19Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liz Truss Brexit appointment: PM setting up leadership rival to fail

Liz Truss Brexit appointment: PM setting up leadership rival to fail

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will take over Lord Frost's Brexit responsibilities following his resignation, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “The Tories are tearing themselves apart under Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister is more interested in setting his leadership rivals up to fail than doing what’s right for the country. “Liz Truss has shown time and again that she doesn’t care about the national interest - she’s only interested in appealing to Conservative party members. That is a disgrace. “Under David Frost, our relations with Europe were already teetering on the brink of a trade war. Families and small businesses up and down the country will now be seriously worried about what the future holds for our trade with Europe.”
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17Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey on North Shropshire by-election: “Party is over for Boris Johnson”

Davey on North Shropshire by-election: “Party is over for Boris Johnson”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have declared ‘the party is over’ for Boris Johnson after their sensational by-election win in North Shropshire. North Shropshire was the 58th safest Conservative seat in the country, with former Conservative MP Owen Paterson having a majority of almost 23,000 votes in 2019. This represents the second biggest majority overcome in a modern by-election, after Christchurch in 1993. Liberal Democrat candidate Helen Morgan received 17,957 votes, representing a swing of 34% from the Conservatives and giving her a majority of 5,925. The stunning Liberal Democrat win follows their success in Chesham and Amersham in June, when a Conservative majority of 16,000 was overturned with another huge swing resulting in Sarah Green MP being elected with a majority of over 8,000. Commenting on the result, Liberal Democrat Leader…
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16Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Don’t close Parliament until pub bailout deal agreed

Don’t close Parliament until pub bailout deal agreed

Parliamentary news
With hospitality businesses on the brink following the spread of the Omicron variant, the Liberal Democrats are calling on Parliament to sit tomorrow to pass new support measures. Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP is demanding Parliament sit in a hybrid session to allow MPs with Covid to attend virtually, to reduce the further spread of Covid in Westminster. Wendy made the demand to Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, during questions in the chamber. Last week, the Liberal Democrats called for taxes to be slashed on high street businesses and the Government to convene urgent meetings with business groups to bring in whatever support package they need.Calling for MPs to continue Parliament’s session until new business measures are passed, Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “MPs should not break up…
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16Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Australia Trade Deal: Conservatives sell out British farmers

Australia Trade Deal: Conservatives sell out British farmers

Parliamentary news
Responding to the new UK-Australia trade deal, Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: "This trade deal fails to protect our farmers in the long-term. "The Conservatives make promises of transitions, but all that means is delaying the inevitable - our farming communities being undermined by imported food that is produced to lower standards of animal welfare and environmental protection. "Liberal Democrats back British farmers, we're calling on the government to back my bill forcing them to publish the impact assessments of this deal on our farming communities and to give Parliament the final say."
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15Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Extend Trusted People scheme

Borough news
Crompton Liberal Democrat councillor Diane Williamson has welcomed the new scheme that has been launched to help women and girls feel safe on the tram network. “In this day and age, we should not have to be doing something like this, should we? Our girls and young women should feel safe and able to travel on the trams without fear of being verbally attacked or something more serious,” said Cllr Williamson. The teams are offering a friendly face around the Oldham tram stops in case residents are feeling uneasy, especially as the winter nights draw in. Until March 2022, the Youth Service are covering the stops between Freehold and Oldham Mumps at times when they are busy with school pupils and college students, with the Street Angels covering the later…
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15Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Only 1-in-3 pharmacies in England wanting to give booster jabs get go-ahead

Only 1-in-3 pharmacies in England wanting to give booster jabs get go-ahead

Parliamentary news
Fewer than one third of the 4,733 pharmacies that applied to take part in the booster vaccination programme have been accepted, figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed. Some pharmacies are waiting up to eleven weeks to be approved to give out Covid vaccines and booster jabs. If that wait was repeated from today, a pharmacy would not be able to provide vaccinations until March next year. By the end of September 2021, fewer than one third of the 4,733 pharmacies that applied to take part in the booster vaccination programme had been accepted. Of these, just 1,336 community pharmacy vaccination sites were actively providing the service as of 3 December. The figures were provided in response to a parliamentary question tabled by Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper…
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15Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: North Shropshire by-election now a “coin toss” between Lib Dems and Conservatives

Davey: North Shropshire by-election now a “coin toss” between Lib Dems and Conservatives

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has said the crucial North Shropshire by-election tomorrow (Thursday 16 December) is now a “coin toss” between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. The once ultra-safe Conservative seat is now under serious threat, amid local anger about ambulance waiting times, farmers being let down and rural communities feeling taken for granted by Boris Johnson’s Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats knocked on over 23,000 doors last weekend with over 1,000 volunteers on the ground during the final week. On eve of the poll today, Liberal Democrat candidate Helen Morgan was joined on the campaign trail by five of the party’s MPs. Even a close second for the party would deal a major further blow to Boris Johnson’s authority in what should be one of the safest Conservative seats…
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15Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Inflation: Perfect storm facing families and businesses

Inflation: Perfect storm facing families and businesses

Parliamentary news
Responding to new figures which show that inflation has hit 5.1% - its highest level in a decade - Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "Families and businesses are facing the perfect storm this winter as inflation soars and Covid surges. "Boris Johnson cannot stand idly by while the cost of living crisis forces people to choose between eating and heating. "The Conservatives must offer hope to families this Christmas, starting by scrapping their unfair and manifesto-breaking tax rise coming in next year. "We also need an urgent package of support for cafés, pubs and restaurants on the brink before more livelihoods are lost."
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14Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Christmas Quiz: PM with nowhere left to hide

Christmas Quiz: PM with nowhere left to hide

Parliamentary news
Responding to a photograph which shows the Prime Minister allegedly hosting a Christmas quiz in 10 Downing Street last year whilst London was in Tier 2 restrictions, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: "This slew of rule-breaking revelations leaves Boris Johnson with nowhere left to hide. "The British public did what they were asked, often at huge personal cost, but over the last year, it seems that Johnson and his cronies flouted rules, laughed about it, and are now desperately trying to cover it up. "Johnson is destroying public trust at every turn. For every day he remains in No 10, he undermines the national effort to accelerate the booster programme and hold the line against Omicron. Johnson just needs to go."
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14Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sunak must come out of hiding and slash taxes on high street to prevent winter collapse

Sunak must come out of hiding and slash taxes on high street to prevent winter collapse

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have urged the Chancellor to "come out of hiding" and support high street businesses struggling with the impact of the new Omicron variant. The party is calling for an urgent £4.5 billion package of tax cuts for local businesses to help ailing high streets across the UK survive the winter. This package would see the reinstatement of the emergency 5% rate of VAT for hospitality, accommodation and attractions and 100% business rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. These changes would offer a vital lifeline to over 800,000 businesses, who are looking ahead to another bleak winter - with increasing Covid restrictions hampering their ability to operate and trade normally. The Government has so far refused to offer any additional support for businesses despite the…
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