22Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems will continue to fight for the rule of law

Lib Dems will continue to fight for the rule of law

Parliamentary news
Speaking after the votes on the Internal Market Bill, where 255 MPs voted against the Government breaking international law, Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson Sarah Olney Said: “Liberal Democrat and Alliance MPs took a clear stand for the rule of law and for stability in Northern Ireland against Boris Johnson’s tactics to violate the EU Withdrawal Agreement. “With members across the house joining to stand for what’s right and voting against the Government, Boris Johnson must take this as a clear message: there is no consensus in Parliament about his disregard for the rule of law and the UK’s international standing. “Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Government to account and work across party lines to protect the UK’s interests.”
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16Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats lambast Tories over three-year Social Care bill delay

Liberal Democrats lambast Tories over three-year Social Care bill delay

Borough news
The Oldham Liberal Democrats have lambasted the Conservative Government for delaying once again their long-awaited proposals to overhaul the social care system. Details are not expected to now be released until the Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Autumn Statement at the earliest; this is scheduled for late November. The Conservatives first promised to publish a Green Paper on social care for public consultation in the summer of 2017. This is now more than three years behind schedule. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said: “This extra delay is yet another example of the prevarication shown by this uncaring Conservative Government in making policy about the future of our under-threat social care system. Due to consistent underfunding of local government and the National Health Service, the provision of quality care to…
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10Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must make Covid test available to all that need one

Government must make Covid test available to all that need one

Parliamentary news
Responding to the press conference by the Prime Minister, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Government is making the right decision to strengthen the coronavirus guidelines in England. Clearly rapid testing by spring would be a welcome advancement. “However, the Government must take immediate action to increase the level of testing available right now. It is simply not acceptable that people are being asked to travel for several hours for a test, or are unable to book a test at all. “Ministers must also put forward financial plans for people and businesses that continue to be heavily affected. As the Coronavirus will continue to force many businesses and self employed to stop working, thousands of jobs are at risk. "The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government…
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09Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems condemn Government for “destroying” UK reputation on world stage

Lib Dems condemn Government for “destroying” UK reputation on world stage

Parliamentary news
Responding to comments from the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis that the proposed Northern Ireland customs rules legislation will “break international law”, Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:  “The UK Government should focus on making laws, not breaking laws. But the Northern Ireland Secretary's admission that the Conservative Government stands ready to break international law shows just how far we have fallen under Boris Johnson. “His Government are tearing up the UK's proud history of promoting the rule of law and in the process destroying our reputation on the world stage. It is unforgivable. "The Liberal Democrats unequivocally condemn this reckless approach."
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08Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Latest resignation shows damaging consequences of PM’s Brexit approach

Latest resignation shows damaging consequences of PM’s Brexit approach

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that Sir Jonathan Jones, head of the UK Government’s legal department, has resigned following the Government's decision to introduce legislation which would undermine key aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:  “The head of the Government’s legal department quitting over Boris Johnson’s approach to Brexit should signal how serious a situation this is. “For Johnson to think it is acceptable to row back on international agreements and assurances made to Northern Ireland shows he has no respect for international law or the UK's obligations. “How can the UK expect other countries, like China, to respect the international treaties we hold with them if we don’t do the same when it comes to the Withdrawal Agreement? “Any Government figure of any integrity would be…
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03Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Education Secretary must come clean about what he knew, and when

Education Secretary must come clean about what he knew, and when

Parliamentary news
Speaking after the Chair of Ofqual told MPs today that it was a "fundamental mistake" to believe a controversial algorithm initially used for A-level and GCSE results would "ever be acceptable to the public", Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “The A level scandal caused untold distress and anguish for too many young people. "It is now clear as day that the Education Secretary stubbornly refused to heed warnings about this approach and that the decisions which led to this fiasco were firmly in his hands. "Pupils and parents need to have confidence that children and young people can return to full time education and stay there. Instead, this Government just keeps lurching from one crisis to the next. "After shamelessly hanging officials out to dry, the Education Secretary…
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03Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
NAO report shows Govt has made a dog’s dinner of Brexit

NAO report shows Govt has made a dog’s dinner of Brexit

Parliamentary news
Responding to a National Audit Office report on the Government handling of Brexit, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “With the combination of coronavirus creating uncertainty for people's lives coupled with this Brexit shambles, we cannot afford for the Prime Minister to continue playing politics. "How Boris Johnson ever thought he could get a deal by the end of July with the chaos behind the scenes in Whitehall is beyond me. Even he must realise the dog's dinner he has made of Brexit. "Now is the time to put people first. It is time for real leadership. The Government must listen to experts and redouble their efforts to reach a good deal with the EU, or risk even greater chaos."
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30Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Missed test and trace targets show need for inquiry

Missed test and trace targets show need for inquiry

Parliamentary news
Responding to figures revealing the Government's test and trace system has missed its 80% target for a ninth consecutive week, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “With students going back to school and autumn arriving, the priority must be keeping people safe as lockdown is eased. "Despite it being months since we went into lockdown, 1 in 4 close contacts are consistently not being contacted. The Government must take a serious look at its efforts to deliver the comprehensive strategy to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus that is needed to keep people safe. "Given the multitude of mistakes made by this Government throughout the pandemic, an inquiry must be launched now so that all levels of Government can learn lessons to prevent further spread of the…
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26Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Boris Johnson put saving his advisor above the national interest

Boris Johnson put saving his advisor above the national interest

Parliamentary news
New survey data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the Dominic Cummings scandal eroded people’s belief that the UK would emerge more united from the coronavirus crisis. The proportion of people believing that Britain would emerge from the pandemic “very or somewhat united” fell from 49% the week before the Cummings scandal broke, to 43% the week after, and has fallen further since to 28%. Meanwhile, the proportion saying we will be “very or somewhat divided” jumped from 31% to 38% when the scandal broke, and now stands at 55%. Responding to the figures, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Despite the enormous toll that the coronavirus crisis is taking, the British people have shown a powerful desire to pull together as a country. We…
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26Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Williamson allowing someone else to take the blame for exam fiasco

Williamson allowing someone else to take the blame for exam fiasco

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Ofqual head Sally Collier has resigned, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “It is incredibly disappointing that Gavin Williamson has refused to take responsibility for the combination of initial school return failure and the more recent exam fiasco and has instead allowed to let someone else take the blame. “He has lost the trust of students, parents and teachers who he failed to consult, leaving universities and colleges in chaos. “Meanwhile the Prime Minister is still yet to apologise for the stress and harm his government caused to students, parents and teachers. "Gavin Williamson is simply not the person the deliver a safe return to schools and must resign.”
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