22Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
£250k Covid certification contract is “extremely worrying”

£250k Covid certification contract is “extremely worrying”

Parliamentary news
Responding to suggestions that the Government is ushering in national ID cards via Covid certificates, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said: “Vaccine passports were the thin end of the wedge. That the Department for Health is contracting work to a company that makes it money setting up surveillance systems, including ID cards, for Governments around the world is extremely worrying. “Collecting everyone’s personal information in a national database through an ID card system risks breaching people’s right to privacy. This is a policy no one wants and any plans for ID cards should be scrapped immediately. “The Government cannot continue to operate without scrutiny, ignoring the voices of the British people and Parliament. The Liberal Democrats demand that the Government entirely rule out the introduction of ID cards in the…
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22Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must drop rights-breaching protest crackdown law

Government must drop rights-breaching protest crackdown law

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to remove Part 3 from its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, as a new report from Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights says it “would increase those restrictions on non-violent protest in a way that we believe is inconsistent with our rights”. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Priti Patel’s protest crackdown law is dangerous and draconian. The right to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental human right, and has always been a crucial part of our democratic society. “As the Joint Committee on Human Rights makes clear, these new laws would undermine that right. They are part of the Conservative Government’s anti-democratic attempts to silence any opposition to its policies, and the Liberal Democrats will fiercely…
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22Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government borrowing shows scale of pandemic challenge

Government borrowing shows scale of pandemic challenge

Parliamentary news
Responding to this morning's economic stats, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine MP said: “The scale of the Government borrowing illustrates clearly just how huge an economic challenge people and businesses have faced in this pandemic. "Ministers must remember that behind these figures are millions of families, individuals and businesses who need support to get by in this and by refusing to extend furlough and the business rates holiday the Government putting all of them, our recovery and public finances at risk. "This Government has serious questions to answer about its economic strategy - if indeed it has a long term plan - and should immediately publish its analysis of what the impact of a wave of insolvencies and job losses would be on our debt and deficit."
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22Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
“Despicable” report pits poor kids against each other

“Despicable” report pits poor kids against each other

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Education Committee's latest report, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education Daisy Cooper MP said: “The real story of this report is the Government is badly letting down all of our country’s poorest children. “Pitting kids against each other based on the colour of their skin is a truly despicable thing to do. Instead of stoking up the culture war, the government should gets its act together and provide proper funding for the catch up programme families so desperately need. “The truth is the report reveals that disparities have far more to do with where a child lives. If levelling up meant anything at all, it would start in the classrooms from coast to coast."
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21Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Planning reforms must go after Lib Dem win

Davey: Planning reforms must go after Lib Dem win

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called for an end to Boris Johnson's Planning reforms, following his party's stunning victory in the Chesham and Amersham by-election. On Thursday, the voters of Chesham and Amersham elected Sarah Green with an 8,000 majority - a stunning reversal of the 22,000 majority the Conservatives held just four years ago. One of the key issues during the campaign was the Government's planning reforms and the impact it will have on the Chilterns. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "The message from the doorsteps of Buckinghamshire couldn’t be clearer. People are fed up with being taken for granted by Johnson and his Government and demand to be listened to. That's why the Conservative's ill-thought through and undemocratic planning reforms must go. "These reforms are nothing…
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18Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Chesham & Amersham: Ed Davey hails huge victory

Chesham & Amersham: Ed Davey hails huge victory

Parliamentary news
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has hailed a stunning victory in the Chesham and Amersham by-election and insisted that "the Tory Blue Wall is beginning to crumble."  The Lib Dems secured a huge swing of 25 points to snatch the previously safe Conservative seat overnight.  If this swing were to be achieved across the country in a General Election, the Lib Dems would claim 44 seats from Boris Johnson's party. Reacting to the party's incredible gain in Chesham and Amersham, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "This is a huge victory for the Liberal Democrats. The people of Chesham and Amersham have sent a shockwave through British politics. "We were told it was impossible for any party to beat the Tories here in Buckinghamshire. We were told this…
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17Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
It’s time to ‘jump start’ electric vehicle charging points

It’s time to ‘jump start’ electric vehicle charging points

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrats are concerned that Oldham is failing to keep up with the increasing demand for electric vehicle charging points as Britain makes the radical move to go green from 2030. In January 2021, the Department of Transport reported 31 public charging points in Oldham, or 13 for every 100,000 people, less than half the UK average of 31; and this was four less than in October 2019. The energy company Centrica also identified Oldham as one of 126 local councils with no plans to install on-street electric vehicle chargers. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is dismayed that Oldham is falling behind, especially as it is a Council and Borough committed to be carbon-neutral within ten years. Commenting, Councillor Sykes MBE said: “For example, at a…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Councillor fears a flagship Oldham park will end up off-limits

Councillor fears a flagship Oldham park will end up off-limits

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Crompton Dave Murphy and Shadow Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods has written to the Deputy Chief Executive of Oldham Council demanding that action be taken to curb the issues happening in Alexandra Park. Councillor Murphy said: “I have raised issues at Alexandra Park at my regular Shadow Cabinet meetings on several occasions. The park features too much in reports for my liking with incidents reported on a regular basis by the Police and our own Council staff. Alexandra Park is our flagship park and a park to be proud of and I grow increasing concerned that it will become off-limits for families scared to use its facilities. Councillor Dave Murphy Cllr Murphy added: “I have recently seen a report with three disturbing incidents in additions to ones…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Roadmap delay represents further blow to hospitality fears Sykes

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, fears the Prime Minister’s announcement that Covid-19 restrictions will last another month will mean yet more local pubs being lost, unless further financial support is soon forthcoming. “Whilst I understand that the Prime Minister has made this decision based upon scientific advice, the delay will put further pressure on hospitality business which have been impacted disproportionately by lockdowns and trading restrictions since March of last year”, said Councillor Sykes. Last week, the British Institute of Inn-keeping estimated that 1 in 10 pubs nationwide was expected to fail if there was a delay in the easing of restrictions, and the trade body UKHospitality has said that the delay will cost the sector around £3bn in sales. Councillor Sykes added: “Hospitality is one of…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
New proposals for Lees housebuilding

New proposals for Lees housebuilding

Borough news
Proposals for an additional 42 homes to be built at the rear of Maltby Court are being brought forward by developers, and local Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Kenyon is encouraging as many local residents to respond to the current consultation as possible. At the moment, no formal application to the Council has been brought forward, but a planning application from Wiggett Group is expected in September. Councillor Kenyon said: “It is vital that as many people as possible have the opportunity to respond on the application, and have their voices heard. “We should not wait for this to come to the planning committee, which can only consider the legalities of an application. The earlier that people can respond and ensure that their concerns are put across, the better. If we…
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