Sam Al-Hamdani – Page 72 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

12Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GDP stats: Massive obstacles lie ahead in spite of growth

Reacting to estimate figures released this morning showing that the UK's GDP increased by 4.8% in Q2 2021, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "These figures shouldn't lull us into thinking that all our problems are solved. We still face potentially massive obstacles if the Government goes ahead with ending the furlough scheme and the Universal credit uplift at the end of next month. "Hard pressed families and struggling businesses need more reassurance than improving GDP figures - they need support extended into next year. "So many people have done the right thing and got vaccinated, but we also need to be aware of the danger of new variants putting renewed pressure on the NHS and demanding yet more sacrifice from everyone."

10Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Shaw’s Gold Medal winner deserves a gold post box

Borough news

Shaw’s very own Matt Walls, Olympic Gold cycling champion could be honoured with a gold post box after an appeal to Royal Mail by Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor Hazel Gloster. Hazel said: “Matt has done Shaw and Crompton proud, and, fingers crossed, will do the same when he competes in the Men’s Madison event on Saturday. His achievements in cycling cannot be underestimated and we should ensure visitors to Shaw and Crompton have a visual acknowledgment to our home-grown champion.” “Painting a post box gold in a place associated with the winning Olympian, with a plaque to explain their success, was such a brilliant and popular idea when the Royal Mail did this after the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, yet the practice inexplicably died out”, added Hazel. “Public letter…

06Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Rashford is showing up this compassionless Government

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that Marcus Rashford has called on health professionals to help more families in need sign up to a government-backed food voucher scheme, Liberal Democrat Work & Pensions Spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain MP has said: "Rashford is once again showing this compassionless Government how to do the right thing. "The Government must focus on outcomes. Money spent on a programme doesn’t matter if it’s not doing the thing it was intended to do. They must step in and do everything they can to publicise this "Healthy Start" scheme, to support parents and families. "In addition, they must also make the scheme accessible to communities that are most in need by working with local councils and community groups. They should stop promoting a culture which makes people feel like…

06Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Alok Sharma’s hypocrisy shows Government’s contempt for the rules

Parliamentary news

Reacting to the revelation that COP26 President Alok Sharma has been allowed to travel to Red List countries without quarantining, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport Sarah Olney MP said: "As usual with this Government, it's one rule for them and another for everybody else. While Alok Sharma flies to Red List countries with abandon, hard-working families can hardly see loved-ones or plan holidays as the Government changes travel rules on the hoof. "People are sick of the Government giving themselves get-out-of-jail free passes while the rest of us stick to the rules. “The Conservatives have fallen completely out of touch with the concept of decency and this is another example to add to a catalogue of errors made during this pandemic. Only an inquiry can do the British people justice.”

06Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Too little, too late on live events insurance

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Government's belated live events insurance scheme, Liberal Democrats Culture Spokesperson Jamie Stone MP said: "After having months to prepare a comprehensive live events insurance scheme, this Government has yet again underdelivered. "This scheme doesn't even cover events that need to reduce capacity or cancel if social distancing restrictions are reintroduced. What the industry needs is pandemic protection, and this is not it. “More than half of the festivals planned this summer have already been cancelled due to the Government’s delay on this issue. That’s thousands of jobs and livelihoods, as well as people’s fun and entertainment. “Myself and others have been calling for a live events insurance scheme since January. What we’re seeing now is the consequences of this Government’s dither and delay - they snooze, we…

06Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Energy price cap: Government choice not to delay is “outrageous”

Parliamentary news

Following the news that the energy price cap will increase by up to £139 a year, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: “This price cap increase will plunge thousands of low income households across the country into more uncertainty. At a time where Covid-19 has already done so much damage, for the government not to delay this is outrageous. “If the Tories actually cared about keeping the costs of energy low they would not have scrapped their home insulation programme earlier this year. Their failure to upgrade homes has left those on low incomes at the mercy of energy suppliers who have increased their bills. “Liberal Democrats are calling for a long-term home insulation programme to cut energy bills and reforming the price cap to properly target those…

06Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Best out of three for Royton and Crompton Family Practice telephones?

Borough news

Liberal Democrat Councillor Louie Hamblett has received assurances following another meeting with the practice and the CCG that their telephone system has been to blame for intermittent faults and lengthy waiting times. The practice has now sought external assistance from Oldham CCG to help change their telephony system and their provider also along with a seconded member of the CCG staff to help ensure that both patient and staff relations are no longer further strained. Councillor Hamblett was also recently surprised to learn that the practice has absorbed additional patients from another practice that has recently been dissolved. With the unexpected closure of Donald Wilde Medical Practice resulted in around 5,000 patients having to be relocated, and this affected those practices in Oldham who absorbed these patients to their practice…

06Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

“No Cannes do”

Borough news

Council agrees not to attend French conference after appeal from Liberal Democrat leader An appeal from the Leader of Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Group has finally led the Labour Administration to call time on spending over £10,000 on sending delegates to an annual international property conference in Southern France. In mid-July, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes, MBE, wrote to the new Council Leader and Chief Executive asking them to cease the needless spending which could be better spent on providing front-line services. In 2018 and 2019, Oldham Council was represented at the three-day Marché International des Professionnels d'Immobilier (MIPIM) property conferences held in the French Riviera resort of Cannes at a time when Council services have been cut to the bone. In 2018 at least £9,892 was spent…

05Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt record on electric vehicles “frankly embarrassing”

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats have slammed the Government as new statistics reveal just 292 new “rapid” electric vehicle chargers were installed in the last three months, in spite of Tory promises to dramatically increase the number of fast chargers. The news comes as the Prime Minister’s COP26 Spokesperson Allegra Stratton said she was sticking with her diesel car because of concerns about range and recharging - suggesting she would buy an EV if “the stop times for recharging improve so much that it’s half an hour.” Rapid chargers will charge an EV from 0% to 80% in roughly the same time Ms Stratton desires, rather than the 8 hours that a standard “fast” charger takes. Earlier this year, the Conservatives cut grants available to new electric vehicle owners and the number…

05Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Government failing Afghan people

Parliamentary news

Responding to the continued territory gains by the Taliban in Afghanistan, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “As the Taliban take swathes of territory on their advance towards Kabul, millions of women and girls are facing the prospect of a new era of injustice, inequality and brutality - while the potential for a new vector of international terrorism forms across Afghanistan. “Meanwhile the UK is failing to meet its moral obligation to those interpreters who risked their lives supporting our troops, while our international development spending in Afghanistan has been slashed. “The spectre of a new security threat is looming. The UK government must work urgently with our international partners because right now we are failing to meet our responsibilities to the Afghan people.”

Author: Sam Al-Hamdani