Solihull Councillor Ade Adeyemo has said that people from ethnic minorities have nothing to fear from the three covid vaccines currently approved for use in the UK.
 Cllr Adeyemo was responding to reports in the press that many people from ethnic minorities were reluctant to have covid vaccines, for various reasons.
Cllr Adeyemo said, “Ethnic minorities have nothing to fear from having the covid vaccine.”
“I am a black man of African descent.  I have no concerns about the covid vaccines and I will definitely take the jab when my appointment finally arrives.
“Taking the covid vaccine is the best way to protect ourselves from this nasty virus and I would encourage people from ethnic minorities to do so when their appointments arrive.
“The effect of covid on ethnic minorities has been devastating, particularly on people who of Black and South Asian descent.  We have lost far too many friends and loved ones.  Many continue to suffer from the effects of long covid.
“That is why I implore all Black, Asian and other Ethnic Minority people to heed the advice of the medical community and protect ourselves from his nasty virus”.

​Ade Adeyemo is a Councillor for Lyndon Ward and Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Solihull Council.

The Liberal Democrats have condemned the Chancellor for failing to introduce a comprehensive plan to save jobs after it was revealed that 2,860 people in Solihull borough are currently on Universal Credit.
 
Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine criticised Rishi Sunak's "constant chop-and-change approach", urging him to put in place a proper plan to protect jobs as the Government still struggles to get a grip over rising cases of coronavirus.
 
The figures revealed that 4.7% of people of working age in Solihull are on Universal Credit.
 
Following this, Liberal Democrats urged local Conservative MPs Julian Knight and Saqib Bhatti to join their calls for the Chancellor to ensure the furlough scheme remains in place until at least June 2021, as well as overturning their decision to ignore the 3 million individuals still locked out of any Government coronavirus support schemes.
 
This follows the Liberal Democrats' call for the Prime Minister to negotiate a 6-month Adjustment Period for businesses, giving them crucial breathing space once the UK leaves the transition period.
 
Liberal Democrats’ Solihull Council Group Leader Ade Adeyemo added:
"These unemployment figures reveal just how many people in Solihull borough have been let down by this Conservative Government. Too many families will be worrying about how they're going to put food on the table this Christmas thanks to Rishi Sunak's failure to keep his promise that no-one would be left behind.
"That is why the Liberal Democrats have urged Julian Knight and Saqib Bhatti to join us in urging the Chancellor to roll out more support for people in our two constituencies. Unfortunately, the pandemic is far from over and it is crucial that we see the Government step up to support the most vulnerable in the coming months."
 
Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:
"The Chancellor's constant chop-and-change approach to the furlough scheme and his inability to put together a comprehensive plan to save jobs is taking a huge toll.
 
"The Government must ensure furlough stays in place until at least June – and extend support to the three million people who still remain excluded from any support whatsoever. Just as crucially, Ministers must ensure there is an Adjustment Period for businesses before new trade rules begin, to avoid a second spike in redundancies."

The Liberal Democrats have warned that Julian Knight, Conservative MP for Solihull and Saqib Bhatti, Conservative MP for Meriden, are risking a “new Windrush-style scandal”, after they both voted to refuse to offer EU citizens physical proof of their right to stay in the UK.
 
On Monday (19th October), Tory MPs overturned a Liberal Democrat amendment to the Immigration Bill, which passed in the House of Lords just weeks ago.  The amendment would require the Home Office to give EU Citizens physical proof of Settled and Pre-Settled Status, rather than the digital-only system the Home Office is currently pursuing.
 
Conservatives in the House of Commons rejected the amendment by 331 votes to 260.  Julian Knight and Saqib Bhatti were among those voting to scrap the amendment, while Liberal Democrat MPs and MPs in all other parties voted to retain it.
 
The latest Home Office figures show that, as of the end of June, 3,430 people in Solihull and Meriden have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme for the right to stay in the UK after the Brexit transition period ends.  1,950 have been granted Settled Status so far, while a further 1,260 have been granted temporary Pre-Settled Status.
 
Following the vote, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:
“The Conservatives’ decision to overturn this Liberal Democrat amendment shows how empty their promises to guarantee citizens’ rights after Brexit really are.  Their Hostile Environment is, sadly, alive and well.
 
“The Windrush Scandal showed the devastating impact of the Hostile Environment on people who cannot easily prove their rights.  By denying EU citizens physical proof of Settled Status, the Government risks making them the victims of a new Windrush-style Scandal.”
 
Councillor Ade Adeyemo, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Solihull, said:
“EU citizens in Solihull and Meriden are our families and friends, our colleagues and carers.  They have been living under a cloud of uncertainty for far too long.
 
“By refusing to provide EU citizens with physical proof of their rights and forcing them to rely on a digital code and an online Home Office database, Julian Knight and Saqib Bhatti are putting them at risk of discrimination.
 
“Liberal Democrats are fighting for EU citizens to be given the automatic right to stay in the UK, with physical proof of their status.”

I have seen a lot of commentary from members who are not happy about the Lib Dem Leadership election result.

We must be willing to accept that we may not win, however well we argue or express our views.  One of the benefits of putting forward a good case is that even if you don't win, the electorate will appreciate your arguments and demand that the winner implements some of them.

A good winner will also have taken note of the positive aspects of the loser's campaign.  If they have any sense, they and their team will learn from the experience and use what they have learnt to shape their future work and their future campaigns.

Fighting and losing need not be seen as a disaster.  By fighting a good battle, you will have sown seeds for the future - in the minds of the electorate, who will demand better of the winner, and also in the mind of the winner, who, if they have any sense, will realise that they have to do a better job.

Layla and her team ran a brilliant campaign and I am sure that Ed Davey will make sure that many of the issues raised by Layla are addressed in due course.  He would be stupid not to.

One of the toughest lessens you learn as a candidate is that you must understand and speak to your electorate and offer them a positive way forward.  Ed's team understood that. They focused on their objective... and won.

If we, as Lib Dems ever want to win, we must understand that our electorate doesn't always hold dear the same things that we do - at least not to the same extent.

That does not mean that we ditch our views or our principles. However, banging on about issues that concern us, but not the electorate, is a waste of time.
​
The electorate in the Lib Dem Leadership election is very different to the electorate that we must now face in local, general, assembly and mayoral elections.

The fight for the Lib Dem Leadership is over.  A bigger fight awaits the victor - how to turn around an ailing ship and convince the electorate to trust in the Lib Dems again.
​
Fight a good fight.  Be graceful whatever the result.  Sow seeds of hope for the future.  Layla has certainly done that and we must all be thankful that she has.

10-year old Lyndon resident Harvey Eustace’s plan for a COVID-19 Memory and Reflection Garden in Olton Jubilee Park is being considered by officers at Solihull Council.
After presenting Harvey’s idea at the July session of Solihull Council, Lyndon Ward Councillor Ade Adeyemo (Lib Dem) said, “It was a pleasure to present this brilliant idea by 10-year old Lyndon resident Harvey Eustace for a COVID19 Memorial Garden in Olton Jubilee Park to Full Council.
“Harvey would like to create a Memory or Reflection Garden in Olton Jubilee Park - a small section of the park that can be set aside for people who have lost a friend or family member or who have a friend or family member who is poorly from COVID-19.
“He would also like to raise funds to buy benches that can be placed around the garden, with plaques saying "In memory of those who we lost too soon - 2020".
“As you can see in his drawing, Harvey's plan is to have a central tree, surrounded by beds, planted with rainbow-coloured flowers.
“As so many people have not been able to attend funerals and say goodbye properly to their loved ones, Harvey would like this garden to be a place where they can have some quiet time to reflect and remember those we have lost in our community and those who are still poorly. 
“He would like to create something nice and beautiful at a time when there is so much anxiety and sadness.
“Harvey's idea for Olton Jubilee Park has been very well received by everyone.  Many people have also asked me if something similar could be done in the North of Solihull, where Harvey goes to school.  We are now in discussions with officers Solihull Council and Love Solihull to see if this can be done.
“If the Council agrees, I have asked if the Mayor could perform the opening ceremony in Olton Jubilee Park, with Harvey as ‘Guest of Honour’.
“Well done Harvey”!

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The is the note written by Harvey:
"I would like to create a memory garden for those who have lost someone during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would be somewhere for families and friends to come and remember those who they have lost, in a place that is beautiful and happy.
"I would like to get flowers that people could plant, in memory of a loved one, especially at a time when people can’t say goodbye and attend funerals.
"Families and friends could come and share time together in a space for all ages I wanted to create something to acknowledge people in my community who we have lost and support those who have lost someone in our community
"I hope you like my pictures.  My Mum helped me draw a picture as well what I think it could look like. I wanted it to be fun and family-friendly and for it to last a long time. I want it to be a community thing that we can help create and have pride in, at a time when people are scared, sad and struggling.
"Our community has come together lately and I think this will help to keep that going”.