16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham Liberal Democrats call on public to support Clean Air Day

Oldham Liberal Democrats call on public to support Clean Air Day

Borough news
This Thursday 17 June is National Clean Air Day, and Oldham Liberal Democrats councillors are asking residents of the borough to support the event to help improve our health and our environment. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrats, said: “Many people will have noticed the lack of traffic during Lockdown and many more people took up exercise, walking and cycling, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now as we see the removal of the remaining lockdown restrictions, it would be great if we could avoid going back to our old habit of turning to our car for every journey. “Many of the short journeys we take in our daily lives, whether popping to the shops or for the school run, can be made on foot…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

We need real investment in post-Covid education catch up for our children

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors have all joined a call to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for real government investment to be made in education to provide further tuition to school children to catch up on learning lost because of Covid-19. Local Liberal Democrat Councillors signed the open letter to Prime Minister Johnson, which is being coordinated by the teachers’ representative body, the National Education Union. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, explained why they had done so: “Although the government has talked a lot about ‘levelling up’, investing to tackle inequalities in Britain after Covid, it has singularly failed to do so when it comes to the education of our children. The government’s own Education Recovery Tzar resigned in protest because only £1.4 billion was made available for extra…
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14Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
G7 a missed opportunity for Britain

G7 a missed opportunity for Britain

Parliamentary news
Responding to the end of the G7 meeting, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development Layla Moran MP said: “Rather than make the case for equal access to Covid vaccinations, the UK has instead become an obstacle. We should be joining the US and France in making the case for Covid vaccine patent waivers, instead of arguing against them. And our own commitment of vaccine doses is totally derisory. “It is deeply disappointing that the Prime Minister failed to use this opportunity to recommit to the 0.7% target for development spending. Britain’s proud reputation of advocating that the richest countries should meet their international development commitments has been ruined. “Meanwhile the Northern Ireland Protocol row suggests that we as a nations cannot be trusted to hold to our…
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14Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Warm Shaw welcome for new Waxxy Warehouse

Warm Shaw welcome for new Waxxy Warehouse

Borough news
Shaw councillor Howard Sykes MBE has offered the latest new business in Shaw a ‘warm welcome’ and his best wishes for its success.  Demilee Morgan, a Shaw resident, has taken possession of the former fancy dress shop at 2 Market Street and will soon be reopening the premises as a bespoke manufacturer and retailer of candles, Waxxy Warehouse Ltd. “This new shop will be great for Shaw”, said councillor Sykes. “Shoppers want to see more than the usual suspects on their high street and this kind of business – artisan, independent and local – is exactly what I would like to see in our town centre.  If Shaw can offer something unique it will attract more visitors from further afield to shop and make our local economy more vibrant.  This…
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11Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Youth Service Summits

Borough news
Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat councillors have been informed that some exciting provision from Oldham Youth Service is happening in three of our local secondary schools.  Shaw Councillor, Howard Sykes said “Crompton House School, The Oldham Academy North and Royton & Crompton School have been offered some tailored youth work for pupils at the schools.  Part of this will see a Youth Violence Summit held on 23 June 2021 – guest speakers will be talking pupils from across the borough as well.”  The schools were asked how they would like the youth service to work with their young people and this has resulted in different types of engagement.  “Royton & Crompton School are having an afterschool drama and dance provision, focusing on the school’s values and creating a drama piece to…
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11Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Community approach can benefit survivors in Oldham

Community approach can benefit survivors in Oldham

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
After the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) produced its latest report, local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has called on the Council to put its recommendations – and lessons from around the country – into practice in Oldham. One example is the Quetzal Project in Leicester, which provides free counselling for women recovering from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. They have been running an outreach project to allow women in isolated communities to access counselling, particularly from South Asian backgrounds. Sam said: “What the Quetzal Project has done really well is reach out to people and communities, not wait for people to come to them. They found the right people in the community, that survivors would trust, and gave them the help they needed to ensure that…
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11Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader welcomes promise of Council debate on CSE review

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
The Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the commitment made by the Leader of Oldham Council to make ‘proper time (available) for consideration by councillors’ of the long-awaited report by the review team into historic child sexual exploitation issues at a meeting of the Full Council. Last month, Councillor Sykes wrote to the new Leader, Councillor Arooj Shah, to request that Councillors be able ‘to discuss this matter in Full Council at the earliest opportunity’. As the Greater Manchester Deputy Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, Baroness Beverley Hughes, had previously said the report would be available by the middle of this year, councillor Sykes was hopeful that this would be at the July 14 Council meeting. In her reply, Councillor Shah could not confirm that…
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10Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
More support needed for carers after pandemic

More support needed for carers after pandemic

Parliamentary news
Responding to new ONS figures on carers, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “These figures confirm something the pandemic has demonstrated: we are a nation of carers. Millions of people are looking after elderly, disabled and vulnerable people. They deserve our support, but are too often forgotten and ignored by people in power. “Worryingly, the data also reveals that unpaid carers have been impacted more than most by the pandemic, in terms of their well-being, work, finances, relationships, healthcare and access to everyday essentials. Looking after a loved one is always hard, but it’s especially tough right now. “We must do far more to support our wonderful carers, including raising Carer’s Allowance and giving every unpaid carer a break. “The Liberal Democrats are standing up for carers…
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10Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must tackle sexual harassment in schools

Government must tackle sexual harassment in schools

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Ofsted Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges, Daisy Cooper MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, commented: “The findings of this review are deeply distressing. We need to see decisive action from Government to tackle the misogyny, sexual harassment and sexual violence which is blighting the lives of too many women and girls. "It is clear from student and teachers' feedback that relationship, health and sex education falls well short on the vital subject of consent. “Consent must now be put at the heart of relationship, health and sex education and training on consent must be made available to every member of school staff who students are likely to approach, so adults are empowered to support students whether they seek support inside or outside the classroom.…
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10Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes appeals to Lord Chancellor over lenient magistrate court sentence

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Councillor Howard Sykes, MBE, Leader of the Real Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, has written to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland MP, seeking a change in the law after receiving a frustrating letter denying him a review of an unduly lenient sentence. On 15 March, councillor Sykes wrote to the Attorney General’s Office asking for a review of a case in which Shaw resident, Javid Miah, 23, had sexually assaulted a woman in a frightening attack in Oldham town centre, but Miah had inexplicably not received an immediate custodial sentence for his crime. Councillor Sykes said: “This case caused many of my constituents’ real disquiet. This offender lives in my hometown and yet he was set free to continue to…
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