19Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
HGV drivers: Chronic shortage stifles our economy

HGV drivers: Chronic shortage stifles our economy

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest ONS figures on HGV driver vacancies, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport Sarah Olney MP said: "These figures reveal the chronic shortage of HGV drivers that is stifling our economy, and the government's utter failure to address it. "We are seeing supermarket shelves going empty and shops warning of shortages of toys at Christmas. "But still Conservative ministers are refusing to drop their damaging rules which make it hard to recruit HGV drivers from abroad. "Handing out temporary visas for a few months is not going to solve this issue. If Boris Johnson really wants to save Christmas, he should allow businesses to permanently recruit the skilled staff from abroad that they need."
Read More
19Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government ignoring City of London “elephant in the room”

Government ignoring City of London “elephant in the room”

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has warned that the Government's new Net Zero Strategy is ignoring the "elephant in the room" by failing to include measures to stop investment in fossil fuel industries through the City of London. The former Energy and Climate Change Secretary is calling for new oil, gas and coal companies to be banned from the London Stock Exchange and for urgent action to stop the UK hosting the world’s fossil fuel investments. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The UK must be net zero as soon as possible - Britain’s economy needs it just as much as the world’s climate does. Yet rapid progress to net zero just isn’t possible while the Government keeps ignoring the elephant in the room. “The UK produces just 2% of…
Read More
19Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Review of Greater Manchester scrutiny practices ‘long-overdue’, says Sykes

Review of Greater Manchester scrutiny practices ‘long-overdue’, says Sykes

Borough news
One year on from a promise made by the Mayor of Greater Manchester to conduct an independent review of the way in which decisions made by the GM Mayor, Council leaders and chief officers are scrutinised and challenged, the city region’s Liberal Democrat remain frustrated and disappointed by the lack of progress. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition Group on Oldham Council, who serves as a member of Transport for Greater Manchester, feels that the current arrangements are ‘wholly unfit for purpose’. “Having efficient mechanisms in place to enable the effective scrutiny of decision-making by the Mayor, Council leaders and senior officers of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is an essential prerequisite for good governance, a genuine democracy, and devolved power. At present they are not…
Read More
19Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Vaccine passport vote secured from Javid by Lib Dems

Vaccine passport vote secured from Javid by Lib Dems

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Health Secretary Sajid Javid has promised a vote in the House of Commons on vaccine passports, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: "Vaccine passports are Covid ID cards in all but name. They are illiberal, a burden to business and a zombie proposal that Ministers keep trotting out. "Finally the Government have stopped running scared and committed to a Parliamentary vote 11 months after they have been first suggested. “There must be a vote in advance, and Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose these plans that would be unworkable, divisive and hugely expensive for local businesses.”
Read More
17Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
NHS backlog: Govt failing to get to grips with crisis

NHS backlog: Govt failing to get to grips with crisis

Parliamentary news
Reacting to new statistics which show there are a record 5.7m people in England waiting for hospital treatment - a figure growing by 100,000 a month - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Social Care Munira Wilson MP said: “These damning figures show the government is failing to get to grips with the crisis facing the NHS. “Our health service was already under intolerable pressure before the pandemic, with waiting lists at a record high following years of Conservative neglect. Ministers must ensure there are now enough resources to cope with the difficult winter ahead. “Urgent action is needed to boost the NHS workforce and make sure patients get the care they deserve. That must include recruiting the extra GPs the Conservatives promised, to take pressure off our hospitals and…
Read More
17Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Butcher visas: Groundhog day for half-baked visa schemes

Butcher visas: Groundhog day for half-baked visa schemes

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the Government giving overseas butchers a six month temporary visa, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Food and Rural Affairs Tim Farron MP said: “It is groundhog day again as Ministers scramble to rush out another half-baked and inadequate visa scheme. "If Ministers think the answer to the shortages we face is a handful of temporary visas for one sector after another, they are badly mistaken. They just can't seem to learn from their mistakes. “Businesses across the UK are suffering because of the Conservatives’ damaging new immigration rules, imposed in the midst of a pandemic. The answer must be to rewrite those rules and abolish the arbitrary distinction that rejects key workers such as care staff and HGV drivers as ‘unskilled’.”
Read More
17Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Tragic death of Conservative MP represents a sad day for democracy

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Responding to horrifying murder of Conservative Member of Parliament, Sir David Amess, Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has made the following comments: “This is indeed another sad day for democracy. No one in elected office should have to fear carrying out their duties or meeting the people they represent. Sir David is the second MP to be murdered in just over five years, whilst, like the late Jo Cox MP, attending an advice surgery specifically to listen to, and support, his constituents in Southend.” “My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David’s family and friends to whom I express my sincere condolences.”
Read More
13Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

United Utilities ignore road damage for three months

Borough news
Substantial repairs required at the junction of Station Lane and Thornley Park Road have been ignored for over three months by United Utilities. Residents have had to cope with a badly boarded over junction for nearly 13 weeks so far, with no sign in sight of a resolution. The original damage was reported to the Council in June by local Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who reported a sunken section in the road to the highways team at the Council, after it was raised with him by resident David Sawford. Three and a half months later, the work is still incomplete, and the excavations have remained untouched since the initial investigation. David said: “The hole is extremely dangerous as it is deep and unsafe. There have been a number of…
Read More
13Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Action needed to tackle surge in homelessness of women and girls

Action needed to tackle surge in homelessness of women and girls

Parliamentary news
Responding to concerns from homelessness charities that the number of women relying on their services is increasing, Liberal Democrat Women and Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: "The Conservatives pledged to end rough sleeping, but now their policies are making it worse - especially for women and girls. They ignored all the warnings about cutting Universal Credit and ending the eviction ban, and now we are seeing the tragic results. "No one should be forced to sleep on the streets. The Government must get on with the job of ending rough sleeping by 2024, including banning 'no-fault' evictions as they promised more than two years ago."
Read More
13Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Dowden admits only 20 fuel tanker drivers from overseas on UK roads

Dowden admits only 20 fuel tanker drivers from overseas on UK roads

Parliamentary news
Responding to Conservative Party Chairman Oliver Dowden's comments this morning on HGV drivers, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “It is staggering that just 20 fuel tanker drivers from abroad who applied to work here are now on UK roads. “In the face of a national crisis and our ports going into gridlock, the response from Conservative ministers is too little too late. This incompetence will mean more empty shelves and more misery for British consumers in the run-up to Christmas. “The immigration system is broken, and it is hurting everyone. The government needs to end their arbitrary rules that shut out lorry drivers as ‘unskilled’ and take visa applications away from the Home Office to get them decided quickly and fairly.”
Read More