16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Extend furlough or risk “jobs disaster”

Extend furlough or risk “jobs disaster”

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest unemployment figures, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "A fall in unemployment is always welcome, but the Government has to provide further reassurances to business or we risk a jobs disaster when furlough ends. “The support furlough offers will be reduced from next month and will come to an abrupt end in September. "We must not underestimate the impact this withdrawal will have on people’s lives at a time the pandemic and its new variants are still forcing businesses to close. “This latest delay to the roadmap, emphasises the need do extend the furlough scheme and provide businesses with the certainty they need to drive our recovery.”
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM urged to back hospitality sector with COVID Recovery Visa

PM urged to back hospitality sector with COVID Recovery Visa

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran called on the Prime Minister to back the struggling hospitality sector at PMQs today by introducing a COVID Recovery Visa. The Oxford West and Abingdon MP raised the case of Kevin, a hotel manager in her constituency, who told her that even when the country fully opens up, his hotel “won’t be able to operate at full capacity due to chronic staff shortages.” Moran said the sector has been hit by a triple whammy of the pandemic, Brexit and the new immigration system: uncertainty in the sector due to the Government’s handling of the pandemic meaning workers are leaving for other jobs; Brexit means many EU citizens have left the UK; and the new immigration system means hospitality businesses can’t recruit enough people from abroad.…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

We need real investment in post-Covid education catch up for our children

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors have all joined a call to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for real government investment to be made in education to provide further tuition to school children to catch up on learning lost because of Covid-19. Local Liberal Democrat Councillors signed the open letter to Prime Minister Johnson, which is being coordinated by the teachers’ representative body, the National Education Union. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, explained why they had done so: “Although the government has talked a lot about ‘levelling up’, investing to tackle inequalities in Britain after Covid, it has singularly failed to do so when it comes to the education of our children. The government’s own Education Recovery Tzar resigned in protest because only £1.4 billion was made available for extra…
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08Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Covid passports at Wembley ‘outrageous’

Covid passports at Wembley ‘outrageous’

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports vaccine passports are to be used at Wembley for the Euros, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Home Affairs Alistair Carmichael MP said: “It’s outrageous that the Government is introducing unworkable, expensive and divisive Covid ID cards without a proper debate and vote in Parliament. They are being introduced without safeguards to protect people’s privacy or measures to prevent discrimination. “The Covid pandemic has taken an enormous toll on people across the UK. We all want life to get back to normal as soon as possible, including fans at football matches. But vaccination passports are not the way forward. “The real solution to open up safely is to get the virus under control by vaccinating everyone as quickly as possible, providing proper financial support so everyone who needs to…
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04Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Covid-19 cases rise: Government must remain vigilant and fix isolation support

Covid-19 cases rise: Government must remain vigilant and fix isolation support

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that cases of Covid are rising in the UK, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Munira Wilson MP said: “Lockdown combined with the vaccination programme has allowed us to get cases of COVID extremely low. We need to be wary about anything that could risk this progress. The Government must remain vigilant and follow the data ahead of the next step in the roadmap. “To stop individual cases becoming outbreaks and outbreaks becoming new waves, the Government must put in place long-term measures. That means finally fixing their support for those self-isolating. No one should be forced out of isolation due to a lack of money or support. “For months, the Liberal Democrats and experts have been calling for the Government to guarantee people's wages,…
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04Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Portugal amber listed: Government must give clarity on international travel

Portugal amber listed: Government must give clarity on international travel

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Portugal has been moved from green to amber on the traffic light system for international travel, Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, commented: "This will come as a huge blow both to British citizens keen to get away on a foreign holiday after an incredibly difficult 15 months, and to the travel industry. However, given the immense sacrifices made by all during the pandemic, and with rising case numbers, we must maintain caution so as not to threaten the progress we have made with our domestic reopening. "In order to keep case numbers as low as possible and prevent the spread of new variants, the Government needs to keep robust measures in place at our borders, combined with a rigorous test and trace…
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27May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Appoint inquiry Chair within days

Davey: Appoint inquiry Chair within days

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has written to the Prime Minister urging him to bring forward a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Davey first called for a full inquiry into the Government's actions during the pandemic last year in April 2020. The Prime Minister, who has promised the Liberal Democrats an inquiry at multiple points in the chamber, has recently confirmed a full inquiry will take place in this session of Parliament in Spring 2022. With serious allegations made by the Prime Minister's former chief advisor yesterday, the urgent need for an inquiry now has been reiterated. Davey says in the letter that "the chair and any further members of the panel should be appointed within days".
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26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: End sparring with Cummings and set up inquiry

Davey: End sparring with Cummings and set up inquiry

Parliamentary news
Responding to Dominic Cummings' evidence to the Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committee this morning, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "If Geoffrey Howe took a cricket bat to Thatcher’s Government, then Dominic Cummings has just taken a wrecking ball to Johnson’s. His allegations against the Prime Minister and Health Secretary are damning. “While the circus around the fallout between the Prime Minister and his closest advisor continues, the public are only interested in one thing: the truth. “It is clear that we are not going to get it through a WhatsApp briefing war or a public tit for tat between Johnson and Cummings. The only way to get to the truth is through a full independent public inquiry. We need one now. “Bereaved families deserve…
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26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
COVID stats: Government must implement a proper Race Equality Strategy

COVID stats: Government must implement a proper Race Equality Strategy

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest statistics which show that almost all ethnic minority groups have had higher death rates from COVID-19 than White British people, Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Equalities, commented: “The pandemic has taken an enormous toll on families across the UK, and has hit many ethnic minority communities especially hard. wera “The disproportionately high death rates suffered by Black and Asian people are shocking. The deep-seated economic inequalities that have contributed to them must be tackled urgently. “Ministers must work together with all communities to implement a proper Race Equality Strategy without further delay, so we can build a fairer, more equal society as we emerge from this pandemic.”
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25May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Local lockdowns by stealth are completely irresponsible

Local lockdowns by stealth are completely irresponsible

Parliamentary news
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…
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