parliamentary news
Responding to Sajid Javid's speech at the Royal College of Physicians, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Sajid Javid has failed to put forward a credible plan to recruit the staff needed to tackle the 6 million people now waiting for treatment and the further millions who are struggling to get a GP appointment. “Offering patients a so-called “choice” to travel hundreds of miles away from home and loved ones for a delayed operation when they’re scared and in pain and then selling that as reform is baffling. “And if Javid thinks an app on a phone will save the day, then he really is completely out of ideas.” Studies of the benefits of video calls have shown only minimal benefits, compared with traditional phone calls or in…
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09Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Russian oil ban: New Marshall plan needed to end addiction to fossil fuels

Russian oil ban: New Marshall plan needed to end addiction to fossil fuels

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Government is to phase out Russian oil by the end of 2022, Liberal Democrat Leader and former Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “The Conservatives are once again moving far too slowly to punish Putin for his illegal invasion of Ukraine. It’s not good enough to only ban Russian oil, there must be a ban on Russian gas too. "The war in Ukraine has shown that Europe is simply too dependent on Russian oil and gas. People from Poland to the UK are inadvertently funding Putin's war when they fill up their cars or pay their bills. "We need energy security and that means investment in renewables across Europe, from the UK's offshore wind to Norway's hydropower. A new Marshall Plan to…
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07Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ukraine: how we can help

Ukraine: how we can help

Parliamentary news
Many people have been asking how they can help the desperate situation in the Ukraine. At present, the best way people can help is by donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal here. The appeal, which was officially launched on Thursday (March 3), is officially backed by the UK Government, which is matching all donations made, up to £20m. The DEC’ brings together 15 leading aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently, getting help to where it is most needed. While we know many people are keen to donate items of clothing and essential goods, this is being discouraged by many charities, some of which have already closed their collections, due to the logistical problems this can create. The Government has also said that unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can…
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07Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Bid to shut “oligarch loophole” launched by Lib Dems

Bid to shut “oligarch loophole” launched by Lib Dems

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have launched a bid to shut the “oligarch loophole” contained within the Economic Crime Bill, which is set to come before Parliament today. The Party has tabled an amendment to the legislation which seeks to close a backdoor route for oligarchs to avoid meeting crucial anti-money laundering requirements contained within the Bill. The Bill establishes a register of beneficial ownership for overseas entities. However the Bill as drafted gives the Government the power to grant individuals - which could include Kremlin-linked oligarchs - an exemption from its registration requirements on the broad basis of “the interests of the economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom”. The Liberal Democrats warned that this loophole could give ‘carte blanche’ to oligarchs and their enablers to aggressively lobby the Government for exemptions…
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01Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Rail fares rise: Hard to stomach during cost-of-living crisis

Rail fares rise: Hard to stomach during cost-of-living crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to a rail fare increase of 3.8% due on Tuesday, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “The annual Government-approved hike in rail fares hasn’t been justifiable for years, but this one will be particularly hard to stomach for families feeling the pinch of the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. “The value for money people are getting from this increase is next to nought. It beggars belief that railgoers should have to fork out more to travel when timetables are still in flux. Meanwhile, passenger numbers have not recovered to pre-Covid levels and this contempt for commuters risks driving them away from our railways. “If this Government had even a shred of decency they would freeze rail fares for the next five years, to throw families some…
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01Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: IPCC report is sobering reading

Davey: IPCC report is sobering reading

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "The IPCC report is sobering reading. It is clear we need action now to stop any more damage to our planet. The UK, as Chair of COP, has a duty to pressure more countries to increase their ambitions and ensure that warming is limited. "But the Conservatives must also get their own house in order. Their failure to insulate our homes has led to millions facing sky high heating bills this winter, while thousands of new homes have been built to inadequate standards and will require expensive retrofitting. "Liberal Democrats demand a Robin Hood tax on oil and gas companies to fund a new ten year energy efficiency programme to cut demand for gas,…
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