13Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Give firms right to require face masks worn by customers

Give firms right to require face masks worn by customers

Parliamentary news
Following the Government's update on plans to ease restrictions on 19th July, the Liberal Democrats have called on businesses to be given the legal right to require customers to wear face masks on their premises. Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Business, has heard from businesses who want to protect young staff who have not received their second jab, and those who are clinically vulnerable, by ensuring face masks are worn by customers. Writing to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy*, Sarah Olney MP said: "Since the Secretary of State for Health and the Prime Minister updated the country on plans to ease restrictions, business owners have watched as different Ministers give a different answer each day on guidance for face masks in public spaces.…
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05Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM has turned away from the scientific advice before and it ended in terrible consequences

PM has turned away from the scientific advice before and it ended in terrible consequences

Parliamentary news
Responding to the press conference by the Prime Minister in Downing Street, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Ed Davey said: “I hope that Boris Johnson’s desire to remove restrictions in a few weeks is driven by the national interest and not because his backbenchers are getting restless. “The Prime Minister has turned away from the scientific advice before and it ended in terrible consequences for our country. This time he must make it clear that the experts agree that ending restrictions on 19th July is the right move. “Everyone wants the Covid restrictions to end desperately. But lifting restrictions, then seeing cases and hospitalisations skyrocket is not an ending of the crisis.”
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01Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Furlough wind down a “dereliction of duty”

Furlough wind down a “dereliction of duty”

Parliamentary news
Thousands of businesses are facing uncertainty as furlough begins to wind down and the business rates holiday ends, while restrictions remain in place. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine warned: "How are businesses supposed to have confidence in a Government that promised to do whatever it takes, but is withdrawing support too soon? Now thousands of businesses are being left facing reduced support while still unable to operate fully to pay their bills. "This gap before the next possible lifting of restrictions could be crucial for many of them. "Bounce back loans are creating an extra burden and the Government needs to come up with a way of making that easier to repay. “Liberal Democrats warned the Government to think about business needs when restrictions were extended, but the Chancellor’s…
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29Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
“Negligent” Government must do better with taxpayer’s money

“Negligent” Government must do better with taxpayer’s money

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the revelations from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that billions of pounds of taxpayers' money may have been lost in fraud from coronavirus support schemes, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Business and member of the PAC Sarah Olney MP said: "The PAC's revelations are eye-opening about the scale of the Government's failure to ensure that taxpayer money is directed to those that need it. "While it was essential that businesses and families were given support to get through this pandemic, the public still expect ministers to not be so negligent with their money. These are funds that could have gone to struggling people and small businesses. "As we attempt to recover from Covid, the Government should really pay closer attention to who they give our cash to, or they…
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29Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Chancellor must fix ‘black hole’ in business support

Chancellor must fix ‘black hole’ in business support

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have warned the Government that small businesses face a 'black hole' in support, risking thousands of closures and job losses. Furlough begins to taper away and the business rates holiday comes to an end on July 1st. However, restrictions are set to remain in place until 19th July. Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Treasury, Christine Jardine MP said: "This Government seems incapable of hearing the many voices telling them loudly and clearly how desperately small businesses need support to help them cope with the extra period of restrictions, and beyond. "It is completely incomprehensible that the Chancellor is prepared to end so many of the support mechanisms before firms even have a chance to open their doors and start trading. "Why support them for this long and then not…
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22Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PAC Report: Festivals on financial cliff-edge

PAC Report: Festivals on financial cliff-edge

Parliamentary news
Commenting on the latest report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the Governments Covid-19 culture recovery fund, PAC Member and Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney said: "The support offered to the UKs world-leading arts and culture sectors during the pandemic fell far short of what was needed, we’re now facing festivals on the financial cliff-edge. "Too many people were excluded from financial support and many businesses still face an uncertain future. The Liberal Democrats have been calling on the Government for months to underwrite insurance for live events, to try and prevent festivals and other events being cancelled this summer. "Maximising the impact of this funding in the months to come is essential if we are to safeguard the future of our arts and culture sector and the far-reaching…
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22Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government borrowing shows scale of pandemic challenge

Government borrowing shows scale of pandemic challenge

Parliamentary news
Responding to this morning's economic stats, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine MP said: “The scale of the Government borrowing illustrates clearly just how huge an economic challenge people and businesses have faced in this pandemic. "Ministers must remember that behind these figures are millions of families, individuals and businesses who need support to get by in this and by refusing to extend furlough and the business rates holiday the Government putting all of them, our recovery and public finances at risk. "This Government has serious questions to answer about its economic strategy - if indeed it has a long term plan - and should immediately publish its analysis of what the impact of a wave of insolvencies and job losses would be on our debt and deficit."
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Roadmap delay represents further blow to hospitality fears Sykes

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, fears the Prime Minister’s announcement that Covid-19 restrictions will last another month will mean yet more local pubs being lost, unless further financial support is soon forthcoming. “Whilst I understand that the Prime Minister has made this decision based upon scientific advice, the delay will put further pressure on hospitality business which have been impacted disproportionately by lockdowns and trading restrictions since March of last year”, said Councillor Sykes. Last week, the British Institute of Inn-keeping estimated that 1 in 10 pubs nationwide was expected to fail if there was a delay in the easing of restrictions, and the trade body UKHospitality has said that the delay will cost the sector around £3bn in sales. Councillor Sykes added: “Hospitality is one of…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government putting businesses and jobs at risk

Government putting businesses and jobs at risk

Parliamentary news
Commenting on today's economic statement from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, which failed to extend support for businesses despite the delay to lockdown easing, Christine Jardine MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury, commented: “While extending the commercial evictions moratorium is a welcome step, the Government has failed, yet again, to offer the long term clarity and security that business needs to recover. "Government continues to ignore the pleas of businesses struggling to survive. Neglecting to extend support at the same time as restrictions are continued is a dereliction of duty from the Treasury. “The Government now risks thousands of business closures and job losses, brought on by the mounting weight of staff costs, business rates bills and loan repayments. “What we should have seen instead is a long-term…
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16Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lockdown easing delay: Frustrating and avoidable

Lockdown easing delay: Frustrating and avoidable

Parliamentary news
Responding to the delay to lifting lockdown restrictions in England, Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, commented: “Caution from the Government is welcome. We have sacrificed so much and come so far that now is not the time to take big risks. But it is the time for the Government to be putting in place robust long-term measures to stop individual cases becoming outbreaks and outbreaks becoming new waves. “It is frustrating that this situation might have been avoided if the PM had placed India on the Red list sooner instead of prioritising his trade deal. The impact of this delay on the thousands of businesses that have been preparing to open fully on the 21st will be immense. “The hospitality and events industry especially is struggling after…
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