conservative hypocrisy – Page 5 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Conservative Candidate’s comments on Mayor “an all-time low”

Borough news

A candidate for the Conservatives in the recent local elections has sunk to an all-time low, by inferring those councillors who serve as the Mayor of Oldham are “parasites” for “just putting a faux fur coat on and parading around in chains”. Councillor Diane Williamson, recently re-elected Liberal Democrat councillor for Crompton, said: “I am absolutely appalled at these comments that Mr Lewis Quigg made on his Facebook Page, considering the Leader of the Conservative Group on Oldham Council seconded the nomination for the new Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jenny Harrison on Wednesday 19 May 2021 and that the former Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor John Hudson OBE, served as Mayor of Oldham for the municipal year 2013-14.” Councillor Williamson is well-aware of the honour that serving Oldham Borough…

25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservatives ‘right to regenerate’ is another attempt to put developers first

Borough news

The Conservative Government has continued its attack on public green spaces with a new consultation on ‘right to regenerate’, which proposes that “inefficient use of public sector land” should be challenged, and used to build developments. The Government is suggesting that the current right to contest – which gives local authorities the right to refuse if the cost of selling would not be good value for the taxpayer – should be replaced, so that more sites would be made available for development. Recent proposals from the Government on planning law show that the Conservatives are already trying to ensure that more developers get automatic approval for sites, rather than targeting environmentally friendly development that on sites actually in need of regeneration, with proper infrastructure support. Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Mark Kenyon said:…

20Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Masks slips as Tories dodge vote on foreign aid

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the Government will not give MPs a vote before cutting the aid budget, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “By avoiding a vote after promising one the Conservatives have confirmed what we already knew: they don’t need legislation to make a temporary cut. “The Liberal Democrats, who crafted the Act enshrining the target into law, are assured that temporarily not meeting the target is permitted by the law as long as you make a statement once a year. There are no sanctions. The real question is why bring legislation at all. And it would be for only one reason: to make the cut permanent. “The mask has slipped and we’re now seeing the callous Tories for who they really are. Their short-sighted…

17Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader appeals to Home Secretary over DBS checks for Councillors

Borough news, CSE

The Oldham Liberal Democrats have appealed to the Home Secretary to change the law to make it lawful and easier for local authorities to conduct enhanced criminal records checks (now called DBS checks) on local councillors. The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has recently corresponded with the Disclosure and Barring Service, which is responsible for carrying out DBS checks. They informed him that under the law as it currently stands local authorities are unable to carry out such checks on elected members. Dismayed at the response, Councillor Sykes yesterday wrote to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel MP, asking her to ‘make Councillors a specifically listed role in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (so) local authorities…

10Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

MPs silenced on future Trade Deals

Parliamentary news

Reacting to the Government rejection of scrutiny amendments to the Trade Bill, Liberal Democrat Trade spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “The British public have the right to be represented in the negotiation of new trade deals and that means Parliament having its say. It is outrageous that the Government has refused, once again, to back Parliamentary scrutiny in the Trade Bill. “Whether its safeguarding environmental regulations, protecting human rights or maintaining food standards, we have a duty as representatives of the public to scrutinise and vote on the detail of any future trade deal. The Conservatives have voted to ensure that all MPs will be silenced on all future trade deals. “Liberal Democrats will continue the fight to hold this Government to account. It is vital MPs have their say…

15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cummings pay rise shows yet again one rule for Tory Government

Parliamentary news

Responding to the publication of the Annual Report on Special Advisers 2020, which shows that prior to his departure from Number 10 Dominic Cummings’ salary was £140,000-£144,999 – up from £95,000-£99,999 the year before – Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper said: “Families across the country who are facing extraordinary financial hardship right now will be appalled that their taxes were being wasted to pay Dominic Cummings more than five times as much as a nurse. "Not only did Boris Johnson undermine public trust by refusing to sack Cummings when he flagrantly broke lockdown with his trips to Durham and Barnard Castle, now we learn he gave him a huge pay rise. "This is yet another outrage from a Conservative Government that thinks there’s one rule for them…

22Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM’s refusal to sack Home Secretary shows one rule for them and another for everyone else

Parliamentary news

Responding to the resignation of the Government's independent adviser on standards following the Prime Minister's refusal to sack Priti Patel, despite it being found she has breached the Ministerial Code, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Priti Patel has broken the Ministerial Code. Boris Johnson should have sacked her. “The fact that the independent adviser on ministerial standards has felt the need to resign means that no one can have confidence in Boris Johnson’s handling of these bullying allegations. “Bullying is a destructive force with devastating consequences. We must not tolerate it anywhere in our society – and certainly not at the highest levels of Government. “The job of the Prime Minister is to set an example, but once again Boris Johnson has failed. He seems to believe there…

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…

10Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call out PM’s “brazen hypocrisy” on rule of law

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have demanded the Prime Minister explain his “brazen hypocrisy” given his Government's readiness to break international law with the Internal Market Bill, while expecting “everybody in this country to obey the law”. The accusation follows an exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions where Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson asked: “If Ministers think it is acceptable for this Government to not obey the law, how on earth can the Prime Minister expect the public at home to do so?” Despite confirmation yesterday from the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis that the proposed Northern Ireland customs legislation “does break international law”, the Prime Minister told the House of Commons that he expects “everybody in this country to obey the law”. The Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham has called on the…