07Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
A Godsend to our poorest residents

A Godsend to our poorest residents

Borough news, Campaigns, Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader calls on Chancellor to make £20-a-week Universal Credit rise permanent Liberal Democrat Councillors have called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, to end the financial uncertainly for Oldham Borough’s poorest families and make a one-year temporary rise of £20-a-week in Universal Credit payments permanent.  The increase was announced in April at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; now with the deferment of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget until Spring, there is currently no guarantee that the rise will be made permanent next year. Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has added his voice, and that of his party colleagues, to the call from many of Britain’s leading charities for the uncertainty to be ended by writing to the Chancellor asking for the rise to…
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06Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems: PM’s speech no more than a pipe dream

Lib Dems: PM’s speech no more than a pipe dream

Parliamentary news
Responding to Boris Johnson's speech to Conservative Party Conference, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Prime Minister's speech utterly failed to deliver a credible plan to beat Coronavirus. With the Government's tracing system in meltdown, a quarter of the UK in lockdown and millions set to face unemployment, this speech was nothing more than a pipe dream.  “People and business need not only reassurance from the Prime Minister, but concrete measures to help them face the next six months of this pandemic. They got neither. "Even when talking of recovery, Johnson's plans were unambitious at best - the money being spent on wind power is just a fraction of what is needed to ensure we achieve a green recovery. Equally, it is more than ironic for the Prime…
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01Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Clarity of purpose and clarity of messages essential to defeat Covid – Davey

Clarity of purpose and clarity of messages essential to defeat Covid – Davey

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's coronavirus briefing yesterday, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “Another day, another press conference, another blown opportunity by the Prime Minister to give the assurances the British public so desperately need. Testing remains shambolic and people’s livelihoods hang on a knife edge with no extension of the furlough scheme to protect them. “When I have been listening to communities across the country, they are desperately worried about their jobs and the terrible uncertainty they have around the testing regime. “Make no mistake the UK's lack of preparedness for the second wave lies squarely at the feet of Boris Johnson and his Government. Bluff and bluster can no longer be put in front of adequate provision for our NHS, our teachers, our carers and all our key…
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29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call on Govt to tackle ‘Long Covid’

Lib Dems call on Govt to tackle ‘Long Covid’

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat proposals which, if taken up, would see the Government get a grip on the coronavirus crisis have been passed at the Party's Autumn conference. In particular, the motion urged the Government to not only recognise and commission research into 'Long Covid', but also develop a rehabilitation strategy for investing in and increasing services to help people recover from the virus. Following the passing of the motion, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “As we enter into a second wave, it's essential that the Government learns the necessary lessons from the first wave of the pandemic and steps up support for all those who need it. In particular, it is crucial the Government puts in place a rehabilitation strategy for all those who have fallen seriously ill from…
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28Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems condemn health inequalities “exposed in technicolour” by Covid crisis

Lib Dems condemn health inequalities “exposed in technicolour” by Covid crisis

Parliamentary news
In her first keynote address as Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson condemned the health inequalities “exposed in technicolour” through the COVID-19 crisis, and call for a Minister for Wellbeing to ensure that Government decisions are “fundamentally in keeping with health and wellbeing.” She said: “The coronavirus has not just laid bare the fundamental problems facing our NHS and care sectors, it has exposed in technicolour the health inequalities facing the UK, and shown us why we need to rethink the way we see healthcare as a whole.  “We have seen the impact of poor and overcrowded housing, insecure employment and our broken welfare system on not just our physical health, but also our mental health and wellbeing.   “We have seen those health inequalities play…
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25Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey opens Lib Dem conference

Ed Davey opens Lib Dem conference

Parliamentary news
Speaking on the opening of the Liberal Democrats' first digital conference today, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has warned the coronavirus crisis is taking an "enormous toll on people’s lives and livelihoods" and urged his Party to listen, challenge Boris Johnson's Conservatives and fight for what people really need. He said: “The coronavirus crisis is taking an enormous toll on people’s lives and livelihoods. People are worried about their loved ones and millions of families are facing financial hardship. "To represent communities across the country – Liberal Democrats need to listen. We need to be a Party of aspiration, relevance and compassion that understands how we can deliver more of what small business owners, nurses, teachers, parents, carers and communities really need. "That is why, this weekend, we…
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24Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Chancellor’s Job Support Scheme “falls short of what people need”

Chancellor’s Job Support Scheme “falls short of what people need”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the new Job Support Scheme outlined by the Chancellor "falls short of what people need" and are calling on the Chancellor to outline financial support measures for people still excluded from the Government's schemes. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The Chancellor's statement is welcome in as much as it finally extends employment support as Liberal Democrats have called for, but it is late and falls short of what people need. "To announce new measures only a month before the furlough scheme ends when businesses and ourselves have been calling for it for months is unacceptable - particularly when the budget has also been cancelled. "We need to know what the Chancellor is going to do to help the three million people still…
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23Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Short-term plans no replacement for full Budget

Short-term plans no replacement for full Budget

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Chancellor's decision to cancel the Autumn Budget, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “If ever there was a time when we needed an Autumn budget to outline long term plans, this is it. Millions of people who are worried about their jobs, their future, and how we will transition into a green economy want to know if this Government has a plan, and what it is. "The Treasury's short term plans are one thing, but people rightly want to know where they are heading. The Chancellor must give a clear answer to questions about where the furlough bridge is leading. At the moment, thousands of people and businesses are looking at a financial cliff edge. They need reassurance. "The Chancellor must give people certainty about the…
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23Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government refuse to address evictions loophole leaving 55,000 households at risk

Government refuse to address evictions loophole leaving 55,000 households at risk

Parliamentary news
Today, the Conservatives blocked the Liberal Democrats' attempt to close the loophole in the Government's legislation to end the eviction ban, which has left an estimated 55,000 households at risk of being evicted since Monday. The motion, put forward by the Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson in the House of Lords, Baroness Grender, would have effectively abolished the Government's Statutory Instrument, forcing Ministers to address the issue. The motion was defeated 126 votes to 266. Following the vote, Baroness Grender said: “The subject of this vote today was 55,000 households teetering on the brink of eviction. The Conservatives promised that no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus would lose their home, but now all it takes is for a landlord to reinvoke an eviction notice and these families will…
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23Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems secure urgent question to challenge Government on eviction loophole

Lib Dems secure urgent question to challenge Government on eviction loophole

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Tim Farron has secured an Urgent Question in the House of Commons following a loophole in the Government’s legislation to end the eviction ban, which has left an estimated 55,000 households at risk of being evicted since Monday. It comes the same day as Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson in the House of Lords Olly Grender will use a motion in an attempt to try and block the legislation from going ahead. Ahead of the Urgent Question, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokeperson Tim Farron said: “With a second wave of virus infections spreading through the country, now is the worst possible time for tens of thousands of renters to be forced out of their homes. "The Conservatives promised at the beginning of this crisis that no renter who…
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