25Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM’s refusal to learn lessons shows why immediate inquiry is essential

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's interview with Laura Kuenssberg broadcast this afternoon, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “At last Boris Johnson has admitted what we have all known for sometime - this Government made fundamental mistakes in their handling of the coronavirus crisis. However, to try and minimise this as there were some things they could have done differently is not only an enormous understatement, but it is an insult to all those who tragically lost loved ones to the virus. "This interview has left people with more questions than answers. With no remorse for the catastrophic mistakes, such as the failure to protect our care homes, or the refusal to put a comprehensive plan in place for a potential second wave, it is clear the…
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24Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Care sector is facing a new crisis as we emerge from lockdown – Davey

Parliamentary news
The Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has warned that the care sector is facing a new crisis in care as we emerge from the national lockdown. ONS figures released today show the shocking number of people who have either received reduced or cancelled care since the beginning of lockdown. Of those who received care before the lockdown for physical or mental health conditions, 30% reported they had received some reduced treatment and 21% reported that their treatment had been cancelled. Even before the coronavirus crisis there were over 100k vacancies in the care sector and the Government is yet to provide extra money to local authorities to deal with the coronavirus crisis as promised in March. Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Whilst millions people are now starting to get back something…
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23Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Mental health and education gap of homeschooling must be addressed

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS statistics published today on the impact of homeschooling during the coronavirus pandemic, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Coronavirus has clearly impacted every aspect of life, including the wellbeing of parents and children, and the quality of education the majority of children receive. We must ensure no one is left behind. “If it wasn’t for years of cuts to our schools and government failing to consult adequately with teachers and school leaders, it wouldn’t be this way. Ministers must now increase the necessary provision of laptops and introduce a Summer Learning Fund that supports the most disadvantaged children. "Moreover, the Government must address the mental health impact of the pandemic by signposting the appropriate support services to every household, and properly funding the charities that provide…
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23Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader welcomes reopening of public toilets

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council is pleased to hear that public toilets in Oldham are opening from 21 July from 10am – 4pm. Councillor Sykes wrote recently to the Chief Executive of Oldham Council asking when toilets would reopen as the lifting of lockdown increased the number of people accessing shops and public parks, and a lack of public toilets was both inconvenient and a deterrent preventing many people from going out. He also asked about the timetable for reopening toilets in the premises of business partners and community venues participating in the Community Toilet Scheme. This issue was also raised by Councillor Sykes’ colleague, fellow Shaw Councillor Hazel Gloster, at last Wednesday’s meeting of Full Council…
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23Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lack of economic planning for a pandemic highlights govt failures

Parliamentary news
Responding to a Public Accounts Committee report published today that finds an “astonishing” failure on the part of the Government to prepare for the economic impact of a pandemic, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Everyone agrees that COVID-19 is an unprecedented challenge, but the Government’s failure to ensure there was a contingency plan at the ready has left thousands of families with no help whatsoever, and thousands of businesses making redundancies or closing down. “Considering that pandemics are one of the key risks any Government plans for, if there had have been a proper plan in place implemented quickly, we could have saved thousands more livelihoods. “This makes an independent inquiry into this Government’s handling of the pandemic more urgent than ever. The Liberal Democrats were…
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21Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must be clear higher debt won’t mean cuts to vital public services

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS statistics showing that Government borrowing for June was £35.5 billion – around five times more than the same month last year – Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “In an unprecedented economic challenge like the coronavirus pandemic people must come before the numbers. Any Chancellor should go beyond normal borrowing to help protect peoples’ health and livelihoods. “What the Government must now make clear is that, after Covid, higher debt will not and must not mean cuts to vital public services or less investment for our crumbling infrastructure – especially in the parts of the UK that need it most. “Liberal Democrats stand firm that we must grow our way out of this crisis with a Green Recovery Plan that will invest billions to…
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20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Test and trace privacy fiasco yet another blunder by Ministers

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that privacy campaigners have accused the Government's test and trace programme of breaking data protection laws, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The fact that the Government have potentially broken the law is just another example of Ministers’ disastrous handling of test and trace. For the Department of Health to admit there was no consideration on the impact this would have on our privacy shows that this Government is simply walking into blunder after blunder, failing to get a grip on this crisis. "Of course mass testing, contact tracing and isolation at the community level for those who test positive, is the only safe way out of lockdown, but protecting individuals’ privacy remains of the utmost importance. "The Liberal Democrats have been clear that…
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20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government’s school funding plan shows no understanding of challenges facing schools

Parliamentary news
Responding to the publication of the Government’s funding allocations for schools in 2021-22, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The Conservatives’ spending plans show no understanding of the challenges facing schools in September. They have asked schools to open as normal when our Test and Trace system is faulty. Teachers must try to reverse the harm to children’s learning, development and mental health, when many disadvantaged children have disappeared off schools’ radars entirely during lockdown. “In the face of this crisis, spending plans announced last year are utterly unfit for purpose. All the Government has added is a catch-up premium worth just £80 per pupil per year, and a tutoring fund. It’s simply not enough to pay for the small group teaching that Ministers say our children need. “The…
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20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must come before MPs after IfG Brexit warning

Parliamentary news
Responding to a report by the Institute for Government which warns coronavirus has left UK firms unprepared for a no-deal Brexit, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “Boris Johnson is arrogantly setting the country down a path that threatens jobs and livelihoods, and this report confirms it. People deserve better. “Now is not the time to be playing politics. Our focus must be preventing a no-deal Brexit and ensuring business has all the help it needs to protect jobs. “The Prime Minister must come before MPs before the summer recess to answer how he will address the calls for preparation support, sector specific investment and more.”
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17Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM change to guidance is reckless and flies in the face of experts

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's annoucement on the change to guidance on using public transport and going to workplaces in England, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “While we all want life to get back to normal as soon as possible, people remain rightly worried about coronavirus. The Prime Minister’s plan to change current guidance for working at home and public transport use is utterly reckless and flies in the face of experts, including the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser. “With Government testing and tracing plans in an unholy mess, it is deeply irresponsible to throw caution to the wind like this. Ministers are passing the buck and, without protections, they have opened the door to serious disputes between employees and employers. "The Government must be held to account to…
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