31May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats delivery on transparency promise

Liberal Democrats delivery on transparency promise

Borough news, Saddleworth News
The introduction of new standing orders for Saddleworth Parish Council has delivered a promise from Saddleworth’s Liberal Democrats to increase public involvement and transparency in the way the Council works. They have scrapped a clause from the previous standing orders which required members of the public to submit questions to the Council in writing two working days before the date of a meeting. With Council meetings taking place on Mondays, that meant that questions would in practice have to be submitted on the Wednesday of the week before. This meant that it was virtually impossible for urgent matters to be brought to the Council to be addressed. Sam Al-Hamdani, the leader of Liberal Democrats on the Parish Council, said; “Councils must be as close to the communities they serve as…
Read More
31May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes seeks immediate publication of damning police report

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to Andy Burnham asking the Mayor of Greater Manchester to immediately publish a long-awaited report into the management and performance of Greater Manchester Police. Mayor Burnham delayed publishing the report before his mayoral re-election, claiming that it would be inappropriate to do so before the new Police chief was in post. Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM has now been sworn in, and councillor Sykes wants the Mayor to keep his promise. “Now the new Chief Constable is in post, there really is no longer an excuse to delay the publication of this report,” said councillor Sykes. “From what I have heard the report is damning, with serious criticisms about the culture, management and performance of Greater Manchester Police that go…
Read More
27May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Orban: 10 challenges for PM

Orban: 10 challenges for PM

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have challenged Downing Street to hold Viktor Orban to account during his visit to Downing Street tomorrow. The Hungarian Prime Minister has been accused of antisemitism, islamophobia and making a sustained assault on democracy and the freedom of the press. In a joint letter to Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP and Lib Dem Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Layla Moran MP wrote: "When you decide to invite leaders of other countries to Downing Street, your choice matters. It sends a signal to our allies; to our partners; to people in Britain and around the world, of the UK’s values and commitments. "We are therefore extremely concerned that you have chosen to invite Prime Minister Orbán to Downing Street. Orbán’s rule has been marked by a…
Read More
27May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Cross-Party MPs: Education Secretary must scrap proposed cuts to arts funding

Cross-Party MPs: Education Secretary must scrap proposed cuts to arts funding

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Business spokesperson, Sarah Olney MP, has led a group of 51 MPs and Peers in calling for Gavin Williamson to issue new guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) and reconsider the proposed 50% cuts to the high-cost subject funding of arts subjects. In a letter sent to the OfS, the Secretary proposed cutting residual funding in half for Higher Education (HE) subjects not amongst the Government’s “strategic priorities” in England. Courses in music, dance, drama and performing arts, art and design, media studies and archaeology will therefore, under the proposals, suffer a 50% cut to their ‘high-cost subject funding’, which is provided for subjects with higher teaching costs. Independent campaign group Public Campaign for the Arts, whose efforts Sarah is supporting, has launched a petition calling for…
Read More
27May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Appoint inquiry Chair within days

Davey: Appoint inquiry Chair within days

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has written to the Prime Minister urging him to bring forward a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Davey first called for a full inquiry into the Government's actions during the pandemic last year in April 2020. The Prime Minister, who has promised the Liberal Democrats an inquiry at multiple points in the chamber, has recently confirmed a full inquiry will take place in this session of Parliament in Spring 2022. With serious allegations made by the Prime Minister's former chief advisor yesterday, the urgent need for an inquiry now has been reiterated. Davey says in the letter that "the chair and any further members of the panel should be appointed within days".
Read More
27May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Berry reappointed as Shaw and Crompton Parish Chairman

Borough news
At the recent Shaw and Crompton Annual Parish Council meeting, Councillor Ken Berry was unanimously re-appointed as Chair of Shaw and Crompton Parish Council 2021–22. His chosen charities are Age UK and Royton, Shaw and Crompton Blind Support Group based at Downey House Royton. Cllr Berry, who due to covid restrictions last year couldn’t raise any funds for his charities, has been given a second chance at doing so now that restrictions are due to be lifted. His colleague Councillor Louie Hamblett has also been re-appointed as Vice Chair for the ensuing year.
Read More
26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Prompt action on cramped one-room “home” sets standard that must be kept

Prompt action on cramped one-room “home” sets standard that must be kept

Borough news
Prompt enforcement action on the “box home” that had been advertised for rent in Oldham town centre sets a standard for enforcement that must be continued. The cramped room with a chemical toilet, which was advertised as a home for rent on social media, has been inspected by the Environmental Health team at the Council, and formal notice is being served to prevent it from being rented out. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani followed up the incident with officers. “I was pleased to hear that they were already taking action. It is important that the enforcement teams do their job, and are seen to be doing it.” The shadow cabinet member for housing had said that the “home” was one of the worst examples he had ever seen of…
Read More
26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: End sparring with Cummings and set up inquiry

Davey: End sparring with Cummings and set up inquiry

Parliamentary news
Responding to Dominic Cummings' evidence to the Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committee this morning, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "If Geoffrey Howe took a cricket bat to Thatcher’s Government, then Dominic Cummings has just taken a wrecking ball to Johnson’s. His allegations against the Prime Minister and Health Secretary are damning. “While the circus around the fallout between the Prime Minister and his closest advisor continues, the public are only interested in one thing: the truth. “It is clear that we are not going to get it through a WhatsApp briefing war or a public tit for tat between Johnson and Cummings. The only way to get to the truth is through a full independent public inquiry. We need one now. “Bereaved families deserve…
Read More
26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conservative planning bill favours developers over local democracy

Conservative planning bill favours developers over local democracy

Parliamentary news
Oldham and Saddleworth Liberal Democrats are fearful that the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Conservative Government intends to press ahead with its proposals for new planning legislation will favour developers and mean an end to local people and councillors having a say in planning decisions. Under Conservative plans, central government will designate whole swathes of the country for ‘growth’, meaning that developers will have ‘planning permission in principle’. Conservative ministers claim it will eliminate ‘red tape’ but the Liberal Democrats fear that it abolishes any meaningful involvement of local councils and residents in planning matters. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “The Conservatives claim that this legislation will speed up the planning process. In reality it kills off any opportunity for local people and their…
Read More
26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
COVID stats: Government must implement a proper Race Equality Strategy

COVID stats: Government must implement a proper Race Equality Strategy

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest statistics which show that almost all ethnic minority groups have had higher death rates from COVID-19 than White British people, Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Equalities, commented: “The pandemic has taken an enormous toll on families across the UK, and has hit many ethnic minority communities especially hard. wera “The disproportionately high death rates suffered by Black and Asian people are shocking. The deep-seated economic inequalities that have contributed to them must be tackled urgently. “Ministers must work together with all communities to implement a proper Race Equality Strategy without further delay, so we can build a fairer, more equal society as we emerge from this pandemic.”
Read More