22Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM must fix the test and trace system

PM must fix the test and trace system

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Covid19 threat level has gone from three to four, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: "The Coronavirus crisis is taking an enormous toll on people. People are rightly concerned about their loved ones. Thousands of families are facing financial hardship. We all want life to get back to normal as soon as possible. "The collapse of the Test and Trace system is utterly inexcusable, and the first objective of the Government must be to fix it. Ministers should have done more to ensure resilience in the system given the inevitable increase in demand when people returned to schools, workplaces, universities and social settings. "As the situation changes there must be crystal clear guidance so that people know the best ways to protect…
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22Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must make more help available to pubs and restaurants

Government must make more help available to pubs and restaurants

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the PM will set a 10pm closing time and only allow table service in restaurants and pubs, leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “For millions of people this will feel like a step backwards. After months of disruption to our daily lives many will feel anxious and worried about this latest development. “The Government must immediately put forward a detailed plan to fix the track and trace system, which is the only way to avoid further measures being necessary. “The Prime Minister must also financially help pubs and restaurants who will inevitably lose business. After people have already been through so much hardship, we cannot allow thousands of jobs to disappear overnight.”
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21Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
“Overpromising but underdelivering” on testing will damage public trust in Government

“Overpromising but underdelivering” on testing will damage public trust in Government

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the R rate has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4 in the UK, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: “Figures showing the rapid spread of COVID will cause untold worry to families across the UK. Many will be disheartened to see the return of necessary restrictions on their daily lives. "We were promised a "world-beating" test and trace system to prevent a second wave. Instead we've seen a chaotic system, beset with shortages and unable to reach large numbers of close contacts. "We need rapid action to scale up testing once again, in a sustainable way, and to ensure resilience in the test and trace system as a whole. If Ministers keep over promising but underdelivering, they will continue to lose the trust of…
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21Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: PM must protect lives and livelihoods ahead of second wave

Davey: PM must protect lives and livelihoods ahead of second wave

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's comments that the United Kingdom is "now seeing a second wave" of COVID-19, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “People will be incredibly worried following the Prime Minister's comments confirming the UK is heading towards a second wave of coronavirus. “Boris Johnson must now take immediate steps to improve our failing test and trace system as an urgent priority. It is also vital Ministers ensure the NHS is prepared, with health and care workers having access to all the PPE they need. “With further disruption to people's businesses and livelihoods ahead, those who have been excluded from support or received very little will be especially anxious. Now is the time for the Government to make more economic support available by extending the furlough…
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21Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ministers must put energy into fixing test and trace to “get a grip” on virus

Ministers must put energy into fixing test and trace to “get a grip” on virus

Parliamentary news
Following today's briefing from Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, warning of "significant rates of transmission" of coronavirus in parts of the UK, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: "People right across the country will be alarmed to hear that, despite the heartbreaking sacrifices of these past six months, we are now facing a second wave of this dreadful virus. It's clear that there will be difficult times ahead. "There is no excuse for the fact that our test and trace system has been barely functional for weeks. Rather than talking up their "moonshot" plans for future testing, Ministers should be putting all their energy into getting the system sorted right now to get a grip on the virus. "Equally, given the…
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16Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham Liberal Democrats pour scorn on PM’s Marshal Plan

Oldham Liberal Democrats pour scorn on PM’s Marshal Plan

Borough news, Parliamentary news
The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group is sceptical about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent announcement that an ‘army’ of marshals will be deployed to police Covid-19 compliance amongst Britain’s businesses and their customers as the Conservative Government will not back the plan with new cash to local authorities to employ them nor grant the new marshals’ additional powers for enforcement. Responding to the news, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Regrettably, this posse will be more Deputy Dawg than Wyatt Earp. For after sounding tough and decisive, the Prime Minister has once again regressed to type by saying that there be no money, no people, no powers and no training for local government to implement the so-called initiative. Clearly this announcement could be something taken straight out of…
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16Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call for furlough extension as 9.8% of people claim Universal Credit in Oldham

Lib Dems call for furlough extension as 9.8% of people claim Universal Credit in Oldham

Borough news, Campaigns, Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an extension of the Government’s furlough scheme until the jobs market is “ready to bounce back” in the wake of “staggering job losses” across the country. With 9.8% of people now relying on Universal Credit in Oldham, the Party claims that extending furlough would help “stop this crisis getting even worse” and protect jobs for the future. Despite the Chancellor promising last month to do “whatever it takes” to support households and businesses through the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Government has so far failed to agree a plan beyond the end of the furlough scheme on 31 October. The Liberal Democrats have also warned some of the worst hit are the country's self-employed workers, three million of which are still not covered…
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16Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Staggering job losses show need to extend furlough

Staggering job losses show need to extend furlough

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS figures showing that the economy shed 695,000 jobs between March and August this year, Liberal Democrat Economy Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “These staggering job losses are yet more evidence of why the Chancellor should be extending the furlough scheme, which has so far protected 10 million jobs, until the middle of next year. “People have a right to expect that their Government will stand by them in exactly the way that Rishi Sunak promised when he said he would “do whatever it takes. “The Liberal Democrats’ are clear that the Government must extend the furlough scheme until the jobs market is ready to bounce back."
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11Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
COVID-19 testing falling dangerously short of expectations

COVID-19 testing falling dangerously short of expectations

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the COVID-19 R rate has risen above 1 across the UK, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said:  “People will be rightly alarmed by these figures. No one wants to see a second wave of this dreadful virus. "A robust system to test, trace and isolate every coronavirus case remains essential to keep people safe as we open up our economy and society more and more. The current situation - with many people unable to access testing at all - continues to fall dangerously short of expectations.  "If we are to prevent a second wave we need rapid action to bring our test and trace system up to scratch, as well as absolute clarity in public health messaging. If the Government can't get…
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10Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call on Government to extend furlough to boost economic recovery

Lib Dems call on Government to extend furlough to boost economic recovery

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to extend the furlough scheme “for all those who need it” until the end of June 2021, to avoid mass unemployment and accelerate the UK’s economic recovery. Speaking in Parliament, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP urged the Government to extend the furlough scheme until mid-2021 as the best way to protect people’s livelihoods and to safeguard the UK’s economic recovery.  Liberal Democrats have warned that the furlough bridge currently doesn’t lead anywhere, with thousands already facing redundancy. As well as extending the furlough scheme, the Party is calling on the Government to invest in a Green Recovery Plan to create new jobs for the future. Speaking after the debate in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine…
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