Sam Al-Hamdani – Page 39 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

25Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ed Davey: Met Police must interview Boris Johnson under caution

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has welcomed the confirmation from Commissioner Cressida Dick that the Met Police is now investigating parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall in breach of Covid rules, calling it the “first step towards justice for millions across the country.” It comes after Ed Davey wrote to Cressida Dick two weeks ago calling for a full investigation into the gatherings held in Number 10. The Liberal Democrats say Boris Johnson should be interviewed under caution, and given Fixed Penalty Notices for every time he is found to have breached Covid laws. Over 17,700 people have been fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaching Covid laws during the pandemic, including 113 fines for holding a gathering of over 30 people. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “This…

25Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey on Boris birthday party: Met must investigate this to deliver justice

Parliamentary news

Responding to new revelations that Boris Johnson held a birthday party for himself in June 2020, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: "This can't go on any longer. "Party after party, lie after lie, this disgraced Prime Minister brings more pain every day to bereaved families who have already suffered too much. "It is clear now the Sue Gray inquiry is not fit for purpose. The Met must investigate this to deliver justice for millions who sacrificed so much during this pandemic. "Britain played by the rules which Boris Johnson wrote, but couldn't be bothered to stick to himself. It is time he saved the country even more pain and resigned."

21Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: PM acting like a mafia boss

Parliamentary news

Responding to claims made by Conservative MP William Wragg that government ministers, whips and advisers have attempted to blackmail and bully colleagues who oppose Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "It is simply remarkable that a Prime Minister could countenance scrapping local projects and funding if MPs refuse to back him. "All Boris Johnson cares about is saving his own skin. He’s acting more like a mafia boss than a Prime Minister. "These latest allegations of criminal behaviour are yet more proof that a civil servant investigation into Partygate is utterly inadequate. The Metropolitan Police must investigate. "Number 10 is now in full scorched earth mode. Every minute the Tories allow him to stay in power damages our country."

21Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Growing court backlog is failing rape survivors

Parliamentary news

More than 1,300 rape cases are waiting to be brought before the Crown Court, as new figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal the backlog in the Justice system has grown. In total there are 1,336 cases involving charges of rape waiting to be heard. Of these, 289 cases are still ongoing more than a year after reaching the courts, and the average case now takes more than 14 months (435 days) from charge to completion. Responding to the figures, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: “This Conservative Government is failing survivors by letting too many rapists walk free. Cases drag on far too long and conviction rates are appallingly low. “Even before the pandemic, Tory Ministers had let this backlog soar out of control. They need to…

21Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

At a moment of danger in Europe we would expect the Foreign Secretary to be at the table

Parliamentary news

Responding to Liz Truss’s visit to Australia, thereby missing a meeting of the ‘Quad’ (comprising the US secretary of state Antony Blinken; French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock) to discuss the Russia/Ukraine crisis, Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, commented: “Agreements with Australia are all well and good - but is flying to the other side of the world really a matter of diplomatic urgency at a moment when Europe is coming perilously close to war? “At this moment of danger, we would expect the Foreign Secretary to be at the table, with her counterparts from the US, France and Germany. But she’s not in the room - she’s not even on the continent. “Truss’s diplomatic priorities are half a world…

21Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillors deeply disappointed that the Dunwood Park Café, Shaw will close

Borough news

Shaw councillors where informed of the closure of the café in Dunwood Park a few days ago but where asked not to share the information until staff and the Park Friends group where informed. This has now happened. “This is a great loss to the local community, and we will be doing all we can to find another user, like we did when the last operator pulled out,” stated Shaw councillor Howard Sykes on behalf of all his colleagues. “Pure Innovations who operate the café have been up front about this and will continue to operate it until July 2022,” he added. “Hopefully this gives the council time to make alternative provision.” Pure Innovations (PI) re-opened Dunwood Park Café in March 2019, with two key objectives. The first to provide…

20Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Plan B ending: A desperate Prime Minister flailing

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Prime Minister announcing an end to Plan B Covid restrictions, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: "Boris Johnson has no authority left to make these decisions. He is a desperate Prime Minister flailing out at any policy decision he can find. This is no way to govern the country. "Every time he mutters the word Covid, all the public can think about is his law-breaking party antics. For the sake of the country, he needs to stop meddling and get off the stage. "The problem now is that everything the Prime Minister does - whether or not it’s the right thing - will be seen as him trying to save his own skin rather than governing in the interests of the country."

20Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conductors are still what is needed on Oldham tram line says Sykes

Borough news

Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has once again made the call for conductors to be introduced on the Oldham Metrolink network. He made his call again at a meeting of the Rail and Metrolink Committee on Friday 14 January in response to a detailed report on the trams detailing amongst other things crime and anti-social-behavior (ASB). “It was November 2018 when Oldham Council agreed with the Liberal Democrat suggestion for conductors and still nothing has happened,” stated councillor Sykes. “I welcome the proposal to provide CCTV at some tram stops in Oldham and other schemes to tackle ASB and make the trams safer. However I am worried this will not be enough and will also just displace activity away from these five town centre stops to elsewhere on the…

19Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Benefits not keeping pace with the cost of living crisis

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the Government has confirmed they will up-rate all benefits by just 3.1% rather than using April's expected 6% rate, Liberal Democrat Welfare and Pensions Spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “In the face of spiralling energy bills, the Conservatives are leaving some of the most vulnerable worse off. In the same breath, they are outrageously writing off billions in stolen Covid payments and crooked PPE contracts. “This callous Government is happy to let their mates off the hook while taking money out of peoples’ pockets while the country is struggling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. “Ministers must immediately reverse this decision and bring forward a rise in benefits in line with April’s inflation figure - expected to reach 6%.”

19Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government too busy clearing up their own mess to care about the rising cost of living

Parliamentary news

Responding to new record high inflation rates, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “Inflation rates are at a record high and continuing to climb. This Conservative Government is too busy clearing up their own Downing Street mess to look after families that are struggling with the rising cost of living. “People are facing soaring energy bills and tax hikes while their wages stay stagnant. The Government has left behind low and middle income families who will feel the brunt the most. “This Government has done absolutely nothing to help UK households who face years of tax rises and sky-high energy bills.”

Author: Sam Al-Hamdani