05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Launch an investigation into PM’s Goldsmith holiday

Launch an investigation into PM’s Goldsmith holiday

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Prime Minister will not be registering his holiday at Zac Goldsmith's Marbella villa in the register of members interests, the Liberal Democrats have said the Independent Standards Commissioner should urgently launch an investigation. Liberal Democrat Cheif Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said: "Boris Johnson and the Tories have shown this week they don't have a shred of integrity left. "The Independent Standards Commissioner should urgently launch an investigation into whether Boris Johnson breached the code of conduct by failing to properly declare his holiday. "The Tories have shown they can't be trusted to mark their own homework on this issue. They are now the party of sleaze."
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

No COP Out: Council must make ‘practical and time-bound commitments’ to tackle climate change

Borough news
As the world’s leading politicians meet in Glasgow for the COP-26 conference to renew their commitments to address climate change, the Oldham Liberal Democrats called on Oldham Council to make some local commitments to reach Net Zero. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor Chris Gloster, who is the party’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon, proposed an amendment to a motion at Wednesday’s meeting of the Full Council (3 November) listing a series of measures that Oldham should commit to as an authority ‘ambitious to become a carbon neutral council by 2025 and a carbon neutral borough by 2030’. Commenting Councillor Gloster said: “The Liberal Democrats first called on the Council to declare a climate emergency in July 2019 and the Council subsequently adopted a new green plan for…
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Crime stats: Fraud soars by 32% as new action demanded

Crime stats: Fraud soars by 32% as new action demanded

Parliamentary news
Responding to the new official crime figures, which show that there were 5 million fraud offences in the last year, a rise of 32%, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “The scourge of fraud and scams is spreading at an alarming rate, but the Government is still not giving it the focus it deserves. “Fraud is an appalling crime that particularly preys on vulnerable people. Far too many criminals are getting away with it, and far too many victims are being left without justice or redress. “We need real action to stop fraud from ruining people’s lives. That’s why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a properly-funded new Online Crime Agency to tackle it effectively, and for the Government to name and shame the banks who are…
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sleaze row U-turn is Johnson’s Super League moment

Sleaze row U-turn is Johnson’s Super League moment

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have said that the Government's U-turn over rewriting sleaze rules is Boris Johnson's "Super League moment." It comes as Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP has secured an application for an emergency debate in Parliament on parliamentary standards, to force ministers to answer questions from MPs about the issue. Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “This is Boris Johnson’s Super League moment. This corrupt government thought they could get away with rigging the system without anyone realising. Now they have been forced into a humiliating U-turn after a huge public backlash. “The Tories are still leaving the door open to setting up a crony committee in future. We must not let them off the hook for future investigations, whether it’s into dodgy Covid contracts…
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Angela Richardson re-appointed: So much for a principled stand

Angela Richardson re-appointed: So much for a principled stand

Parliamentary news
Angela Richardson MP has been reappointed to a government job less than 24 hours after losing it to vote against the Leadsom Amendment due to "a matter of principle". Responding to Angela Richardson MP being re-appointed as Michael Gove's PPS, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney said: "So much for a principled stand. It says a lot about your politics when your ethical standards don't last more than 24 hours. "No wonder voters in the Blue Wall have had enough of Tory sleaze and corruption. This is just not cricket."
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
China must phase out coal or face carbon border tax

China must phase out coal or face carbon border tax

Parliamentary news
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Climate and Energy Secretary Ed Davey used a visit to the COP26 summit in Glasgow to call for tougher international action against China in the fight against climate change. He called on Western countries to unite in getting China to agree to phase out the use of fossil fuels or face a carbon border tax, warning that a “carrot and stick approach” is needed to get the world’s largest polluter round the negotiating table. Ed Davey has negotiated more COPs than any other British politician, leading negotiations in Doha, Lima and Warsaw. Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “This is Boris Johnson’s moment to bring the West together and put China under maximum pressure to phase…
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey on Paterson resigning: Johnson has underestimated the British people

Ed Davey on Paterson resigning: Johnson has underestimated the British people

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news Owen Paterson has resigned, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "Boris Johnson thought he could rewrite the rules to defend himself and his Tory chums from charges of sleaze and corruption without anyone noticing. "But he underestimated the British people and how badly this would go down, including among many lifelong Conservative voters. "It just shows that the Conservatives are taking people for granted. The public wants decency and honesty from their government, instead under Boris Johnson all they get is lies, chaos and cronyism."
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government failing to support UK’s world leading cultural sector

Government failing to support UK’s world leading cultural sector

Parliamentary news
Following a Liberal Democrat debate in the House of Lords, the party has challenged the Government to do more to protect the UK’s vital cultural sector. The Government claims it wants to ‘level up’ and ‘build back better’, but has failed to give the UK cultural sector the support it needs to do this. Their failure to resolve disagreements over visas with the EU has left musicians and performers unable to tour, with Sir Elton John wading into the debate to call for action to resolve this. The Liberal Democrats are calling for greater financial support for cultural institutions and freelancers, a halt to attempts to privatise Channel 4, and an agreement to secure visa-free travel for musical performers and artists across Europe. Baroness Lynne Featherstone, who led the debate,…
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Longer school days: pipe dream without proper funding

Longer school days: pipe dream without proper funding

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Department for Education report on proposals to lengthen the school day in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: "Extending the school day without the proper funding and support from teachers is nothing short of a pipe dream that will leave teachers on the frontline burnt out. "If the Education Secretary is serious about preventing pupils currently in school from missing out on more vital learning, he must listen to his own government advice and give schools the funding they need. "We need the full £15bn of catch up funding, catch up vouchers to help pupils get back on track, and a government prepared to take our children’s education and wellbeing seriously."
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Time for carbon offset woodlands in Oldham Borough

Time for carbon offset woodlands in Oldham Borough

Borough news
In advance of COP26 conference delegates agreeing to reverse deforestation, Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has written to the Chief Executive and Leader of Oldham Council suggesting this borough do its bit by asking residents to make a voluntary payment to offset their own carbon footprint to use to plant more trees. Schemes to create so-called carbon offset woodlands already exist. These allow individuals who wish to make a payment to offset the carbon emissions that their actions generate, particularly where those generated by airline flights. This usually pays for more tree planting. Councillor Sykes said: “Trees absorb carbon and planting more trees means more carbon absorbed. More people are now choosing to make a small voluntary payment to offset the adverse impact of their actions on our…
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