18Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Save our assets – save the Limekiln café

Borough news, Campaigns
Liberal Democrat Councillors Derek Hefernan and Garth Harkness have called for Oldham Council to do everything they can to make a deal with LimeKiln Café at the Brownhill Visitor Centre in Dobcross. The Café have put in an offer to buy the building but it has not been accepted yet. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “We did not want the Council to sell the Brownhill Visitor Centre building. But Oldham Council decided to do so anyway. We then called on the council to do everything possible to allow the Café to buy the freehold. Oldham council should keep discussions open with the café to try to sell to them. “There is concern over the future of the Café, Car parks and toilets if it is sold to someone else. The Saddleworth…
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11Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Property guardians caught in poverty trap

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to the investigation by the I into property guardians, Liberal Democrat peer Olly Grender said: “This undercover investigation shows how desperately bad the housing crisis has become. More and more people are living as property guardians in buildings that are dangerous and insanitary and the law fails to protect them. “Safeguards must be introduced before the Government has another tragedy on its hands such as Grenfell. This is a hidden crisis for people caught in a trap of poverty and lack of decent housing and needs urgent attention. “The fact these properties are unsafe and unhealthy to live in should result in a rapid review of the relevant laws. It is vital that the Government now re-evaluate our HMO regulations to ensure that this form of tenancy, in all but name, cannot…
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07Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Govt needs to stop hitting people with higher energy bills

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that more than half of households are set to see an increase in energy costs with Ofgem raising price caps, former Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said:“The Conservatives introduced the price cap claiming it would save people money. But it was never going to do so, and it was inevitable that they would instead have to put the cap up at some point. “Now the truth on the price cap is clearer to people, the Government needs to stop hitting people with higher energy bills thanks to their policies.“Competition in the energy market is under threat due to this cap. Yet it is precisely that competition which has helped many more consumers reduce their energy bills than the cap. “Liberal Democrats believe people deserve better. We would take meaningful steps…
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03Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Nuclear treaty withdrawal risks global instability

Nuclear treaty withdrawal risks global instability

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that Russia has suspended its involvement in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, following the United States’ decision to also suspend their involvement yesterday evening, former Liberal Democrat Leader Lord Campbell said:“These developments are both alarming and depressing. Gradually piece by piece the security architecture which followed the end of the Cold War has been destroyed. “The world is a much less safe place with nuclear weapons when they cease to be the subject of treaties and agreements. Although both Putin and Trump deny it, there is a severe and continuing risk of a nuclear arms race which will bring instability throughout the world.”
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01Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Landmark conviction in fight to stamp out FGM

Landmark conviction in fight to stamp out FGM

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports of the first conviction of female genital mutilation in the UK, former Liberal Democrat Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone said: “We have waited a long time to see a conviction for female genital mutilation. The victim here was just three years old. There is no doubt that this is child abuse and this prosecution makes clear this practice is against the law. “I welcome this prosecution and hope to see other perpetrators of this vile crime brought to justice. Communities in the UK will now know that if they commit FGM they will be brought before the courts. “Prosecution is crucially important, but it is vital that the Government work to support those working in the communities to stamp out FGM, ensuring no future generations of girls…
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31Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Shocking new figures expose prison crisis

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to tackle overcrowding and recruit more prison officers following new figures showing a dramatic increase in deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison. The statistics, published today by the Ministry of Justice, show that in 2018 there were 325 deaths in prison, up 10% since 2017. They figures also reveal self-harm incidents and assaults have reached new record highs. In the 12 months to September 2018, there were: 52,814 incidents of self-harm, up 23% year-on-year;33,803 assaults, up 20% year-on-year & the highest on record;This includes 10,085 assaults on staff, up 29% year-on-year. Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:“These shocking statistics are yet more evidence that our prisons are in crisis. They are stuffed full of people on short sentences, leaving overstretched staff simply unable to cope and unable to provide…
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31Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt must follow evidence not chase headlines in fight against knife crime

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Responding to the Home Secretary's plan to give new powers to the police to tackle knife crime, Liberal Demcorat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:  “The UK is in the grip of a knife crime epidemic, so all ideas should be considered, especially ways to stop the glorification and incitement of this violence on social media.  “But Ministers must remember that ASBOs have a very mixed record - they were often seen as a “badge of honour’ by young offenders and required significant police resources which no longer exist thanks to the Conservatives’ police cuts. “Worse still, this plan ignores the evidence and the policy of the current Justice Secretary, that short term prison sentences won’t deter young people from carrying knives and instead increase the risk of re-offending. “Ministers must…
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31Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Moran: Rough sleeping shames our whole country

Moran: Rough sleeping shames our whole country

Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have today called for cross-party support for Layla Moran's Bill to scrap the Vagrancy Act following the publication of official figures which reveal there were 4,677 rough sleepers across England in Autumn 2018.Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said:“The fact that thousands of people sleep rough every night shames our whole country. These figures don’t even capture the many more ‘hidden homeless’ in insecure and unsuitable accommodation. “Even worse, hundreds of homeless people die each year, as the tragic death of Kane Walker in Birmingham on Sunday reminded us. The Tories are failing our most vulnerable people."The Liberal Democrats demand better. We want the Government to be building up to 100,000 social homes a year, provide accommodation and support to those in need, and finally back my Bill to scrap…
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13Jan 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats vow to continue to fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt from massive land grab for housing and industrial use

Borough news, Campaigns
The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council is gearing up for the next round in its fight to save Oldham’s Greenbelt and green spaces. Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the 10 Council Leaders are due to agree the latest proposals for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) which identifies where future houses will be built and industry based. Last year, public opposition, backed by support from Liberal Democrat Councillors across Greater Manchester, forced the Mayor to withdraw the original proposals to build homes on greenbelt across the county, including many thousands in Shaw, Crompton, Saddleworth, Chadderton and Royton. The so called new proposals are now in the public domain and according to Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham…
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09Dec 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats opposed to fast-track fracking

Borough news, Campaigns
The Oldham Liberal Democrats are submitting a motion to the next full meeting of Oldham Council opposing Government changes to planning procedures on fracking matters. Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Murphy is proposing the motion and Councillor Derek Heffernan is seconding it. Councillor Murphy explained: “The Conservative Government is quite simply trying to circumvent established local planning procedures because they know that fracking is simply not popular with either Councils or the public.  Recent fracking activities on the Fylde Coast have demonstrated that there are public health issues with fracking activities, such operations involve many vehicle movements, ground disturbances that have led to earth tremors, and the real danger that fracking could lead to the pollution of local water supplies. It is only right that where such operations are contemplated that…
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