Sam Al-Hamdani – Page 91 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

27Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats back call for No Moor BBQs

Borough news

As yet another wildfire ravages Marston Moor, Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness is backing the No Moor BBQs campaign of the British Mountaineering Council for a complete ban on disposable barbecues, and wants to see more action and powers to tackle the arsonists who deliberately or inadvertently set fire to precious moorland. Councillor Harkness is standing for election again next month and intends to take this issue up as a priority if returned to office. “We have all seen the devastation caused by idiots who start fires deliberately or irresponsibly use and leave disposable barbecues,” Councillor Harkness said. “Too much of our precious and beautiful moorland has over the years already been lost to this madness and along with it sadly much of our wildlife.” It is estimated…

26Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe sentence: Introduce sanctions against officials responsible

Parliamentary news

Responding to news of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe being sentenced to a year in prison, Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, called for targeted sanctions to be introduced: "This is a cruel and heartless decision by the Iranian regime. Nazanin should be coming home to her family, instead she’s being used as a political bargaining chip yet again. "Enough is enough. The Foreign Secretary must now begin the process of introducing targeted Magnitsky sanctions against officials responsible. With Nazanin’s health deteriorating and her family in distress, strong words must be backed by real action. "Nazanin has been put through hell for five years and today's verdict will prolong her suffering even more. The Government must do everything in its power to bring her home to her family immediately.”

26Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ancient woodlands decision is a failure for our history and our future

Borough news

The decision of the Oldham planning committee to reject the implications of Ancient Woodland status on Knowls Lane in Lees is a blow not just to the protection of this site, but other threatened environments, says Lib Dem campaigner Mark Kenyon. Ancient Woodland makes up just 2% of woodland in the UK. An earlier decision to grant outline planning permission on the site was taken before the trees had been identified as an Ancient Woodland site. The application to change some of the conditions on the development meant that the Ancient Woodland designation would be considered as part of that application. Despite the recognition of the importance of Ancient Woodland in a recent Liberal Democrat motion passed by the Council, the majority of Labour councillors approved the application, and ignored…

25Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes welcomes Lord Dannatt’s call for Annual COVID-19 Memorial Day

Parliamentary news

Oldham Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the call by General Lord Dannatt, former Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, for March 23, the date upon which the first national Lockdown was introduced in 2020, to be designated as Britain’s Annual Covid-19 Memorial Day. Lord Dannatt wants the new day to be marked with a minute’s silence and a new emblem like the poppies that symbolise Remembrance Sunday. The Local Government Association (LGA), which is the national body representing local authorities; and councillor Sykes serves as Vice Chair and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group; are also backing the national campaign for the creation of Coronavirus monuments in every area, along with a national memorial in Whitehall. At the last meeting of Oldham Council 24 March 2021, Councillor Sykes asked the Leader…

25Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats say NO to threatened loss of Peak District National Park

Borough news, Saddleworth News

Local Liberal Democrats are continuing to lead the fight to protect our public green spaces. Oldham and Saddleworth Liberal Democrats are saying NO to Conservative Government plans to replace the local management of National Parks with a so-called National Landscape Service, states Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness. The Conservative Government is expected to make an announcement shortly (may be after May 6) on the future of National Parks, like the Peak District, as well as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty after a two-year delay following the Glover Review in 2019. 17 April marked the seventieth anniversary of the Peak District National Park, and Councillor Harkness is greatly concerned about plans to scrap, or downgrade, the National Park Authorities in favour of a centrally controlled and distant National Landscape…

23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must strengthen transparency of lobbying laws

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords have called on the Government to strengthen the transparency of lobbying legislation, following a question from Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Tyler. Lord Tyler, who led for the party on the Transparency of Lobbying Act back in 2014, and who secured a number of concessions on the Bill, commented: “The last few days have shown again that transparency of lobbying laws in this country are not fit for purpose. Earlier today I pressed the Government to strengthen the laws currently in place, but they seem to want to stick their heads in the sand. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant – even David Cameron has said this – and given that we seem to be back to the back old days of Tory Sleaze, the…

23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must act now on slave labour World Cup after Super League collapse

Parliamentary news

Following the collapse of the European Super League, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Sport, Jamie Stone MP, has called on the Government to "speak out against slavery" associated with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. According to data compiled from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, 6500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since it won the right to host the World Cup 10 years ago. Several human rights organisations have raised concerns about Qatar's treatment of migrant workers who arrived in the country following the successful 2022 World Cup bid. There is consensus that the infrastructure supporting Qatar's World Cup has relied on the practice of modern-day slavery, with little to no action from the Qatari Government and with minimal comment from the UK Government. After the Prime Minister's…

23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call for diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP has called on the Government to commit to a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. Moran, who spoke in Parliament on the debate about Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide in Xinjiang, called for a full diplomatic boycott of the event, which would prohibit Government ministers and dignitaries from attending the games. Speaking after she took part in the debate, Layla Moran said: “A diplomatic boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics would send a clear message to the Chinese government. We’ve had enough hand-wringing and prevaricating. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. “In the debate I focused on Uyghur women and children, many of whom are being taken from their relatives, while their parents are detained. They are subjected to…

23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems warn against return to ‘damaging’ Whitehall police targets

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats are calling on Priti Patel not to impose centralised crime targets on local police forces, warning it “would be a grave mistake” that “risks seriously undermining” police officers. In a letter to the Home Secretary, the party’s Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael and 27 candidates for Mayor or Police and Crime Commissioner write that “the police need to be responsive and accountable to their local communities, not micromanaged by Ministers in Whitehall.” The Liberal Democrats argue that the Government should instead be focusing on “ensuring that police forces can restore proper community policing, where officers are more visible, trusted and known personally to local people.” Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “It seems Priti Patel is the latest Home Secretary who thinks she can…

23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ed Davey calls for £20bn clean air fund during election visit

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Leader, Ed Davey MP, argues his party’s plan for massive new investment in clean air action would be a “treble dividend” for a local community’s health, environment and economy. With air pollution causing 40,000 early deaths a year and transport now the country’s biggest source of carbon emissions, the Liberal Democrats are making a boost to the nation’s health a key part of their strategy to tackle the climate emergency too. During a visit to Watford ahead of May’s elections, Ed Davey MP unveiled the Liberal Democrats’ proposals for a £20bn Community Clean Air fund - part of the party’s £150 billion Green Economic Recovery Plan. The fund would enable Councils and communities to spearhead a local transport revolution, to improve people’s transport choices. Arguing local air pollution is…

Author: Sam Al-Hamdani