vulnerable children – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

22Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Time to close the legal loophole, says Liberal Democrat Leader

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE is “dismayed” at the findings of a recent BBC investigation (9 July) which identified 164 cases of sports coaches engaging in sexual activity with 16- or 17-year olds in their care since 2016. The Oldham Liberal Democrats proposed a motion to the September 2019 meeting of Oldham Council demanding the Government “close this loophole” in the Sexual Offences Act, making this a criminal offence, as it is with teachers. Commenting on the investigation, Councillor Sykes said: “It is incredibly sad and disturbing that despite the announcement of then Sports Minister Tracey Crouch that a change in the law had been agreed, three years on this Government has still not amended the…

Governmentt must go beyond u-turn on free school meals to give every child best start

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Prime Minister’s u-turn on free school meals, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Too many vulnerable children face falling through the cracks. I am grateful to Marcus Rashford and all those campaigners who have helped force the Prime Minister to rediscover his conscience, but it should never have been needed. "The Government must now work cross-party and with parents, teachers and local governments to do more. We must ensure no child is left behind. "That starts with Liberal Democrat proposals to combine the free school meals voucher scheme with an emergency uplift in child benefit and a ‘catch-up premium’ to ensure every child has the best start in life.”

Government must back proposals to help vulnerable children

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran has written to the Secretary of State for Education, calling for a package of measures to help vulnerable children to be introduced as a priority. The measures outlined in Layla Moran's letter include: the recruitment of a volunteer force to identify and contact vulnerable children the convening of a national Emergency Vulnerable Children Taskforcean uplift to Child Benefit of £150 per month per child The package recommended by the Liberal Democrats has been closely informed by the findings and calls of leading stakeholders, including the Children’s Commissioner, NSPCC and Children’s Society. Following the calls for the government to support her package, Layla Moran said: “This is a national emergency, and the Government needs to take action to reflect that. That’s why the Education Secretary must urgently announce…