12Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
GDP reaction: Recovery must leaves nobody behind

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…
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11Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Leaseholders should not pay a penny

Leaseholders should not pay a penny

Parliamentary news
Responding to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick's announcement on cladding funding, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper said: “It is a scandal that the Tories have broken their post-Grenfell promises to leaseholders living in unsafe homes. “As Liberal Democrats, we’re pleased that our amendments and dogged campaigning to protect leaseholders from extortionate costs has helped force the Government to introduce new levels of support, but these proposals still leave a lot of questions unanswered for many thousands of leaseholders. “Liberal Democrats are clear that leaseholders should not have to pay a penny to remove dangerous cladding or carry the cost of other fire safety defects that have occurred through no fault of their own.”
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11Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Olympics boycott: Parliament pressure on Govt over Beijing 2022

Olympics boycott: Parliament pressure on Govt over Beijing 2022

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats secured a Government response in the House of Lords, on calls for the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in 2022 to be boycotted if China continues its genocide against the Uighur people. Despite Peers from all political parties speaking in support of a boycott if these conditions are not met, the Government shirked responsibility on standing up for human rights. Jamie Stone MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Sport reacted to the lack of Government response: “It is clear political support is growing for a boycott of the Beijing 2022 games if China does not stop the horrifying genocide against the Uighur people. Yet instead of making a strong stand against a genocidal regime, the Government chose to shirk all responsibility. “The Government’s decision to let Olympic…
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11Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats proposals to make Oldham ‘Healthier, Greener, and Cleaner’ presented

Liberal Democrats proposals to make Oldham ‘Healthier, Greener, and Cleaner’ presented

Borough news
Councillor Chris Gloster, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Green, had his first opportunity to present the Liberal Democrat budget amendments to fellow Councillors on the Performance Value-for-Money Committee for the first-time last night. The committee is responsible for scrutinising spending and saving proposals in advance of this year’s Budget Council meeting on 4 March. Kindly commended on ‘a grand job’ by Committee Chair, Councillor Riaz Ahmed OBE, Chris was also able to respond to a series of challenging questions from members on this cross-party committee on the detailed report he had produced with assistance from professional Council finance officers. The Liberal Councillors want to repurpose part of Labour’s capital investment programme and find more money from cutting bureaucracy and waste elsewhere in the Council’s budget to: Invest £18 million…
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11Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Heartbreaking death stats reveal ‘abject failure’ on protecting disabled

Heartbreaking death stats reveal ‘abject failure’ on protecting disabled

Parliamentary news
New figures show disabled people make up 60% of all COVID-19 related deaths. Responding to the Office for National Statistics information, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: “It is heartbreaking that so many disabled people have died during this pandemic. They have been hit particularly hard in so many ways, but they and their carers are still too often forgotten and ignored by people in power. “Far too many lives have been lost because of Ministers’ abject failure to protect people in care homes. The Prime Minister must set up an independent public inquiry without further delay, so we can learn the lessons and prevent more unnecessary deaths. “The Government must urgently do far more to protect disabled people’s health, including making sure they and their carers are vaccinated…
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11Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
UK recovery damaged by Amsterdam taking London’s crown

UK recovery damaged by Amsterdam taking London’s crown

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Amsterdam has overtaken London as Europe's share trading hub, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The news that Amsterdam has taken London's crown as Europe's leading share-trading hub will send shockwaves through the economy. "As well as the immediate impact on jobs in London this will have a profound effect on a vital UK industry. Our financial services industry creates hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and contributes more than £70 billion of tax revenue - that is money we need to invest in a strong recovery. "The costs of Boris Johnson's botched trade deal with the EU are now mounting up. It is vital to the UK's recovery that the Prime Minister gets back around the negotiating table and secures a…
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11Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
China’s BBC ban a crackdown on fundamental freedoms

China’s BBC ban a crackdown on fundamental freedoms

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Chinese Government banning BBC World News Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “The Chinese government’s BBC ban, in response to their reporting on the Uyghur genocide and other abuses, marks their latest move in an unacceptable crackdown on fundamental freedoms. We've already seen the consequences of this in Hong Kong. “The role of media outlets such as the BBC is crucial to ensuring high-quality reporting of events around the world. What is happening to the Uyghurs in Xinjiang is a genocide, and silencing the BBC for reporting on it shows that the Chinese government has no intention on stopping its appalling human rights abuses. “We urge the UK Government to stand up for the BBC and work together with our international allies to stand…
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10Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Moran: “Outrageous” government manoeuvres deny Uyghurs their day in court

Moran: “Outrageous” government manoeuvres deny Uyghurs their day in court

Parliamentary news
Responding to the defeat of the Genocide Amendment by the Government, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP said “Today the Government used outrageous procedural manoeuvres to avoid any straight vote on the Genocide Amendment and avoid defeat, in a flagrant attempt to deny MPs from having their democratic say. If they were confident in their arguments, why do that? They are running scared of the Commons. By allowing parliamentary committees to rule on genocide, the Government has contradicted its own policy that genocide is a matter for the courts. Both relevant committees have already rejected these proposals. “The Uyghur people have been betrayed and denied their day in court. The Government has turned a blind eye and has chosen to not put human rights first, despite clear cross-party…
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10Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
MPs silenced on future Trade Deals

MPs silenced on future Trade Deals

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the Government rejection of scrutiny amendments to the Trade Bill, Liberal Democrat Trade spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “The British public have the right to be represented in the negotiation of new trade deals and that means Parliament having its say. It is outrageous that the Government has refused, once again, to back Parliamentary scrutiny in the Trade Bill. “Whether its safeguarding environmental regulations, protecting human rights or maintaining food standards, we have a duty as representatives of the public to scrutinise and vote on the detail of any future trade deal. The Conservatives have voted to ensure that all MPs will be silenced on all future trade deals. “Liberal Democrats will continue the fight to hold this Government to account. It is vital MPs have their say…
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09Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Addressing Oldham’s empty homes scandal would help save Green Belt

Addressing Oldham’s empty homes scandal would help save Green Belt

Borough news
More than 1,100 private homes are empty in Oldham, and the Liberal Democrats would like to see them brought back into use to help address homelessness and to reduce the pressure to build new housing on the Green Belt and green spaces. Figures recently released by Oldham Council showed that in November 2020, 1137 private homes were empty, many for long periods of time. Government figures published in December 2020 also show that 5,421 households were on Oldham Council’s housing waiting list. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Homes which remain empty for a long period of time are often neglected and fall into disrepair, leading to an area becoming blighted and driving down neighbouring property prices. At a time when families on the Council waiting list are in desperate need…
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