News – Page 129 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

01Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM mistaken in thinking he can break the law without consequence

Responding to reports that the European Commission has launched legal action against the UK, following the UK Government's refusal to remove sections from the Internal Market Bill, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Contrary to the belief of senior Government figures and their families, breaking the law has consequences. It beggars belief that Boris Johnson and his Government seem to think that not only are they above the law, but they can get off scot-free when breaking it. “How can Ministers seriously condemn other countries, like Russia and China, for failing to respect international treaties if they don’t do the same when it comes to the Withdrawal Agreement? “No one should be surprised that the UK will face legal action if Boris Johnson pushes ahead with the Internal Market Bill.…

01Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tories’ nasty plans for asylum seekers not the answer

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the Home Office is considering converting disused ferries to process people seeking asylum in the UK, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “We all want to prevent people from making dangerous attempts to cross the Channel, but these absurd Home Office proposals are not the answer. "Tory Ministers are showing no regard either for the wellbeing of asylum seekers or the island communities they want to turn into detention camps. "Instead of coming up with ever more impractical, ever nastier ways of treating asylum seekers, the Government must restore safe and legal routes to sanctuary for refugees – especially unaccompanied children. "The UK has a proud history of providing sanctuary to those in need, and Liberal Democrats will not let the Government turn its back…

01Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Saddleworth and Oldham Tories out of step on planning with party colleagues

Borough news

Saddleworth and Oldham Conservative Councillors showed themselves to be out of step with party colleagues when voting against a recent motion at Oldham Council. The motion, supported by Liberal Democrat Councillors, called for the government’s recently-published proposals to radically reform the planning process to be scrapped. Conservative Councillor Graham Sheldon spoke, and voted, against the motion arguing that: “The once in a generation reforms will lay the foundations for a brighter future for Oldham and Saddleworth”, but his enthusiasm is not shared by Conservative Councillors elsewhere. A recent survey by Savanta Comres of Conservative Councillors across the country found 61% opposed to the government’s proposals, contained in a White Paper called Planning for the Future. This majority believe the proposals will make planning less democratic as elected members and members…

01Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Clarity of purpose and clarity of messages essential to defeat Covid – Davey

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Prime Minister's coronavirus briefing yesterday, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “Another day, another press conference, another blown opportunity by the Prime Minister to give the assurances the British public so desperately need. Testing remains shambolic and people’s livelihoods hang on a knife edge with no extension of the furlough scheme to protect them. “When I have been listening to communities across the country, they are desperately worried about their jobs and the terrible uncertainty they have around the testing regime. “Make no mistake the UK's lack of preparedness for the second wave lies squarely at the feet of Boris Johnson and his Government. Bluff and bluster can no longer be put in front of adequate provision for our NHS, our teachers, our carers and all our key…

29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems back proposals for “world class” mental health support for health and care staff

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference has backed new plans to provide “world class” mental support for health and care staff, including calls for a 24/7 mental health support hotline for staff. The motion was agreed as the latest figures from the NHS show that anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses accounted for over half a million days’ absence in May 2020. This is an increase of 37% on the same month last year, according to analysis by the Liberal Democrats. The Party has now adopted policies that would see mental health support services strengthened for “under pressure and overstretched” health and care staff, including ancillary workers like porters and cleaners. Specific measures include: That a mental health support phone hotline is made available 24/7 for health and care staff. Scrapping HR practices that encourage presenteeism and can deter staff…

29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems urge Government to tackle spread of fake news

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have passed a motion urging the Government to step up and tackle the spread of fake news and misinformation, especially in light of the coronavirus crisis. The motion, passed at the Party's Autumn conference, also calls on the Government to improve its transparency with Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper demanding Ministers "get their own house in order". The proposals agreed by conference include: Government to introduce stricter regulations for social media companies such as issuing fact-checked corrections to scientifically inaccurate posts, as well as amending their algorithms to de-promote misinformation and 'fake news'The Leveson model of co-regulation for publishers to be extended to all platforms which allow comment from both paid and unpaid contributors.Mandating the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority to provide regular proactive comment…

29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Time to campaign for Universal Basic Income has come, Lib Dems declare

Parliamentary news

To bring an end to the financial insecurity faced by the most vulnerable, the Liberal Democrats have agreed plans to campaign for a Universal Basic Income. The Party’s new Economy spokesperson Christine Jardine challenged her Party to “fulfill Beveridge’s legacy” by tackling the injustice of too many people being “caught between low-paid work and a punitive benefits system.” In demanding reform, the Liberal Democrats have pointed to the estimated 8.5 million adults and 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK, as well as the people that society relies on but aren’t adequately supported, such as unpaid carers - the majority of whom are women. Under plans to be worked on by the Liberal Democrat Federal Policy Committee, the very richest in society will pay more into the system…

29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shaw Liberal Democrats seek to save Shaw jobs after Yodel move

Borough news

Yodel have written to the Shaw Ward Councillors informing them that they are looking to relocate within the next five years from the Shaw site to a ‘super hub’. Yodel has advised Councillors that this would still be within the North West. They have also made a company commitment to protect the current workforce and expand job opportunities. Councillor Chris Gloster stated: “This news was not unexpected. Although home shopping is on the increase, sadly old cotton mills are quickly becoming unsuitable for modern logistical operations. However, Yodel is an integral part of the Shaw community and the company employs many people from our community.” “As local Councillors, we welcome the invitation that Yodel have offered us to work with them to look at how best to protect the existing…

29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call on Govt to tackle ‘Long Covid’

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat proposals which, if taken up, would see the Government get a grip on the coronavirus crisis have been passed at the Party's Autumn conference. In particular, the motion urged the Government to not only recognise and commission research into 'Long Covid', but also develop a rehabilitation strategy for investing in and increasing services to help people recover from the virus. Following the passing of the motion, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “As we enter into a second wave, it's essential that the Government learns the necessary lessons from the first wave of the pandemic and steps up support for all those who need it. In particular, it is crucial the Government puts in place a rehabilitation strategy for all those who have fallen seriously ill from…

29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems challenge Govt’s “power grab” planning proposals

Parliamentary news

In a policy motion adopted at the Liberal Democrats’ Autumn Conference, the Party has warned that the Government’s planning proposals will “disempower” councils and allow developers to “run roughshod” over local communities’ wishes. The motion lays bare the risks of the Government’s proposals, which the Party argue amount to a Government “power grab” that will reduce investment in affordable housing, damage public scrutiny of planning decisions, and potentially undermine climate commitments. By supporting the motion, the Liberal Democrat members reaffired their commitment to challenging the move through the Government’s consultation process and reject the “reduction of local control”. Liberal Democrat Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson Tim Farron said: “Planning decisions have incredible power to shape the places we live for the better. Local people are clearly best placed to…