30Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Retain Rail to Refuge to save women from abusive relationships, says Liberal Democrat Leader

Retain Rail to Refuge to save women from abusive relationships, says Liberal Democrat Leader

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Marking the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Oldham Liberal Democrats have written to government ministers asking for the Rail to Refuge scheme, which supplies free train tickets to enable women to flee domestic violence, to be made permanent. The letter sent by the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, on behalf of his colleagues to the Secretary of State for Transport, Garth Shapps MP, and the Home Office Minister responsible for safeguarding women and children, Victoria Atkins MP, suggests that retaining the scheme is both a ‘necessary and logical thing’ to do. Councillor Sykes has also twice written to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, seeking his support. During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic violence has hugely increased. Tragically, two women are killed…
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30Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats welcome adjournment on Green Belt homes plan debate

Liberal Democrats welcome adjournment on Green Belt homes plan debate

Borough news
The Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Group has welcomed the decision at a full meeting of Oldham Council (25/11/20)to postpone the decision on whether to approve the controversial plan to build housing on the Green Belt. The plan, backed by the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester and Labour Leaders of the Greater Manchester local authorities, would if adopted in Oldham mean 11,817 new homes built in the borough by 2037. Many hundreds of homes would be built on greenfield sites in Shaw and Crompton represented by Liberal Democrat Councillors. Last week, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, wrote to the Leader of the Council asking for an adjournment after councillors in Salford and Stockport failed to reach their own decisions on the plan. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said:…
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27Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Test, trace and isolate failure is cause for restrictions

Test, trace and isolate failure is cause for restrictions

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government setting out England's new coronavirus tiers, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The country is desperate to get life back to normal, particularly given how much has already been sacrificed, so people will understandably be angry today. “For months, Liberal Democrats have been urging the Government to get to grips with test, trace and isolate. Getting that right is the best hope we have until a vaccine is ready. Their failure to deliver is why we are where we are. "Given less than 50% of people understood the rules last time, it is clear the Government has created confusion with their botched communications. In addition to much needed mass testing, Ministers must listen to local authorities and finally start being clear and honest with the…
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26Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Aid cut makes a mockery of ‘Global Britain’ promise

Aid cut makes a mockery of ‘Global Britain’ promise

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Chancellor's announcement that the foreign aid budget will be cut, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Today the promise of ‘Global Britain’ became hollow. Shirking away from our global responsibilities by cutting development spending during a worldwide pandemic is short-sighted and wrong. “The Liberal Democrats enshrined the 0.7% in law precisely so it was flexible with the economic reality. By changing the law the Government is breaking its promise to the British people and to the world’s poorest. “The Liberal Democrats will always stand up for the life-changing power of UK aid, and I will work cross-party to oppose this callous move.”
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26Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Chancellor has made some unforgivable political choices

Chancellor has made some unforgivable political choices

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Chancellor's Spending Review, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “With the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the Chancellor needed to ensure today that no one is left behind. That was the litmus test, and he has failed. "Far from a radically new approach to the recovery that tackles deep-seated inequality and builds a new green economy, we have a Government that is failing to support carers, children living in poverty and everyone in need of mental health services.” “The Chancellor has also made some unforgivable political choices today. He has chosen to continue to ignore people excluded from support and chosen to reject calls to properly extend furlough, leaving too many people facing unemployment. People deserve better.”
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26Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must raise Carer’s Allowance to support “unseen and undervalued” carers

Government must raise Carer’s Allowance to support “unseen and undervalued” carers

Parliamentary news
Responding to the new report from Carers UK, ‘Unseen and undervalued’, which is published today (26th November) and puts the value of care provided by unpaid carers during the Covid-19 pandemic at £530 million a day, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Unpaid carers are doing a remarkable and important job in very difficult circumstances. They deserve our support, but as this report from Carers UK shows, carers are unseen and undervalued by this Conservative Government. “Many carers are facing extreme financial hardship during this pandemic. They have been struggling for months, often relying on foodbanks to feed themselves and the people they care for. “That’s why Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to support unpaid carers by immediately raising Carer’s Allowance by £1,000 a year. Liberal…
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26Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Fighting to give carers a voice

Campaigns
The Liberal Democrats are asking people across our community who care for relatives to get in touch and share their story – to mark national Carers Rights Day this Thursday 26th November. Liberal Democrat party leader Ed Davey has said he wants the party wants to be a "strong voice" for the millions across the country – including 22,004 people in the Oldham area who care for those who need it. Ed himself knows the burden put on carers for family members - having been a carer for his mum when growing up and now caring for his disabled son. Carers can get in touch and share their experiences at www.libdems.org.uk/carerssurvey Local Liberal Democrat campaigner, Mark Kenyon said: "Millions of people across the country act as unpaid carers for loved…
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26Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
School streets must not be knocked back again

School streets must not be knocked back again

Borough news
Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani is campaigning for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to deliver School Streets – schemes to manage traffic around local schools – and give applications the priority they need in forthcoming funding bids. An application to fund a scheme in Lees around Medlock Way was knocked back by the Labour-run GMCA, as they wanted to develop a Greater Manchester wide scheme, rather than put forward this proposal on its own. Sadly, when the funding agreement from the Government was put forward, School Street schemes were prioritised – meaning that the scheme almost certainly would have gone through. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “I understand the need to ensure that everyone can get access to a scheme such as this, but it is extremely frustrating that this has…
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26Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Front line health workers, carers and relatives of care home residents must be top priority in mass testing

Front line health workers, carers and relatives of care home residents must be top priority in mass testing

Borough news
The Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Group wants to see front line health and care workers and the relatives of care home residents given top priority when mass COVID-19 testing is rolled out across Oldham. The Government has announced that Oldham will be one of 67 new areas to be targeted for mass testing because of the high number of new cases detected each week in the Borough. Testing the front line health and care workers in our National Health Service and care homes who are leading the fight to save the lives and alleviate the suffering of others from this terrible disease must, for the Liberal Democrats, be an absolute priority, but Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, makes a plea for a third category of our residents not be…
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25Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Four nation approach is our Union in action

Four nation approach is our Union in action

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the four governments of the UK have have agreed a shared approach to the festive period, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “It is welcome that the four nations have answered Liberal Democrat calls for a common approach to the festive period. “This is the Union in action - working together as a family of nations and finding solutions. “I hope the four governments now work together to roll out the vaccine, help the most vulnerable in our country and support businesses to save jobs.”
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