21Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Living with Covid: Shambolic Government taking NHS & Care services for granted

Living with Covid: Shambolic Government taking NHS & Care services for granted

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's plan on Living with Covid, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: "The Conservatives have been planning to end free Covid testing for more than two months, yet still we have no clarity on what this means in reality.” The press conference [Monday 21 February] with Boris Johnson announcing the end of restrictions gave no clear answer as to what free testing would remain in place. This was despite the British Medical Association saying that the plan failed to protect the most vulnerable. She added: “Boris Johnson wasn't even able to answer the simple question of whether any free testing plans would be kept in place for essential workers, such as NHS staff, or for those who are clinically vulnerable. "This so-called plan has been…
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21Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

It is time to act. We must now use the sanctions powers at our disposal

Parliamentary news
In reaction to Putin recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as independent, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “Putin has made clear that he has absolutely no regard for international law or the sovereignty of other countries. “It’s beyond time for us and our allies to make clear that we have no regard for him, or for his associates who have been treating our country as their playground for far too long. This act of recognition is in breach of commitments which Russia has signed up to at the UN, and as such there should be no impunity - sanctions are justified. “We must stand with the people of Ukraine. The UK must be at the forefront of the international coalition against Putin’s aggression. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions…
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21Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Scrapping of Covid tests: Four million people to face £500 “tax on caring”

Scrapping of Covid tests: Four million people to face £500 “tax on caring”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the scrapping of Covid lateral flow tests will amount to a “tax on caring,” with almost four millon people facing costs of over £500 a year to take regular tests and visit vulnerable relatives. Despite the easing of Covid restrictions, the latest figures show that every week nearly four million people take regular Covid tests, taking two tests a week on average. This includes people who take tests to protect their elderly relatives and friends, or vulnerable workers who work in people-facing industries such as hospitality and are concerned about their health. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats estimates that people who take two tests a week face an average hit of £534 a year, assuming lateral flow tests cost around £5.80 each. This is…
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18Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Prison expansions: Cost of Conservatives’ failure on crime

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's announcement of plans to create 4,000 more prison spaces, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “This is the cost of the Conservatives’ failure on crime. The UK already has more people in prison than any other country in Western Europe, and now the Government is spending an extra £4 billion because crime is rising. “These new places won’t even do anything to reduce the huge overcrowding in prisons, because of the rising prison population. Only by ending overcrowding can we rehabilitate prisoners properly and break the cycle of reoffending. “Just building more prison cells won’t do anything to make our communities safer. Instead of trying to sound tough, Ministers should focus on restoring effective community policing where officers are visible, trusted and focused…
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17Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Partygate: Lib Dems submit motion to reveal if PM and senior officials fined by Met Police

Partygate: Lib Dems submit motion to reveal if PM and senior officials fined by Met Police

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have tabled a ‘Humble Address’ motion to force the government to reveal whether Boris Johnson, ministers and senior officials have been fined by the Met police over law-breaking parties in Number 10. The parliamentary motion would require the publication of a full list of the names of any elected officials, senior civil servants and political appointees given Fixed Penalty Notices as a result of the police investigation. It would also require the Sue Gray report to be published in full alongside any accompanying evidence including photographs. Scotland Yard have been given over 300 photographs and 500 pages of evidence by Suer Gray in support of their investigation into parties at Number 10 during lockdown. Sue Gray interviewed over 70 individuals for her report, but was unable to…
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17Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cancelling the ‘Golden Visa’ scheme is long overdue

Parliamentary news
Scrapping the ‘Golden Visa’ scheme is long overdue. It has taken the threat of a defeat in Parliament to get the Government to act – with a government source confirming reports that there would be an announcement on the scheme next week. In the Lords the Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment to the nationality and borders bill requiring the scheme was stopped until a full review was published. An Intelligence and Security Committee report warned that a lack of checks has meant illegal cash could flow into the UK from Russia. Responding to the cancelling of the ‘Golden Visa’ scheme, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP commented: “The Conservatives have turned a blind eye to Russian interference in this country for years and had an open door policy to…
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16Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Businesses loud and clear on failed EU trade deal

Businesses loud and clear on failed EU trade deal

Parliamentary news
Responding to research by the British Chambers of Commerce which shows that firms are unhappy with the EU trade deal and the difficulties it has imposed upon trade, Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “Businesses are saying loud and clear that Boris Johnson’s trade deal with the EU is simply not good enough, but the Government isn’t even listening. “Claims from the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg about Brexit opportunities ring hollow for businesses being drowned in paperwork and delays at our borders. “This failed trade deal is even making the cost of living crisis worse, as many businesses have no choice but to raise their prices. According to the latest figures from the ONS, trade with the EU fell by £20bn last year – that's a 12% decline on…
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16Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ending Covid Testing: Vulnerable people ‘thrown to the wolves’

Parliamentary news
Responding to calls from 18 leading health charities for the Government to do more to support immunocompromised people, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: "Vulnerable people are once again being thrown to the wolves by the Conseratives as their big push to abandon all precautions is leaving many to live in fear and isolation. "The Government's own advice to vulnerable people says they should have people test before they meet and avoid crowded spaces to avoid infection. This means many continue to shield, but don't get any additional support to do so. "Ending access to free Covid testing will further isolate these people and cut off a key way they can protect themselves. As well as the scrapping of free testing, it is being proposed that the £500…
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16Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Inflation: Families need a lifeline

Parliamentary news
Responding to new figures showing inflation has reached a 30 year high of 5.5%, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "Families are facing an unprecedented cost of living crisis, with a triple whammy of spiralling energy bills, Conservative tax rises and 30-year high inflation. "People are worried about heating their homes and putting food on the table, yet all we've seen from this Government is half measures and a raft of tax hikes in April. That's not the leadership people need in this crisis. • December’s 5.4% annual rise in consumer prices was the highest since 1992, and the Bank of England has imposed consecutive interest rate hikes for the first time since 2004 in a bid to contain runaway inflation.• The Bank of England expects inflation to…
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15Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Scrapping free Covid tests will leave public “flying blind”

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that free PCR and lateral flow tests will be scrapped for everyone next week, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Scrapping free tests when case rates are still sky high will leave the public and scientists flying blind. If there’s one sure fire way to put the country at risk of another lockdown, it’s scrapping all the warning lights like this. “It will also be impossible for the immunosuppressed to take 'personal responsibility' for assessing their risk if there’s no actual data on the level of risk in their community." In Oldha, Covid figures are below the national average, although in the week to 5th February 2022, Oldham had a total of 1,067 new cases, lower than the previous week’s total of 1,672. This…
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