09Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Slow economic growth reinforces need for furlough extension

Slow economic growth reinforces need for furlough extension

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to extend furlough as new figures reveal growth in August was slower than the expansion seen in both June and July. Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “These figures make it clear that despite the massive effort people have made to fight this virus and its economic implications, the road to recovery is going to be rockier than we feared. “The Chancellor has to recognise that people, businesses and the economy need more support than he is currently offering. Furlough has to be extended until next June and broadened to support everyone. “It’s not good enough for the Chancellor to say dismissively that he can’t protect every job, because frankly it’s his job to try to do exactly that and make…
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06Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems: PM’s speech no more than a pipe dream

Lib Dems: PM’s speech no more than a pipe dream

Parliamentary news
Responding to Boris Johnson's speech to Conservative Party Conference, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The Prime Minister's speech utterly failed to deliver a credible plan to beat Coronavirus. With the Government's tracing system in meltdown, a quarter of the UK in lockdown and millions set to face unemployment, this speech was nothing more than a pipe dream.  “People and business need not only reassurance from the Prime Minister, but concrete measures to help them face the next six months of this pandemic. They got neither. "Even when talking of recovery, Johnson's plans were unambitious at best - the money being spent on wind power is just a fraction of what is needed to ensure we achieve a green recovery. Equally, it is more than ironic for the Prime…
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06Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Prime Minister “not ambitious enough” when it comes to renewables

Prime Minister “not ambitious enough” when it comes to renewables

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an investment of £150 billion over the next three years to drive a green economic recovery. The call comes as the Prime Minister is set to unveil plans to invest just £160 million in wind turbines in a speech at the Conservative Party Conference. Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “People across the UK are worried about the planet and for their children's futures. We need a Government that leads from the front when it comes to tackling the climate emergency. But just a few years ago Boris Johnson claimed a wind turbine "couldn't blow the skin off a rice pudding". "He is now late to the table and, regrettably, still not ambitious enough. If the Prime Minister really wants to deliver…
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05Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Chancellor’s speech will have disappointed millions in need

Chancellor’s speech will have disappointed millions in need

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have claimed the Chancellor's speech at the Conservative Party's virtual conference will have "disappointed millions who were hoping to hear how he plans to help them through this crisis." Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The Chancellor’s speech will have disappointed millions who were hoping to hear how he plans to help them through this crisis. “Instead of an extension to furlough, measures to help the millions excluded from help or a boost to universal credit, we were instead given little more than a stump speech to aid Rishi Sunak’s career. “The country needs concrete measures now to support the millions of people who are worried about their jobs and their family’s financial futures.”
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29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Stalled talks with EU threaten climate action, Lib Dems warn

Stalled talks with EU threaten climate action, Lib Dems warn

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to join the EU Emission Trading Scheme as part of a package of policies to “build a green recovery and tackle the climate emergency.” The proposal, agreed as part of the Green Recovery motion at the Party’s Autumn conference, come as talks between the EU and the UK on a free trade agreement failed to make progress with environmental standards cited as a major stumbling block. Liberal Democrat Climate Action Spokesperson Sarah Olney has warned Conservative Ministers struggling to cut deals with the EU are "risking that recovery and abandoning the duty on all of us to tackle the climate emergency." The Liberal Democrats are arguing that the UK should open talks to secure post-Brexit entry to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme,…
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24Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Chancellor’s Job Support Scheme “falls short of what people need”

Chancellor’s Job Support Scheme “falls short of what people need”

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the new Job Support Scheme outlined by the Chancellor "falls short of what people need" and are calling on the Chancellor to outline financial support measures for people still excluded from the Government's schemes. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “The Chancellor's statement is welcome in as much as it finally extends employment support as Liberal Democrats have called for, but it is late and falls short of what people need. "To announce new measures only a month before the furlough scheme ends when businesses and ourselves have been calling for it for months is unacceptable - particularly when the budget has also been cancelled. "We need to know what the Chancellor is going to do to help the three million people still…
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23Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Short-term plans no replacement for full Budget

Short-term plans no replacement for full Budget

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Chancellor's decision to cancel the Autumn Budget, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “If ever there was a time when we needed an Autumn budget to outline long term plans, this is it. Millions of people who are worried about their jobs, their future, and how we will transition into a green economy want to know if this Government has a plan, and what it is. "The Treasury's short term plans are one thing, but people rightly want to know where they are heading. The Chancellor must give a clear answer to questions about where the furlough bridge is leading. At the moment, thousands of people and businesses are looking at a financial cliff edge. They need reassurance. "The Chancellor must give people certainty about the…
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16Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Staggering job losses show need to extend furlough

Staggering job losses show need to extend furlough

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS figures showing that the economy shed 695,000 jobs between March and August this year, Liberal Democrat Economy Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “These staggering job losses are yet more evidence of why the Chancellor should be extending the furlough scheme, which has so far protected 10 million jobs, until the middle of next year. “People have a right to expect that their Government will stand by them in exactly the way that Rishi Sunak promised when he said he would “do whatever it takes. “The Liberal Democrats’ are clear that the Government must extend the furlough scheme until the jobs market is ready to bounce back."
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11Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Long-term furlough extension essential to protect jobs

Long-term furlough extension essential to protect jobs

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS figures showing that UK GDP grew by 6.6% in July 2020, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “We mustn’t let these figures disguise the fact that the economic crisis caused by coronavirus is far from over. As we approach winter, countless people are worrying about their jobs and livelihoods. “The current increase in COVID-19 cases means the danger of more restrictions and job losses is very real. The Government must announce a long-term extension to the furlough scheme into 2021 to protect jobs and begin to rebuild our economy. “And to be breaking international law and indulging in brinkmanship with the EU in the current economic climate is irresponsible and shows a recklessness with all our futures. The Prime Minister must immediately row back on plans…
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21Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government continue to threaten economic recovery

Government continue to threaten economic recovery

Parliamentary news
Responding to ONS figures that show retail sales rose above pre-pandemic levels in July, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “This will be welcome news for so many people working on our high streets who would have spent several months worried about their job. "However, we are not out of the woods yet. The Government is yet to bring forward a proper plan for high streets in locally locked down areas, so people are likely to go through more tough times. “The Government also continues to threaten our economic recovery with its damaging Brexit policy. The fact that we could still leave negotiations with the EU with a bad or no deal means that many high street businesses will still be very concerned about what the future…
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