29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Tory MPs vote to lock up more modern slavery victims

Tory MPs vote to lock up more modern slavery victims

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have accused Conservative MPs of “placing anti-immigration ideology ahead of tackling the scourge of modern slavery”, after the Tories voted for new legislation that will weaken safeguards for victims and lead to more of them being held in immigration detention centres. The Immigration (Guidance on Detention of Vulnerable Persons) Regulations were passed by 358 votes to 270, with all Liberal Democrat MPs voting against. Following the vote in the House of Commons today, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Victims of trafficking and modern slavery should never be held in immigration detention. It is unnecessary, expensive and inhumane. “This legislation will result in more victims of trafficking and modern slavery being locked up in detention centres and detained for longer. “Yet again, the Tories…
Read More
29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Fire Safety Bill: Government has turned their back on leaseholders in “national scandal”

Fire Safety Bill: Government has turned their back on leaseholders in “national scandal”

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Peer Kath Pinnock alongside Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper has said that there are the beginnings of a “national scandal” after the Fire Safety Bill passed through Parliament without vital protection for leaseholders and tenants against exorbitant bills for fire remediation works. Liberal Democrats in both House of Parliament have tabled vital amendments to protect leaseholders and tenants during the passage of the Bill, with Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper initially laying down an amendment in the House of Commons. Commenting Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and member of the Fire Safety Bill Committee, Daisy Cooper MP said: "The devastating consequences of this Bill passing cannot be overstated. Millions of leaseholders, who are already facing financial ruin through no fault of their own, are now landed with…
Read More
29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government breaking its promise to women and girls with shameful foreign aid cuts

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the UK has imposed cuts in aid to the UNFPA family planning programme in the world's poorest nations, Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development, commented: “The Foreign Secretary’s attempts to hide the detail of these shameful cuts tell us everything we need to know. Millions of women and girls around the world will suffer as a result of this shocking decision. Britain is abandoning them. “The Conservative Government’s decision to break its promise to women and girls around the world, let alone the electorate, is short-sighted and wrong. The Liberal Democrats will stand up against these cuts and for the 0.7% of GNI commitment, which we enshrined in law. The Government must immediately publish all details of its planned aid…
Read More
29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Record levels of self-harm show women’s prisons are in crisis

Record levels of self-harm show women’s prisons are in crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to latest figures which show that self-harm by female prisoners reached a record high in 2020, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said: "Our prisons are in crisis. The amount of self-harm, especially in women's prisons, is shockingly high and rising. "Far too many women are sent to prison on short sentences for non-violent offences. In many cases these women have been victims of abuse and have suffered trauma which has led them into a life of disadvantage and low level crime, but many also have caring responsibilities. "Being in prison will set off the next round of trauma and disadvantage for those that depend on them. We have to break this destructive circle. "Women should only be sent to prison where absolutely necessary: for the most serious…
Read More
29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must provide clarity on plans for divisive Covid ID cards

Government must provide clarity on plans for divisive Covid ID cards

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government’s statement today on Covid ID cards, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said: “Covid ID cards are intrusive and divisive. They are not an effective way to reopen our economy or keep people safe. They would turn our country into a two-tier society, with many denied their most basic freedoms. Ministers must provide clarity on their use, especially for the pubs and restaurants on the brink that don't want them. “It is extremely worrying that the Government is still forging ahead with plans for Covid ID cards for international travel without any scrutiny. This is the thin end of the wedge. The Government cannot avoid MPs and the voices of the British people by making this announcement on the last day of Parliament. “The Liberal Democrats demand…
Read More
29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
COVID-19 report highlights need for independent public inquiry

COVID-19 report highlights need for independent public inquiry

Parliamentary news
Responding to the release of the 'Assessing England’s response to COVID-19' report by the King’s Fund, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: “This report plainly lays out the need and the framework for an independent public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. “It has become increasingly clear over the last year that the Government was poorly prepared for a pandemic and slow to act when it hit. Its shady approach to procuring PPE and its failure to implement a robust test, trace and isolate system have exacerbated this crisis. “The Liberal Democrats were successful in getting the Prime Minister to commit to holding an inquiry and we believe he should not delay in carrying it out. The country needs to know what…
Read More
28Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Fire Safety Scandal: Government should face inquiry

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats are calling for an inquiry into the Government's response to the fire safety scandal. In a powerful speech to the House of Commons, Daisy Cooper MP, who first introduced the principle that leaseholders should be protected from the extortionate costs of fire safety remediation, said: "Millions of leaseholders, who are already facing financial ruin through no fault of their own, live with the terror of this Bill passing into law because if it does they will be landed with even more extortionate bills – perhaps within a matter of days. "The Government’s intransigence – its outright refusal to budge – is making the situation so much worse to the point where I believe that we now need an inquiry into the government’s response to the fire safety scandal."…
Read More
28Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey backs Bereaved Families calling for PM apology after lockdown comments

Ed Davey backs Bereaved Families calling for PM apology after lockdown comments

Parliamentary news
Responding to the petition from the Bereaved Families for Justice calling on the Prime Minister to apologise, Liberal Democrats Leader Ed Davey MP said: “This is a powerful initiative from the Bereaved Families. I cannot imagine how tens of thousands of families have felt seeing these appalling comments from the prime minister on the front pages of the newspapers. “The families want an apology and an immediate public inquiry, that is the very least Boris Johnson can do. “The Liberal Democrats will continue to support the bereaved families and campaign for an immediate public inquiry.”
Read More
28Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Domestic Abuse Bill: Government must follow through with funding for services

Domestic Abuse Bill: Government must follow through with funding for services

Parliamentary news
As the Domestic Abuse Bill completed its final stages in Parliament today, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine, who moved the motion to record misogynistic hate crimes, commented: "This bill passing into law will mean so much to so many people who have campaigned and worked to combat the scourge of domestic abuse in our society. “It was hugely emotional at times but at others inspiring to experience the strength of cross-party support and determination over the past four years to make this legislation something that we can all be proud of. “Crucial steps like recognising that children who witness abuse at home are also affected and need support and extending protections to survivors in all court cases to reduce the distress these hearings can cause, would not have been possible…
Read More
28Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government aid cuts raise the risk of new Covid variants

Government aid cuts raise the risk of new Covid variants

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the UK Government plans to cut funding for life-saving water projects in developing countries, as well as slashing funding for polio eradication, Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development, commented: “Now we can see why the Foreign Secretary is hiding the details of the Government’s deep, potentially unlawful aid cuts. In the middle of a global pandemic no less, water, sanitation and hygiene programmes are being cut to the bone. Deep cuts to polio eradication efforts are shocking and could prevent the disease being eliminated. “Cutting aid for water and sanitation raises the risks of new variants, which could wash up on our shores. The Liberal Democrats will stand up against these cuts and for the 0.7% of GNI commitment, which…
Read More