10Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must produce clear roll-out strategy once vaccine approved

Government must produce clear roll-out strategy once vaccine approved

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's press conference, following the news about the progress towards the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “News about a vaccine is a real moment of hope for people in the UK and around the world, and has the potential to be life changing. It shows in technicolour what the international community can do when we work together for a common goal. "Should this vaccine be the game-changer we hope, we need a clear roll-out strategy from the Government, so that people know when they can be vaccinated and how the process will work. The Government must also show a clear plan to keep us safe until the vaccination is available for the majority of people living in the…
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10Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dem peers help defeat Government over illegality of Internal Market Bill

Lib Dem peers help defeat Government over illegality of Internal Market Bill

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat peers voted to remove the illegal aspects of the Internal Market Bill, with the Government being defeated by 268 votes and 259 votes on the two respective divisions. Following the votes, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Dick Newby said: “The Internal Market Bill reveals just how little regard Boris Johnson and his Government have for the rule of the law – to try and ram through this legislation that breaks our international treaties is a stain on the UK’s reputation. “This Bill does not provide Northern Ireland with unfettered access to the rest of the UK, nor does it strengthen the union as Ministers are pretending – in fact it does the very opposite. This Bill was never anything more than a political…
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05Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Fixing test and trace must be priority for Government during national lockdown

Fixing test and trace must be priority for Government during national lockdown

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on Ministers to use the lockdown period in England to "get a grip" on the test and trace system and ensure the right financial and practical support is in place for people isolating. The call follows a vote in the House of Commons today on the new lockdown measures in England, which were approved by 516 votes to 38. Speaking after the vote, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “It is deeply frustrating that we must now enter a national lockdown. If Boris Johnson had not dithered and delayed and had instead followed the scientists’ advice, this could have been shorter and less damaging. "Now it is essential that Ministers use this time to get a grip on our broken test, trace and…
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05Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Tories have betrayed their promise to protect British farmers

Tories have betrayed their promise to protect British farmers

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have condemned the Conservatives’ “reckless” attitude to animal welfare and food standards, following votes on the Agriculture Bill in the House of Commons. Conservative MPs voted down Amendment 16B, added to the Bill in the House of Lords, which would have forced the UK Government to ensure that British food and animal welfare standards are maintained in any trade deals. The Liberal Democrats argue that the Government’s actions risk seeing the UK flooded with poor quality food if Ministers "slash standards in a bid to secure new trade deals." According to the NFU, over a million people have also signed their petition calling for the UK Government to put laws in place that prevent imports of food that is produced in ways that are illegal here in…
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04Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conservative Government still won’t commit to disbar sex offenders from public office

Conservative Government still won’t commit to disbar sex offenders from public office

Borough news, CSE, Parliamentary news
Two years after the Conservative Government promised to disbar sex offenders from public office, the government has still not introduced the necessary legislation and in a recent response to a question from a Liberal Democrat peer in Parliament they have given no promise to do so soon. Baroness Kath Pinnock has recently asked a question in Parliament on behalf of Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE. Councillor Sykes backed a motion at Oldham Council with the-then Leader of the Council, Councillor Jean Stretton, calling on the Government to introduce legislation to prevent anyone required to sign the Sex Offences Act from standing or remaining in public office in March 2017. In October 2018 Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak MP promised to introduce the necessary legislation but, after…
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03Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Four nations meeting welcome “first step”

Four nations meeting welcome “first step”

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the four Governments of the UK have met to develop a UK-wide approach to restrictions for the festive period, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: "People across our family of nations will be reassured to hear that efforts are at last underway to ensure everyone is subject to the same guidance as they plan for the festive period, as first called for by the Liberal Democrats. "But this meeting can only be a first step. We need to see results, not just platitudes. That means comprehensive, uniform guidance for family gatherings across the UK, as well as a common approach to transport, student return and asymptomatic testing. This must happen urgently. "If we are to both keep people safe and ensure families have any…
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03Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government urged to “lead by example” and restore hybrid Parliament

Government urged to “lead by example” and restore hybrid Parliament

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to reflect on the increased risk from the rise of coronavirus cases and bring back a hybrid Parliament and remote voting as soon as possible. Speaking at Business Questions in the House of Commons today, Wera Hobhouse warned MPs should put "the safety of citizens first" and "demonstrate, through our own actions, that this lockdown is different" by adapting working practices. The call follows the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, warning that MPs could “easily become superspreaders." However, in response to Wera Hobhouse, the Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg refused the request. The fully virtual Parliament, which was in place during the last lockdown from March to May, allowed MPs to take part in debates, committee, questions, and voting whilst remaining in…
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01Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM must properly plan ahead to protect jobs and lives, warns Davey

PM must properly plan ahead to protect jobs and lives, warns Davey

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's announcement that England will go into a second national lockdown until 2 December, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Yet again, Boris Johnson dithered, delayed, and ignored expert advice. He was too slow in March and too slow again now, and his failure to lead has cost lives and jobs. "People across our country have sacrificed so much, waiting for Ministers to act and keep our families safe. Instead, the Government asks even more despite failing to deliver an effective test, trace and isolate system. "The priority must be keeping people safe and ensuring no one is left behind. We need a real plan in place to protect jobs, businesses and the self-employed, not least an immediate u-turn on ending furlough. Unlike before,…
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01Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government meetings must produce results for families over the festive season

Government meetings must produce results for families over the festive season

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the UK Government will hold meetings to try to develop a UK-wide approach to restrictions for the festive period, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “It is welcome that the governments of the four nations are listening to the Liberal Democrats' calls. With so many families desperate to be back together this festive season, we simply cannot allow political bickering and fractured guidance to confuse and divide people. “These meetings must be more than just a publicity stunt. They must result in comprehensive uniform guidance for family gatherings, as well as a common approach to transport, student return and asymptomatic testing - and it must happen urgently. “Ultimately, if we are to both keep people safe and ensure families have any chance of spending…
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30Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats want to make street harassment a crime

Liberal Democrats want to make street harassment a crime

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrats want to see street harassment of women and girls made a crime, as it is in Portugal, Belgium and France. Saddleworth and Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani is taking a motion on this issue to the next meeting of the full Council (Wednesday November 4). Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “Everyone should feel safe on our streets and in our communities, yet in national surveys two-thirds of women and girls report that they have been subjected to street harassment. We all the right to self-respect, and to freedom of movement and freedom of expression, yet women and girls are intimidated by this unwanted personal sexual attention. It is frightening and as a result some choose not to go out or do not feel able to be themselves. “I want…
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