03Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Over 60,000 families living in temporary accommodation while four times as many homes sit empty

Over 60,000 families living in temporary accommodation while four times as many homes sit empty

Parliamentary news
Over 60,000 families are set to start the new year in insecure accommodation while four times as many homes sit empty across England, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. The party’s analysis of the latest official figures reveal that over 60,490 households with children across England were in temporary accommodation. These households are home to 125,000 children in total. Meanwhile, as of December 9th, there were over 268,000 homes classified as ‘Long-Term Vacant’ - meaning they’ve been vacant for longer than 6 months. Those relying on this short-term housing include families who’ve lost jobs due to the pandemic, vulnerable people, and those who were previously homeless. The Liberal Democrats are demanding the Government make it a priority in the new year to secure permanent homes for children around the…
Read More
03Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems on “battle stations” for next election

Lib Dems on “battle stations” for next election

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have said they are now on “battle stations” for the next election, as the party looks to replicate its stunning by-election wins in North Shropshire and Chesham and Amersham in dozens of marginal Conservative seats across the country. Ed Davey said the party is preparing to "turn the Blue Wall yellow.” The party is beefing up its ground campaigning ability in areas including Dominic Raab’s constituency of Esher and Walton in Surrey, Steven Brine’s seat in Winchester, and William Wragg’s Hazel Grove, all areas where Conservative MPs are defending wafer-thin majorities. The party’s campaigning blitz will include a new fighting fund being launched this week, which will take donations to expand ground operations in key marginal Conservative seats. The party has also set up a crack team…
Read More
03Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Former Lib Dem VP Isabelle Parasram awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List

Former Lib Dem VP Isabelle Parasram awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are delighted that our former Vice President, Isabelle Parasram, has been awarded the Order of The British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty The Queen, in recognition of her Political and Public Service. The announcement has been made in the Queen’s New Years Honours List and is published in the London Gazette of 1 Jan 2022. Isabelle previously served as vice-president of the Liberal Democrats, as a member of its federal board, and as a patron for a network for political donors. She is also a past Parliamentary and London Assembly candidate for the party. Responding to the news, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP, said: “We are absolutely delighted to hear that Isabelle has received this award, which is richly deserved for her distinguished and tireless service…
Read More
03Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Number of care homes falls by 1,700 since 2015

Number of care homes falls by 1,700 since 2015

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to address the growing social care crisis, after new figures reveal the number of care homes across England has fallen by 10% since 2015. The data, acquired by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons Library, also shows that while the average number of beds per care home rose from 27 to 30 during that time, 5,110 beds have been lost overall. Some areas have lost 40 per cent of care home beds, exposing a dangerous postcode lottery in the availability of residential social care. Last month it emerged that hotels were being converted into temporary care facilities, with staff flown in from Spain and Greece, to relieve the strain on NHS hospital beds as over 10,000 beds were occupied by medically…
Read More
31Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey’s New Year message for 2022

Ed Davey’s New Year message for 2022

Parliamentary news
In his New Year’s message for 2022, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP says: “Happy New Year, everyone. I hope you had a great Christmas. I am so looking forward to 2022 - I hope it’s the year we will finally beat Covid, that Liberal Democrats will keep beating the Conservatives as we did in two historic by-elections last year, and England will win the World Cup. “Even though things are tough at the moment, I’m determined we find solutions to our country’s many problems. The year is starting with many worries. The cost of living crisis, with heating bills rocketing; a staff shortage crisis with so many people off work, self-isolating; and a political crisis, with a divided Government incapable of leading the country through this public health crisis.…
Read More
31Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Guarantee Covid tests for teachers and pupils ahead of schools return, government urged

Guarantee Covid tests for teachers and pupils ahead of schools return, government urged

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have written to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi calling on him to provide a “cast-iron” guarantee that schools will be able to access Covid tests for teaching staff and pupils returning to the classroom next week. Without those tests available at the start of term, he risks breaking his promise to keep schools open. It comes amid warnings from headteachers that difficulties getting hold of lateral flow tests could lead to school closures or children returning to online learning. Last month, the Government said all secondary school students in England will be asked to take a Covid test on site following the Christmas break. Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: “It would be unforgivable for ministers to do even more damage to our children’s futures and…
Read More
31Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems: Call COBR meeting to address NHS covid staff crisis

Lib Dems: Call COBR meeting to address NHS covid staff crisis

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have demanded that Boris Johnson call an urgent COBR meeting to discuss measures to address the NHS Covid staffing crisis, as figures reveal a 31% rise over a week in Covid-related absences among NHS staff. The latest NHS figures reveal 24,632 NHS staff at hospital trusts in England were off for Covid-related reasons on 26 December, up almost a third from 18,829 the previous week. It comes as the chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson warned this morning that the NHS does not currently have enough staff to run “surge hubs” being set up to treat Covid patients outside hospitals and that an “emergency staffing model” will be needed. Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP, said: “Today’s figures confirm the worst: hospital and ambulance services…
Read More
28Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Five in six Christmas burglaries unsolved by police

Five in six Christmas burglaries unsolved by police

Parliamentary news
11% more burglaries of homes over the Christmas period than in the rest of the year.84% of Christmas burglaries go unsolved by the police.44,220 burglaries committed in October to December last year were closed without a suspect being identified. New analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed an 11% spike in burglaries over the Christmas period, five in six of which go unsolved by police. In the last five years, police recorded an average of 5,290 domestic burglaries per week in October, November and December, compared to 4,751 a week over the rest of the year. The Liberal Democrat analysis also shows that domestic burglaries committed over the festive period are more likely to go unsolved. 84% cases recorded in the last three months of the year are closed with…
Read More
28Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Covid air filters for all classrooms half the cost of PM’s Royal Yacht

Covid air filters for all classrooms half the cost of PM’s Royal Yacht

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats estimate that putting an air purifier in every classroom in England would cost around £140 million, around half the price of Boris Johnson’s pet project - the new £250 million Royal Yacht. The cost would also be a fraction of Government expenditure on a botched Test and Trace system and dodgy PPE contracts. At present, Government guidance suggests that teachers should open external windows and internal doors to improve “natural ventilation” and schools “should balance the need for increased ventilation while maintaining a comfortable temperature” - difficult to do during the cold winter months. With criminal record checks acting as a brake on moves to get retired teachers to return to the classrooms, and barely half of teenagers yet to receive one jab, the dangers of schools…
Read More
27Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Britain’s £100 million Christmas energy bill bombshell

Britain’s £100 million Christmas energy bill bombshell

Parliamentary news
Households in the UK will pay a whopping £100 million more than they did last year for their energy - and that’s only during the seven days between Christmas and New Year. New analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows that due to the increase in the energy price cap UK households face dramatically higher bills this Christmas with more rises to follow next year. Worse, if you add the extra £3.75 a week for the whole year, families will be paying an extra £195 a year. Yet there’s even worse to come as energy bills are to increase again this Spring, when the price cap is revised up again by at least a further £400 a year. The Liberal Democrats are calling for the Warm Homes Discount to be doubled…
Read More