18Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
1 in 7 disabled people experience domestic abuse

1 in 7 disabled people experience domestic abuse

Parliamentary news
Responding to new figures which show that 1 in 7 disabled people aged 16-59 in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the year to March 2020, and that disabled women were more than twice as likely to have experienced domestic abuse during the same period, Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Justice, Women and Equalities said: “The rates of domestic abuse against disabled people – especially disabled women – are shockingly high. Even more concerning is that these figures are from before the pandemic, and we know that lockdown has made the situation far worse. “We must do much more to prevent domestic abuse and support survivors. The Domestic Abuse Bill – promised by the Conservatives almost four years ago – cannot come into law soon enough. Liberal…
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18Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Courts rule Home Office charges unlawful: Lib Dem response

Courts rule Home Office charges unlawful: Lib Dem response

Parliamentary news
Today the Court of Appeal has ruled that the £1,012 fee charged by the Home Office for registering a child as a British citizen is unlawful. Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs, urged the fees to be reduced immediately: “It’s shameful that children are being denied their rights by these outrageous, extortionate Home Office fees. The Government should immediately reduce these fees to no more than the cost of administration. “I’ve almost lost count of the number of times this Conservative Government’s policies have been found to be unlawful. These cases highlight why it’s so important that individuals can hold governments to account through the courts using judicial review. “Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money defending her bad decisions in the courts, Priti Patel should get on with…
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18Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
No more games of wait and see with people’s lives

No more games of wait and see with people’s lives

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Resolution Foundation report*, finding almost two million workers have not worked for at least six months of the crisis, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “These figures show exactly why the Government needs to act decisively and the budget will tell us if they have the courage to do what it takes to rescue the economy. We need bold and ambitious investment plans to create jobs, or else risk a lost generation which will hurt our country for decades to come.” "There can be no more games of wait and see with people’s lives. We need long-term plans for furlough and vital financial support for those who have already suffered too much in this pandemic."
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18Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
UCAS response: Govt must step up on student mental health

UCAS response: Govt must step up on student mental health

Parliamentary news
Responding to today's UCAS figures*, finding student application numbers rising, particularly in health courses, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP, said: “Record numbers applying for health courses is a real sign of hope for Britain. Not only have younger people seen the extraordinary commitment of front-line workers during this pandemic, but they now want to follow in their footsteps. "But it’s clear that the continuing pandemic and its after-effects are going to unleash a tsunami of mental ill health for those who have served on the NHS and care front-line. It's vital that the government steps up to support new health students as they enter one of the most challenging times in the history” *Please find UCAS figures here:https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/nursing-applications-soar-ucas-publishes-latest-undergraduate-applicant-analysis
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18Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
More frequent, more reliable train service for Greenfield

More frequent, more reliable train service for Greenfield

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Councillors want to see a half-hourly train service from Greenfield to Manchester and Huddersfield, and an hourly train direct to Leeds, to make rail travel more frequent and more reliable for passengers. Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who represents Oldham on the Transport for Greater Manchester Board and is the Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has responded to the Greenfield Rail Action Group to confirm that he supports the group’s aspirations for a better and more reliable train service to the only mainland train station actually located within the Oldham Borough.  Following the introduction of a new timetable in May 2018, rail services were thrown into chaos, and many passengers at Greenfield were left stranded waiting for trains that had a shocking record for punctuality…
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17Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader appeals to Home Secretary over DBS checks for Councillors

Borough news, CSE
The Oldham Liberal Democrats have appealed to the Home Secretary to change the law to make it lawful and easier for local authorities to conduct enhanced criminal records checks (now called DBS checks) on local councillors. The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has recently corresponded with the Disclosure and Barring Service, which is responsible for carrying out DBS checks. They informed him that under the law as it currently stands local authorities are unable to carry out such checks on elected members. Dismayed at the response, Councillor Sykes yesterday wrote to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel MP, asking her to ‘make Councillors a specifically listed role in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (so) local authorities…
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16Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes joins Lib Dem Leaders in call for permanent Universal Credit boost

Sykes joins Lib Dem Leaders in call for permanent Universal Credit boost

Borough news
Over 30 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and elected Mayors in England have written to the government calling for the £20 a week increase in Universal Credit, introduced in March 2020, to be made permanent. The letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP follows a vote in Parliament held on Monday 18th January 2021 in which the government the abstained and in which all Liberal Democrat MPs attending voted in favour of maintaining the increase. The motion to increase Universal Credit was carried by 278 votes to nil. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE who serves as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association, as well as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, was one of the signatories.…
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16Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
LGBT+ veteran medals returned: Symbolic gesture not enough

LGBT+ veteran medals returned: Symbolic gesture not enough

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that LGBT+ military veterans who were stripped of their medals can apply to have them returned, Jamie Stone MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Defence, said: “This symbolic gesture is a positive first step towards righting the gross wrongs done to our LGBTQ+ personnel. But, the Government must not stop at symbolism. "Along with medals being returned, veterans and their families should receive any financial compensation they have lost after these wrongful convictions, including their full pensions. “A number of veterans were not only discharged from service on the basis of their sexuality but were also convicted, resulting in criminal records, and also lost pension rights. The veterans who were affected by these terrible injustices must be properly compensated."
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15Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Give carers a break

Give carers a break

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey will today launch the party’s campaign to “give carers a break”, calling on the Government to give councils immediate emergency funding so they can provide the support services unpaid carers need to take a weekly break. In a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, Ed Davey highlights research from Carers UK showing that: 64% of carers have not been able to take any breaks from their caring role during the pandemic,74% feel exhausted and worn out as a result of caring during Covid, and44% say they are reaching breaking point. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to provide local authorities with emergency funding in his Budget on 3rd March at the latest. Ahead of the campaign launch, Leader of the…
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12Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Selective Licensing scheme is welcome, but should include similar/identical properties in Shaw

Selective Licensing scheme is welcome, but should include similar/identical properties in Shaw

Borough news
Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has welcomed Oldham Council proposals to introduce selective licensing for private-rented properties in Shaw but would like more properties included in the scheme. Lower housing demand, lower rents and higher tenant turnover can lead to private-rented properties being left empty for long periods or being poorly maintained or managed. In these circumstances, councils can introduce selective licensing which requires landlords to properly maintain and manage their properties. These schemes are self-financing as landlords pay a fee to license each property they own in each area, and properties are inspected before they can be licensed. Oldham Council is currently consulting landlords, tenants and residents about its plans to introduce schemes in six new areas, including Shaw, and Councillor Sykes has responded to the consultation.…
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