The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, was delighted to collect a national award from Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson Lib Dem Leader at the Local Government Association, at the Liberal Democrat Local Government Conference on Saturday, which was held in Manchester.

Party Leadership contender Tim Farron MP presented the award to the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group (see picture attached).

Examples were cited of the group’s work opposing food poverty and benefit sanctions, upholding local democracy, and working to make Oldham Council the first local authority to sign the European Union’s Pledge to Peace.

Cllr Sykes said: “This award for ‘Putting Liberal Values into Practice’ was totally unexpected so we were all pleased as punch to receive it. It represents national recognition of the hard work that local Councillors carry out in championing liberal causes, not only in the Council chamber and on the doorstep, but also by lobbying Government ministers.

“In Council, we seek to bring practical proposals for debate and adoption that can transform the lives of Oldham people for the better and in Parliament we seek to challenge injustice and change legislation.”

“This was just the boost that local Liberal Democrats needed to keep up the fight to ensure that our agenda is heard both in Council but also in the corridors of Westminster power”.