02Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Schools: Davey calls on PM to provide proper catch-up funding

Schools: Davey calls on PM to provide proper catch-up funding

Parliamentary news
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP has called on the Prime Minister to provide proper funding so that children can catch up on the education they missed during during the pandemic. Ed Davey said: “Boris Johnson’s refusal to fund his own adviser’s education catch-up plan is a shocking betrayal of our children’s futures. “As children go back to school, parents are understandably anxious about all the learning they've missed out on during Covid. “Children, parents and teachers have done everything that’s been asked of them during the Covid crisis, but have been let down repeatedly by the appalling failures of Gavin Williamson and this Conservative Government. “Tory Ministers must listen to what parents are telling them and stump up the cash schools need to make up for the…
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02Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Protection of green spaces and ancient woodlands our priorities

Borough news
Saving the borough’s green spaces and ancient woodlands should be an ‘absolute and clear commitment’ in the new Local Plan, say Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Councillors. In their response to the consultation on the Local Plan published by Oldham Council, the Liberal Democrat Group has called for ‘the strongest possible protections from development for Green Belt, OPOL (Other Protected Open Land) and other green spaces not included in those categories’. Planning spokesperson, Shaw Councillor Hazel Gloster said: “It was clear from the howls of protest with which the public responded to Labour’s Greater Manchester Spatial Framework plan to build on our green belt that our beautiful countryside is as precious to them as it is to us, and the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for it.” In March 2017, the…
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02Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Raab should get on a plane or hand in his notice

Raab should get on a plane or hand in his notice

Parliamentary news
The Lib Dems are calling on Raab to get the next flight to Pakistan, Tajikistan or Uzbekistan to meet with his Foreign Minister counterparts. He must fly to the region immidiately to ensure British nationals and refugees can safely cross land borders. Layla Moran MP, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, said: "Dominic Raab should get on a plane or hand in his notice. He needs to fly out to countries neighbouring Afghanistan and ensure British nationals and refugees can escape the Taliban. "If the German Foreign Minister can do it, then so can he. Today he sent 15 British officials to these countries, yet can't be bothered to go himself. He's continuing to pass the buck on leadership. "He has wasted months and refused to stand up for Britain…
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28Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Incredible Futures failure cost ratepayers over £140,000

Incredible Futures failure cost ratepayers over £140,000

Borough news
The insolvency of social enterprise Incredible Futures in April 2020 cost ratepayers over £140,000 in financial aid; a mistake the Liberal Democrat Leader is adamant must not be repeated. The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Main Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, was dismayed to receive the news in the reply to his recent request for information under the Freedom of Information Act. Incredible Futures went into liquidation, owing over £44,000 to creditors, despite receiving over £200,000 in financial aid, including £140,000 directly from the coffers of the local authority, and being paid over £100,000 for services rendered. Incredible Futures also benefitted from the use for two years rent-free of premises in Manchester Chambers leased to them by the Council. Councillor Sykes said: “This is sadly not the first time that…
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28Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Create safe passage corridor in next 24 hours

Create safe passage corridor in next 24 hours

Parliamentary news
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has called on the Prime Minister to create a safe passage corridor for Afghans in the next 24 hours. He said: “The deaths of British people and many others in this appalling terrorist attack breaks our hearts. My thoughts are with the families of the victims in this awful moment. "The Government must do everything it can to secure a safe passage corridor in the next 24 hours to get all those fleeing the Taliban and the terrorists out of Afghanistan safely.”
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27Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Urgent Inquiry into UK exit from Afghanistan needed

Urgent Inquiry into UK exit from Afghanistan needed

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an urgent inquiry into the Government’s handling of the evacuation of UK Nationals and Afghans from Afghanistan as the last British flight leaves Kabul. In a letter to Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey MP branded the UK withdrawal from Afghanistan as “the biggest British foreign policy disaster since the Suez Crisis”. He also challenged the Prime Minister to come clean on several outstanding issues, including Dominic Raab going on holiday as the Taliban advanced, how many Afghans had been left behind in the UK’s rush to withdraw and what actions the Prime Minister took over the last two years to persuade first President Trump, and then President Biden, not to withdraw US troops.  The Liberal Democrat Leader argues a short but immediate…
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25Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Employment areas pinpointed as local plan weakness

Employment areas pinpointed as local plan weakness

Borough news
Transforming Oldham’s economic fortunes should be the number one priority of Oldham Council, which is why it is alarming that the local plan consultation has failed to update the Business Employment Areas from the previous local plan, says Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Kenyon. The shadow cabinet member for economy and enterprise highlighted the inclusion of the new Saddleworth School site in the list of Saddleworth Employment Areas – which was taken directly from the previous local plan without being updated. “There are locations across Saddleworth, and the wider borough, which have thrived in the years since the previous local plan, and we should be identifying those for support, as well as those locations which will be the next successes in the local economy. “The economic landscape of Oldham has changed…
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24Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey on G7: Johnson has failed

Davey on G7: Johnson has failed

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the Prime Minister's statement following the emergency G7 summit today, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "Boris Johnson has come out from this summit with nothing. Britain should stand tall in the world, but this Prime Minister falls short at every turn. "He has failed on the global stage once more, and the consequences could not be more devastating. "We abandoned all those who needed us in their hour of need; those who have put themselves in danger to protect British troops, vulnerable women and girls, and all those who simply fought to make their country a better place to live. "There have been calls for a safe passage to be prioritised since the outset of this crisis, but the government was caught on the hoof, and left…
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23Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Raab must go

Raab must go

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called on Dominic Raab to resign as Foreign Secretary. Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, said: "Dominic Raab must resign today. If he does not, the Prime Minister should finally show some leadership, and sack him. "Right now, there are interpreters across Afghanistan who are surrounded by the Taliban and fearing the worst. "All the Foreign Secretary had to do was leave the beach and pick up the phone. He did not. "He has shamed Britain and is no longer fit to represent our country. “Dominic Raab wasn’t just asleep at the wheel. He was wilfully complacent and will go down as one of the worst Foreign Secretaries in history. "He has personally overseen the biggest foreign policy disaster in our lifetimes, and…
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23Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Kabul: Impending withdrawal stresses need for “safe corridor” escape route

Kabul: Impending withdrawal stresses need for “safe corridor” escape route

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the news that the last British evacuation flight out of Kabul could be as early as Tuesday, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "Thousands of Afghans have been plunged into desperation by this arbitrarily set and cruel deadline for the last flight out of Kabul. "They are depending on us to evacuate them safely and save them from the terror of the Taliban. Britain must not turn its back on them now. "It is vital that the Government work with our international allies to secure a corridor of land between Kabul and an international border without delay, so there is an ongoing safe escape route out of Afghanistan. "Scenes at Kabul airport continue to horrify the world and show it is of paramount importance that…
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