29Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM must stop sale of vaccine manufacturing centre

PM must stop sale of vaccine manufacturing centre

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have demanded that Boris Johnson immediately steps in to halt the sale of the Vaccine Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Harwell near Oxford, describing the move as "short-sighted penny pinching." It was reported this morning that the centre is being sold off to recoup some of the money invested by the Government. On a visit to the centre last year, Boris Johnson claimed that the new vaccine centre “will be able to manufacture enough vaccine doses for the whole UK population… which would transform how we beat this virus and prepare for future pandemics." Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Boris Johnson must immediately step in and stop the sale of the Vaccine Manufacturing Innovation Centre, and reassure the public that the Government isn’t cutting back…
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29Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Omicron variant: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable must not be ignored any longer

Omicron variant: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable must not be ignored any longer

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for urgent measures to support the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV), including a formal return and improvement of the shielding programme.The Government has so far failed to announce any specific measures for those who were classed as CEV in spite of their increased risk of serious illness from Covid. It comes after two cases of the newly discovered ‘Omicron’ variant of Covid were reported in the UK. The Liberal Democrats are calling for a five-point action plan to support the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable. This would include the return of official centralised guidance, so that the 3.8 million vulnerable people on the ‘Shielded Patient List’ have clarity on what is safe for them to do and where to seek the tailored clinical advice and support they need.…
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27Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must reverse £30m aid cuts to Southern Africa to help tackle new variant

Government must reverse £30m aid cuts to Southern Africa to help tackle new variant

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have demanded that the government reverse aid cuts and launch an emergency Covid support fund, to help countries in Southern Africa contain the new variant spreading there. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found that the UK is slashing aid to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe by £30m next year, or by over a third (35%), a move the party described as “cruel and short-sighted.” In addition to this, UK aid spending on global health funding has been slashed by £243 million, from over £1.1 billion to 915 million, a 21% drop. The proposed package would include: Immediately reversing UK aid cuts to Southern African countries and global health funding, with a focus on supporting local healthcare systemsSetting up and improving systems to track and sequence variants in…
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17Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
No10 must publish Covid contract correspondence

No10 must publish Covid contract correspondence

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that several Conservative MPs put forward companies for the Covid contract ‘Fastrack VIP Lane’, in which they or someone close to them had an interest, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “With billions wasted on useless PPE by this Government over the pandemic, the public has a right to know who is responsible for this criminal level of waste. These leaked names are just more evidence of the cronyism and sleaze at the heart of this Conservative Government. “Not only do we need a public inquiry into corruption, but the Liberal Democrats are calling on No 10 to immediately publish all relevant correspondence of every MP that successfully or otherwise tried to access the Fastrack VIP Lane. “The public should not have to wait…
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05Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Longer school days: pipe dream without proper funding

Longer school days: pipe dream without proper funding

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Department for Education report on proposals to lengthen the school day in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: "Extending the school day without the proper funding and support from teachers is nothing short of a pipe dream that will leave teachers on the frontline burnt out. "If the Education Secretary is serious about preventing pupils currently in school from missing out on more vital learning, he must listen to his own government advice and give schools the funding they need. "We need the full £15bn of catch up funding, catch up vouchers to help pupils get back on track, and a government prepared to take our children’s education and wellbeing seriously."
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21Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must commit £15bn on education catch-up

Government must commit £15bn on education catch-up

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the Education Policy Institute's report, which says "significant, additional spending" is needed to help pupils recover lost learning, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Next week’s budget will be high stakes for our children’s futures. Rishi Sunak needs to step up so children aren’t left paying the price for the pandemic. "Lib Dems are demanding a no ifs, no buts commitment to stump up the £15 billion recommended by the government’s own catch-up tsar. "That must include the Liberal Democrat proposal for Catch-up Vouchers to empower parents and bring them into the heart of their child's education."
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21Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Tory MPs refusal to wear masks in Commons “utter hypocrisy”

Tory MPs refusal to wear masks in Commons “utter hypocrisy”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have said it is "utter hypocrisy" for Conservative MPs not to wear masks in the Commons, after the Health Secretary yesterday urged people to wear masks in crowded spaces. It comes after Conservative minister Edward Argar was pressed on the issue on the Today programme and said it was up to individual MPs to "reach their own views." Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: “It is utter hypocrisy that the public are rightfully being advised to wear masks while Conservative MPs refuse to do so. “The very same day that Sajid Javid was urging the public to take steps to protect themselves against the virus, Conservative MPs were laid across the green benches maskless and irresponsible. “Cases are skyrocketing and we are getting a feeling of groundhog…
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19Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call for half term jab blitz due to 8000 classrooms sitting empty

Lib Dems call for half term jab blitz due to 8000 classrooms sitting empty

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called for the Government to speed up the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines over half term after new Department for Education figures reveal over 216,000 pupils are absent from school for Covid-related reasons. The figures show infection rates in schools are rising at a concerning rate and this is having a huge impact on young people’s education - with 2.6% of pupils absent for covid-related reasons over the last two weeks. Across the UK schools are grappling with soaring case numbers, which has seen institutions like Eton bring in a wave of new strict measures, including social distancing and cancelling events, to prevent an outbreak of cases. The Liberal Democrats are calling for greater steps to be taken to protect our children’s education, including a £5bn Catch…
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12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Pandemic report shows “unimaginable crisis of leadership”

Davey: Pandemic report shows “unimaginable crisis of leadership”

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Science and Technology Select Committee's report on the government's handling of the pandemic, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “This report chronicles an almost unimaginable crisis of leadership in slow motion. As every mistake was made, experts and politicians, including the Liberal Democrats, warned this incompetent government. “Whether it was the snail's pace reaction in the early months of the spread, the failure of test and trace or the failure to pay self isolating people properly, the Conservatives were begged to change course. They either refused or acted too late. “Perhaps the saddest and most abiding image of the pandemic was families watching a loved one’s funeral over a computer. As this report confirms there were far more funerals than there needed to be, far…
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12Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Kwasi Kwarteng finally hands in homework to Treasury as whole industries left close to collapse

Kwasi Kwarteng finally hands in homework to Treasury as whole industries left close to collapse

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has now formally requested that the Treasury support industries hit by soaring energy costs, Liberal Democrat Business and Energy Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: "The Business Secretary is only now handing his homework to be marked by the Treasury, after being scolded yesterday for making things up live on TV. It would be laughable if people's jobs weren't on the line and factories weren't at risk of closing. "Whole industries are teetering on the edge of collapse and are in need of urgent help. But at a time when we need strong leadership, Conservative ministers are still squabbling amongst themselves."
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