20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM riding roughshod over our rights by restricting judicial review

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Government is planning to restrict judicial review, following a Court of Appeal decision against the Home Secretary, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “Threatening to weaken the courts because of a judgment you disagree with is the act of dictators and despots, not democrats. “With these plans, Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings are trying to enable the Government to run roughshod over people’s rights and allow Ministers to break the law with impunity. “Liberal Democrats will always defend individuals’ abilities to challenge the Government and uphold their rights. We will not stand by and allow Johnson and Cummings to undermine the rule of law, which is so fundamental to our society.”
Read More
20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must come before MPs after IfG Brexit warning

Parliamentary news
Responding to a report by the Institute for Government which warns coronavirus has left UK firms unprepared for a no-deal Brexit, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “Boris Johnson is arrogantly setting the country down a path that threatens jobs and livelihoods, and this report confirms it. People deserve better. “Now is not the time to be playing politics. Our focus must be preventing a no-deal Brexit and ensuring business has all the help it needs to protect jobs. “The Prime Minister must come before MPs before the summer recess to answer how he will address the calls for preparation support, sector specific investment and more.”
Read More
17Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM change to guidance is reckless and flies in the face of experts

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's annoucement on the change to guidance on using public transport and going to workplaces in England, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “While we all want life to get back to normal as soon as possible, people remain rightly worried about coronavirus. The Prime Minister’s plan to change current guidance for working at home and public transport use is utterly reckless and flies in the face of experts, including the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser. “With Government testing and tracing plans in an unholy mess, it is deeply irresponsible to throw caution to the wind like this. Ministers are passing the buck and, without protections, they have opened the door to serious disputes between employees and employers. "The Government must be held to account to…
Read More
16Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems secure PM commitment to independent inquiry

Parliamentary news
Acting Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has today secured a commitment from the Prime Minister to an independent inquiry into the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis and called for the timetable to be set out immediately. Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions today, Ed Davey warned that under Boris Johnson’s leadership the country has suffered “one of the worst death rates in the world and Europe’s worst death rate of health and care workers.” Making reference to Boris Johnson’s support for an independent inquiry into the Iraq War, the Liberal Democrat Acting Leader again urged the Prime Minister to “commit in principle to a future independent inquiry”. In response, the Prime Minister accepted his Government will “learn the lessons of this pandemic” and confirmed there will be in independent inquiry.…
Read More
16Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

We need a proper Green Recovery Plan to protect jobs

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS unemployment figures showing that the number of workers on payrolls has fallen by 649,000 between March and June, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Every single person losing their job reminds us that coronavirus is a tragedy that cuts across every aspect of people’s lives. Managing this health and economic crisis demands the best possible leadership at the top of our country. “The Conservative Government’s shambolic handling of the pandemic has made the economic challenge we are facing far worse than it need have been. We need much better political leaders than Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings if we are going to help those losing their jobs. “With this sharp rise in job losses, the Chancellor must urgently look at additional support, otherwise there…
Read More
16Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

People deserve better than this Government’s NHS Test and Trace system

Parliamentary news
Responding to statistics out today that reveal NHS Test and Trace has only reached 71.1% of 'close contacts' of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The coronavirus crisis is taking an enormous toll and people are rightly worried about loved ones. The only way to allay fears and keep people safe is with a comprehensive strategy to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus. "Under the leadership of this Prime Minister, however, it is becoming clearer that the Government failed to prepare. It is no wonder a management consultancy has been drafted in to get things right, but at what cost? "People deserve better. The Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Prime Minister's feet to the fire to ensure the…
Read More