21Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conservatives are letting down British farmers

Conservatives are letting down British farmers

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MPs have supported amendments to the Trade Bill, aiming to ensure that future trade agreements meet the UK’s high standards of animal welfare. The Conservatives voted to reject these amendments. Furthermore, the government rejected amendments to strengthen the new Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC), including one requiring the TAC to consider human health, as well as environmental and animal welfare when assessing new trade deals. By consistently failing to support these measures, the Conservatives risk future trade deals permitting the import of food that fails to meet the UK’s high standards. This puts significant pressure on British farmers. Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Farming said: “Farmers across the country are worried about their future - they’re worried that the UK will be flooded with poor quality…
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18Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Fishing anger should be no surprise – Carmichael

Fishing anger should be no surprise – Carmichael

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, has said there should be “no surprise” that seafood exporters have taken to the streets to protest against the disruption they are facing. Dozens of HGVs have been reported around Whitehall in London demonstrating against the blockages they are facing in trade with the EU. Some reports suggest that protestors intend to dump unsellable seafood cargo in the streets. Commenting on the protests, Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael said: “I suspect that it will be a pleasant change for these lorry drivers to be able to drive instead of sitting waiting in a depot or at a port somewhere. It should be no surprise to anyone in Whitehall that our seafood exporters are angry. That anger will…
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18Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
On the wrong track: cuts to Northern rail investment condemned

On the wrong track: cuts to Northern rail investment condemned

Borough news
The Oldham Liberal Democrats have condemned the Conservative Government for once more derailing plans for significant investment in Northern rail services. The government has decided that Transport for the North will lose 40% of its core funding, down from £6 million from £10 million, and a fifth of its total annual support, in the next financial year. The Department of Transport has also cancelled plans to introduce contactless ticketing, like London’s Oyster card system, across the North of England. For Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Group, who also serves as one of Oldham’s representatives on the board of Transport for Greater Manchester, the latest news is a significant blow. Commenting Councillor Sykes said: “Whilst the London Crossrail project receives ever more government funding, Northern rail…
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15Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Police database blunder is a ‘fiasco’

Police database blunder is a ‘fiasco’

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the news that 150,000 records were accidentally deleted from the Police National Computer, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael, said: “People will rightly be alarmed that a blunder on this scale is even possible. The Home Secretary must take responsibility and come forward to explain exactly what went wrong, how it went wrong, and what she is doing to make sure it never happens again. “It’s already the case that far too many crimes go unsolved and too many criminals are never identified. This fiasco risks making our communities less safe and the police’s job even harder, at a time when they are already under enormous pressure. “Instead of spending her time coming up with ever crueller and more impractical asylum policies, Priti Patel should focus…
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14Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call for a ‘no ifs no buts’ commitment to free school meals

Lib Dems call for a ‘no ifs no buts’ commitment to free school meals

Parliamentary news
In response to the news that schools will not be providing free meals during February half term, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education Daisy Cooper, said: “This is the second time this week that hungry children have been let-down: first it was the shocking photos of free school meal packs, and now there is more confusion over how children will access a meal during February half term, which will leave parents despairing. "After so much public outcry over free school meals, people won’t understand why struggling families are still having to fight the government for their kids to have just one decent meal a day. "The Government must do the right thing and make a 'no ifs no buts' commitment: whether a child is in school or at home, or whether…
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12Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Parents must be given vouchers instead of ‘woefully inadequate’ food parcels

Parents must be given vouchers instead of ‘woefully inadequate’ food parcels

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for parents to be given vouchers after pictures of 'woefully inadequate' food parcels were shared on social media. Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Education, Daisy Cooper, has written to the Secretary of State for Education to urge him to investigate. Daisy Cooper said: “It is completely unacceptable that parents have received woefully inadequate food parcels in place of free school meals. "The amount of food parents have received to feed their children is not anything like enough to provide an adequate, nutritious lunch every day. Nor do they appear to represent value for money, given what the parcels should theoretically be worth. "I have written to the Secretary of State asking him to investigate the situation urgently and replace these abysmal hampers with food vouchers. "Time…
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18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Report suggesting contract favours for those with “direct line to Ministers” demands inquiry

Report suggesting contract favours for those with “direct line to Ministers” demands inquiry

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have demanded a timetable for an inquiry into the Government's handling of the pandemic following the publication of an NAO report which revealed that Ministers agreed £18bn worth of supplies and services which bypassed usual standards for procurement. Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “It is utterly galling the Government has sidestepped accountability and transparency rules. In no world is it fair that bids with a direct line to Ministers were ten times more successful. “The Tories have left themselves wide open to serious and legitimate allegations that they have chosen to line the pockets of friends and donors. “The British people deserve clear, honest answers. Now more than ever we need a timetable for the inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic.”
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13Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Economic recovery requires “comprehensive” strategy not more “last minute” Government plans

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest figures showing that UK GDP grew by 15.5% in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2020, but that GDP is still 9.7% below where it was at the end of 2019, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The growth in the last quarter is testament to the hard work of people in all sectors after the first lockdown. But our economy still has a mountain to climb and hasn't been helped by the Government's mistakes in the first wave of coronavirus. “With a new lockdown in place in England and strict restrictions in other parts of the UK, people are increasingly worried about their jobs and livelihoods. The support the Government has given to date has simply not been adequate. "To ensure recovery we need a…
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10Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Unemployment rise sits squarely with the Chancellor

Unemployment rise sits squarely with the Chancellor

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that the UK's unemployment rate has risen again, to 4.8% in the three months to September, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “These figures show clearly the scale of the hardship coronavirus is causing. The responsibility for that sits squarely with the Chancellor and his chop-and-change approach to job support, and refusal to recognise the needs of the excluded. "Liberal Democrats had warned the Chancellor that this would be the consequence of his actions. He must now commit to a long-term plan that will save as many jobs as possible, including keeping the furlough scheme in place until June 2021, and he must urgently extend support to the three million taxpayers that have been excluded since the start of the crisis."
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05Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Fixing test and trace must be priority for Government during national lockdown

Fixing test and trace must be priority for Government during national lockdown

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on Ministers to use the lockdown period in England to "get a grip" on the test and trace system and ensure the right financial and practical support is in place for people isolating. The call follows a vote in the House of Commons today on the new lockdown measures in England, which were approved by 516 votes to 38. Speaking after the vote, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “It is deeply frustrating that we must now enter a national lockdown. If Boris Johnson had not dithered and delayed and had instead followed the scientists’ advice, this could have been shorter and less damaging. "Now it is essential that Ministers use this time to get a grip on our broken test, trace and…
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