business – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Kwasi Kwarteng finally hands in homework to Treasury as whole industries left close to collapse

Responding to reports that the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has now formally requested that the Treasury support industries hit by soaring energy costs, Liberal Democrat Business and Energy Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: "The Business Secretary is only now handing his homework to be marked by the Treasury, after being scolded yesterday for making things up live on TV. It would be laughable if people's jobs weren't on the line and factories weren't at risk of closing. "Whole industries are teetering on the edge of collapse and are in need of urgent help. But at a time when we need strong leadership, Conservative ministers are still squabbling amongst themselves."

04Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Brexit export fiasco: Lib Dems call on PM to meet businesses now

Parliamentary news

Today a new poll by YouGov/HSBC has found that 42% of British exporters said the exit from the single market and customs union has had a “negative impact” on their business. Responding to these findings, Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Business, Trade, and Transport, said: “Boris Johnson has betrayed British business in his bodged Brexit deal. These new findings serve as a harsh reminder that this Government showed no interest in securing a trade deal which would work for the British people. It was a deal signed purely out of political self-interest. “I call on Boris Johnson to meet with British exporters, particularly small businesses, struggling with his new regime of red tape and listen to their concerns. The Government must own up to their mistakes and rectify…

08Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Barred! New Year blow to hospitality industry

Borough news

Under the latest government lockdown restrictions pubs and restaurants will be barred from selling alcohol to take away from their licensed premises or by click and collect. The new ruling means that from January 7 they can only sell alcohol if it is delivered to their customers’ homes. Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, thinks that is just plain wrong. Commenting he said: “Anyone can go to a supermarket, corner shop or off-licence to buy booze and take it away, but from this week our struggling pubs, micro-breweries and restaurants will be unable to. They can continue to sell food to customers from their premises, so why can’t they buy a few pints of fresh cask ale to go with it. “I asked the Council Leader at the December…

13Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Johnson must do more to help British Business

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the EU and UK will continue trade talks, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Whilst it’s essential the UK and EU continue negotiations to avoid a No Deal, it is an outrage for Boris Johnson to leave British business in the lurch, with only a handful of days to plan for new trading arrangements. “The fact that businesses, already on their knees from the Covid crisis, still have no idea how they will trade with the EU in two and half weeks is already costing jobs and is frankly shocking. “That is why Liberal Democrats believe it’s time Boris Johnson put his Brexit ideology aside, to negotiate an adjustment period for British business and secure a full and comprehensive trading arrangement with the…

08Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Davey: Government must give UK business time to adjust

Parliamentary news

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has today written to the Prime Minister calling on him to negotiate an adjustment period for British business of three to six months regardless of what happens with the trade deal negotiations with the EU. In the letter, Ed Davey warns the coronavirus crisis has already put British business under extraordinary pressure and any move which pushes them to a cliff edge on the 1st of January will create another wave of redundancies and misery for communities across the UK. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “With only three and a half weeks until the end of the transition period, Boris Johnson still has a the opportunity to give businesses a chance to survive January if he can successfully negotiate…

06Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: PM’s speech no more than a pipe dream

Parliamentary news

Responding to Boris Johnson's speech to Conservative Party Conference, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Prime Minister's speech utterly failed to deliver a credible plan to beat Coronavirus. With the Government's tracing system in meltdown, a quarter of the UK in lockdown and millions set to face unemployment, this speech was nothing more than a pipe dream. “People and business need not only reassurance from the Prime Minister, but concrete measures to help them face the next six months of this pandemic. They got neither. "Even when talking of recovery, Johnson's plans were unambitious at best - the money being spent on wind power is just a fraction of what is needed to ensure we achieve a green recovery. Equally, it is more than ironic for the Prime…

06Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Support local businesses – deliver a better broadband infrastructure for Saddleworth

Borough news

Saddleworth Councillors Garth Harkness and Sam Al-Hamdani are calling on Oldham Council to make serious improvements to their plans for better broadband across the district. With the substantial changes in working patterns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, this has emphasised the need to deliver high-quality fibre optic broadband to homes across the area. They have written to the Council to ask if they are reviewing the current contract for broadband infrastructure, and in particular, to develop new infrastructure across Saddleworth, where the current system seems least able to cope. Councillor Al-Hamdani also challenged GMCA at a meeting today to ensure that the programme was reviewed as part of the Authority’s plans around digital exclusion as part of their Living with Covid plan. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “With so many…

12Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

New Government campaign will fill businesses with horror

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Government's announcement of their new campaign for businesses to prepare for the end of the transition period, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Businesses right across the United Kingdom have struggled to survive financially over the past few months as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The fact that the Government is now trying to force them to gear up and prepare for the end of the transition period will fill them with utter horror. "The coronavirus crisis has been an unprecedented challenge on British business, with many being forced to let go of staff and some even closing their doors for good. As our economy struggles to recover, the Tories dragging us towards another economic hit will mean a vast amount of businesses…

13Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Plea from Deputy Leader that Businesses check eligibility for vital scheme

Borough news

Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Gloster, who has responsibility as shadow cabinet member for Finance is appealing to all Oldham Borough business owners. This is to ensure they have applied for a business grant if they have not already done so. Councillor Gloster said: “With the outbreak of Covid-19, and the subsequent lockdown, £55 million became available to fund qualifying local businesses in the sum of either £10,000 or £25,000 dependent upon the rateable value of their business premises, even if rates were not payable. This is a grant, not a loan, and is designed to help businesses through this difficult time. “Currently the council have paid out in excess of £40 million, to about 80% of qualifying businesses, and have written to business premises twice to alert them to this…

27Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems lead cross-party call for clarity on coronavirus loan scheme

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats are leading a cross-party call for the Business Secretary to provide clearer guidance to lenders regarding Business Interruption Loans, following reports that lenders have been slow to approve loans to struggling businesses due to extensive due diligence processes. Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse has been joined by over 20 MPs from across the political spectrum in writing to the Business Secretary to call for the additional guidance. The letter asks that the Government sets out the "minimum level of due diligence required" to underwrite loans, criteria which would enable lenders to process applications at a faster pace. This would help to ensure business owners benefit from the scheme as soon as possible. Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said: “Business Interruption Loans offer a much-needed lifeline…

Tag: business