07Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes backs Trussell Trust campaign to end need for food banks

Sykes backs Trussell Trust campaign to end need for food banks

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council and Liberal Democrat candidate for Shaw in the forthcoming local election, is giving his backing to a campaign by the Trussell Trust to work towards ending the need for food banks after the May election. The Trussell Trust intends to formally launch its campaign on 9 April when all election candidates are announced. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “Tragically, Oldham is a borough with some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK. Although I have some issues with the Trussell Trust, I do support this campaign. The Oldham Liberal Democrats believe strongly that in a country as wealthy as the UK it is criminal that some of our residents still do not have sufficient money to pay for…
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18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats welcome Conservative climbdown on school meals scandal

Borough news, Parliamentary news
The Oldham Liberal Democrats have welcomed Boris Johnson’s recent climbdown over the provision of school meals to the children of England’s poorest families. The Conservative Government has pledged £396 million of targeted support for 1.7 million children over the Christmas, Easter and Summer school holidays. The Prime Minister conveyed the good news in a telephone call on Saturday with campaigning footballer Marcus Rashford OBE. The Liberal Democrats brought a motion to the last meeting of the Oldham Council (4 November) in support of Marcus Rashford's campaign to tackle holiday hunger and child poverty in England. On hearing the welcome announcement, Saddleworth North Councillor Garth Harkness, who proposed the motion, said: “We congratulate Marcus Rashford on his successful campaign to turn around government policy on this issue. Only days before, Tory…
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14May 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Councils need more support from Government or families will break apart and more people will die

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Opposition Leader on Oldham Council, says the Government must stick to its promises – to help families and Councils.  Many people are living below the bread line, many are dependent on food banks.  Some families will become vulnerable to loan sharks or turn to crime in order to ‘put bread on the table’ for their family.  Councillor Sykes thinks it is imperative that the Government funds Councils properly so they can prevent problems like this arising. Councils are being hit the hardest through loss of income much more than extra spending demands. In Oldham’s case loss of income are projected at £27M for 12 months compared to just over £19M on increased expenditure.  To date we have received £14.2M. Oldham Borough…
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