- Highest levels of excess deaths demands Government learn lessons
- Liberal Democrats call for review into school exclusions
- Liberal Democrats: Government are failing survivors of sexual violence
- Government must step in with Green incentives to save the car industry
- Liberal Democrats: Record high of self harm in prisons shows extent of crisis
- Leaked letter shows thousands of care home residents being exposed to virus
Highest levels of excess deaths demands Government learn lessons
Responding to ONS statistics that reveal England has had the highest excess mortality across Europe in the first half of 2020, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Munira Wilson said:
The unforgiving consequences of the pandemic have left too many families mourning loved ones. It didn’t need to be like this.
It is clear the Government has made mistakes. With a possible second wave occurring in countries across Europe at the moment, the Prime Minister must launch an independent inquiry immediately.
This is not a time for protecting political interests. This is a time to learn from mistakes and protect the country from more heartache.
Liberal Democrats call for review into school exclusions
Responding to new figures for permanent and fixed-period school exclusions in England for 2018/19, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said:
These figures make appalling reading. Every year thousands of children – often the most vulnerable – are being written off by our education system. Children eligible for free school meals are more than four times as likely to be permanently excluded – that says it all.
This Government should be ashamed that they have presided over continually high rates of permanent exclusion. Cutbacks to school budgets undoubtedly play a part in this. So too does the culture which prizes exam results and league table rankings over care and support.
We need see action to address the disproportionate number of exclusions among pupils on free school meals, as well as Black Caribbean, Gypsy and Roma, and Traveller pupils. That’s why we need to see a review into disparities in school exclusions.