17Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must act urgently to address courts backlog

Government must act urgently to address courts backlog

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to take urgent action to tackle the growing backlog of court cases, as new official statistics reveal the scale of the problem. The figures, published today by the Ministry of Justice, show that the number of outstanding criminal cases in the Crown Court has risen from 33,248 at the end of 2018 to 50,918 at the end of September – a 53% increase in less than two years. Separate Ministry of Justice statistics, also published today, show that the average length of care proceedings in the Family courts has risen to over 40 weeks for the first time since 2013. In July to September this year, just 29% of these cases were disposed of within the 26-limit set by the Children and…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Cummings pay rise shows yet again one rule for Tory Government

Cummings pay rise shows yet again one rule for Tory Government

Parliamentary news
Responding to the publication of the Annual Report on Special Advisers 2020, which shows that prior to his departure from Number 10 Dominic Cummings’ salary was £140,000-£144,999 – up from £95,000-£99,999 the year before – Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper said: “Families across the country who are facing extraordinary financial hardship right now will be appalled that their taxes were being wasted to pay Dominic Cummings more than five times as much as a nurse. "Not only did Boris Johnson undermine public trust by refusing to sack Cummings when he flagrantly broke lockdown with his trips to Durham and Barnard Castle, now we learn he gave him a huge pay rise. "This is yet another outrage from a Conservative Government that thinks there’s one rule for them…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems demand response, as one in five crimes in Greater Manchester go unrecorded

Lib Dems demand response, as one in five crimes in Greater Manchester go unrecorded

Borough news
Last week, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) which is responsible for providing national oversight of the performance of police services, published a report which found that over one in five crimes, over 80,100 in total, went unrecorded in our city region by Greater Manchester Police between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, was particularly shocked that women, children and other vulnerable persons were often being failed with one in four violent crimes unrecorded and unpursued. These include offences such as stalking, coercive behaviour, domestic violence and other offences against vulnerable persons and children. More worryingly the performance in recording crimes by Greater Manchester Police has gotten worse since the last HMICFRS report in 2018 when 89…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Disproportionate Covid impact highlights need for Race Equality Strategy

Disproportionate Covid impact highlights need for Race Equality Strategy

Parliamentary news
Responding to new report from the Office for National Statistics on ‘Coronavirus and the social impacts on different ethnic groups in the UK’, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: “The pandemic is taking an enormous toll on families across the UK, and disproportionately so on many Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. “We have already seen that Black and Asian people are at greater risk of dying from Covid, but today’s report highlights that the pandemic is also hurting some communities more than others both financially and in terms of mental health. “We need real action to tackle deep-seated inequalities and injustices. Ministers must work together with all communities to implement a proper Race Equality Strategy without further delay, so we can build a fairer, more equal society as…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Rise in homeless deaths demands end of Vagrancy Act

Rise in homeless deaths demands end of Vagrancy Act

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are renewing calls for the Vagrancy Act to be scrapped, as new official statistics reveal a rise in the number of deaths of homeless people in 2019. The figures from the Office for National Statistics, published today, show that there were an estimated 778 deaths in 2019, an increase of 7.2% since 2018. The highest numbers of deaths were in London (144) and the North West (126). Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who has tabled a Bill to repeal the Vagrancy Act, said: “Every one of these deaths is heart-breaking. The fact that so many people are dying on our streets is the most shameful example of the failure of our housing and welfare systems. “The Conservative Government doesn’t seem to care. For too long, they have…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats say there’s no better time to protect our ancient woodlands

Liberal Democrats say there’s no better time to protect our ancient woodlands

Borough news
Ancient woodlands now only cover less of 3% of England’s landmass, yet the charity the Woodland Trust has estimated that 1,200 woodlands may be under threat. Oldham Borough Liberal Democrat Councillors want to see Oldham Council at the forefront of the fight to protect our nation’s remaining irreplaceable legacy of ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees. Saddleworth West and Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani will be proposing a motion at the next full meeting of Oldham Council (16 December 2020) calling for more protection for these trees: “In Oldham, we are all well aware of the threat of development hanging over our natural landscape with plans to build a significant number of new homes on our Green Belt. While other elements of our physical landscape may have been worked and…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shock of 52 Homes planned for land off Denbigh Drive

Borough news
Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Diane Williamson was absolutely shocked to receive an email from the consultants (becg) working on behalf of Miller Homes regarding their plans to create 52 three- and four-bedroom family homes by a potential developer on land behind Denbigh Drive. No planning permission has yet been given. Cllr Diane Williamson who is leading the co-ordinated joint approach, said: “We will be out there, this weekend, from 1pm to 4pm on both days, talking to residents in the area and guiding them through the process of making their voices heard. We intend to knock on doors in the immediate vicinity in the first instance and then widen it out. “It is not very nice to learn about the plans just before Christmas: residents and Councillors had hoped that…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Unemployment rise shows Sunak’s failure to protect jobs from pandemic

Unemployment rise shows Sunak’s failure to protect jobs from pandemic

Parliamentary news
Responding to the unemployment figures released today, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “These figures are a condemnation of this Government's failure to get a grip on the pandemic's impact on jobs, leaving far too many families worried about how they are going to put food on the table this Christmas. "The Chancellor's constant chop-and-change approach to the furlough scheme and his inability to put together a comprehensive plan to save jobs is taking a huge toll. "The Government must ensure furlough stays in place until at least June – and extend support to the three million people who still remain excluded from any support whatsoever. Just as crucially, Ministers must ensure there is an Adjustment Period for businesses before new trade rules begin, to avoid a second spike…
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13Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Johnson must do more to help British Business

Davey: Johnson must do more to help British Business

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the EU and UK will continue trade talks, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Whilst it’s essential the UK and EU continue negotiations to avoid a No Deal, it is an outrage for Boris Johnson to leave British business in the lurch, with only a handful of days to plan for new trading arrangements. “The fact that businesses, already on their knees from the Covid crisis, still have no idea how they will trade with the EU in two and half weeks is already costing jobs and is frankly shocking. “That is why Liberal Democrats believe it’s time Boris Johnson put his Brexit ideology aside, to negotiate an adjustment period for British business and secure a full and comprehensive trading arrangement with the…
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11Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats seek National Stalking and Domestic Violence Register to catch offenders

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats believe that proposed legislation currently going through Parliament would be much more effective if it included a commitment to establish an offenders’ register for those convicted of stalking or domestic violence. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor Chris Gloster, a former police officer with 30 years’ experience, will be proposing a motion to the next meeting of Oldham Council (16 December) calling on the government to create this register as part of the Domestic Abuse Bill when it becomes law. Councillor Chris Gloster explained why he is bringing this motion to Council: “The Covid-19 lockdown has sadly led to a significant increase in reports of domestic violence as partners have been obliged to spend more time at home and underlying tensions in relationships lead to breakdown. Most shockingly…
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