23Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Ed Davey calls for £20bn clean air fund during election visit

Ed Davey calls for £20bn clean air fund during election visit

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader, Ed Davey MP, argues his party’s plan for massive new investment in clean air action would be a “treble dividend” for a local community’s health, environment and economy. With air pollution causing 40,000 early deaths a year and transport now the country’s biggest source of carbon emissions, the Liberal Democrats are making a boost to the nation’s health a key part of their strategy to tackle the climate emergency too.  During a visit to Watford ahead of May’s elections, Ed Davey MP unveiled the Liberal Democrats’ proposals for a £20bn Community Clean Air fund - part of the party’s £150 billion Green Economic Recovery Plan. The fund would enable Councils and communities to spearhead a local transport revolution, to improve people’s transport choices. Arguing local air pollution is…
Read More
31Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Sykes backs call for post-COVID green recovery to tackle climate change

Sykes backs call for post-COVID green recovery to tackle climate change

Borough news, Parliamentary news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader has given his personal backing to a new national campaign by UK100 for a post COVID economic recovery plan to employ Britain’s skilled workers to tackle climate change. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Group, has pledged his support for Net Zero, and is pleased that his group was instrumental in ensuring that Oldham Council is ahead of the game in already making a commitment to being a zero carbon emission authority. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “The Liberal Democrat Group brought forward a motion committing Oldham Council to declare a climate emergency and to taking action to tackle it. Subsequently the Council adopted an ambitious action plan to become carbon neutral by 2025 and we are also working on a cross-party…
Read More
26Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Chancellor has made some unforgivable political choices

Chancellor has made some unforgivable political choices

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Chancellor's Spending Review, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “With the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the Chancellor needed to ensure today that no one is left behind. That was the litmus test, and he has failed. "Far from a radically new approach to the recovery that tackles deep-seated inequality and builds a new green economy, we have a Government that is failing to support carers, children living in poverty and everyone in need of mental health services.” “The Chancellor has also made some unforgivable political choices today. He has chosen to continue to ignore people excluded from support and chosen to reject calls to properly extend furlough, leaving too many people facing unemployment. People deserve better.”
Read More
22Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Spending review an opportunity for Sunak to plug gaping holes in Government support

Spending review an opportunity for Sunak to plug gaping holes in Government support

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Chancellor's comments this morning, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “From the very beginning of the pandemic, Rishi Sunak has been slow to act and allowed millions of people to fall through the cracks. With tougher tiered restrictions on the cards as lockdown ends in December, many will now be worried that once again they will be left behind by this Government. "Ultimately it is the Government's failure to get a grip on the pandemic which has led to the lockdown measures, and the consequences of these failures will continue to devastate people's finances well into the new year. The spending review next week gives the Chancellor the opportunity to fix the gaping holes in the Government’s support and he must take it. “The Liberal Democrats…
Read More
18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government plan for Green Industrial Revolution won’t “undo the damage” of last five years

Government plan for Green Industrial Revolution won’t “undo the damage” of last five years

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government's "Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution", Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “This plan fails to undo the damage the Conservatives have done to the UK's progress on climate change over the past five years. It pledges to continue selling fossil fuel powered hybrid cars past 2030 and promises to extend the Green Homes Grant by just one year. “We need a long term plan, backed by meaningful funding, to tackle the climate climate emergency and kickstart a green recovery from Covid-19, alongside a new Department of Climate Change to coordinate this plan and a significant devolution of powers across the UK, not more piecemeal pledges. “Liberal Democrats are calling for £150 billion in funding for a Green Economic Recovery, with investment across every…
Read More
13Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Economic recovery requires “comprehensive” strategy not more “last minute” Government plans

Parliamentary news
Responding to the latest figures showing that UK GDP grew by 15.5% in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2020, but that GDP is still 9.7% below where it was at the end of 2019, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The growth in the last quarter is testament to the hard work of people in all sectors after the first lockdown. But our economy still has a mountain to climb and hasn't been helped by the Government's mistakes in the first wave of coronavirus. “With a new lockdown in place in England and strict restrictions in other parts of the UK, people are increasingly worried about their jobs and livelihoods. The support the Government has given to date has simply not been adequate. "To ensure recovery we need a…
Read More
10Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Unemployment rise sits squarely with the Chancellor

Unemployment rise sits squarely with the Chancellor

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that the UK's unemployment rate has risen again, to 4.8% in the three months to September, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “These figures show clearly the scale of the hardship coronavirus is causing. The responsibility for that sits squarely with the Chancellor and his chop-and-change approach to job support, and refusal to recognise the needs of the excluded. "Liberal Democrats had warned the Chancellor that this would be the consequence of his actions. He must now commit to a long-term plan that will save as many jobs as possible, including keeping the furlough scheme in place until June 2021, and he must urgently extend support to the three million taxpayers that have been excluded since the start of the crisis."
Read More
10Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must produce clear roll-out strategy once vaccine approved

Government must produce clear roll-out strategy once vaccine approved

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Prime Minister's press conference, following the news about the progress towards the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “News about a vaccine is a real moment of hope for people in the UK and around the world, and has the potential to be life changing. It shows in technicolour what the international community can do when we work together for a common goal. "Should this vaccine be the game-changer we hope, we need a clear roll-out strategy from the Government, so that people know when they can be vaccinated and how the process will work. The Government must also show a clear plan to keep us safe until the vaccination is available for the majority of people living in the…
Read More
22Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Economic support plans made “on the hoof” are failing millions

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Chancellor of "making up plans on the hoof" when it comes to financial support for businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19. Responding to the Chancellor's statement in the House of Commons today, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Yet again the Chancellor is taken by surprise by events unfolding exactly as predicted months ago. He has utterly failed to address the gravity of the economic crisis, with people and businesses facing devastating pressure across the country. “Beyond tinkering around the edges of the Job Support Scheme and correcting some of its blatant errors, he has offered nothing for those slipping into poverty. 67% of salary is just not enough for people to get by on. The Chancellor is making up plans on the…
Read More
13Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Rising unemployment shows Chancellor must do more

Rising unemployment shows Chancellor must do more

Parliamentary news
Responding to the statistics released this morning showing that unemployment has reached 4.5%, the highest level in over three years, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Today's figures throw into stark and depressing relief the scale of the issues facing families and businesses and act as a reminder that the Chancellor must extend more help. “Liberal Democrats have warned that by prematurely ending the Furlough scheme, this Government is potentially leaving thousands to face ruin. “Responsibility sits squarely on the Chancellor’s shoulders. Instead of dismissing lost jobs as not viable, he should be working day and night to protect people's livelihoods. “Generations will judge whether this Government has taken every conceivable step to protect people’s’ livelihoods and futures, or tossed them on the unemployment pile marked non-viable.”
Read More