Conservative failure – Page 6 – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Local lockdowns by stealth are completely irresponsible

Responding to the news that local lockdowns have been introduced by "stealth" Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: "Changing policy by stealth is completely irresponsible. Matt Hancock should have made clear the changes he was making to guidance in advance and communicated it to the public and local officials. He needs to make clear the situation immediately to Parliament. "Clarification on the new rules in these areas is now needed, not only for residents but for those that would normally travel to the affected areas. People cross these invisible boundaries every day for medical appointments or to go shopping. The Government urgently need to make it clear whether they should avoid travelling to or through these areas and under what circumstances this is now permitted. "It is now…

25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Catastrophic trade deal with EU major blow to our trade

Parliamentary news

Responding to trade stats from the ONS this morning, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Trade Sarah Olney MP said: “The loss of nearly a quarter of our trade with our biggest trading partner should make the Prime Minister and Trade Secretary hang their heads in shame. “Despite the impact of Covid-19, the figures are clear: this is primarily the outcome of the Government’s catastrophic trade deal with the EU. “Hundreds of thousands of British small businesses that rely on trade with Europe have been abandoned by the Government, and their millions of employees will be rightly worried about their future. “We must finally see an end to empty Government slogans about the opportunities of Brexit and see concrete actions to protect the jobs and businesses that depend on trade with Europe.”

24May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Immigration: Home Secretary has failed to get a grip on broken system

Parliamentary news

Responding to Priti Patel’s speech this morning on immigration, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “No amount of tough talk and bluster from the Home Secretary can hide the fact that she has utterly failed to get a grip on the UK’s broken immigration system. Years of Home Office failure, coupled with hostile policies and rhetoric from successive Conservative Home Secretaries, have shattered public confidence. “Instead of fixing the broken system, Priti Patel is pressing ahead with damaging plans that will create more chaos and make it harder for British employers to recruit the workers they need. “She talks about a new ‘digital border’, but apparently forgot to mention that the existing project is years behind schedule and more than £170 million over budget. And she is refusing…

05May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cuts to aid for landmine charity will cost lives

Parliamentary news

Following the Government cutting vital aid to a charity which finds and destroys landmines in places affected by conflict (MAG), Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “Every day we hear new details of aid cuts that will affect the lives of millions of people worldwide – this is no exception. More lives will be lost, and many more will be ruined, by the decision to cut MAG’s funding. “If we can’t even help protect people from landmines and unexploded bombs, what does that say about the UK? This is unforgiveable and betrays the best of British values. Whilst Dominic Raab is busy meeting foreign ministers, around the world our reputation is being ruined. That will have consequences for years to come. “The Liberal Democrats will stand up…

29Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Fire Safety Bill: Government has turned their back on leaseholders in “national scandal”

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat Peer Kath Pinnock alongside Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper has said that there are the beginnings of a “national scandal” after the Fire Safety Bill passed through Parliament without vital protection for leaseholders and tenants against exorbitant bills for fire remediation works. Liberal Democrats in both House of Parliament have tabled vital amendments to protect leaseholders and tenants during the passage of the Bill, with Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper initially laying down an amendment in the House of Commons. Commenting Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and member of the Fire Safety Bill Committee, Daisy Cooper MP said: "The devastating consequences of this Bill passing cannot be overstated. Millions of leaseholders, who are already facing financial ruin through no fault of their own, are now landed with…

22Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Green Homes Grants: Government failed to take cutting emissions seriously

Parliamentary news

Responding to the Green Homes Grant statistics, which show there were just 113,700 applications for the grant, only 10,300 measures were installed and just 6,700 homes actually received the money from the scheme, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency Wera Hobhouse MP said: “The Green Homes Grant has been a complete failure, as predicted right from the beginning. The Conservatives have simply failed to take the issue of upgrading our poor quality homes seriously. “From the very beginning the Green Homes Grant was short-termist, poorly thought out and suffered chronic mismanagement. Rather than taking the issue of cutting emissions seriously, the Tories engaged in the worst kind of tokenistic politics. “Liberal Democrats are calling for a ten year plan to upgrade our homes, backed up with significant government funds.…

23Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Fire Safety Bill: Govt turning its back on leaseholders and tenants

Parliamentary news

Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper has criticised the Government for turning its back on "blameless leaseholders and tenants" after amendments intended to stop building owners passing on the costs of fixing defects were defeated in the House of Commons last night. Daisy Cooper MP, who introduced the principle that leaseholders should be protected from the extortionate costs of fire safety remediation at Committee Stage of the Fire Safety Bill, commented: “The Government has once again turned its back on blameless leaseholders and tenants whose homes are not fire safe. This is utterly crushing for thousands of people left with sky-high bills and unsafe, unsellable properties. "The Government has taken almost four years to bring forward a two page bill and has spent nine months finding fault in ideas that would…

17Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

NAO report: Williamson has failed a generation

Parliamentary news

A new NAO report has found the Department for Education’s response to the pandemic could have been done better and more quickly. Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP, has said it is “beyond comprehension” Gavin Williamson remains in post. The report finds the Department for Education had no plans in place to manage mass disruption to schooling. The report states that it was not until the end of June - over three months after schools closures were announced in the UK - that it began to formulate a plan that set out objectives, milestones and risks. Responding to the findings, Daisy Cooper MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education said: “This report confirms what parents and teachers have known for a year: that a whole generation of children and young…

15Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Carmichael: No shock or surprise at EU legal action against UK

Parliamentary news

Responding to the news that the European Union have launched legal action against the UK for an alleged breach of the Northern Ireland Protocol trade agreement, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Northern Ireland, Alistair Carmichael MP, said: "Given the Government’s track record on negotiating with the EU, this comes as no shock or surprise. "Boris Johnson and his Government have made a pig’s ear of all of this. They have let down everyone – from farmers and fishermen, to businesses needing certainty for the months ahead. “I’ve always been keen to stress that there were other, more collaborative ways, to go about an extension of the grace period which would work in everyone’s best interests. “Instead, this Government was all too quick to take unilateral action. Reneging on an agreement you…

12Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Six-month Universal Credit extension a ‘disappointment’

Borough news, Parliamentary news

The Oldham Liberal Democrats are disappointed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak has chosen not to make the £20 uplift in Universal Credit permanent in the March Budget. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who also serves as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association, joined over 30 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and elected Mayors in England in writing to the government on this issue last month. Despite their plea to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP to respect January’s vote in Parliament calling for a permanent increase, the Chancellor has chosen only to extend the extra £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit benefit payments until the end of September. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Millions of people are suffering in this country as a result…

Tag: Conservative failure