Sam Al-Hamdani – Page 60 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

13Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

UK not prepared for winter health pressures

Responding to the Royal College of Physicians findings that one in three doctors say their organisation is not prepared for winter, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: “Health and care staff find themselves facing a huge backlog of care and record waiting times as they head into this winter. These stark figures show just how many are feeling burned out, overstretched, and deeply concerned about their ability to cope. “The fact that one-in-three doctors have concerns about the upcoming winter shows that the Government is not providing enough support to those working on the front lines. This is not only letting down staff, but letting down patients too. “We urgently need a long-term workforce plan to ensure that health and social care providers are both…

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Zahawi ignoring school meal shortage crisis at his front door

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP has written to the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi accusing him of ignoring the school meal shortage crisis after it had been revealed schools are being told to stock up on food. ITV has reported that ISS, one of the UK’s largest canteen suppliers, has written to its school catering staff to advise them to stock up on food to ensure pupils can be fed through the winter months. It comes after months of warnings about the potential shortage crisis. In a letter to Zahawi, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey MP said that parents have already “endured so much and worked so hard during the pandemic.” He added, “For far too many children this is their one hot meal of the day and for…

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shaw and Crompton councillors set record straight on Shop Direct brownfield development, in Shaw

Borough news

Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has countered Labour Cabinet Member Councillor Hannah Roberts assertion that both he and his fellow Liberal Democrat Councillors are opposed to housing development on the former Shop Direct site. “Not only did Councillor Roberts completely misrepresent our position she also described the site as having previously been the ownership of Sports Direct, rather than Shop Direct,” said Councillor Sykes. “In fact, all three local Liberal Democrat Councillors support housing on the site, as it is far better that it is developed than left empty and developing housing here will help take some pressure off Shaw and Crompton’s Green Belt. “Our concern is more that there has been no planning or provision for the extra health and school places that Shaw will require to meet the…

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

NI Protocol: Tories talking casually on breaking international law

Parliamentary news

Reacting to Lord Frost's speech in Lisbon today on the UK-EU relationship and the Northern Ireland Protocol, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs and Northern Ireland Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “This Conservative Government is playing out like a badly-written farce. The same minister who just months ago was trumpeting the Government's botched Brexit deal now says it’s intolerable and has to be changed. “After all the upheaval British businesses have suffered and all the challenges they face now, they need certainty and support from the Government, not more pointless posturing. The solution to disruption and shortages is working together with our friends and neighbours, not picking needless fights. “Boris Johnson's Conservatives have got to stop talking so casually about breaking international law. Every time they do this, it weakens the UK’s…

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Pandemic report shows “unimaginable crisis of leadership”

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Science and Technology Select Committee's report on the government's handling of the pandemic, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “This report chronicles an almost unimaginable crisis of leadership in slow motion. As every mistake was made, experts and politicians, including the Liberal Democrats, warned this incompetent government. “Whether it was the snail's pace reaction in the early months of the spread, the failure of test and trace or the failure to pay self isolating people properly, the Conservatives were begged to change course. They either refused or acted too late. “Perhaps the saddest and most abiding image of the pandemic was families watching a loved one’s funeral over a computer. As this report confirms there were far more funerals than there needed to be, far…

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Kwasi Kwarteng finally hands in homework to Treasury as whole industries left close to collapse

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has now formally requested that the Treasury support industries hit by soaring energy costs, Liberal Democrat Business and Energy Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: "The Business Secretary is only now handing his homework to be marked by the Treasury, after being scolded yesterday for making things up live on TV. It would be laughable if people's jobs weren't on the line and factories weren't at risk of closing. "Whole industries are teetering on the edge of collapse and are in need of urgent help. But at a time when we need strong leadership, Conservative ministers are still squabbling amongst themselves."

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

High Court ruling on trafficking victims shows Conservatives must abolish hostile environment

Parliamentary news

Reacting to news that the High Court has just ruled that trafficking victims should be granted leave to remain in the UK, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “It shouldn’t have taken a court to tell the Home Office that victims of trafficking – some of the most vulnerable people in our country – should be protected. Instead of appealing this judgment, the Government should implement it in full, so that victims are supported when they come forward, helping to bring their slavers to justice. “The Conservatives’ hostile environment is undermining the fight against modern slavery. Priti Patel must abolish it and put tackling these evil criminal gangs first.”

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Unemployment figures are “calm before the storm”

Parliamentary news

Responding to the unemployment figures, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "This is the calm before the storm. Without urgent action to protect jobs in hard-hit sectors, we face a winter of more labour shortages and families suffering from the cost of living crunch. "We must not be lulled into a false sense of security. The Government must drop their ideological immigration policies to address serious labour shortages. "And in the long-term, we need a serious investment in skills to build an economy for Britain after the pandemic."

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Hate crimes: Highest on record despite misogyny exclusion

Parliamentary news

Reacting to new statistics released today which show that there has been a 9% rise in hate crimes since last year - now the highest on record - Liberal Democrat Justice and Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: “Violence and abuse of any kind has no place in our society. It is unacceptable that so many people are victimised simply because of who they are. This has to change. “There are even more hate crimes – against women – that are not included in these statistics, because the Government still refuses to make misogyny a hate crime. It’s time for the Prime Minister to listen to our calls for change, so that crimes motivated by hatred against women are treated as seriously as those motivated by racism or religious hatred.…

06Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Boris Johnson tax rises: You can’t trust the Conservatives with your money

Parliamentary news

Responding to Boris Johnson on the Andrew Marr Show refusing to rule out more tax rises at the next budget, Christine Jardine MP, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson, said: "The message to voters is clear, if you want to keep your taxes down, don't vote Conservative. "Boris Johnson has already torn up his manifesto promise on tax. Clobbering families with yet more unfair tax rises would be rubbing salt in the wound. "Taxes are up, food costs are up, energy bills are up. Yet millions in the South East still can't even fill up. "It just shows, you can't trust the Conservatives with your money."

Author: Sam Al-Hamdani