29Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must fix failing test and trace system

Government must fix failing test and trace system

Parliamentary news
Responding to statistics released today showing that four in ten close contacts of people who tested positive for coronavirus in England are still not being reached by the Test and Trace system, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “These figures today show that tracing is still woefully inadequate, despite repeated calls for the Government to fix the failing test and trace system. The test, trace and isolate system is essential to not only slow the spread of coronavirus, but for people to have any hope of ever getting out of the Government’s restrictions. "It is long overdue that Matt Hancock comes to Parliament to explain what this Government will do to overhaul their shambolic test, trace and isolate system – and answer to why they have failed to do…
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29Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM must implement an immediate national circuit breaker

PM must implement an immediate national circuit breaker

Parliamentary news
The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has today called for an immediate national circuit breaker to "correct the failing test, trace and isolate system" and keep people safe. The call follows annoucements in both France and Germany of new nationwide lockdowns. The Liberal Democrats have also called for a united approach to keeping family gatherings safe during the festive season, now backed by Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Government has been badly prepared and slow to act at every stage throughout this health and jobs crisis. That can’t happen again, especially in the run up to Christmas. “That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to start an immediate national circuit breaker across the UK. This…
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27Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Why do we need GMSF? asks Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader

Why do we need GMSF? asks Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader

Borough news
Study finds more than 1.3m homes can be built on brownfield sites A recent study published by the countryside charity, the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has found that the government’s target of 300,000 new homes could be built every year for the next four years, and then some, on brownfield sites, leaving the Green Belt untouched. Responding the findings, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE posed the question: “Why then do we need the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework with the proposal by the Greater Manchester Mayor and his Labour colleagues to destroy vast swathes of our irreplaceable Green Belt with unnecessary housing?” The CPRE found that there are enough sites in England that have been previously developed, and that are available for housing, to…
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27Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Four nations summit needed to keep families safe at Christmas

Four nations summit needed to keep families safe at Christmas

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats in Scotland, Wales and England have joined with the Alliance Party in calling for a “four nations summit” to consider a united approach to keeping family gatherings safe during the festive season. In a joint letter to the four governments of the UK, the Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey, Scottish Leader Willie Rennie, Welsh Leader Jane Dodds and Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry MP warned the “interlinked nature of life in the United Kingdom means no one government can devise guidance for the festive season in isolation.” The letter follows uncertainty about students returning for Christmas and conflicting comments about family gatherings, with Scotland’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch branding multi-household gatherings “fiction” while the Prime Minister indicated rules could be relaxed. To enable travel to happen safely,…
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27Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
20’s Plenty for Us in 2020

20’s Plenty for Us in 2020

Borough news, road safety
Liberal Democrat Councillors are proposing a motion at the next full meeting of Oldham Council (November 4th) calling for a default 20mph speed limit to be introduced on the Borough’s minor residential roads. Twenty million British citizens already live in local authorities where a 20mph default speed limit exists. The Liberal Democrats want Oldham Council to do the same. This is the second time they have introduced such a proposal at the Council; the first was in February 2014. The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is proposing the motion. Commenting he said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has made crystal clear just how precious life is. Whilst we as a local authority work with our partners in the National Health Service to bring this terrible disease…
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27Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Time to give child food poverty the boot

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Councillors are playing on the same team as campaigning footballer Marcus Rashford when it comes to tackling child food poverty. The 22-year old Manchester United star has just been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his work ensuring that no child goes hungry. This is an issue close to the heart of Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness, who is proposing a motion at the next full meeting of Oldham Council (November 4) seeking cross-party support for Mr Rashford’s pioneering work. He has frequently raised child hunger with the Council. Being employed at a Manchester school, Councillor Harkness is well-aware of the adverse impact that hunger can have on a child’s educational performance. Commenting Councillor Harkness said: “When many people think of top-flight footballers,…
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26Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM’s claim “does not ring true” given Government stance on free school meals

PM’s claim “does not ring true” given Government stance on free school meals

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's claim that the Conservative Government will "do everything in our power to make sure no child goes hungry this winter during the holidays", Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Boris Johnson's claim does not ring true given his hard-hearted refusal to u-turn on free school meals. "The idea that other measures will make up for the lack of provision just won't wash - people know the real struggles that families are enduring. That is why so many communities and businesses have stepped in to provide support while this callous Government stands by. "The Liberal Democrats want to see a firm commitment from the Conservatives not only to extending free school meals through holiday periods, but also expanding eligibility to ensure any child from…
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25Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Tories must “wake up to reality” and do the right thing on Free School Meals

Tories must “wake up to reality” and do the right thing on Free School Meals

Parliamentary news
Responding to comments from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, speaking on today's Andrew Marr show, suggesting that the Government will not change its position on Free School Meals, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Tory Ministers must stop defending the indefensible on free school meals. We are in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, and the Conservatives have chosen to cut off a lifeline for the poorest children in the country. "Communities and businesses who have stepped up where the Government has failed shows where the true heart of this nation lies. The Conservatives must wake up to reality and do the right thing. "The Liberal Democrats will keep calling for the Conservatives to do the right thing to ensure vulnerable children do not go hungry…
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23Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Leader welcomes promised update on child sexual exploitation investigation at next Council meeting

Borough news, CSE
A report updating Councillors and the public on the progress made by the investigation team into historic allegations of child sexual exploitation in the Borough will be included in the agenda papers for the next full meeting of Oldham Council (4 November 2020). Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition, wrote to the Leader of the Council three weeks ago (30 Sept) requesting such a report. He has just received confirmation that this will now happen. Commenting he said: “I welcome the commitment to bring a report to the next Council meeting. There is a great deal of public and Councillor interest in this investigation and the Council has already committed to implementing its findings in full. It is now almost a year since the investigation into these serious…
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23Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Local Serco testing failures let down residents

Local Serco testing failures let down residents

Borough news
The latest failure by Serco to provide coronavirus testing facilities in Lees are letting down local residents, and just one of the failings of the testing system nationally, says local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani. At 10.10 on Monday morning, an email to local councillors informed them that there would be testing facilities available on Monday and Tuesday this week, at the Co-op in Lees. By 11am, after a complaint about traffic, Serco had closed the site, before they later informed the Council that there was an issue. Neither the local councillors, nor highways, were informed of the problem until later that week. Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, having noticed the absence of the team on Tuesday, asked for an explanation, after receiving no updates from the Council or Serco themselves. Councillor…
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