18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government betraying British farmers with Australia trade deal

Government betraying British farmers with Australia trade deal

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Government is planning to grant tariff-free access to the UK to Australian farmers, Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, commented: “So often Conservative ministers take to social media to say how much they love British farming but their proposed new trade deal with Australia shows that when push comes to shove they are perfectly happy to sell our farmers down the river. “The NFU are clear that letting Australian farmers sell their produce tariff-free into the UK would spell a disaster for small British family farms. “Australian animal welfare standards are lower than the UK’s which makes for lower production costs and cheaper produce. Therefore the only way that small British family farms could compete would be to lower…
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18May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
May makeover promised for former Crompton Baths site in Shaw Town Centre

May makeover promised for former Crompton Baths site in Shaw Town Centre

Borough news
In response to repeated representations by Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors, a makeover of the Crompton Baths site has been promised by Council officers before the end of this month. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, newly re-elected to represent Shaw Ward, said: “The baths site is just a disgrace and there has also been fly-tipping on adjoining land behind the new Pound Bargains shop. “Having an eyesore in the heart of our town centre does nothing to attract shoppers or businesses to our high street, and it is clearly an irritant as my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have relayed plenty of complaints from our constituents to council officers, and repeated called for some urgent action.” Councillor Sykes has now received the promise that the area will be strimmed, and litter picked…
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14May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
COVID-19 report: Government must fix self-isolation system

COVID-19 report: Government must fix self-isolation system

Parliamentary news
Responding to the release of the ‘Tackling Covid-19: A case for better financial support to self-isolate’ report by the Nuffield Trust and Resolution Foundation, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Munira Wilson MP commented: “This report clearly shows the need to increase support for those required to self-isolate. If we are to avoid any further lockdowns or restrictions, and the spread of new variants, the Government needs to fix its self-isolation system. “Everyone wants to do their bit, and no one wants to pass the virus on, but when sick pay is so low and few are finding it easy to access Government support, many are finding it almost impossible to self-isolate. People living in over-crowded housing, who do not have the space to self-isolate, and those with caring…
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14May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Community policing needed to prevent post-lockdown crime surge

Community policing needed to prevent post-lockdown crime surge

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have renewed calls on the Government to restore community policing and youth services, as new official figures show that police-recorded crime was down by 8% in 2020, but rose sharply when Covid restrictions were first lifted last summer. Responding to the figures, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “As we emerge from lockdown, everyone should be able to feel safe in their homes and walking down their streets. After the crime spike we saw last summer, the Government must act to prevent another surge as restrictions are lifted now. “For far too long, Conservative Ministers have been trying hard to seem tough on crime, but failing to do what works to actually prevent it. Their unnecessary police cuts have contributed to the rise in serious…
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14May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Hitachi trains: Government failing to address impact on passengers and regions

Hitachi trains: Government failing to address impact on passengers and regions

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Jenny Randerson has asked the Government to explain what assessment they have made of the social and economic impacts of disruption to services following the withdrawal of some Hitachi high speed trains from service after defects were discovered. Following the response by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Baroness Randerson commented: "The Government has underestimated the impact of Hitachi on long suffering passengers and totally failed to address the impact of this disruption on individual passengers and regions. "There was no answer at all to my suggestion that the Govt should fund a season of promotional cheap fares for the services affected by this disruption. It’s essential at this crucial time as we adjust to fresh ways of working, that everything possible is done to…
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12May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
UK Government urged to do all it can to avoid war following Israel-Palestine violence

UK Government urged to do all it can to avoid war following Israel-Palestine violence

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has urged the Government to help de-escalate the growing unrest between Israel and Palestine in an Urgent Question in the House of Commons. Ms Moran made clear that the Government must work with the international community to halt the violence and avoid the situation escalating towards war. Following the Urgent Question, Layla Moran MP said: “Last night, the UN Special Envoy to the Middle East Peace Process warned that the situation in Israel and Palestine is “escalating towards a full scale war”. “It is therefore vital that the UK Government plays our full part through international diplomatic efforts to call for de-escalation, now, today. One would hope that that could be through the Security Council but we also cannot wait for the United States. “I…
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12May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
COVID-19 Inquiry: Government confirms date 13 months after Lib Dems called for Inquiry

COVID-19 Inquiry: Government confirms date 13 months after Lib Dems called for Inquiry

Parliamentary news
The Prime Minister has today confirmed an inquiry into their actions during the Coronavirus pandemic under the powers of the Inquiries Act 2005. This comes after Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey first called for a full inquiry into the Government's actions during the pandemic 13 months ago in April 2020 The Prime Minister, who has promised the Liberal Democrats an inquiry at multiple points, has now confirmed a full inquiry will take place in this session of Parliament on Spring 2022. Responding to the Prime Minister's Statement, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “From the failed test, trace and isolate system to the crisis in our care homes Boris Johnson and his Government have no end of questions to answer so I welcome this inquiry in spite of it being…
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12May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
GDP stats: No sugar coating economic damage of Covid and EU trade deal

GDP stats: No sugar coating economic damage of Covid and EU trade deal

Parliamentary news
Responding to estimate figures released this morning showing that the UK's GDP contracted by 1.5% in Q1 2021, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "There is no way of sugar coating the clear damage to the economy that these figures demonstrate. "The combination of Covid and the difficulty businesses face in dealing with the new EU trade deal have created a perfect storm for the economy. "This demonstrates again the need for the extension and reform of business support to avoid a damaging cliff edge in September. It's not good enough for the Chancellor to claim he has built business confidence - we need to see real actions, such as the extension of the Furlough scheme and a NICs cut for small businesses."
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11May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: PM must keep Covid inquiry promise

Davey: PM must keep Covid inquiry promise

Parliamentary news
Today the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has been told by the Prime Minister that there will be an independent inquiry into the Government’s handling of the Covid crisis in this parliamentary session. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “It is welcome that the Prime Minister has confirmed he will begin a Covid inquiry in this parliamentary session. It is absolutely crucial he sees this promise through: it must be a full and independent inquiry. “Whether it is the crisis in our care homes, the failure to attend early critical Covid meetings by the Prime Minister or his late decisions to go into lockdown, this Government must be answerable for their mistakes so lessons can be learnt. “The bereaved families in our country deserve justice and…
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11May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Greater Manchester Police fail to supply data on unsolved crimes

Borough news
In addition to the staggering 80,000 unrecorded crimes, Greater Manchester Police have failed to report figures on unsolved crimes to the Home Office since July 2019. Nearly a million crimes have gone unsolved across the country in the last five years – that 80,000 unrecorded crimes alone would take the figure well past a million. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We have just seen Andy Burnham returned as Greater Manchester Mayor, taking on the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, despite the police being placed into special measures on his watch. “If we do not see a complete change in what is happening in Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham should not see out his term. It is residents across our Borough who are suffering as a consequence of these…
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