10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Hong Kong: Government must act to prevent end of democracy

Hong Kong: Government must act to prevent end of democracy

Parliamentary news
Today, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran, has challenged the Government to set out a clear plan to protect Hong Kong's democracy & Basic Law. Layla has called on new Magnitsky sanctions and bringing the case to the International Court of Justice. Layla Moran secured an Urgent Question in Parliament about the proposed reforms to Hong Kong’s electoral system by the Chinese Government. Under the plans, people wishing to stand for election in Hong Kong will have to be approved as ‘patriots’ by a panel of Communist Party officials. Layla said the Government had a “legal obligation” to act and that “bullies” like China "only understand words when they are followed by action. Speaking after her Urgent Question to the Minister for Asia, she said: “I urge the Government…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
MP calls on Govt to address maternal mental health

MP calls on Govt to address maternal mental health

Parliamentary news
Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, has today held a Westminster Hall debate on the mental health of mothers during the perinatal period, with a specific focus on the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated systemic problems for vulnerable women. She commented: “The sheer volume of responses we’ve had in just a matter of days signals just how significant an issue this is, and how critical it is we act quickly. “Even before the pandemic took hold of public resources, this was a service that was chronically underfunded and understaffed. It’s clear we need better mental health support for all ages and at all stages. We also need better training throughout our health service to identify and support those who are struggling. This must be a…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems welcome new protections on revenge porn and cross-examination

Lib Dems welcome new protections on revenge porn and cross-examination

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have welcomed the key protections being introduced today in the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill that would extend the crime of revenge porn to include threats to share intimate images, and widen the ban on cross-examination of survivors of domestic abuse in the civil courts. Commenting on the amendment outlawing threats to share private sexual images, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: “Revenge porn is a despicable form of abuse. The number of people who have received threats from a partner or ex-partner to share intimate images is truly shocking, and the harm it can cause is appalling. “The Liberal Democrats led the fight to outlaw revenge porn in 2015, and we argued then that the ban should include threats to share images. “I’m glad we have…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
LGBT advisor resignation exposes ignorant Government

LGBT advisor resignation exposes ignorant Government

Parliamentary news
Responding to Jayne Ozanne’s resignation from the Government's LGBT Advisory Panel, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: "This resignation highlights how badly this Conservative Government is letting down the LGBT+ community in our country. "LGBT+ people still face far too much discrimination, and the Government must do far more to tackle it. It is clear that Boris Johnson and the Conservatives are not up to the job of tackling prejudice in our society. "Ministers’ failure to ban conversion therapy has exposed just how little they care about the issues facing the LGBT+ community. Boris Johnson has been far too slow and his inaction now disturbs even his own advisors. "Liberal Democrats are continuing our fight to ban conversion therapy. The Government must act now to end this awful practice."
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Nurses Pay: Lib Dems at PMQs call out pitiful 1% pay rise

Nurses Pay: Lib Dems at PMQs call out pitiful 1% pay rise

Parliamentary news
Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called on the Prime Minister to reconsider the real terms pay cut for NHS workers at Prime Minister's Questions. Daisy Cooper MP said: "The Government is throwing a staggering £37 billion at a Test & Trace system that we know has made barely any difference but yet it says that it cannot afford to give more than a pitiful 1% pay rise to NHS workers. "The Prime Minister has said that he owes his life to them, he stood on the steps of No 10 and applauded them. So will the Prime Minister do more than pay lip service and pay them them the wage they deserve." The Liberal Democrats are calling for a proper and substantial above real terms…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must give travel industry clarity

Government must give travel industry clarity

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine MP attended an online meeting with key figures from the travel industry this morning to discuss the issues facing the sector. At the event, hosted by the travel industry publication Travel Trade Gazette, attendees spoke of their frustration at lack of sector specific support and clarity from the Government over quarantine, the mounting debts many travel companies and tour operators are facing, and welcomed the idea of the revenue replacement scheme which the Liberal Democrats called for in the Budget. Christine Jardine MP said: "Listening to the issues faced by the travel industry it is clear that the Government need to provide a much more tailored approach for the sector, and that the sort of revenue replacement scheme that the Liberal Democrats…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Small businesses need help, not more ways of taking on debt

Small businesses need help, not more ways of taking on debt

Parliamentary news
Responding to the British Business Bank's new report, which shows gross bank lending (excluding overdrafts) to smaller businesses rose to £104bn, up 82% year-on-year, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Treasury, Christine Jardine MP, said: "These latest figures illustrate just how desperately our small businesses need a lifeline, which the Chancellor failed to throw them in his budget. "They need help not more ways of taking on debt to survive. “Firms in sectors like travel, retail and tourism are finding that their owners who have already invested decades of their time are now spending their life savings and taking on debt. "These are viable businesses, who have supported jobs in our communities and who followed the Government's guidelines, yet are paying the price. “That is why I am calling for urgent compensation…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham Council fails again to address equality issues

Oldham Council fails again to address equality issues

Borough news
Oldham’s Labour Council has against delayed agreeing its equality objectives, some 15 months after they were legally required to be updated – meaning that they are now unlikely to be introduced until well after the elections in May. After numerous delays, they updated objectives were due to come to Council for agreement in March, but after an administrative error, they still have to go to be reviewed by four other bodies before they can be approved by the Council. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “The Council’s equality objectives should be championing the needs of the elderly, the disabled, the poor and the working class – anyone who is disadvantaged, for whatever reason.  “For 15 months, the Labour Council has failed to support those people, by setting any objectives. If you…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Period poverty plea to Oldham schools and colleges on International Women’s Day

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Councillors Diane Williamson and Hazel Gloster have sent a joint letter to all of Oldham’s state-funded schools and colleges on International Women’s Day (8 March) calling on them to sign up to a government scheme which provides free sanitary products for low-income students. An inability to access or afford sanitary products prevents some students from attending classes. With the post-Lockdown return to education planned from today, this issue is even more important. Councillor Williamson explained: “The 8 March is celebrated every year as International Women’s Day. The advancement of girls and women in our society has been greatly enhanced by their ability to participate in, and benefit, from education at all levels, yet the attendance of girls and young women from lower-income households at their school or college…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrat Leader proposes new farmers’ and producers’ market for Shaw

Liberal Democrat Leader proposes new farmers’ and producers’ market for Shaw

Borough news
Shaw Councillor and Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, wants to see Shaw host a monthly farmers’ and producers’ market to ‘showcase’ local fare. In his letter to Sara Hewitt, Oldham Council’s Markets Manager, he suggests that such a market would be ‘a new and exciting opportunity to shop and sell in our borough post-Lockdown.’ Councillor Sykes explained: “Oldham people have been turning more to local producers and suppliers for their groceries and household goods to help support local businesses and for the extra-special service they offer. Money spent with these businesses stays local and because everything is locally made and transported there are fewer food miles which is good for the environment. I want to see us capitalise on that loyalty by offering these producers and suppliers a…
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