12Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Councillors ensure public response heard on Weavers Arms plans

Councillors ensure public response heard on Weavers Arms plans

Borough news
A Planning Application has been submitted to Oldham Council seeking to convert the former Weavers Answer public house on Milnrow Road, Shaw into an 18-room temporary homeless hostel. A planning application was eventually submitted towards the end of November after Shaw Ward Liberal Democrat Councillors asked Oldham Council planning enforcement officers to visit the premises twice to investigate apparently unauthorised works that were taking place. After their intervention and to ensure that the planning application is properly considered in the public arena, local councillors exercised their right to ask that the application be considered by councillors at a meeting of the full Planning Committee rather than decided by planning officers under delegated powers. Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Shaw Ward, Howard Sykes OBE said: “Once we became aware of the…
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12Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dem peers win vote to strengthen Govt’s crimes bill

Lib Dem peers win vote to strengthen Govt’s crimes bill

Parliamentary news
The House of Lords has passed a Liberal Democrat amendment to raise the threshold for government agencies to authorise undercover agents to commit crimes. The Liberal Democrats’ amendment [Amdt 6] to the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill, which raises the test for authorising criminal conduct from “believing” to “reasonably believing” that it is necessary and proportionate to do so, was passed by 282 votes to 259. Liberal Democrat peers also voted in favour of cross-party amendments [Amdts 1 and 2] to remove provisions from the Bill that would give informants complete immunity for crimes authorised under it, and preserve the status quo where prosecutors decide that prosecution is not in the public interest. However, those amendments were defeated by the Government. Following the votes, Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson…
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11Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Police need urgent clarity on lockdown laws

Police need urgent clarity on lockdown laws

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Police will issue fines to coronavirus rule breakers after one warning, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael said: “The police need urgent clarity on lockdown laws so that they can police this pandemic effectively. They have a vital role, but they can only do their job properly with clear guidance on what is legal and what isn’t. “If the public are treated in an unjust way, there will be more rule breaches and COVID will continue to rise. The Government must make sure everyone, public and police, can clearly understand the law.” “Like everyone on the frontline of this crisis, the police are doing an incredibly difficult job in extremely challenging circumstances. Now, as always, they need the consent and cooperation of the…
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11Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must back visa-free tours for musicians

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the UK rejected the offer of visa-free tours for musicians in the EU, Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Jamie Stone said: “The government must provide urgent clarification on what was offered by the EU to enable visa-free touring by UK artists and their crew. Once Covid restrictions are lifted, British artists need to be able to work across the EU with the same ability that has been negotiated for other sectors. "The Government’s rampage to end free movement will damage our economy, our creativity and our standing in the world. This trade deal is the first trade deal in history to put up barriers to trade instead of tearing them down. "These new restrictions are a blow to the music industry, which has already suffered so…
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08Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Munira Wilson: ‘Terrifying R-rate increase requires faster vaccine rollout’

Munira Wilson: ‘Terrifying R-rate increase requires faster vaccine rollout’

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a faster rollout of vaccines after news that the R-rate has risen between 1 and 1.4. Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, welcomed the decision to test travellers for coronavirus at UK borders but said these restrictions should have been implemented months ago. Munira Wilson said: “The numbers released today make it increasingly clear that the Government needs to roll out the vaccine as quickly and safely as possible. "Infections are increasing at a terrifying rate and hospitals are close to being overwhelmed. Boris Johnson must deliver on his promises if we are to save lives and protect the NHS. “Even after many millions of people have received their jab, fixing the Government’s test and trace system will still be…
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08Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dem peers fight to fix Government’s crimes bill

Lib Dem peers fight to fix Government’s crimes bill

Parliamentary news
The House of Lords will vote tomorrow [Monday 11th January] on Liberal Democrat amendments to add crucial safeguards to the Government’s Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill. The Bill puts into law for the first time powers for various public bodies – including the police and MI5, but also the Environment Agency, the Food Standards Agency and three Government Departments – to authorise undercover informants to commit crimes. As it currently stands, informants would be given complete immunity for crimes authorised under the Bill, rather than it being for prosecutors to decide that prosecution is not in the public interest. A cross-party amendment co-sponsored by Liberal Democrat peer Brian Paddick [Amdt 1] would remove immunity from the Bill, preserving the status quo. A separate Liberal Democrat amendment [Amdt 32]…
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08Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Barred! New Year blow to hospitality industry

Borough news
Under the latest government lockdown restrictions pubs and restaurants will be barred from selling alcohol to take away from their licensed premises or by click and collect. The new ruling means that from January 7 they can only sell alcohol if it is delivered to their customers’ homes. Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, thinks that is just plain wrong. Commenting he said: “Anyone can go to a supermarket, corner shop or off-licence to buy booze and take it away, but from this week our struggling pubs, micro-breweries and restaurants will be unable to. They can continue to sell food to customers from their premises, so why can’t they buy a few pints of fresh cask ale to go with it. “I asked the Council Leader at the December…
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07Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Moran: Britain must seize opportunity to re-enter world stage

Moran: Britain must seize opportunity to re-enter world stage

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that President Donald Trump's cabinet have been discussing invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office immediately, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Layla Moran said: “This reaffirms what we already knew, that Donald Trump is not and has never been fit to hold the office of President. The Tories should be ashamed of how they cosied up to Trump and his administration, how they stood by as he flouted the international rules-based order and how they have mimicked his populist agenda. "While this comes too late to avoid the damage Trump has done in the US and beyond, there is new hope in the inauguration of Biden on the 20th. Liberal Democrats call on the Prime Minister to end Britain's long walk towards isolation and…
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07Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Part Two of Labour’s Green Belt Homes Plan now expected after 2021 Elections

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition, received an unwanted Christmas present - confirmation that a revised version of Labour’s plan to build thousands of new homes on Oldham’s green spaces will be brought back in 2021. It is likely that this, so-called, ‘development plan of the nine’, a reference to the fact that Stockport Council has now withdrawn from the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, will not come back for consideration before the local and GM mayoral elections this May. Councillor Sykes wrote to Oldham Council Chief Executive, Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE, enquiring when another meeting would be convened to reconsider the plan and to seek reassurance that the period of public consultation would not be curtailed because of the legal requirements attached to ‘purdah’, a period of several…
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07Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats welcome end of Tampon Tax

Borough news, Campaigns
The government has announced that the 5% Value Added Tax levied on women’s hygiene products for women and girls has been abolished from January 1, 2021 and Liberal Democrat Councillors Diane Williamson and Hazel Gloster were especially delighted to hear the news; for both Councillors had called for an end to the sexist ‘Tampon Tax’ in a motion they proposed at a meeting of the full Council in September 2018. Councillor Diane Williamson said: “It was scandalous, and sexist, that, whilst men did not pay any VAT on personal hygiene products, women and girls did. Until 1 January, female hygiene products were classed as luxury products and VAT was levied on them. These are products which are essential to them during a large part of their lives and I now…
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