19Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must publish DfE’s correspondence with Ofqual

Government must publish DfE’s correspondence with Ofqual

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Education Secretary has conceded it was Ofqual's decision to scrap the algorithm and move to teacher assessments, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “It appears that the decision to scrap the deeply unjust grading by postcode system came from Ofqual, not Gavin Williamson. Yet just days ago the Education Secretary claimed credit for this U-turn and attempted to throw the regulator under the bus. “The Government has serious questions to answer over what looks like a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. Enough of the smoke and mirrors, we urgently need clarity. All internal correspondence between DfE and Ofqual on this matter must to be published. "Ultimately, if Gavin Williamson has been dishonest as well as incompetent, the Prime Minister will have no choice…
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18Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call on PM to sack Gavin Williamson for “slow-motion car crash” on exams

Lib Dems call on PM to sack Gavin Williamson for “slow-motion car crash” on exams

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called on Boris Johnson to sack Gavin Williamson, criticising attempts to pass the buck onto Ofqual for the exams grading fiasco. In a letter to Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran has called on the Prime Minister to personally apologise to students and warned that the Government’s failure to take responsibility risks further eroding public trust in the exams system. She accuses the Education Secretary of presiding over a “slow-motion car crash,” listing a number of catastrophic errors including failing to issue guidance for universities and ignoring warnings that a calculated grades system risked bias against disadvantaged groups. Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The Government’s botched handling of this crisis has caused untold distress and anguish to students, with many at risk…
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18Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Rise in depression demands urgent action

Parliamentary news
Responding to figures from the ONS that shows the number of adults experiencing depression has nearly doubled, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “We have all seen the toll lockdown has taken. The scale and seriousness of the rise in depression over the last few months is extremely worrying.  “Ministers must act now. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to urgently develop a cross-departmental mental health plan to improve mental wellbeing for those impacted by the pandemic, including more funding and clearly-signposted support for every community. “Whilst we can hope to get a grip on COVID-19 in the coming months, the mental health impacts will last a lifetime. We must ensure no-one slips through the net as the scale of the mental health impact of this crisis…
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18Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Decision to scrap PHE shows Govt has got its priorities “all wrong”

Decision to scrap PHE shows Govt has got its priorities “all wrong”

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the Health Secretary has confirmed the decision to scrap Public Health England, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “Scrapping the body at the heart of our public health response in the middle of a global pandemic is yet another reminder that this Government has got its priorities all wrong. “This move risks worsening health inequalities and it's not clear the Health Secretary has thought through who will take over vital PHE functions. Ministers are seeking to deflect the blame before the crisis is even behind us. They must take us for fools if they think people won't see through this decision. “Many people will also be shocked by the lack of transparency around the decision to promote Tory insider Dido Harding…
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17Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Follow guidance to stay safe, stop Coronavirus spreading, and save Borough from a local lockdown

Follow guidance to stay safe, stop Coronavirus spreading, and save Borough from a local lockdown

Borough news
With the number of people testing positive for Coronavirus increasing in Oldham, Liberal Democrat Councillors are urging residents of the Borough to follow national and local guidance to stay safe, help stop Covid-19 spreading, and save Oldham from the possibility of the reintroduction of a local lockdown. New cases detected in Oldham have almost doubled in just one week.  The latest figures, for the week ending 8 August, show there were 255 new cases detected in Oldham, a rate of 107.5 new cases per 100,000 people.  During week prior to this ending 1 August, there were 137 cases or 57.8 per 100,000.  Leicester was placed into lockdown when it had 135 new cases per 100,000 of population.  The Liberal Democrats are concerned that if the present rate of increase is…
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14Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must compensate people forced to miss work in order to quarantine

Government must compensate people forced to miss work in order to quarantine

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that people arriving in the UK from France and a number of other countries will have to quarantine for 14 days from 04:00 Saturday 15 August, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “It's right that the Government is taking steps to minimise the risk of COVID-19 by updating the 'travel corridor' as the situation overseas evolves. "However, the Foreign Office must acknowledge the significant disruption and disappointment this will cause. All impacted customers must have the chance to reschedule or be offered a full refund, and the Government must underwrite these commitments. "Ministers must also get real about the financial pressures on those forced to choose between obeying the quarantine rules and going out to work, and agree to compensate people who will lose out…
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14Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Water help for customers affected by Covid-19 welcomed by Lib Dems

Borough news, Campaigns
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the renewal of financial support by regional water supplier United Utilities for Oldham customers suffering financially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Councillor Sykes said: “At this time of rising unemployment and financial uncertainty, many people in Oldham will be struggling to meet their bills. Any help from utility companies to ease their budget is very welcome. “The Oldham Liberal Democrats have always been concerned about poverty issues in our borough. We have campaigned on food, fuel, period and, most recently, clothing poverty and over five years ago we raised the issue of water poverty in a motion we took to a meeting of the full council in July 2015. “Liberal Democrat…
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14Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call on Williamson to resign in the face of grades chaos

Lib Dems call on Williamson to resign in the face of grades chaos

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran has described Gavin Williamson as "out of his depth" and said that he must go in the wake of yesterday's "shambolic" grade outcomes. Moran's push for Williamson to resign follows criticism of the Secretary of State's errors through the COVID-19 crisis, from the failure to ensure disadvantaged pupils had access to remote learning devices to botched efforts to open schools more widely before the pandemic was under control. The Party are calling for all pupils to have a right to appeal their grade awards with no charge, and the chance to sit the examinations at the earliest possible date at no cost. They are further demanding that the Government urge universities to be lenient in admissions requirements.  Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The shambolic handling of…
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13Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Appeals process critical to ensure grade awards do not “derail” students’ futures

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that in England 36% of A-level entries have been awarded a lower grade than teachers predicted and 3% were down two grades, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: "Congratulations to every A-level student who is receiving their grade awards today. This cohort have shown real resilience during this very difficult time and should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved. "However, too many young people are rightly worried that their futures are being derailed by the Government’s botched grading system. This day will understandably have brought anxiety and disappointment for some. "Pupils must have the chance to appeal their grades directly and to present evidence that reflects their performance and progress at no cost. Ministers must also provide clear guidance on how re-sits will work…
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13Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Record NHS waiting lists point to another health crisis, Lib Dems warn

Parliamentary news
Responding to official statistics publishing this morning which reveal that NHS England waiting lists are the longest since records began, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: “Waiting times were at a record high before the pandemic and now, alongside worryingly low cancer referrals, they are through the roof. There is another health crisis looming in the UK and people will be rightly worried for their loved ones. “With our health and care services facing an almighty backlog, we need urgent action. The Government must step up with a clear plan on how people will get the treatment they need, including an urgent recruitment strategy, or risk more lives being lost."
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