News – Page 139 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

12Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Making a green difference – 95% drop in single-use plastic bags welcomed

Borough news, Campaigns, Parliamentary news

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed recent news that sales of single-plastic bags at major supermarkets in England has dropped 95% since the 5 pence charge was brought in. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published date that shows that the main supermarket retailers sold 226 million bags in the 2019/20 financial year compared to an estimated 7.6 billion bags handed out for free in 2015. Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “The introduction of a 5p charge for disposable single-use plastic bags was a Liberal Democrat policy in the Coalition Government. We wanted to introduce this to tackle the culture of shoppers routinely asking for a free bag and then disposing…

12Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GDP figures show need for more radical action from Government

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the economy is facing the worst recession in UK history, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Minister must take immediate action to save jobs and livelihoods as the true economic impact of Covid-19 comes to light. “The Treasury must explain how it is going to stop mass redundancies when the furlough scheme wraps up. It simply cannot be the case that jobs saved in Spring disappear in the autumn. The Chancellor must also be bold about creating new jobs by undertaking a proper ambitious green recovery. “The Prime Minister must immediately work with EU allies to remove the January Brexit cliff edge. A bad deal or no deal at all with our closest trading partners whilst we are in a deep recession…

11Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader says Council ‘absolutely must’ cover Remembrance Sunday services online

Borough news

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to Oldham Council to ask that Remembrance Sunday services at war memorials across the Oldham Borough should this year be filmed and made available online for members of the public to watch. In his letter to the Deputy Chief Executive, Helen Lockwood, Councillor Sykes laments that it was impossible to properly mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day in May and this will also be the case with Victory over Japan Day on 15 August because of the coronavirus restrictions preventing large public gatherings. Councillor Sykes has asked the Council to now plan for online coverage of the Remembrance Sunday events. Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “In Shaw…

11Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Govt must halt use of facial recognition by police

Parliamentary news

Responding to the ruling from the Court of Appeal that the use of automatic facial recognition technology by the South Wales Police is unlawful, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeperson Christine Jardine said: “This ruling is hugely important in the battle to protect civil liberties in this country. The unlawful use of facial recognition in Cardiff raises serious questions about its use by British police forces in the future. “This new form of mass surveillance is being rolled out without any safeguards to protect innocent people from being discriminated against or having their privacy invaded. The Liberal Democrats have long been clear that this is unacceptable - we do not want to see the UK become a society where innocent individuals feel their every movement is being monitored by the police. “Liberal Democrats will…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Almost 1300 drivers still on roads despite receiving 12 points or more, Lib Dems reveal

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have today revealed that 1,278 drivers with 12 points or more on their record are still behind the wheel and called for an examination of whether persistent offenders are being properly dealt with. Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney has warned Ministers that people’s safety is at risk and said: “It’s important that repeat offenders and dangerous drivers are kept off the roads.” With a fall in car use because of the Government’s efforts to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic, the Liberal Democrats believe that the UK Government should address dangerous drivers before the lockdown is lifted. Figures acquired by the Liberal Democrats from the DVLA through freedom of information reveal that: 1,024,489 drivers in the UK currently have points on their licence.1278 drivers currently still on…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt should encourage universities to “exercise leniency” for 2020 admissions

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to issue guidance encouraging universities to "exercise leniency" in admitting students with lower-than-predicted grades, in the wake of concerns about how grades will be awarded this year. Describing plans to prevent students appealing their grades as "completely unacceptable", Layla Moran, the party's Education spokesperson, has written to the Education Secretary calling for him to ensure: Students will have the chance to appeal their grades for free, as well as providing free advice on the appeals process;Guidance is issued about how students can safely re-take assessments in the Autumn;Guidance is issued to universities encouraging them to exercise leniency when it comes to admitting students who are awarded lower grades than predicted, especially if they come from a disadvantaged background. Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lack of test and trace leaving local authorities blind-folded with regional lockdowns

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that a rise in coronavirus cases in Preston has led the Government to reintroduce lockdown measures in that area, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: "The Government must act now to reassure people in the Preston area that they are managing this serious outbreak. This is difficult when the Prime Minister has yet again brought in a regional lockdown without a press conference. "Ministers must urgently examine the data and act immediately if necessary, hand in hand with local government, to keep people safe. "However, this has not happened. Ministers have utterly failed to make sure we have a comprehensive test, trace and isolate system in place. This has left local authorities blind-folded whilst having to try and stop the spread of coronavirus in their…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must provide practical and financial support ahead of schools opening fully

Parliamentary news

Responding to comments from the Prime Minister that reopening schools fully is a "national priority", Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Months of remote learning has seen too many pupils left behind. It is absolutely right to prioritise getting children back to school. "To do so, school leaders, teachers, parents and pupils need to have real confidence that schools will be COVID-safe come September. A comprehensive test, trace and isolate system is critical to reopening classrooms as safely as possible. Ministers need to work with local authorities to improve the NHS Test and Trace service, which is still failing to reach enough close contacts. "The Government must also use these last vital weeks to ensure school leaders have the practical and financial support they need ahead of opening fully.…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader calls for police to get tougher on Covid-19

Borough news

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, has written to the Metropolitan Mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Andy Burnham, asking him to ‘get tougher to tackle the spike in Covid-19’ with a greater police presence on our streets and on our trams. Councillor Sykes is, like many of his constituents, getting increasingly annoyed and frustrated at seeing the actions of a ‘selfish few’, who are ‘frequently and flagrantly’ flouting the regulations on social distancing and the requirement to wear face coverings on public transport and in shops and takeaways. Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “Individuals acting in this manner are endangering themselves and others around them and may well be aiding the transmission of this deadly illness. We need to…

10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

VJ-Day 75 right time to remember ‘forgotten’ 14th Army says Liberal Democrat Leader

Borough news

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Oldham Council Member with responsibility for World War Two commemorations and the Deputy Chief Executive asking Oldham Council to host special events to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan day on 15 August. Councillor Sykes said: “Earlier this year, as every year, there was rightly a focus on commemorating the victory in Europe over Nazi Germany in May 1945. However, in the Far East, young servicemen from Great Britain and the Commonwealth continued to fight for three more months against a ruthless enemy and in a hostile terrain. These were the men of the Fourteenth Army, engaged in heroic actions to liberate Burma from Japanese…