recession – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

13Jun 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GDP fall: Barrage of tax hikes is leaving people to suffer

Responding to ONS data revealing GDP fell by 0.3% in April, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “The Government’s barrage of tax hikes and lack of cost-of-living support are leaving people to suffer, and now that’s translating into worrying economic figures. “The UK has the best universities, the best services sector and the best workforce – yet this Government is in such disarray that we’re headed for the lowest growth in the G7. Their incompetence is nothing short of dangerous. “Instead of giving speeches full of empty promises, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak need to start listening to people and give them real help with the cost of living.”

29Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Chancellor must fix ‘black hole’ in business support

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrats have warned the Government that small businesses face a 'black hole' in support, risking thousands of closures and job losses. Furlough begins to taper away and the business rates holiday comes to an end on July 1st. However, restrictions are set to remain in place until 19th July. Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Treasury, Christine Jardine MP said: "This Government seems incapable of hearing the many voices telling them loudly and clearly how desperately small businesses need support to help them cope with the extra period of restrictions, and beyond. "It is completely incomprehensible that the Chancellor is prepared to end so many of the support mechanisms before firms even have a chance to open their doors and start trading. "Why support them for this long and then not…

25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Catastrophic trade deal with EU major blow to our trade

Parliamentary news

Responding to trade stats from the ONS this morning, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Trade Sarah Olney MP said: “The loss of nearly a quarter of our trade with our biggest trading partner should make the Prime Minister and Trade Secretary hang their heads in shame. “Despite the impact of Covid-19, the figures are clear: this is primarily the outcome of the Government’s catastrophic trade deal with the EU. “Hundreds of thousands of British small businesses that rely on trade with Europe have been abandoned by the Government, and their millions of employees will be rightly worried about their future. “We must finally see an end to empty Government slogans about the opportunities of Brexit and see concrete actions to protect the jobs and businesses that depend on trade with Europe.”

18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Unemployment stats: furlough must be maintained until end of year

Parliamentary news

Responding to the latest unemployment figures, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine MP said: "This is still a sharp reminder that there is a lot of work to be done to repair the damage done by the pandemic. "We must not be lulled into any false sense of security by the furlough scheme, which has protected millions of jobs but is due to end in September. It's possible that then we will see the real impact of the pandemic on jobs. “To support people we need to see the furlough scheme maintained at least until the end of the year, and a Revenue Compensation Scheme that will allow small businesses to retain and hire staff. "Ministers must continue to be aware of the potential threat and treat it…

12May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GDP stats: No sugar coating economic damage of Covid and EU trade deal

Parliamentary news

Responding to estimate figures released this morning showing that the UK's GDP contracted by 1.5% in Q1 2021, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "There is no way of sugar coating the clear damage to the economy that these figures demonstrate. "The combination of Covid and the difficulty businesses face in dealing with the new EU trade deal have created a perfect storm for the economy. "This demonstrates again the need for the extension and reform of business support to avoid a damaging cliff edge in September. It's not good enough for the Chancellor to claim he has built business confidence - we need to see real actions, such as the extension of the Furlough scheme and a NICs cut for small businesses."

12Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GDP reaction: Recovery must leaves nobody behind

Parliamentary news

Responding the the GDP figures showing the UK economy shrank by a record 9.9% in 2020, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “We have all seen the devastating effect Coronavirus has had in the past year and the hardship it has created, but these figures put into stark reality what a challenge we face in repairing lives and the economy. “The Chancellor must use the spring Budget to outline how he will build a sustainable recovery that leaves nobody behind. To do that we will need longer, more extensive furlough support that will bring those who've been excluded under the umbrella of Government support and a renewal of the Universal Credit uplift. “The Government must rule out an austerity budget and commit to the long-term investment to create…

07Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must protect businesses and jobs

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have called for the government to suspend business rates through next year, extend furlough and support the self-employed as the UK enters its third lockdown. Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, urged the Chancellor to take real action to save people's jobs as businesses face months of hardship. Ed Davey said: “This lockdown should have come sooner, Boris Johnson has once again ducked making a difficult decision and as a result we are now in a critical situation. "But we must all support it now and do all we can to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. "We also need real action now to save people's jobs, their businesses and their livelihoods. "Small businesses have shown incredible resilience but now they worry…

15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Unemployment rise shows Sunak’s failure to protect jobs from pandemic

Parliamentary news

Responding to the unemployment figures released today, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “These figures are a condemnation of this Government's failure to get a grip on the pandemic's impact on jobs, leaving far too many families worried about how they are going to put food on the table this Christmas. "The Chancellor's constant chop-and-change approach to the furlough scheme and his inability to put together a comprehensive plan to save jobs is taking a huge toll. "The Government must ensure furlough stays in place until at least June – and extend support to the three million people who still remain excluded from any support whatsoever. Just as crucially, Ministers must ensure there is an Adjustment Period for businesses before new trade rules begin, to avoid a second spike…

01Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Debenhams collapse means more jobs wiped away on Rishi’s watch

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that Debenhams stores are set to close affecting up to 12,000 jobs, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The news that Debenhams will be closing its stores is yet another blow to the UK economy. With the Arcadia Group entering administration last night, thousands more jobs have been potentially wiped away on Rishi Sunak's watch. "During the pandemic when so many are already struggling to get by, unemployment will have a devastating impact. This Government's failure to get a grip on the virus has seen tens of thousands of livelihoods lost, and these extra job losses means thousands more families across the UK wondering how they're going to get by. “Our high streets now need urgent government action to safeguard their future. A first step…

18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government plan for Green Industrial Revolution won’t “undo the damage” of last five years

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Government's "Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution", Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “This plan fails to undo the damage the Conservatives have done to the UK's progress on climate change over the past five years. It pledges to continue selling fossil fuel powered hybrid cars past 2030 and promises to extend the Green Homes Grant by just one year. “We need a long term plan, backed by meaningful funding, to tackle the climate climate emergency and kickstart a green recovery from Covid-19, alongside a new Department of Climate Change to coordinate this plan and a significant devolution of powers across the UK, not more piecemeal pledges. “Liberal Democrats are calling for £150 billion in funding for a Green Economic Recovery, with investment across every…