07Mar 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Bid to shut “oligarch loophole” launched by Lib Dems

Bid to shut “oligarch loophole” launched by Lib Dems

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have launched a bid to shut the “oligarch loophole” contained within the Economic Crime Bill, which is set to come before Parliament today. The Party has tabled an amendment to the legislation which seeks to close a backdoor route for oligarchs to avoid meeting crucial anti-money laundering requirements contained within the Bill. The Bill establishes a register of beneficial ownership for overseas entities. However the Bill as drafted gives the Government the power to grant individuals - which could include Kremlin-linked oligarchs - an exemption from its registration requirements on the broad basis of “the interests of the economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom”. The Liberal Democrats warned that this loophole could give ‘carte blanche’ to oligarchs and their enablers to aggressively lobby the Government for exemptions…
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28Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Economic Crime Bill is long overdue

Economic Crime Bill is long overdue

Parliamentary news
The UK Government's long-overdue introduction of rules to combat the influence of Russian money in the UK are set to be brought forward on Tuesday (28/2/22). The law will pave the way for a ”register of overseas entities”, identifying foreign owners of UK property, among other new rules. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "This announcement is long overdue. It shouldn't have taken a war in Ukraine for action to prevent dirty Russian money flooding into our country and corrupting our politics. "These new measures must be fast tracked though parliament and used in full, to crack down on Putin's cronies by seizing and freezing their assets. "The cash collected through this oligarchs tax should then be used to help people cope with their soaring energy bills.…
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25Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
UK must step up with humanitarian response to stop Putin destabilising Europe

UK must step up with humanitarian response to stop Putin destabilising Europe

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are calling for the UK to lead a coordinated humanitarian response to Putin’s war in Ukraine, with safe passage and support for Ukrainian refugees fleeing violence and persecution at the hands of Russian forces. The party’s MPs have written to the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary, urging them to work with humanitarian agencies and Ukraine’s neighbours to provide accommodation and support to the people now fleeing Russian troops, who are now advancing on the capital of Kyiv. It comes in the wake of the news that visa applications from those Ukrainian nationals without close British relatives and who are stuck in the country are suspended, meaning no legal route exists for them to enter the UK and claim asylum. The letter calls for “an ambitious commitment…
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23Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Tories should hand £2m of Russian donations to support people of Ukraine

Tories should hand £2m of Russian donations to support people of Ukraine

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Conservative Party to donate the estimated £2 million they have received from Russian-linked donors to support the people of Ukraine. The party said the cash could be given to help civil society groups in Ukraine, support independent media in the country and counter Russian disinformation. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “Boris Johnson should use the almost £2 million of Russian-linked donations received by the Conservative Party to support the people of Ukraine. “This would send a powerful signal to Putin that the Conservatives are serious about no longer allowing themselves to be bankrolled by Russian money. It would also provide vital support to Ukrainians on the ground facing the threat of invasion and a sustained campaign of Russian disinformation.…
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22Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Vagrancy Act repealed: Archaic and cruel law consigned to history

Vagrancy Act repealed: Archaic and cruel law consigned to history

Parliamentary news
In reaction to the news that the Vagrancy Act will be repealed, long time campaigner against the Act, Layla Moran MP said: “After years of campaigning I am elated that we consigned this archaic and cruel law to history. No one should be criminalised for sleeping rough, especially by a piece of legislation passed in the Georgian era. “This is testament to the hard work of so many people: the students who first brought the issue to my attention, and to our campaign partners Crisis. “This can transform the way we talk about rough sleeping and homelessness in this country, from criminalisation to compassion. “While we can celebrate today, tomorrow we return to the hard work of holding the government to account on their manifesto commitment to ending rough sleeping…
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10Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Truss must stand up to Russia on Ukraine and dirty cash

Truss must stand up to Russia on Ukraine and dirty cash

Parliamentary news
Responding to the confirmation that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will fly to Moscow to meet with her Russian counterpart, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “In her meetings with the Kremlin, Truss must make it clear to Russia that we will no longer tolerate Putin’s cronies stashing their dirty cash in our country. “Conservative Ministers have been continuously missing in action. When the US, French and German foreign ministers last met to thrash out a plan, Truss was too busy chasing the sun in Australia to attend. “To use this crisis as an opportunity for a photoshoot would be grossly irresponsible. Truss should complete her catch-up tour and make up for lost time by stopping off in Berlin and Paris on her way back from Moscow.”
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09Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Reshuffle is “reward for failure” for Rees-Mogg while people punished with tax hike

Reshuffle is “reward for failure” for Rees-Mogg while people punished with tax hike

Parliamentary news
Responding to the government reshuffle, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “This reshuffle is a pathetic attempt to distract from the Downing Street partygate scandal, putting Boris Johnson’s political survival ahead of the national interest. “The only real Brexit opportunity so far seems to be for Jacob Rees-Mogg, who will pocket a whopping pay rise after trying to get Owen Paterson off the hook for breaking the rules. “This is a reward for failure while people around the country are punished with a crippling Tory tax hike. “The Conservatives need to focus on tackling the big issues facing the country, instead of doling out top jobs to Boris Johnson’s few remaining allies.”
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04Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Winter Olympics: UK Government must recognise Uyghur genocide

Winter Olympics: UK Government must recognise Uyghur genocide

Parliamentary news
Responding to today's opening of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "As the Olympic flame is lit today in Beijing, Liberal Democrats stand in solidarity with all those oppressed, discriminated against or persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party - from Tibet to Taiwan; from Falun Gong practitioners to human rights defenders; from Hong Kong to Xinjiang. "No matter how opulent the stadiums or ceremonies at these Olympics, nothing the Chinese government can do will ‘sportswash’ the brutal horror taking place in Xinjiang - the persecution of the Uyghurs, which amounts to the crime of genocide. "For the last twelve months, Liberal Democrats have called on the UK Government to boycott these Games and it is right that no British ministers or…
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02Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Finance Bill: Enough is enough on dirty Russian money

Finance Bill: Enough is enough on dirty Russian money

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran is today leading a cross-party grouping of MPs supporting an amendment to the Finance Bill making the case for a Register of Beneficial Ownership - a key step in combating the flow of Russian dirty money in the UK. The amendment has received high profile support from all main parties, including Conservative MPs Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Kevin Hollinrake; Labour’s Dame Margaret Hodge and Ben Bradshaw; and the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesperson Alyn Smith. The amendment is the latest attempt by MPs to push the Government to finally legislate for a register. Last month, Layla Moran MP tabled the Registration of Overseas Entities Bill, which also received cross-party support and is due to receive its second reading on 18th March. A register of foreign…
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01Feb 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
PM’s trip to Ukraine: too little, too late

PM’s trip to Ukraine: too little, too late

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that Boris Johnson is to travel to Ukraine to meet with president Volodymyr Zelensky for talks the day after he missed a call with Vladimir Putin, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: “Britain deserves so much better than having Boris Johnson represent us on the world stage. He’s been missing in action while war looms in Europe - and while he might be playing catch-up now, it’s too little, too late. “This is the man who picked pleading with his backbenchers over talking tough to Vladimir Putin. He’s spent the last month phoning wavering Tory MPs when he should have been meeting foreign leaders. “Boris Johnson’s lies make him unfit to hold the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He is…
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