28Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Russian oil tanker in Orkney: Boris Johnson must intervene

Russian oil tanker in Orkney: Boris Johnson must intervene

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson and MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael has written to Boris Johnson urging him to sanction and deny Russian-owned vessels access to UK ports following Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine. In his letter, Mr Carmichael highlighted his previous exchange with Mr Johnson in Parliament in which the Prime Minister indicated that new measures meant the government could sanction Russian-owned companies like Sovcomflot, one of the largest petroleum shipping companies in the world. One Sovcomflot vessel (NS Challenger) has already departed from Sullom Voe terminal in Shetland with a second, the NS Champion, due to arrive at Flotta terminal in Orkney on Tuesday. Currently such vessels operate freely and cannot legally be denied access to ports by local authorities. Mr Carmichael also highlighted that during…
Read More
28Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
BP pull out: Other companies must follow suit

BP pull out: Other companies must follow suit

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision of BP to offload their almost 20% stake in Russian state-owned oil firm Rosneft in the wake of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Reacting to the news Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey, who called for this to happen in Parliament on Thursday, said: “I welcome BP’s decision to pull out of Rosneft because of Putin’s horrifying war in Ukraine. We now need all other British companies to follow suit, with immediate effect, and the Government to step up with stronger sanctions. “The world must isolate Russia like the rogue state it is, and the UK must stand firm in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The only way sanctions work is if every organisations and all governments are willing to shoulder responsibility and take…
Read More
28Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Economic Crime Bill is long overdue

Economic Crime Bill is long overdue

Parliamentary news
The UK Government's long-overdue introduction of rules to combat the influence of Russian money in the UK are set to be brought forward on Tuesday (28/2/22). The law will pave the way for a ”register of overseas entities”, identifying foreign owners of UK property, among other new rules. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "This announcement is long overdue. It shouldn't have taken a war in Ukraine for action to prevent dirty Russian money flooding into our country and corrupting our politics. "These new measures must be fast tracked though parliament and used in full, to crack down on Putin's cronies by seizing and freezing their assets. "The cash collected through this oligarchs tax should then be used to help people cope with their soaring energy bills.…
Read More
28Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ukranian Refugees: Govt plans are ”woefully inadequate”

Ukranian Refugees: Govt plans are ”woefully inadequate”

Parliamentary news
Responding to Boris Johnson's announcement that Ukrainian refugees can come to the UK without a visa if they already have family here, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: "This move falls way short of what is needed and will not help the vast majority of those currently fleeing war in Ukraine. "It is a woefully inadequate response to the terrible human tragedy we are seeing unfold. "Boris Johnson needs to follow the lead of our European neighbours and set up a simple, rapid scheme to resettle Ukrainian refugees in the UK. "Anything less would be a failure of moral leadership and leave thousands at risk." Meanwhile, after Home Office Minister Kevin Foster said that Ukrainians fleeing the war should apply for seasonal worker visas, Carmichael added: “Ukrainians…
Read More
25Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Citizen’s budget would make Oldham safer, greener and cleaner

Citizen’s budget would make Oldham safer, greener and cleaner

Borough news, environment, fairer council
Shaw Councillor Chris Gloster, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon, is looking forward to presenting the Liberal Democrat budget amendment to Oldham’s annual Budget Council 2 March 2022. Many of the proposals have been shaped by feedback from the Borough’s residents and Councillor Gloster’s confident that the Opposition Group has produced a budget amendment that will have no adverse impact on council finances, whilst delivering further improvements in the Council services that residents most value. Councillor Gloster, who is Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council will present this amendment on Wednesday 2 March 2022 in response to the Labour Administration’s proposal that recommends a 3.99% increase in Council Tax, coupled with the Labour Metro Mayor Andy Burnham’s proposal to increase the Greater Manchester…
Read More
25Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Govt announcement on settlement fees ‘leaves out too many Armed Forces personnel’

Govt announcement on settlement fees ‘leaves out too many Armed Forces personnel’

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson Jamie Stone MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement that settlement fees will be waived for foreign nationals who have served in the UK Armed Forces for at least six years, but says it will still leave many service personnel facing “excessive fees”. The Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for several years for these fees to be waived for members of the Armed Forces and their families. In 2019, Jamie Stone and party leader Ed Davey MP tabled a Private Members’ Bill to force the government to do so, as well as a parliamentary motion that secured wide cross-party support. Jamie Stone MP, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson said: “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude and respect to all those who serve our country and keep us…
Read More
25Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Parliament must sit this weekend to pass measures against Putin’s Russia

Davey: Parliament must sit this weekend to pass measures against Putin’s Russia

Parliamentary news
Commenting following Boris Johnson's address to the nation on Ukraine, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “At this dark moment we must renew our commitments of international cooperation and stand with our allies against this horrendous invasion. “For too long we in the West have been complacent about the threat which Putin poses to our allies and to the fundamental values which underpin our way of life. No more. “We must stand with the people of Ukraine and provide them with humanitarian and military aid, while unleashing the severest of sanctions against Putin and his cronies. “The era of Russian interference in this country must come to an end. Much of the legislation needed is ready to go - it must be brought before MPs immediately. Parliament must sit this…
Read More
25Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Absence of Gazprom and Rosneft from sanctions list is “elephant in the room”

Absence of Gazprom and Rosneft from sanctions list is “elephant in the room”

Parliamentary news
Responding to the additional sanctions on Russian companies and individuals announced today by Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Leader and former Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "The absence of Gazprom and Rosneft, part-owned by BP, in today’s sanctions list is the elephant in the room. The UK must do everything we can to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. "Russia’s state-owned oil and gas giants stand to profit from this war and soaring prices. We must start treating Putin’s Russia like the rogue state it is and immediately cut off UK investment in these firms."
Read More
25Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
UK must step up with humanitarian response to stop Putin destabilising Europe

UK must step up with humanitarian response to stop Putin destabilising Europe

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for the UK to lead a coordinated humanitarian response to Putin’s war in Ukraine, with safe passage and support for Ukrainian refugees fleeing violence and persecution at the hands of Russian forces. The party’s MPs have written to the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary, urging them to work with humanitarian agencies and Ukraine’s neighbours to provide accommodation and support to the people now fleeing Russian troops, who are now advancing on the capital of Kyiv. It comes in the wake of the news that visa applications from those Ukrainian nationals without close British relatives and who are stuck in the country are suspended, meaning no legal route exists for them to enter the UK and claim asylum. The letter calls for “an ambitious commitment…
Read More
23Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Tories should hand £2m of Russian donations to support people of Ukraine

Tories should hand £2m of Russian donations to support people of Ukraine

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Conservative Party to donate the estimated £2 million they have received from Russian-linked donors to support the people of Ukraine. The party said the cash could be given to help civil society groups in Ukraine, support independent media in the country and counter Russian disinformation. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “Boris Johnson should use the almost £2 million of Russian-linked donations received by the Conservative Party to support the people of Ukraine. “This would send a powerful signal to Putin that the Conservatives are serious about no longer allowing themselves to be bankrolled by Russian money. It would also provide vital support to Ukrainians on the ground facing the threat of invasion and a sustained campaign of Russian disinformation.…
Read More