Ahead of the this years local elections, Rochdale Lib Dems are pleased to announce their policy team:

Andy Kelly - Leader, Rochdale Liberal Democrats

Based on his years of experience as Councillor for Milnrow & Newhey and Leader of Rochdale, Middleton & Heywood Liberal Democrats, Andy will act as Chairperson for the policy team. In this rapidly changing world we find ourselves in, each of the policy areas are tightly interconnected. Andy will ensure that our thinking is joined up and consistent across the full breadth of our policy offering.

I tabled the Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21, which was due for its second reading on Friday.

Lib Dems will continue to fight for healthcare workers' rights

But the Government have decided to axe all sitting Fridays until the end of March, meaning dozens of Private Members Bills will effectively be shut down.

It's been a huge privilege to come to know many Tamil people in my constituency and across the UK since being elected to Parliament back in 1997, and I can therefore say with total certainty, that the contribution of British Tamils to our country and society has been exemplary, with the hard work, intelligence and dedication of so many amazing British Tamils.

It is completely unacceptable that parents have received woefully inadequate food parcels in place of free school meals.

The Secretary of State must urgently investigate this situation.

The amount of food parents have received to feed their children is not anything like enough to provide an adequate, nutritious lunch every day.

Over the past year, Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled a number of Private Members' Bills that would make important changes to help build a fairer country, tackle deep-rooted inequalities and ensure a more effective response to the Covid pandemic.

Eleven key Liberal Democrat Bills were due to have "Second Reading" - the next stage of their progress through Parliament - over the next three months.