26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Dog theft: Tories must act now and fast track new laws

Dog theft: Tories must act now and fast track new laws

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Prime Minister is threatening tougher sentences for dog thieves and owners who abandon their pets, Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, commented: "We welcome the news that the Prime Minister is promising tougher sentences for dog theft and neglect. "However, this is a problem now. Dog thefts are soaring and it's all very well making promises if they're not followed through. It took years for the Conservatives to toughen up sentences for animal cruelty. "Liberal Democrats are calling for legislation on dog thefts to be fast-tracked. Action on dog thefts will have cross party support, and the Tories must act now."
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26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Williamson worst Education Secretary in a generation

Williamson worst Education Secretary in a generation

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Public Accounts Committee report (Wed 26 May) criticising the Department for Education's handling of the pandemic, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education Daisy Cooper said: “Children, parents and teachers have all had an incredibly tough year. The inevitable challenges of Covid have been compounded by the shocking failures of a Conservative Government that has been poorly prepared and slow to act at every stage of the pandemic. “This report makes clear that Gavin Williamson has failed time after time to show leadership. He was shamefully slow to get laptops to pupils who need them, he sleepwalked into last summer’s exam fiasco, and he botched the reopening of schools in January. “Gavin Williamson is quite simply England's worst Education Secretary in a generation. Boris Johnson should have sacked him…
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25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Local lockdowns by stealth are completely irresponsible

Local lockdowns by stealth are completely irresponsible

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that local lockdowns have been introduced by "stealth" Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: "Changing policy by stealth is completely irresponsible. Matt Hancock should have made clear the changes he was making to guidance in advance and communicated it to the public and local officials. He needs to make clear the situation immediately to Parliament. "Clarification on the new rules in these areas is now needed, not only for residents but for those that would normally travel to the affected areas. People cross these invisible boundaries every day for medical appointments or to go shopping. The Government urgently need to make it clear whether they should avoid travelling to or through these areas and under what circumstances this is now permitted. "It is now…
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25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Catastrophic trade deal with EU major blow to our trade

Catastrophic trade deal with EU major blow to our trade

Parliamentary news
Responding to trade stats from the ONS this morning, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Trade Sarah Olney MP said: “The loss of nearly a quarter of our trade with our biggest trading partner should make the Prime Minister and Trade Secretary hang their heads in shame. “Despite the impact of Covid-19, the figures are clear: this is primarily the outcome of the Government’s catastrophic trade deal with the EU. “Hundreds of thousands of British small businesses that rely on trade with Europe have been abandoned by the Government, and their millions of employees will be rightly worried about their future. “We must finally see an end to empty Government slogans about the opportunities of Brexit and see concrete actions to protect the jobs and businesses that depend on trade with Europe.”
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25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Conservative Candidate’s comments on Mayor “an all-time low”

Borough news
A candidate for the Conservatives in the recent local elections has sunk to an all-time low, by inferring those councillors who serve as the Mayor of Oldham are “parasites” for “just putting a faux fur coat on and parading around in chains”. Councillor Diane Williamson, recently re-elected Liberal Democrat councillor for Crompton, said: “I am absolutely appalled at these comments that Mr Lewis Quigg made on his Facebook Page, considering the Leader of the Conservative Group on Oldham Council seconded the nomination for the new Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jenny Harrison on Wednesday 19 May 2021 and that the former Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor John Hudson OBE, served as Mayor of Oldham for the municipal year 2013-14.” Councillor Williamson is well-aware of the honour that serving Oldham Borough…
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25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must not abandon “castaway” key workers

Government must not abandon “castaway” key workers

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government for failing to stick up for a “castaway” group of key workers. In an amendment to the Government’s Finance Bill, the party has demanded a review within six months on supply chain staff, zero-hours workers and those who have worked from home. Delivery drivers and other gig economy workers have been “overworked and undervalued” throughout the pandemic, with the latest insult being the absence of the Employment Bill from the Government’s legislative agenda for the year. The Liberal Democrats want the review to lead to improved working conditions for those in the gig economy and to protect employees working from home. Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Business, Trade and Transport, Sarah Olney said: “So many workers in this pandemic have not stopped, proudly keeping our…
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25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
ONS borrowing: Small business needs continued support

ONS borrowing: Small business needs continued support

Parliamentary news
Responding to record-breaking public sector net borrowing statistics, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine said: "These record breaking figures are a warning of potential problems ahead. But they mustn’t be used by the Government as an excuse to cut short essential support while the economy reopens. “Small businesses are concerned about the new Indian variant's potential threat to the final steps of re-opening. This must be taken into account in the next stage of the recovery. "The Government must extend the furlough scheme at least until the end of the year, and unroll an ambitious revenue compensation scheme for small businesses that are still struggling. "We now know the stark reality of the impact of the past year but the pandemic remains a threat to small businesses across…
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25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrat Leader calls for urgent government action on moorland fires

Liberal Democrat Leader calls for urgent government action on moorland fires

Borough news
The Leader of the real Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Conservative Government calling for a national ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, which are often the cause of moorland fires, and for greater court punishments for those found guilty of negligently or wilfully set fire to our moors. Councillor Sykes has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, George Eustice MP, calling for action. Councillor Sykes said: “Action is long overdue. For several years now, people in Oldham, myself included, have been shocked and saddened by the repeated fires that we have witnessed on Crompton, Marsden and Saddleworth Moors. We love our moors, more so after a year when many of us have had to spend…
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24May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Self isolation support “late and lacking”

Self isolation support “late and lacking”

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's trials of self-isolation support, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Munira Wilson said: "These trials are late and lacking. How is it that other countries have had proper self-isolation support nationwide for some time, while we remain lagging behind? "Everyone wants to do their bit and help stop the spread of the virus and its new variants, but when self-isolation support is so sparse and lacking it is understandable that many people find it too difficult to comply. “No one should be forced out of isolation for lack of money or support. That’s why the Liberal Democrats have been calling on the Government for months to guarantee people's wages, and if there is little space at home, to be provided with a free hotel room…
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24May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Salud! Shaw nightlife to get some Post-Covid Spanish Sparkle

Borough news
Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors are wishing tapas bar Bar Vida Viva every success as it prepares to open after Lockdown. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “It is great that we will soon finally see the opening of a new tapas and cocktail bar in the old Barclays Bank on Market Street, Shaw. With Gin Gin on Milnrow Road, Bar Vida Viva represents a new type of night-time offering for Shaw’s residents and visitors to our town, complimenting the existing pubs on our high street.” Vida Viva is hosting a ticket-only gala launch night on Saturday 22 May and then will be opening to the public two weeks later. In recent years, Shaw town centre has suffered the loss of pubs and restaurants, and local councillors hope this opening represents the…
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