13Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Working class must be part of equality strategy

Working class must be part of equality strategy

Borough news
Oldham’s Equality Strategy needs to do more to address the problems faced by working class people across the borough, according to the Oldham’s Liberal Democrats. The report, which was presented to full council at its September meeting [09/09/21], was broadly welcomed by the group for the many positive approaches it has taken, but some key changes were requested by the opposition group going forward – socioeconomic inequality, mental health issues, and the digital divide among them. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “Despite the delays, this report does an excellent job of addressing many problems that people in our borough face. “My primary concern is that it almost completely misses out socioeconomic inequalities. If you are working class, you are likely to have faced so many difficulties, whether that…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Oldham Council fails again to address equality issues

Oldham Council fails again to address equality issues

Borough news
Oldham’s Labour Council has against delayed agreeing its equality objectives, some 15 months after they were legally required to be updated – meaning that they are now unlikely to be introduced until well after the elections in May. After numerous delays, they updated objectives were due to come to Council for agreement in March, but after an administrative error, they still have to go to be reviewed by four other bodies before they can be approved by the Council. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “The Council’s equality objectives should be championing the needs of the elderly, the disabled, the poor and the working class – anyone who is disadvantaged, for whatever reason.  “For 15 months, the Labour Council has failed to support those people, by setting any objectives. If you…
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15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Disproportionate Covid impact highlights need for Race Equality Strategy

Disproportionate Covid impact highlights need for Race Equality Strategy

Parliamentary news
Responding to new report from the Office for National Statistics on ‘Coronavirus and the social impacts on different ethnic groups in the UK’, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: “The pandemic is taking an enormous toll on families across the UK, and disproportionately so on many Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. “We have already seen that Black and Asian people are at greater risk of dying from Covid, but today’s report highlights that the pandemic is also hurting some communities more than others both financially and in terms of mental health. “We need real action to tackle deep-seated inequalities and injustices. Ministers must work together with all communities to implement a proper Race Equality Strategy without further delay, so we can build a fairer, more equal society as…
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20Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Council fails to deliver equality objectives again

Borough news
Oldham Council has again failed to deliver its new equality objectives and strategy – with them not being ready in time for the November Council meeting. The Council had a statutory obligation to renew the objectives at the start of 2020 – well before any delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but delayed them, claiming that they needed to ensure that they aligned with the forthcoming strategy in order to be effective. However, despite this being repeatedly flagged by Liberal Democrat Councillor Al-Hamdani, the Council failed to bring them forward in June, September and again in November, despite saying that they were a priority and were nearly ready. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “What it boils down to is fairness. That’s what equality policies must deliver – and after a year of waiting for this…
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14Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Rise in discrimination towards BAME people since lockdown must be tackled

Rise in discrimination towards BAME people since lockdown must be tackled

Parliamentary news
Responding to a University College London study that found BAME groups were most likely to report facing discrimination since lockdown began, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Everyone should be free to live their lives without fear of discrimination, abuse or violence. Reports that Black, Asian and minority ethnic people have been most likely to experience discrimination since lockdown began is deeply alarming. “All of us with a public platform must stand up to those whose language and actions spread hate – whether based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or anything else. "The Home Secretary must step up and tackle this appalling trend head-on. That work must be part of a wider effort to tackle systemic racial inequality, which is why the Liberal Democrats are calling…
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13Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems table Bill to introduce ‘X’ gender option on passports

Parliamentary news
Ahead of International Non-Binary People’s Day [Tuesday 14th July], Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine will present a Private Members’ Bill in the House of Commons to require the Government to introduce an ‘X’ gender option on passports. Christine Jardine’s ‘Non-gender-specific Passports Bill’, supported by Stonewall, would “require the Secretary of State to make non-gender-specific passports available to non-gendered, non-binary and other people who do not identify as, or exclusively as, male or female.” This change would bring the UK into line with other countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Netherlands and New Zealand that already include non-binary gender options on passports, as well as 18 US states that allow residents to mark gender ‘X’ on their driving licence. In 2016, Parliament’s cross-party Women and Equalities Committee…
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16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must act to address disproportionate impact of pandemic on BAME communities

Parliamentary news
Responding to Public Health England’s report on the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups, which highlighted the adverse effects of the Government’s Hostile Environment policy and ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ rule, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented threat, leaving the most vulnerable in society at risk. We must ensure that BAME communities are not left behind by the Government’s response to this crisis. “The Government must act urgently to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on BAME communities, and to solve the deep-seated inequalities and injustices they face. “It is appalling that the Conservatives’ discriminatory Hostile Environment policies and their refusal to suspend the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ rule are preventing migrants and other BAME people from accessing the…
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