Sam Al-Hamdani – Page 96 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

26Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Fall in greenhouse gas emissions not down to Government

Responding to provisional stats released today indicating that greenhouse gas emissions fell in 2020, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Climate Emergency and Energy Wera Hobhouse MP said: "It's fantastic to see that our emissions have fallen for yet another year. However, it is the lockdowns and not the Conservatives' policies on climate change that are responsible. "If we are to avoid an increase in emissions next year the Conservatives must starting taking the climate emergency seriously, rather than quietly cancelling schemes like the Green Homes Grant. "Liberal Democrats want climate action now - we must 'bed-in' the changes we've made this year. This means we must encourage more flexible working, keep and expand low traffic neighbourhoods and fix our leaky homes, by creating a ten-year programme to upgrade our homes to…

26Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Coronavirus Act: Rights and freedoms must be restored

Parliamentary news

Responding to the results of the vote on the Coronavirus Act extension, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP commented: “This vote hands Conservative Ministers a blank cheque to use draconian powers they don’t need. I am proud that Liberal Democrats voted against it. “We continue to support all necessary measures to contain the spread of the virus and keep people safe, but none of them rely on the Coronavirus Act. The Prime Minister even had to resort to lies to persuade MPs to back him today. “Despite all their talk about freedom, the Conservatives have shown they have no intention of restoring people’s civil liberties once the need for restrictions has ended. “Liberal Democrats will remain vigilant to stop the Government abusing these powers, and to make sure that everyone’s…

26Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

China sanctions will not silence critics standing up for the Uyghurs

Parliamentary news

Responding to China's sanctions on nine UK citizens - including five MPs - for spreading "lies and disinformation", Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Layla Moran MP said: "We have full solidarity with colleagues and organisations who have been sanctioned for daring to speak out and expose the atrocities against the Uyghurs. Despite China's intimidation tactics, we will not be silenced. “Targeting backbench MPs instead of ministers makes clear this is about China’s disdain for democracy around the world. "The UK cannot stand by while human rights abuses take place right in front of our eyes. This desperate move from China will galvanise us all to work harder. The Liberal Democrats urge the Government to stand behind those sanctioned and protect them."

25Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Exam grades: Government showing contempt for students and teachers

Parliamentary news

Responding to Ofqual's guidance on how exam grades will be awarded this year, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: "Once again, the Government is showing complete contempt for students and teachers by only publishing the technical guidance on grading just days before most schools are due to break up for Easter. "The Education Secretary dragged his heels in deciding whether or not to cancel exams and now students and teachers are paying the price. "Teachers and pupils will have been hoping for some well-earned respite after an incredibly difficult term. Instead they will now be frantically trying to digest this guidance and work out what it will mean for them. A last minute panic which could so easily have been avoided if the Education Secretary had stepped up…

25Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

NAO report: Government must begin cross-party talks immediately

Parliamentary news

Responding to the National Audit Office (NAO) report into adult social care in England, Ed Davey MP, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “This damning report shows the Conservative Government’s continued lack of action on social care. For years they have promised to fix the social care system but have done nothing. “Social care in the UK is in crisis. It needs long term funding and planning, yet in the budget this year social care was not even mentioned. It is only thanks to the nine million unpaid carers who tirelessly pick up the slack left by the Government, that many of the most vulnerable are getting appropriate care. “That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for the Prime Minister to begin cross-party talks immediately and secure the…

25Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Pub passports: Government should focus on supporting the industry

Parliamentary news

Responding to reports that the Prime Minister is considering allowing pub landlords to be given the power to bar anyone without a COVID vaccine, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “The Government seems utterly incapable of making its mind up on COVID certificates – but this latest wheeze is the worst of all worlds. “As well as burdening struggling pubs with extra cost, the idea that businesses can voluntarily bar certain customers, who may not even have been offered a vaccine, is deeply illiberal. “The Government should be focusing on supporting the pub industry and reviving our civil liberties and basic freedoms: this policy does the opposite of both.”

24Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Asylum changes: Breaking law a nasty habit for this Tory Government

Parliamentary news

In response to the "New Plan for Immigration" being set out by the Home Office today, Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Priti Patel’s proposals aren’t just cruel, they undermine the UK’s commitments under the Refugee Convention. Breaking international law is becoming a nasty habit for this Conservative Government. “People fleeing war and persecution – as the vast majority of those claiming asylum in the UK have – don’t stop to check if their travel plans are OK with the Home Secretary. And nor should they have to. They must be welcomed with compassion, not treated like criminals. “Nothing Priti Patel is proposing today will solve the dysfunction at the heart of the Home Office. It won’t deliver dignity for asylum seekers or fairness for taxpayers. “Instead…

24Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Time to say thanks to our schools and education staff, say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Borough news

At Wednesday’s full meeting of Oldham Council (24 March), the Oldham Liberal Democrats will be proposing all Councillors give a big vote of thanks to Oldham’s school and education staff after a year in which they have been hard at work delivering tuition in the most trying post-war circumstances. Saddleworth North Liberal Democrat Councillor Garth Harkness is proposing the motion. He works in an academy in Manchester with pupils with special needs and knows from first-hand experience how hard his Oldham colleagues will have been working through the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking of the motion, Councillor Harkness said: “Everyone will be aware that all students have now returned to their classrooms and workshops from March 8 of this year, but some people will be unaware that teachers and education staff have…

24Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

COVID-safe protests exception welcome but temporary change is not enough

Parliamentary news

Responding to the inclusion of a specific exception for protests in the new COVID regulations, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “It shouldn’t have taken the appalling scenes on Clapham Common to force the Government to make clear that peaceful, COVID-safe protests are lawful. They should never have tried to stop them going ahead in the first place. “The right to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental human right. It has always been a crucial part of our democratic society. “But changing these temporary regulations isn’t enough. The Conservatives must now drop the dangerous, draconian plans to crackdown on protests in their new Bill. “These new laws are part of the Conservative Government’s anti-democratic attempts to silence anyone who dares speak up against them. Liberal Democrats…

24Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt are “shirking their duty” on live events

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Digital, Culture, Media, & Sport, Jamie Stone MP, has today brought a debate to Parliament on the issue of Government-backed insurance for live events. The Government has come under increasing pressure to underwrite contingency insurance for live events in a bid to prevent the cancellation of festivals and other live production this summer. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has previously said that 92.5 per cent of members would not be able to proceed with their summer plans unless they were insured by the Government. Speaking after the debate, Mr Stone said: "I really am disappointed by the Government's approach to this whole thing. "They know the issue of insurance for live events falls under the responsibility of the Treasury but did not bother to send…

Author: Sam Al-Hamdani