01Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Budget: Don’t Scrap Green Homes Grant, Lib Dems tell Chancellor

Budget: Don’t Scrap Green Homes Grant, Lib Dems tell Chancellor

Parliamentary news
Ahead of Wednesday’s budget Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency, has written to the Chancellor imploring him not to scrap the Green Homes Grant scheme. According to reports the Government is to withdraw funding for the scheme that aims to support people in retrofitting their homes to cut bills and reduce emissions. Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency Wera Hobhouse MP said: “In the year the UK is hosting COP26 – the most important climate negotiations since the Paris Agreement, the Conservatives must not undermine our legitimacy on ambitious climate policy. For the sake of those in fuel poverty and the UK's efforts to stop the climate crisis, the Green Homes Grant must not be scrapped. “Retrofitting homes is vital in the fight to tackle…
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28Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Rail fares rise: End of the line for Government control of fares

Rail fares rise: End of the line for Government control of fares

Parliamentary news
On Monday, rail fares are due to increase by 2.6%, which is above inflation.* The Liberal Democrats will hold a vote at their conference in March to end Government control of rail fares. In response to another rise in fares, Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport, called for an end to Government setting rail fares and an immediate fare freeze: “It is appalling that yet again people are being hit by another grossly unfair Government approved hike in rail fares. "Enough is enough. The Chancellor’s budget should announce taking ticket prices out the hands of Government and give power to an independent agency with real teeth to give a fair deal to passengers. This new agency should be told on day one their mission is to not only…
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27Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Reported business grants offer is an insult

Reported business grants offer is an insult

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine MP has described the Government’s reported plan to only provide businesses with £5 billion in grants to get through the economic crisis, as an “insult”. She said: “At a time when millions of small businesses are struggling to survive, to offer them just £5 billion would be an insult. “From beauticians to builders, florists to café owners – the small businesses in our communities are on the brink and the Chancellor must do more. “It is now or never to save a million businesses in our local communities and the Government must put their recovery first. “We need to see a budget with a bold and ambitious compensation package for those who are facing crippling losses, and coping with hardship through no fault of…
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25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Fire Safety: Rejected protection hammer blow to leaseholders

Fire Safety: Rejected protection hammer blow to leaseholders

Parliamentary news
Parliament has rejected Lords Amendment Four to the Fire Safety Bill, which would prohibit the owner of a building from passing on any remediation costs to leaseholders and tenants. This followed a debate on several related amendments. Responding to the failed amendments, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper said: “Liberal Democrats shamed the Conservative government into allowing a proper and meaningful debate on these amendments. For them to now reject this vital protection is a hammer blow to leaseholders, who now face the prospect of financial ruin, trapped in unsafe homes. “Fire safety campaigners fought side by side with our MPs and Peers in Parliament to make one thing clear: leaseholders should not have to foot the bill to make their homes safe from the risk of fire.…
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25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey welcomes people with learning disabilities being invited for Covid vaccines

Ed Davey welcomes people with learning disabilities being invited for Covid vaccines

Parliamentary news
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has welcomed the news that all people with learning disabilities will be invited for Covid vaccines. Ed asked the Prime Minister about the issue in the House of Commons on Monday, and has previously written to the Prime Minister urging him to prioritise people with learning disabilities for vaccination. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “This news will come as welcome relief for families across the country. I am glad the Government has listened to me and other carers speaking up for our loved ones. “We know that people with learning disabilities are extremely vulnerable to Covid, yet they have far too often been forgotten and ignored by Ministers. The number who have died is heartbreakingly high. “The Government must provide…
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25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Govt must scrap cruel Vagrancy Act

Govt must scrap cruel Vagrancy Act

Parliamentary news
Responding to Robert Jenrick's remarks in the House of Commons that the Vagrancy Act should be repealed, Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development, said: “I'm delighted to hear that Robert Jenrick thinks the outdated, cruel Vagrancy Act should be consigned to history. The Liberal Democrats and colleagues on all sides agree and have been urging him to repeal for years. "In 2021 sleeping rough should not be a crime. Scrapping this archaic law represents the first step in a journey to taking a more compassionate and holistic approach to homelessness. "I've already introduced a cross-party Bill that would repeal it in a heartbeat. It's time for Jenrick to follow through on his word, pick it up and scrap the Act." The Vagrancy Act 1824…
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25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes supports ‘Shopkeepers’ Campaign’ for business rates cut

Sykes supports ‘Shopkeepers’ Campaign’ for business rates cut

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has shown his support for the ‘Shopkeepers’ Campaign’ that is calling for a cut in the business rates that high street retailers pay. In 2020, Revo, a membership group representing retailers, launched the campaign to cut and reform business rates for retail property. Since its introduction, this tax has increased by almost 50 per cent for bricks-and-mortar stores and is one of the largest costs paid by shopkeepers. It has led to the closure of many shops, leading to job losses and a loss of customer choice. During the COVID-19 Lockdown, non-food shops have been forced to close for long periods, and many more now face ruin. The government is conducting a Fundamental Review of Business…
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25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government support runs dry leaving local businesses waiting

Government support runs dry leaving local businesses waiting

Borough news
Oldham Council is still waiting for the Government to provide further funding for local businesses which have been forced to close, despite the previous funding running out on February 15. The Conservative Government will not be providing the money, which is a lifeline for local people, until they provide information on how long businesses are likely to have to keep their doors closed. Leader of the opposition, and Shadow Cabinet Member with responsibility for coronavirus, Howard Sykes MBE said: “It is sadly unsurprising that the Conservative Government has left local businesses high and dry. For a Government which seems to be very good at organising coronavirus contracts for businesses owned by people they know, they seem incredibly bad at making payments for everyone else.” Once the Government confirms what is…
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25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conservatives ‘right to regenerate’ is another attempt to put developers first

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:…
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25Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Exams: Williamson has failed to show leadership

Exams: Williamson has failed to show leadership

Parliamentary news
Responding to the announcement that A level and GCSE results are to be decided by teaches, Daisy Cooper MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, commented: “Parents, teachers and pupils have been left in limbo for months because the Government has dithered and delayed about how to carry out assessments this year. Liberal Democrats led the calls for exams to be cancelled as soon as it was clear that holding traditional exams in a way which would be fair to all pupils would be impossible, given the very different experiences pupils have had of the pandemic and school closures. Kirsty Williams, the Liberal Democrat Education Minister in the Welsh Government, confirmed in November last year that assessments would not go ahead in the usual way. By contrast, this government has needlessly…
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