23Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Councillor welcomes progress on Huddersfield Road junction

Councillor welcomes progress on Huddersfield Road junction

Borough news, Campaigns, road safety, Saddleworth News
Plans to remodel the junction of Huddersfield Road and Stamford Road have moved a step further, with a survey of over 150 local residents whose houses are closest to the junction having gone out this week, so that planners can work with parking needs and current access. Local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who organised for the survey to happen, said: “People have been shocked by the two fatal incidents which have happened right outside their own houses. Just last week a car was overturned in an incident at the top of Dunham Street.  “With limited parking being a very pressing issue, I wanted to make sure that this survey took place at the start of planning – so residents’ requirements came baked into the design work. “We need Stamford Road…
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23Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey on Ukraine: Freeze and seize assets of all Putin’s cronies in UK

Ed Davey on Ukraine: Freeze and seize assets of all Putin’s cronies in UK

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has today called on the government to freeze and begin seizing the assets of Putins’ cronies in the UK, as part of a tough package of measures responding to Russia sending troops into Ukraine. It comes after Boris Johnson announced the government would be sanctioning just three Russian high net-worth individuals, falling way short of the number believed to be allied with Putin and holding assets in the UK. Ed Davey has also backed a boycott of international sporting and cultural events hosted in Russia, starting with moving this year’s Champions League final from St Petersburg. The Liberal Democrats have written to the government asking them to prepare Wembley in the event of the final being moved. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The government’s…
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23Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
NFU criticism: Conservatives don’t understand our farmers

NFU criticism: Conservatives don’t understand our farmers

Parliamentary news
Responding to the President of the National Farmers' Union Minette Batters criticising the UK Government’s farming policy as "completely contradictory" at their national conference, Liberal Democrat Food & Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: "The comments from the NFU today prove what we already know - the Conservatives don't understand our farmers' needs and they're failing the farming industry. "On one hand they're signing trade deals that are deeply damaging, undermining British food standards and undercutting British farmers, while on the other hand they're cutting the vital support they need by phasing out Basic Payments before the new payments scheme is ready. "Farmers are key allies in the fight against climate change, but the Conservatives risk losing hundreds of farmers who will simply go bust if they continue along…
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22Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Tax on caring unfair and unjust

Tax on caring unfair and unjust

Borough news, health and social care
Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Louie Hamblett who is the Shadow Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care expressed alarm at the recent announcement by the government to end free COVID tests. Councillor Hamblett said: “Charging people for the tests they need to safely see vulnerable loved ones is a tax on caring, that risks leaving millions of people in lockdown by stealth. Throughout the pandemic, people have been trying hard to do the right thing and keep others safe. The Government should not be making that harder.” The latest figures show that every week nearly four million people take regular Covid tests, taking two tests a week on average. This includes people who take tests to protect their elderly relatives and friends, or vulnerable workers who work in people-facing industries…
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22Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Vagrancy Act repealed: Archaic and cruel law consigned to history

Vagrancy Act repealed: Archaic and cruel law consigned to history

Parliamentary news
In reaction to the news that the Vagrancy Act will be repealed, long time campaigner against the Act, Layla Moran MP said: “After years of campaigning I am elated that we consigned this archaic and cruel law to history. No one should be criminalised for sleeping rough, especially by a piece of legislation passed in the Georgian era. “This is testament to the hard work of so many people: the students who first brought the issue to my attention, and to our campaign partners Crisis. “This can transform the way we talk about rough sleeping and homelessness in this country, from criminalisation to compassion. “While we can celebrate today, tomorrow we return to the hard work of holding the government to account on their manifesto commitment to ending rough sleeping…
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21Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Living with Covid: Shambolic Government taking NHS & Care services for granted

Living with Covid: Shambolic Government taking NHS & Care services for granted

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's plan on Living with Covid, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: "The Conservatives have been planning to end free Covid testing for more than two months, yet still we have no clarity on what this means in reality.” The press conference [Monday 21 February] with Boris Johnson announcing the end of restrictions gave no clear answer as to what free testing would remain in place. This was despite the British Medical Association saying that the plan failed to protect the most vulnerable. She added: “Boris Johnson wasn't even able to answer the simple question of whether any free testing plans would be kept in place for essential workers, such as NHS staff, or for those who are clinically vulnerable. "This so-called plan has been…
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21Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

It is time to act. We must now use the sanctions powers at our disposal

Parliamentary news
In reaction to Putin recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as independent, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “Putin has made clear that he has absolutely no regard for international law or the sovereignty of other countries. “It’s beyond time for us and our allies to make clear that we have no regard for him, or for his associates who have been treating our country as their playground for far too long. This act of recognition is in breach of commitments which Russia has signed up to at the UN, and as such there should be no impunity - sanctions are justified. “We must stand with the people of Ukraine. The UK must be at the forefront of the international coalition against Putin’s aggression. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions…
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21Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Scrapping of Covid tests: Four million people to face £500 “tax on caring”

Scrapping of Covid tests: Four million people to face £500 “tax on caring”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the scrapping of Covid lateral flow tests will amount to a “tax on caring,” with almost four millon people facing costs of over £500 a year to take regular tests and visit vulnerable relatives. Despite the easing of Covid restrictions, the latest figures show that every week nearly four million people take regular Covid tests, taking two tests a week on average. This includes people who take tests to protect their elderly relatives and friends, or vulnerable workers who work in people-facing industries such as hospitality and are concerned about their health. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats estimates that people who take two tests a week face an average hit of £534 a year, assuming lateral flow tests cost around £5.80 each. This is…
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18Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Houses off Denbigh Drive, Shaw approved despite pleas from local councillors and residents

Borough news, housing and development
Despite the best efforts of Crompton Ward Councillor Dave Murphy, speaking at February's Planning Committee the application for 42 houses was approved by Oldham’s Labour-dominated planning committee, after two Conservative members left the meeting because they had failed to put enough money in the parking meter. Despite one of the directly-affected, local residents speaking passionately to the Committee, telling them about the impact this development will have on him and his neighbours, the majority of the Committee agreed decision to approve. “The main aim of the Other Protected Open Land (OPOL) policy is that the designation is to protect it from development – but Oldham’s is out of date – which means that this type of land designation becomes a free-for-all to developers. Haven Lane was passed last year and…
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18Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Prison expansions: Cost of Conservatives’ failure on crime

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's announcement of plans to create 4,000 more prison spaces, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “This is the cost of the Conservatives’ failure on crime. The UK already has more people in prison than any other country in Western Europe, and now the Government is spending an extra £4 billion because crime is rising. “These new places won’t even do anything to reduce the huge overcrowding in prisons, because of the rising prison population. Only by ending overcrowding can we rehabilitate prisoners properly and break the cycle of reoffending. “Just building more prison cells won’t do anything to make our communities safer. Instead of trying to sound tough, Ministers should focus on restoring effective community policing where officers are visible, trusted and focused…
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