human rights – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

01Nov 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Council still using CCTV equipment from Chinese supplier linked to human rights abuses

Oldham Council is using CCTV equipment supplied by Chinese company Hikvision, despite a House of Commons report last year which linked Hikvision to serious human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has written to the Council urging them to blacklist Hikvision and if possible, remove their equipment from sites across Oldham where possible. A breakdown of Hikvision equipment owned and operated by the council was obtained by the Liberal Democrat Group after a freedom of information request was issued by councillor Sykes. Councillor Sykes said, “Hikvision have been blacklisted in the United States because of concerns about their role in human rights violations, targeting Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The firm has provided camera technology which has been used in internment camps in…

28Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems to vote against Patel’s Protest Crackdown Laws

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat MPs will today [Monday 28th February] vote against the Government’s attempts to reintroduce draconian laws cracking down on the right to protest. Two key laws were removed from the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill through Liberal Democrat amendments in the House of Lords last month. They would create new powers to impose restrictions on public assemblies and one-person protests. Liberal Democrats also supported cross-party amendments to remove the power to ban protests that are “too noisy”. The Government has tabled motions to overturn those Lords amendments, which the House of Commons will debate today. Ahead of the votes, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Priti Patel’s Protest Crackdown Laws are dangerous and draconian. The fundamental right to peaceful assembly and protest has always…

05Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government attacks on Human Rights Act must end

Parliamentary news

Responding to Dominic Raab's comments on the Human Rights Act, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael MP said: "This Conservative Government’s attacks on human rights and the rule of law must stop. "Trying to weaken people’s ability to challenge the Government just because the courts sometimes rule against you is the act of dictators and despots, not democrats. "Liberal Democrats will oppose any attempts to water down the Human Rights Act and will always defend individuals’ abilities to challenge the government and uphold their rights."

23Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Kabul: Impending withdrawal stresses need for “safe corridor” escape route

Parliamentary news

Reacting to the news that the last British evacuation flight out of Kabul could be as early as Tuesday, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "Thousands of Afghans have been plunged into desperation by this arbitrarily set and cruel deadline for the last flight out of Kabul. "They are depending on us to evacuate them safely and save them from the terror of the Taliban. Britain must not turn its back on them now. "It is vital that the Government work with our international allies to secure a corridor of land between Kabul and an international border without delay, so there is an ongoing safe escape route out of Afghanistan. "Scenes at Kabul airport continue to horrify the world and show it is of paramount importance that…

16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Hungary: Anti-LGBT+ law is “disgusting” human rights violation

Parliamentary news

Responding to the passing of legislation by the Hungarian Parliament that bans materials in schools deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "Quite simply this is a disgusting piece of legislation which violates human rights and will lead to lasting harm to LGBT+ individuals. Homophobic persecution of this sort is something we are used to seeing in Vladmir Putin’s Russia, not in an EU member state. It is appalling. “But this is only the latest repressive step from Viktor Orban, whose record on antisemitism, Islamophobia, LGBT+ and women’s rights, and so much more besides is utterly abysmal. Despite this, Boris Johnson still thought Viktor Orban was worthy of rolling out the Downing Street red carpet last month. What signal does that…

23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must act now on slave labour World Cup after Super League collapse

Parliamentary news

Following the collapse of the European Super League, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Sport, Jamie Stone MP, has called on the Government to "speak out against slavery" associated with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. According to data compiled from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, 6500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since it won the right to host the World Cup 10 years ago. Several human rights organisations have raised concerns about Qatar's treatment of migrant workers who arrived in the country following the successful 2022 World Cup bid. There is consensus that the infrastructure supporting Qatar's World Cup has relied on the practice of modern-day slavery, with little to no action from the Qatari Government and with minimal comment from the UK Government. After the Prime Minister's…

23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call for diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP has called on the Government to commit to a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. Moran, who spoke in Parliament on the debate about Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide in Xinjiang, called for a full diplomatic boycott of the event, which would prohibit Government ministers and dignitaries from attending the games. Speaking after she took part in the debate, Layla Moran said: “A diplomatic boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics would send a clear message to the Chinese government. We’ve had enough hand-wringing and prevaricating. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. “In the debate I focused on Uyghur women and children, many of whom are being taken from their relatives, while their parents are detained. They are subjected to…

21Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Serious concerns over Overseas Operations Bill

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have spoken out against the Overseas Operations Bill in its current form and warned of an "erosion of human rights". The Government are reportedly preparing to table an amendment to the bill following pressure from the House of Lords. Lib Dem Spokesperson for Defence Jamie Stone MP said: "Liberal Democrats have had serious concerns about the Overseas Operations Bill and its implications for human rights, the rule of law and our service personnel. The Government's concession to ensure torture, genocide and crimes against humanity remain open to prosecution is long-overdue. It shouldn't have taken them this long to recognise the Bill's stark moral failure. This is a major win for Liberal Democrats and others who have engaged in cross-party efforts to press the Government to remove these…

19Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Jimmy Lai: UK Government must stand up for Hong Kong’s democracy

Parliamentary news

Reacting to the news that Jimmy Lai, the owner of Hong Kong's last opposition newspaper, has been sentenced to a year in prison, Lib Dem Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "Jimmy Lai's sentencing is a solemn, urgent reminder the UK and the international community that democratic opposition is being snuffed out in Hong Kong. “The UK is failing in its duty under the Joint Declaration and international law to preserve Hong Kong’s democracy and human rights. Any red line has been crossed. The time for Dominic Raab and Boris Johnson to act is long overdue. “The Liberal Democrats will stand, as we always have, with the people of Hong Kong. The Government can make no more excuses - it is time for the UK to step up, lead…

30Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

UK failing in its duty to Hong Kong

Parliamentary news

Responding to China imposing sweeping electoral changes in Hong Kong, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Layla Moran MP said: “This amending of the Basic Law by China’s rubber-stamp legislature is a clear breach of the Joint Declaration. The Government must respond with firm action, as it has done elsewhere - words of condemnation have done nothing to protect Hong Kong’s democracy. “The UK is failing in its duty under the Joint Declaration and international law to preserve Hong Kong’s institutions and human rights. Any red line has been crossed. If Dominic Raab won’t stand up now and act, when? “The Liberal Democrats will stand, as we always have, with the people of Hong Kong. The Government can make no more excuses - it is time for the UK to…