News – Page 126 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

20Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Reversing Lib Dem Immigration Bill amendments risks “new Windrush-style Scandal”

The Liberal Democrats have warned that the Conservatives are risking a new Windrush-style scandal, as the Government overturned the Party's amendments to end indefinite immigration detention and protect the rights of British nationals living in the EU and EU citizens in the UK. This evening, Conservative MPs rejected all 10 cross-party amendments to the Government’s Immigration Bill, passed by the House of Lords earlier this month, including three from the Liberal Democrats. Amendment 5 – tabled by Liberal Democrat Lord Oates – would force the Government to provide EU citizens in the UK who are granted Settled or Pre-Settled Status with physical proof of their migration status, instead of the digital-only proof under the Government’s current system. It was rejected by 331 votes to 260. The 28-day time limit on…

19Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government inaction failing survivors of sexual violence

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Victims Commissioner’s report on rape survivors and the criminal justice system, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: “Survivors deserve justice. They must be properly supported to come forward and be listened to when they do. “However, as this report shows, far too many survivors are put off reporting the crime for fear of being disbelieved, and far too many who do come forward find the whole process traumatic. Government inaction is failing survivors of sexual violence and allowing too many criminals to walk free. “It is incomprehensible that the Government’s review of rape cases is doing so little to engage with survivors – especially given the clear evidence that the system simply isn’t working for them. “Ministers must listen to survivors, complete the review as soon…

18Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Gove’s comments show Government’s refusal to prioritise test and trace overhaul

Parliamentary news

Responding to Michael Gove's appearance on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Michael Gove’s comments this morning are just more evidence of a government in utter denial. The continued refusal from Ministers to overhaul the failing test, trace and isolate system is not only pig-headed, but incredibly reckless. “If the Government does not prioritise fixing the broken test, trace and isolate system, the new restrictions being put in place around the country will do very little on their own to help the Government get a grip on this second wave. An effective test, trace and isolate system is fundamental to keeping people safe. “The decision to hand over people’s coronavirus test data to the police will just further undermine the test and…

18Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must get a grip of coronavirus spread in the North

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrats from across the North of England, including four council leaders, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, and Liberal Democrat Leader in the Lords Dick Newby, have written to the Prime Minister stating that the North has been “overlooked by a London-centric government”. The letter calls for a raft measures to be implemented urgently to help stop the spread of the virus across vast swathes of the country.Some of the measures include: Rapidly funding local authorities to enable a local scale-up of the failing test, trace and isolate systemIncreasing support for those who need to self-isolate and cannot work from homeExpanding furlough support until June 2021 Following the letter, Laura Gordon, Chair of the Northern Liberal Network, said: “The Government's strategy so far has failed. Restrictions in areas like Greater Manchester and the North East have been in…

17Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must bring back a deal that protects jobs and livelihoods

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news the government has ended talks with the EU, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Last December the Prime Minister told voters he had an oven ready deal with the EU. Just ten months later he tells us he has finished the talks without a deal. “We are now on the cusp of a bad trade deal or no trade deal - either of which will hit jobs and businesses hard, just when Britain is already suffering from the biggest economic crisis for three hundred years. “The Prime Minister must get back around the table and bring back a deal that protects jobs and livelihoods, already hit by the coronavirus crisis. To do otherwise would be a dereliction of his duty as Prime Minister.

16Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM’s no deal comments further reveal his incompetence

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the Prime Minister has said it's time to 'get ready' for no deal, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Boris Johnson’s handling of Brexit has been disastrous and these reckless comments are just further evidence of the Prime Minister's incompetence. It has been more than four years since the referendum and yet here we are with a potential no deal and less than three months until the transition period ends. "At a time when the UK is already facing the biggest crisis in generations as a result of coronavirus, we cannot afford to crash out of the EU without a deal in place or to accept a rushed, bad deal. The Government cannot allow people's livelihoods to be put further at risk, when so many are…

15Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems vote against “dangerous” Government crimes Bill

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats today led cross-party opposition to the Government’s Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill, calling a vote against the legislation in the House of Commons. The Bill, which would create a legal basis for certain government bodies to authorise undercover agents to commit crimes in the UK, has given rise to major concerns among MPs and human rights organisations for its breadth and the lack of sufficient limits, safeguards and oversight. The Liberal Democrats voted against Third Reading this afternoon, but most Conservative MPs backed it and Labour abstained, so the Bill passed by 313 votes to 98. A Liberal Democrat amendment (Amdt 16) would have restricted the powers in the Bill to the police, the intelligence services, the National Crime Agency and the Serious Fraud Office…

15Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats backing calls for care home window visits

Borough news

With rumours swirling around whether Greater Manchester will move into Tier 3 of the new warning systems, Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani is backing calls for local and national Government to ensure that “window visits” and end-of-life visiting rules are revised to ensure that families get to ensure the care and emotional support that they need. Window visits are conducted on care homes where families are on the grounds, and their relatives stay indoors – they can see each other and hold a real conversation, but the windows reduce the risk of passing on infections. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “I have spoken to local residents who have not been able to offer grandparents the support and love that they need. I absolutely agree with the need to control this virus, but we…

15Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Success on deadline extensions for planning

Borough news

Oldham Council’s planning department has responded to calls from Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani to extend the deadlines for all planning applications affected by the switchover to a new system. Anyone who has been affected should contact the case officer concerned, or email planning.admin@oldham.gov.uk to get the full details. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “It’s good to get a quick and positive response. The Council needs to deliver a planning service that people can trust, and doing this when there has been a problem is a good step. I hope they continue to respond as well in the future.”

15Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Greater Manchester Combined Authority Decommission Bin App R4GM

Borough news

Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Murphy, Shadow Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Culture, is disappointed to learn that the bin app introduced in 2018 has been discontinued. The R4GM bin app for mobile phones contained information such as ‘Where’s my nearest …?’, ‘When’s my bin collected?’, ‘What do I do with..?’, ‘What can I recycle at home?’ and a Contact Us. At the Full Meeting of Oldham Council in July 2016, Councillor Murphy brought a motion asking for a local bin app for Oldham which was almost unanimously supported across the Chamber. Councillor Murphy said: “I have used the app myself many times which can help signpost you to advice, from what to put in the right bin, and what goes where. I was really pleased when I learned that…