08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Rashford mix up should be “final nail in coffin” for Gavin Williamson

Rashford mix up should be “final nail in coffin” for Gavin Williamson

Parliamentary news
Commenting on the news that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson incorrectly claimed to meet Marcus Rashford, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “This is a shocking and embarrassing admission that shows Gavin Williamson is simply not up to the job. “The Education Secretary has let down children, parents and teachers by failing to secure enough cash to catch up on lost learning during the pandemic. "Now he has confused two black sporting heroes and failed to recognise Marcus Rashford, who has led the charge on fighting child poverty. “If rumours of an imminent reshuffle are true, this must surely be the final nail in the coffin for Gavin Williamson holding ministerial office ever again." After claiming to meet Marcus Rashford online, Gavin Williamson's team later confirmed that he met…
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
“Affordable” homes funding is not what it appears

“Affordable” homes funding is not what it appears

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Just a fraction of Government funding promised for housing development is going to go on social housing, failing to keep a Tory promise from last year that it would be targeted to help the most vulnerable. Liberal Democrat Councillors hit out after an announcement of £8.2 billion for “affordable” housing turned out to be money already announced a year ago. Even worse, hardly any of the money was for socially rented housing – what most people are thinking of when the term “affordable” is used. Shadow cabinet member for housing in Oldham, Sam Al-Hamdani, said: “Time and again, people in Oldham get really angry about so-called ‘affordable’ housing, and I say to them ‘You are right”. The Government have given that name to housing which is sold at slightly below the…
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lack of consultation frustrates public and councillors

Lack of consultation frustrates public and councillors

Borough news
A new consultation on the housing proposed for the Knowls Lane site in Grotton, Springhead and Lees, is not taking place publicly, with the developer citing coronavirus restrictions as the reason – despite the restrictions no longer being in force.  A letter has been sent out to local residents from the developer, giving them two weeks to respond to the proposed designs. As this is not part of the formal planning process, this means that they do not have to adhere to the formal consultation periods that are required when planning permission is brought. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Kenyon said: “Our immediate response on getting a copy of this letter was ‘What restrictions?’ There was a public consultation this weekend on the proposals for Northern Roots which took place…
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

We demand to be treated with decency!

Borough news
Mrs Shona Farnworth asks Pennine Acute Hospital Trust to treat her with the respect and decency she deserves. What should be a usual visit to the gynaecology department for a cervical screening test has proved to be a lengthy and degrading ordeal for Mrs Farnworth. As a wheelchair user with a complex disability, Mrs Farnworth requires use of a hoist for the procedure at Oldham Royal Hospital. However, at multiple appointments, she was met with a hostile environment. Mrs Farnworth said: “My disability gives me plenty of challenges, which I manage to overcome in my own way. However, I am quite shocked by my experience with hospital appointments these past few months. I did not expect to get turned away from a smear appointment because of the lack of disability…
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Pensioners abandoned after broken Tory promise on triple lock

Pensioners abandoned after broken Tory promise on triple lock

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the announcement that the triple lock on pensions has been scrapped for the next year, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine said: "Another day, another broken Tory promise. With two million pensioners living in poverty, the triple lock was their guarantee that they wouldn’t have to face the old days of 75p rises. "Now it’s gone. Even if this Government says it’s a temporary move, how can pensioners have any faith that this is the one promise they will keep? “Liberal Democrats demand that the Government doesn’t leave pensioners living in poverty high and dry. The triple lock offers them vital protection – we cannot abandon them.”
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08Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Broken promises are betrayals that will haunt Johnson’s premiership

Broken promises are betrayals that will haunt Johnson’s premiership

Parliamentary news
Commenting on Boris Johnson's latest press conference, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said: “These broken manifesto promises are betrayals that will haunt Boris Johnson’s premiership. Whether it’s young working families, carers or small business owners, those catastrophically failed by the Conservatives during the pandemic are now being asked to pick up the tab. “The Liberal Democrats will oppose these unjust plans in Parliament tomorrow and urge all Conservative MPs to do the same. For the past two elections we have been clear about how to fix the social care crisis in a fair and progressive way. The Government must do the sensible thing and sit down with other parties to find a consensus, instead of drawing up divisive policies on the back of a fag packet.”
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07Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Elections Bill: Blatant assault on democratic rights

Elections Bill: Blatant assault on democratic rights

Parliamentary news
Ahead of tonight's vote on the controversial Elections Bill, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael MP said: “You don’t strengthen our democracy by making it harder for people to vote. “The Conservatives’ voter ID law is a blatant assault on our fundamental democratic rights, and Liberal Democrats will resist it all the way. “Between this and their attacks on the courts, the Human Rights Act and the right to peaceful protest, Boris Johnson and his Tory Ministers are desperately trying to stop people holding them to account for their disastrous policies. We won’t let them. “Instead of pushing ahead with their discriminatory and unnecessary voter ID law, Ministers should get behind our efforts to build a better politics with a fairer electoral system.”
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07Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Deploy the Army to get food onto shelves and avoid Christmas chaos

Deploy the Army to get food onto shelves and avoid Christmas chaos

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to send in the Army to deliver food to supermarkets, as immigration chaos fuels a growing shortage of lorry drivers. The country has endured a summer of shortage chaos with empty supermarket shelves, restaurant food shortages, and even delays to flu jabs. The call from the Liberal Democrats comes as the Road Haulage Association warns of a shortage of 100,000 HGV drivers and the CBI have recently said there could be up to 2 years of Labour shortages. The Lib Dems have slammed the Government’s new immigration system, implemented in the middle of the Covid pandemic, which makes it impossible for employers to recruit lorry drivers, care workers and other key workers from overseas. Recent Home Office data shows that 20,000 fewer…
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07Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government social care plan won’t fix crisis and is a broken promise

Government social care plan won’t fix crisis and is a broken promise

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Boris Johnson has failed to produce a sustainable social care plan and broken his election promise not to raise national insurance, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “This is yet another broken promise from the Conservatives that will hit working families hard. Boris Johnson gave voters a cast iron guarantee that he would not raise National Insurance – and now he’s breaking voters’ trust again. “Even worse, the Government’s plans won’t fix the social care crisis. Our loved ones will still not get the quality care they need. “This is two broken promises in one: a betrayal of taxpayers especially the low paid, young and small business and a betrayal of carers and people who need care. “People deserve a Government they…
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06Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Unsung heroes in our overlooked emergency services deserve government cash

Unsung heroes in our overlooked emergency services deserve government cash

Borough news
The Oldham Liberal Democrats want to see government financial support for the UK’s mountain and cave rescue services; air ambulance services; and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. At the next meeting of the Full Council (Wednesday 8 Sept, 6pm), Crompton Councillor Dave Murphy and Shaw Councillor Hazel Gloster will be calling for government cash for these unsung emergency services run by courageous and selfless volunteers. “With the ending of COVID restrictions, more people will be out and about on our moors or visiting the seaside, and there will be greater demands on these services as a result”, said Councillor Murphy. “It is great that the public have historically given generously to support these services, but after the lockdown, a great many people will be losing their jobs and charitable donations…
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