24May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Immigration: Home Secretary has failed to get a grip on broken system

Immigration: Home Secretary has failed to get a grip on broken system

Parliamentary news
Responding to Priti Patel’s speech this morning on immigration, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “No amount of tough talk and bluster from the Home Secretary can hide the fact that she has utterly failed to get a grip on the UK’s broken immigration system. Years of Home Office failure, coupled with hostile policies and rhetoric from successive Conservative Home Secretaries, have shattered public confidence. “Instead of fixing the broken system, Priti Patel is pressing ahead with damaging plans that will create more chaos and make it harder for British employers to recruit the workers they need. “She talks about a new ‘digital border’, but apparently forgot to mention that the existing project is years behind schedule and more than £170 million over budget. And she is refusing…
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23May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems demand review on Excluded workers

Lib Dems demand review on Excluded workers

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill demanding a review into the impact of the Government's decision to exclude millions of workers from income support. The amendment, up for selection on Monday (24th May), calls on the Government to carry out a review of its income support schemes within three months. It specifies that the review should assess the impact on limited company directors and other categories of self-employed people, who have largely been excluded from financial support. Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury, Christine Jardine, said: “It really is time that this Government stopped ignoring the plight of millions of taxpayers who have been excluded from vital financial support in this pandemic. "Taxi drivers, make-up artists, florists and many more have found themselves left out of…
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21May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Israel and Hamas ceasefire welcomed but underlying issues must now be addressed

Israel and Hamas ceasefire welcomed but underlying issues must now be addressed

Parliamentary news
Following reports that a ceasefire between the Israeli government and Hamas has now been agreed, Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs commented: “Sixty six children have died since the outbreak of violence last week. Every death was totally preventable. And while a ceasefire is welcome, we cannot afford yet another return to a status quo which will only lead to more innocent deaths in the future. “The potential evictions, demolitions and settlement expansions in the West Bank - which are breaches of international law – must be stopped. The status quo arrangements in Jerusalem must be restored. It is vitally important that the Palestinians are able to fulfil their democratic aspirations through new elections including all Palestinian parties. In this context, Hamas, as well as the Israeli…
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21May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Take Windrush scheme out of Home Office

Take Windrush scheme out of Home Office

Parliamentary news
Responding to the National Audit Office's report on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael commented: “The Government’s response to the appalling Windrush Scandal is rapidly turning into a new scandal all of its own. “It should never have been left to the Home Office – which caused so much harm in the first place – to put things right. That’s why Liberal Democrats called for the compensation scheme to be fully independent from the start. “Conservative Ministers must finally admit their mistake and take the Compensation Scheme out of the hands of the discredited Home Office. Then we can finally get on with righting the wrongs done to the Windrush Generation and restoring public confidence in the immigration system.”
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21May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councillor disappointed by lack of support for IDAHOBIT

Borough news
Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Louie Hamblett was very dismayed this week to see that Oldham Council’s media pages both on Twitter and Facebook did not mention nor promote the fact May 17th was IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia) Day was made at all in spite of the a flag was flown above the civic centre in celebration on the day. This also included what information they sent out to elected and staff members. Cllr Hamblett said: “As one of the few elected openly LGBT+ elected members the Council at times can feel cold and unwelcoming towards the LGBT+ community, and any efforts made towards our community is done in a very half-hearted way. "I hope that the Council does learn and takes this on board so that…
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21May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader announces real opposition team

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has announced his Real Opposition team for 2021/22. The Liberal Democrat Group has also elected its officers. Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I am looking forward to once more leading the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council. I am especially pleased that the Group is being joined by Mark Kenyon who joins Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani representing Saddleworth West and Lees. I know that Mark will really help make a difference.” “The Liberal Democrats remain the only group holding Labour to account on Oldham Council, and we shall continue to take that responsibility seriously,” added councillor Sykes. “Voters can rest assured that the Oldham Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose Labour’s waste at the Civic Centre and their indulgent spending on vanity projects, such…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes backs UK 20mph speed call in UN Road Safety Week

Sykes backs UK 20mph speed call in UN Road Safety Week

Borough news, road safety
The Oldham Liberal Democrats are backing an international call to the world’s policy makers to make 20 mph / 30 kph the default speed limit on the UK’s residential streets. The campaign is being called to mark UN Road Safety Week (17-23 May). Signing the open letter of support calling on Britain’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP to acknowledge that 20 mph is plenty on Britain’s residential streets, Leader of the Real Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “The Liberal Democrats have twice now brought proposals before Oldham Council asking for action to create 20mph zones to save lives in our borough. I sincerely hope the Labour Administration will now finally take action to make it so. “But I am today writing to the Transport Secretary…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government silencing local people for property mates

Government silencing local people for property mates

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to scrap its controversial planning reforms. Today, the Local Government Association (LGA) and Shelter both gave evidence against the Government's proposed reforms to Permitted Development Rights. The reforms will make it easier for developers to convert properties to housing without consulting the local community, as well as get out of affordable housing commitments. Developments delivering fewer than 50 units will have no requirement for affordable homes. Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government Tim Farron MP said: "The Government's planning reforms will rip powers away from local people and give them to wealthy property developers, threatening the delivery of the affordable homes we need and our local environment. "The Government seems to think that the reason houses are not being built…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Eastway bus shelter in Shaw just the ticket

Borough news
Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors were delighted to hear that their campaign for a bus shelter on Eastway has finally paid off after many years. Transport for Greater Manchester has announced that they will be installing the new shelter outside 2/2A Eastway on Wednesday 21 May, just in time for this Thursday’s Market Day. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Ever since buses have been diverted along Eastway, local Liberal Democrat Councillors have been asking for a covered bus shelter on both sides of the road. Now we will have one and we shall be renewing our calls for the creation of a second one on the ASDA side of Eastway. This has been delayed because ASDA has yet to agree to release some land as the pavement is too narrow to…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Unemployment stats: furlough must be maintained until end of year

Unemployment stats: furlough must be maintained until end of year

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest unemployment figures, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine MP said: "This is still a sharp reminder that there is a lot of work to be done to repair the damage done by the pandemic. "We must not be lulled into any false sense of security by the furlough scheme, which has protected millions of jobs but is due to end in September. It's possible that then we will see the real impact of the pandemic on jobs. “To support people we need to see the furlough scheme maintained at least until the end of the year, and a Revenue Compensation Scheme that will allow small businesses to retain and hire staff. "Ministers must continue to be aware of the potential threat and treat it…
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