About Me

I was born in Wallsend, grew up on Hillsview Avenue in Kenton and went to Kenton School before studying Electrical Engineering in London. I have lived in many different cities around the world, without ever for a moment forgetting where I am from: Newcastle. My values and beliefs were formed in Newcastle based on the people I grew up with and my own experiences. I was incredibly proud to be elected MP for Newcastle Central in 2010, and I have been proud every day of the 12 years since to serve my constituents.

The last year

Working for Newcastle

As part of my commitment to openness and transparency, I have published the constituency casework figures on my website each month, together with details of my meetings, visits and speeches.

During this year in Parliament, I have worked closely with the Council, local and regional businesses, community groups, charities and universities to improve the lives of residents and speak up for the region. This year I took taken action on  3,559 cases raised by constituents who have contacted me for help with individual issues, and responded to a further 4,237 policy issues raised by constituents. These included individual queries for 1,196 constituents and 1,295 policy issues on a variety of Covid related matters.

I secured and led two debates in Westminster Hall, on Hadrian’s Wall in the west end of Newcastle, and celebrating the Tyne Bridge. Westminster Hall is a smaller debating chamber in parliament for MPs to raise issues with Ministers.

Working for a fairer and better society

I regularly spoke up for Newcastle on everything from the economy, jobs and skills to local health and transport services, to arts and culture. Until November I was a joint Shadow Minister across the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Since November 2020, my brief covers only BEIS, as shadow minister for Science, Research and Innovation. The focus of my role has changed, but at the core has always been science and research, and its role in driving prosperity and security.

I have continued to provide constructive criticism to the government, who in the last year have become increasingly mired in scandal: second jobs, partygate, fraudulent Covid claims and now a cost of living crisis they seem unable to even understand let alone act on.

Working in Parliament

Inside Parliament I have been very active. I spoke 172 times  – well above the average amongst MPs. I ask more written questions than most MPs – 630 in this time period.

My attendance record at votes is also above average, at 81% during this time period.

As a former engineer I have worked hard to increase the availability of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of science and technology issues.

I am chair of the All-part parliamentary group for Africa & of the APPG for Diversity and inclusion in STEM, and of the APPG Creative Diversity. I am a member of APPGS on:   Angola, Bangladesh, Commonwealth, Engineering, Ethnic Minority Business Owners, Infrastructure, Internet, Communications and Technology, Jazz Appreciation, Markets, Open Banking and Payments, Scientific, Space

Expenses

My expenses are published regularly by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). You can view them on the IPSA website here.

How I have voted

My voting record is public and you can read more here..

I have voted against a score of terrible pieces of government legislation, which fails to address the needs of people in Newcastle Central, e.g. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, the Elections Bill, the Health and Care Bill, Nationality and Borders Bill most of which reached completion in the final weeks of the parliamentary session. As a front-bencher, I worked constructively with the government on the ARIA and National Security and Investments Acts, trying to improve the legislation where possible, as well as on the early stages of the Online Safety Bill. I also scrutinised and tried to improve the Telecoms Security and Telecoms Infrastructure Acts.

 

Working to change Parliament

Being an MP is an immense privilege. It is one I believe should be open to more people from different backgrounds, particularly women, those with disabilities, those from working class backgrounds and black and ethnic minorities. These are the groups which are under-represented in Parliament today.

Despite the challenges of Covid19 I have visited and spoken at many primary and secondary schools in Newcastle to emphasise the work done in Parliament and how this should be accessible to everyone. I have spoken on request at many different organisations on the different ways to become an MP and the importance of holding MPs to account. In the constituency I have met with more than ten faith groups, forty community and charity groups and fifty local businesses.  I hope that in future Parliament will look more like the people we see on Northumberland Street.

2016-2021

Working for Newcastle 2016-2021

During these five years in Parliament, I worked closely with the Council, local and regional businesses, community groups, charities and universities to improve the lives of residents and speak up for the region. Between 2016 and 2021 I took taken action on behalf of 14,679 cases raised by constituents who have contacted me for help with individual issues, and responded to 17,868 policy issues raised by constituents.

Each week, I received around 2,000 emails, letters and phone calls. An uplift in enquiries as a result of the Covid pandemic was noticeable from March  2020, with around 100 individual and 100 policy queries additional each month.

Discussing the issues needing to be addressed by the Online Harms Bill

 

During this time I secured and led three debates in Westminster Hall, on Internet of Things regulation, the State pension for WASPI women and Martin Luther King’s visit to Newcastle. Westminster Hall is a smaller debating chamber in parliament for MPs to raise issues with Ministers

I secured five Adjournment debates, on Visa Processing Algorithms, Electric Car Batteries, Newcastle United FC and regulation, Sexual exploitation in Newcastle, and the leasehold for St Mary Magdalene Holy Jesus Trust.

I presented four petitions on behalf of constituents, on violence in Lagos, on Premier League Transparency, Football club ownership, and the implementation of 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts.

Working for a fairer and better society 2016-21

As well as regularly speaking up for Newcastle on everything from the economy, jobs and skills, to local health and transport services, to arts and culture, I have been a Shadow Minister to the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The focus of my role has changed, but at the core has always been science and research, and its role in industrial strategy.

  Local meeting in Newcastle central to discuss ASB issues

 

I was also a Shadow Minister in the Department for Culture Media and Sport from 2020-21. My focus was on the digital economy, and I pushed the government on online safety, data protection and regulation for new technologies e.g. the Internet of Things, AI.

I was also proud to be the shadow minister for the Post Office. I led the response on the Horizon scandal in the Post Office, where thousands of postmasters and postmistresses were falsely accused and even imprisoned for fraud they did not commit, one of the greatest injustices of our time.

I have also scrutinised legislation on committees. Most of the committee work focused on legislative changes for leaving the EU, e.g. on Intellectual Property, Electronic Communications, changes to the Communications Act (2003).

Working in Parliament 2016-2021

Inside Parliament I have been very active. I spoke 758 times  – well above the average amongst MPs. I asked more written questions than most MPs – 1951 in this time period, which averages 2.6 questions per sitting day of Parliament.

My attendance record at votes was also above average, rising to 81% in the 2017-19 period from 72% in 2015-17.

As a former engineer I have worked hard to increase the availability of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of science and technology issues.

Expenses

My expenses are published regularly by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). You can view them on the IPSA website here.

How I have voted: 2016 – 2021

My voting record is public and you can read more here..

The legislative agenda from 2016-19 was dominated by leaving the EU. Most notably, I voted against triggering ‘Article 50’ to leave the EU and I explain why here. I consistently voted for a ‘soft’ as possible Brexit, as I believed the impact of leaving the EU would be hugely damaging for my constituents. I did so respecting the outcome of the referendum, but wanting to see the UK get the best deal out of the negotiations.

Since re-election in 2019, I have voted against a score of terrible pieces of government legislation, which fails to address the needs of people in Newcastle Central, e.g. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, the Elections Bill, the Health and Care Bill. As a front-bencher since 2019, I worked constructively with the government on the ARIA and National Security and Investments Acts, trying to improve the legislation where possible.

Clearly, Covid-19 was the most important issue facing the country from 2020. I gave constructive criticism to the government in a time of national crisis along with Labour colleagues, trying to keep people safe and prevent the fraudulent and corrupt activities that we are now getting the full detail of.

Working to change Parliament 2016-2021

Being an MP is an immense privilege. It is one I believe should be open to more people from different backgrounds, particularly women, those with disabilities, those from working class backgrounds and black and ethnic minorities. These are the groups which are under-represented in Parliament today.

Notably, I was temporarily successful in securing online voting and participation in debates as an important safety measure during the pandemic, which the government have sadly since reversed despite it being a success and having the potential to free up MPs from having to always be in Westminster.

From 2016-2021 I have visited and spoken at many of the primary and secondary schools in Newcastle to emphasise that Parliament belongs to everyone and should be accessible to everyone. I have encouraged constituents to visit me in Parliament and arranged dozens of tours for them. I have met and spoken with hundreds of different community organisations, charities and business on many issues and been able to raise issues on their behalf encouraging their participation in Parliament.

2010-2016

Working for Newcastle 2010-16

I worked closely with the Council, local and regional businesses, community groups, charities, and universities to improve the lives of residents and speak up for the region. Between 2010 and 2015, I took action on 15,478 cases raised by constituents who have contacted me for help with individual issues, and responded to a further 23,516 policy issues raised by constituents.

I secured and led eleven debates in Westminster Hall, such as on Housing in Newcastle. Westminster Hall is a smaller debating chamber in parliament for MPs to raise issues with Ministers. Topics of debates I have secured include north east council funding, the internet of things, health inequalities in the north east, transport in the north east and mitochondrial disease (which Newcastle University has been pioneering research). I have also secured several Adjournment Debates – short debates at the end of each parliamentary day. One such debate on the planned closure of the Richardson Eating Disorder Unit in Newcastle resulted in a Ministerial meeting which saved the unit – the only one in the region – from closure.

School visit and discussion in Newcastle Central

 

I presented three petitions on behalf on constituents, one on the Blaydon Races, one opposing plans for a Drivethru McDonalds at Kenton Lodge and one on young people and body image.

As a Chartered Engineer I campaigned to make ICT and engineering more accessible to all, particularly girls, and to bring engineering and ICT jobs to the North East.

Working for a fairer and better society 2010-16

As well as regularly speaking up for Newcastle on everything from the economy, jobs and skills, to local health and transport services, to arts and culture, I was the Labour Party’s Shadow Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy. It was my job to scrutinise the Government on its disastrous broadband policies and to speak up for libraries and the importance of the digital economy to the UK.

I then became the Shadow Cabinet Office Minister for Digital Government, cyber security and social enterprise. In this role I commissioned a Review of Digital Government, set out how a Labour Government will support social enterprise, and led the Opposition’s scrutiny at all stages of the Deregulation Act 2015 in the House of Commons. I promoted the North East as a hub for both digital industries and social enterprise,  holding a seminar in Newcastle on how small businesses could benefit from digital government.

I also sat on the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee and scrutinised themEnterprise, Regulatory Reform Act 2013 as a Shadow Business Minister.

Working for Parliament 2010-16

Inside Parliament I was very active, speaking 48 times since being re-elected in May 2015 – well above the average amongst MPs. I asked more written questions than most MPs – 214 since the election – and my attendance record at votes was also above average, at 77%.

As a former engineer I worked hard to increase the availability of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of science and technology issues. As well as regularly speaking up on these issues, I was on the board of Parliament’s Office of Science and Technology.

I was chair of the All-party parliamentary group for Africa and co-chair of the all-party Parliamentary Internet, Communications and Technology Forum that works to keep MPs, Peers and other interested groups informed of digital issues in Parliament.

Expenses

My expenses are published regularly by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). You can view them on the IPSA website here..

How I have voted: 2015 – 16

My voting record is public and you can read more here.

I voted against George Osborne’s Budget cuts to Personal Independent Payments for disabled people and his disgraceful plans to cut £4.4bn in tax credits to working families. The Government eventually backed down on both.

I voted in favour the ‘Dubs Amendment’ to act on Save the Children’s call for Britain to take 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children.

I voted against the Government’s forced academisation plans. The Education Minister has since announced that they are abandoning the plans.

 Climate Change rally in Newcastle Central

 

I voted against the Government’s politically motivated attacks designed to permanently weaken the opposition and the trade union movement in the Trade Union Bill. The Government eventually backed down on

On Syria, I asked constituents to send me their views on whether the UK should extend airstrikes against Daesh/ISIS from Iraq to Syria. The vast majority of the constituents who contacted me were against airstrikes and after thinking very carefully about it, I agreed with them and voted against the proposal. I set out my reasoning here.

I opposed the Tory Housing Bill, which will leave a £593m hole in our city’s long term plan for social housing as well as forcing the council to sell off higher value properties. In May 2016 I secured a debate in Parliament on Housing in Newcastle.

I voted repeatedly against the Government’s vicious bedroom tax.

I voted against the Government’s £3bn reorganisation of the NHS at every opportunity. I voted against marketisation and in favour of restricting the use of NHS services for private patients. I also moved to block regulations that would open the NHS up to further marketisation.

On tax, I voted against the Government’s tax cut for millionaires and corporation tax. I have voted against rising VAT, as it hits the poorest hardest.

I voted against raising tuition fees cap to £9,000.

I voted against this Government’s unfair council funding allocations, which meant that Newcastle had to make £100m of cuts, whereas some Councils in richer areas ended up with few or even no cuts to make.

Many constituents contacted me about the vote for equal gay rights and same-sex marriage. A large majority wanted me to support it, and I did.

I voted against the privatisation of Royal Mail and restrictions on legal aid.

I voted to recognise Palestine as a state and believe that both Israel and Palestine deserve safety and security and control over their own destinies.

I also voted against selling off our forests, which was stopped.

Working to change Parliament 2010-16

Being an MP is an immense privilege. It is one I believe should be open to more people from different backgrounds, particularly women, those with disabilities, those from working class backgrounds and black and ethnic minorities. These are the groups which are under-represented in Parliament today.

I visited and spoke at every secondary school in Newcastle and 24 of the 26 primary schools to emphasise that Parliament belongs to everyone and should be accessible to everyone. I have encouraged constituents to visit me in Parliament and arranged dozens of tours for them. I have spoken on request at many different organisations on the different ways to become an MP and the importance of holding MPs to account. I hope that in future Parliament will look more like the people we see on Northumberland Street.

 

As part of Dementia Action Week (16-22 May), Llanelli MP Nia Griffith met with people affected by dementia, experts from Alzheimer’s Society and clinicians at the charity’s Parliamentary reception to find out more about the barriers people face to getting a diagnosis.

There are currently around 50,000 people living with dementia in Wales, with a total of 900,000 across the UK, which is set to rise to 1.6m by 2040. However, with diagnosis rates currently at a five-year low after the pandemic, the charity believes there are tens of thousands of people now living with undiagnosed dementia. This means they don’t have access to the vital care and support that a diagnosis can bring.

New research from Alzheimer’s Society shows some people don’t seek a diagnosis because they think memory loss is just part of getting old, don’t recognise the signs of dementia, or are in denial about their symptoms. Though the thought of diagnosis can be daunting, over 9 in 10 people with dementia say they benefitted from getting a diagnosis, for example by helping them come to terms with it or plan for the future.

Nia Griffith MP pledged her support to the charity’s Dementia Action Week campaign – “It’s not called getting old, it’s called getting ill” – which aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of dementia and encourage people worried about symptoms to seek a diagnosis.

She said: “I pledged to support Alzheimer’s Society in their drive to make the recovery of dementia diagnosis rates a priority. 1 people in 4 have battled dementia symptoms for over two years before getting a diagnosis. Anyone worried that you or a loved one may have dementia, should contact Alzheimer’s Society for advice and support.”

James White, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We thank Nia Griffith for meeting with us, and showing her support for Dementia Action Week.

“Asking the same question over and over again is not called getting old, it’s called getting ill. We know getting a dementia diagnosis can be daunting, but we want everyone to be able to understand and recognise potential dementia symptoms, feel empowered to take the next steps, and come to Alzheimer’s Society for support.

“National diagnosis rates are currently at a five-year low so it is so important that we do everything we can to get people diagnosed so they can get treatment and support. We have launched new resources to arm people with all the information they need when speaking with their GP, which includes online support and advice and a new symptoms checklist which can be printed and taken to the doctor to help both patients and clinicians have an easier diagnosis experience.”

Support and more information about a diagnosis is just a phone call or a click away. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/memoryloss or call Alzheimer’s Society on 0333 150 3456 [0330 094 7400 Welsh-speaking number] For callers who do not have English as their language of choice, Alzheimer’s Society can arrange a simultaneous language translation service.

It’s good to see the Government has finally decided to adopt Labour’s proposal to impose a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies, after months of refusals. With the money raised, all households will now receive a £400 reduction in their energy bills in the Autumn. The previous £200 loan scheme has been scrapped. … Continue reading Government adopts Labour’s energy windfall tax →

 Last week, at Prime Minister’s Questions, I asked about 9,000 people over age 60 who died last year because their homes were too cold. I wanted a guarantee there would be fewer next year.

The gap between those who enjoy later life and those who struggle is increasing and needs addressing. Even before the pandemic, life expectancy was reducing.

More than two million aged 55 or over are living in a home with conditions that threaten their health. 4.3 million live in homes that don’t meet government standards because they’re cold and damp with hazards which put occupants at risk. In England one-in-five excess deaths are attributed to cold housing.

In less than 20 years, one-in-four of us will be over 65. Almost a million people between the ages of 50-64 are unemployed. They need work to pay bills, heat their homes and feed themselves. Unless there’s a plan to find work for them, things look bleak.

Many WASPI women, born in the 1950s, whose access to pensions were delayed without notice, know what a struggle life can be. It’s a disaster for those who fall into poverty before pension day and happening at a time of rising inflation when the value of state pensions is reducing because the government has broken the triple lock.

It used to be the case that to be old was to be poor. The last Labour government lifted millions of pensioners out of poverty but without urgent attention, we’re on course for those gains to be wiped out. Pensioners are once again having to choose between heating and eating.

How can a PM who talks about levelling up ignore what’s happening? The government could put an end to this. The PM could make sure no pensioner freezes to death. There could be an active jobs policy for over 55s and he could restore the pension triple lock.

The PM and his Chancellor are wealthy men who can look forward to a comfortable old age. What about everyone else?

The post Schools urged to get take up the ‘Soccer Aid Schools Challenge’ appeared first on Toby Perkins Labour MP.

I’m sure that many people across Tameside have seen the news surrounding the leadership of Tameside Council in recent weeks.

It’s been a turbulent time, but as the dust settles, it’s important that we celebrate the achievements which have been made in recent years, whilst looking ahead positively to the future.

Cllr Brenda Warrington and her predecessor, the late Kieran Quinn, have done a brilliant job leading the council over these past 12 years of Tory austerity.

Our council has lost 60 per cent of its funding since 2010. Labour-led Tameside has been put under unprecedented pressure from a Government that has proven itself to be totally out of touch with local people.

Cllr Warrington and her team have had a tough job managing this challenge and have done their best to shield the people of Tameside from the impact of Tory local Government cuts.

Brenda and Kieran rose to the challenge, and we should all be grateful to the work they’ve done. I know that Brenda will keep fighting for the people of Tameside as she continues in her role as Councillor for Denton West.

Looking ahead, I’ll be giving the council’s new leadership my full support as they seek to tackle the big issues facing Tameside, most prominently the soaring cost of living crisis.

With inflation reaching nine per cent – its highest rate in 40 years – and working people being hit with the biggest tax burden since the 1940s, the council has a key role to play in supporting local people where it can. The next few months will be tough, but excellent local Government can and does make a difference.

Beyond the cost-of-living crisis, there are many other areas where work is needed. From improving transport, to tackling health inequalities, and improving our struggling Children’s Services, I know that the council will continue with the job of improving the lives of people right across the Borough.

Now is the time for unity, as the council cracks on with delivering the promises it was elected on.

As the Member of Parliament for Denton and Reddish, I look forward to playing my part in helping Tameside Council where I can and being a strong voice for local people in Parliament.

I wish Cllr Cooney and his team well and look forward to seeing what more we can achieve over the coming months and years ahead.

The post A united effort to tackle challenging times – my weekly article for the Tameside Reporter appeared first on Andrew Gwynne MP.

Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, has condemned comments made by Tory Minister, Rachel MacLean MP, that people struggling with the cost of living crisis should work more hours or get a ‘better’ job.  The Safeguarding Minister’s comments have been criticised by Karin Smyth as “out of touch”. 

 Around 40 per cent of people who claim Universal Credit are in employment and wages have struggled to keep up with surging inflation.  The annual growth for total pay was 5.4 per cent in the year leading up to April, according to the Office for National Statistics, but inflation rose by seven per cent in the same period and is set to rise further this year, further cutting pay in real terms. 

The Labour Party is continuing to call on the Government to bring in measures to support people through the crisis, such as a windfall tax on oil and gas producers and reversing the rise in National Insurance, rather than suggesting people overwork themselves to make up for real term wage losses caused by the Government. 

 

Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, said: 

“Time and again the Tories are showing themselves to be out of touch and out of ideas.  The latest comments by a Tory Minister are disrespectful to hard working people and just goes to show how detached they are from the reality of the cost of living crisis.

“It is so unjust for the Government to blame people struggling with the cost of living crisis for not working enough.  With 40% of people on Universal Credit in employment, the Government is letting people down by not doing enough to tackle low pay and poor terms and conditions.  What’s more, millions of people already work multiple jobs or have additional care duties outside of work, particularly for women, creating fewer career development prospects.  The Government must close the pension gap for women to create a fairer society.

“I recently held my annual Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair in Bristol South to support local people into work and improve skills in the area.  Jobs and skills are important in helping people pursue rewarding and meaningful careers that benefit both individuals and the local economy, but simply working more hours should not be viewed as the solution to the cost of living crisis whilst wages remain low and career prospects limited for many.

“The Government should be doing more to support the creation of British jobs and apprenticeships, but they should also be stepping up their support during this time of crisis.  Increasing wages in line with inflation, a windfall tax on oil and gas producers to bring down energy bills, and more support for those who are struggling are all measures the Government must urgently take.”

The post Karin Smyth MP condemns Tory Minister telling people struggling in cost of living crisis to work more hours or get a better job first appeared on Karin Smyth.

After the last few years, chaos has become the new normal when it comes to our politics. It seemed the transition out of the EU and the disruption from the pandemic were becoming part of our past and we were all finding a new sense of optimism with hope and potential for the future. Then a cost-of-living crisis brought our energy bills to record highs and many families have been plunged back into uncertainty and anxiety. It is times like this, more than ever, that we need a serious government.  People need real support and a proper plan.

What a disappointment then, that last Tuesday the Government matched people’s eagerness for change with a raft of tired and rehashed plans that will do little to ease the struggles that my constituents and families are facing right now.

Last week, the Queen’s Speech marked the opening of a new parliamentary session and was the opportunity for the Government to outline their plans to get us out of the mess we’re in. But 12 years of Conservative rule and they are out of ideas. There was nothing to tackle the cost-of-living crisis that is happening right now, no decent plan to protect our food and energy security from Putin’s Russia or other hostile states, and nothing to improve people’s daily lives. An employment bill which could protect workers, introduce minimum hour contracts, end fire and rehire practices, and stop people having to work multiple jobs just to get by, was completely left out.

This Government is out of touch and out of ideas.

As our energy bills skyrocket and the government makes undeliverable promises of rushed through nuclear power plants with no tangible plan for delivery, Labour has the plan and the seriousness to deliver an energy reform that is sustainable and ambitious, but also practical and protective of jobs.

Labour has consistently pushed for a Windfall Tax on the massive profits oil and gas corporations are making thanks to the huge rise in people’s energy bills. Whilst the government try and defend the billions of pounds in profit for these big businesses and stoke fear about long-term investment, BP’s Chief Executive admitted that all of the planned £18bn investment in Britain over the next eight years would go ahead, even if a levy were imposed to meet the demands of this emergency.

As the Government dithers, I will spend the next few months pushing them to urgently address the shortage of NHS dentists and appointments, so that charities no longer need to intervene to protect our children’s oral health. I have raised the issue of poor access to NHS dentists with the Government every year since 2016 and on Monday I did so again. Six years on, the government hasn’t acted, and now we face a dentistry crisis.

Earlier this month, I was proud to be sanctioned by the Kremlin for what they call “whipping up of Russophobic hysteria” and what I call fighting for Ukrainians right to live in peace and the freedom to determine their own future. My commitment to Ukraine is steadfast and I will continue to speak out against Putin’s shameful invasion.

I will also continue to tackle the scourge of spiking in the country which has devastating consequences for its victims, and push for its recognition as a standalone crime. In particular, I am working to ensure that the 7.1 million people who attend outdoor music festivals every year – many of them young people – are fully protected by from these dreadful acts. On Monday this week, the Association of Independent Festivals demonstrated their commitment to improving with their Safer Spaces campaign and acknowledging that everybody has a right to enjoy themselves safely, with support and without fear. That’s a good start.

As money gets tighter and tighter and the Government delays and delays, I will continue to push for more relief from this strangling cost-of-living crisis that means proud and hard-working people of Bradford are turning to food banks or having to pick between heating and eating. This Government is out of ideas. Bradford and Britain deserve better.

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[Check against delivery]

 

Ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to speak here this evening, on my home turf.

Now, before I begin, I understand there’s a sweepstake on the length of my remarks.

Let me just put everyone’s mind at rest… my money went on 82 minutes – so settle in folks!

Turning to what this evening is all about… Councillor Tattersall – our new Mayor – congratulations!

 

Madam Mayor, you will be an outstanding Mayor for our borough. You are a tremendous councillor and a force of nature!

I know you have big plans for your term.

Your theme – Educate, inspire and deliver and your charities typify you…

Romero Communities – a wonderful organisation, who have provided invaluable support to countless people in Barnsley.

And one of the friendliest places to get a brew in the borough!

And Hey! – who do so much for our children and young people suffering with their mental health by providing the care they need when they need it most.

 

The very first time I met Sarah was back in 2011. I was dashing about canvassing for Party members’ support ahead of the selection hustings for the forthcoming by-election.

I knocked on her door.

She kindly invited me in.

I hesitated.

I obviously wanted to take Sarah up on her offer – her endorsement would’ve been very useful, but it suddenly dawned on me this encounter was laden with risk.

The dilemma was such: coming in for a chat, meant taking off my shoes which in turn meant – to my great embarrassment – revealing a hole in my sock.

“Shall I take my shoes off” I said sheepishly.

“Yeah, you can just leave them at the door” was the reply.

“Oh dear” I thought – it was actually another 4-letter word, but you get the gist.

I saw coming clean as the best course of action…

“I must apologise in advance, but I have a large hole in my sock” I said.

Now, discussing and exposing my ragged clothing – as you can imagine – was not meant to form part of the agenda for this important tête-à-tête.

Sarah’s response however was both merciful and profound…

“People are more interested in what you have to say rather than the state of your socks. And anyway, lots of people round here have holes in their socks”.

She was right. A sage lesson and one worth remembering.

Madam Mayor – I’m very much looking forward to working with you over the next year.

I have every faith you’ll be a huge success and a fantastic champion for Barnsley.

Congratulations again!

 

Ladies and gentlemen, before I go any further I’d like to say a few words about the terrible situation in Ukraine because we are joined here tonight against the backdrop of the most appalling violence and misery.

I know we are all greatly inspired by the resolve, determination and spirit shown by the Ukrainian people.

The response to the crisis from our community has been incredibly moving – we opened our hearts and our homes.

Naturally I wouldn’t have expected anything less.

We are of course twinned with a proud coalfield community in Ukraine – Horlivka.

A town which is now fighting for its very existence.

A fight it did not start, but from which it will not back down.

A few weeks ago – along with my great colleague and neighbour, Stephanie Peacock – I learned I had been personally sanctioned by the Russian parliament – something I see as a badge of honour because Barnsley stands united against Putin’s illegal invasion and we send our solidarity to our Ukrainian brothers and sisters both here and those resisting his barbaric regime.

Slava Ukraini!

 

I do also want to say a word about the Platinum Jubilee – truly a milestone in our nation’s history.

The Queen – overseeing us this evening – has been the embodiment of service and stability, a constant in our lives and it is right we recognise her unwavering dedication.

 

Ladies and gentlemen… that brings me to another fantastic ambassador, albeit one closer to home – our outgoing Mayor,

Councillor Caroline Makinson.

Caroline… you have been a wonderful advocate for our community and helped see us through the pandemic. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to you for all the work you have done – and will continue to do – for Barnsley.

Thank you.

 

I’d also like to say something about another outgoing Mayor… me!

In all seriousness, the last time I had the honour of speaking at this event was for Councillor Steve Green back in 2018 – which was only a matter days after I had been elected the inaugural Mayor of South Yorkshire, or the Sheffield City Region as it was then.

I’m now back delivering this address but no longer as Mayor.

Let me be candid, many people were surprised at my decision to stand down, but I said from the beginning that being a Mayor and an MP wasn’t a long-term arrangement.

And I meant it.

Some thought that I would step away as MP and keep going with the mayoralty, but I have a fierce loyalty to our town.

You can’t choose where you were born but you can choose where you want to be – and I chose Barnsley.

I hope everyone knows what an enormous privilege it is for me to represent our community, and how seriously I take that responsibility.

Politicians come and go, of course – and if the people of Barnsley want to get rid of me as their MP, then that is their absolute right. But I am not walking away from them.

Let me tell you why… there is so much to celebrate about Barnsley – but above all, it is the enduring spirit of our people that sets us apart.

And why I hold this place so dear, and why I was never going to walk away from it.

 

Our community knows all too well the arc of history does not always necessarily steer to a better tomorrow. But we also know that together we have the power to bend it toward a more hopeful future.

When you walk through our town, you are walking through a chronicle of our past – lessons in who we are, voices reminding us of what we have achieved, inspiration for generations to come.

Just outside, we have our square dedicated to the Barnsley Pals battalions. Men who stepped forward to answer the call during the First World War.

Miners, glassworkers, stonemasons, clerics – many of them friends and neighbours. They joined-up together, trained together, fought together and ultimately, many of them died together.

It is a legacy that inspired some of Barnsley’s finest to serve. Tom Hicks who lived in Royston – a veteran of Arnhem who helped write the Airborne Forces into the annals of history.

And Sergeant Ian McKay, who was born in the borough – another member of that proud brotherhood, posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his sacrifice on Mount Longdon 40 years ago next month.

From the First World War to the Second, to the Falklands and every other conflict beyond, Barnsley’s men and women have consistently stepped forward to answer the call.

Their story reminds us that the lone hero is a myth – we are all in fact, threads, woven together to create something much stronger.

Walk down the Huddersfield Road and you’ll find the head office of the National Union of Mineworkers – a paragon of our community built on coal.

While the Pals’ struggle took them to foreign soil, the miners’ struggle was brought to their very doorstep.

To their detriment, successive governments failed to recognise it wasn’t just coal that came out from the collieries, but community too.

Theirs was a bond forged over generations. Mineworkers and their families wouldn’t run at the first sign of hardship, they held their ground and withstood hunger, smears and violence.

Their fight is a lesson in the meaning of true solidarity.

Down in our town centre, we now have our COVID memorial sculpture – one of the first in the world.

It’s our tribute to those no longer with us, to those who lost loves ones and to those working-class heroes who sacrificed so much to keep us safe.

Barnsley's fierce love will hold you forever in its heart.

 

Our community was left devasted by the pandemic, I know everyone here this evening has their own story – me included.

That suffering will live long in the memory but so too should the resolve of those who pulled us through – our NHS

workers, carers, delivery drivers, shopworkers, posties, transport staff, and many others. Too often taken for granted but

whose true value was there for all to see during our darkest hour.

Men and women from Barnsley have fought, struggled and laboured time and time again for our tomorrow. Their journey is one we continue.

But our story isn’t just one of triumph over adversity. We are so much more.

Barnsley’s sons and daughters have a long and proud history of stepping out and shaping a better world.

Just look at who was awarded the Freedom of the Borough last month alongside our phenomenal Intensive Care Unit…

Mat Wright – the musical director of the outstanding Barnsley Youth Choir

Katherine Brunt – the world cup winning cricketer

Graham Ibbeson – the artist and sculptor

And Katherine Kelly – the acclaimed actress.

Inspirational figures, and every one of them Barnsley to their core.

 

And it isn’t just our people that are doing us proud, it’s our place.

Our town centre has undergone remarkable transformation in recent times – praise rightly goes to the Leader of our Council, Sir Steve Houghton and his team for the incredible progress we have seen.

I am however acutely aware not everyone always shares my enthusiasm for when the winds of change begin to blow!

I remember once being in complete awe stood outside our wonderful Town Hall by the newly installed fountains one summer morning – the sun was shining, children were paddling, laughter filled the air. It was a scene of pure joy.

I paused to soak up the experience when a gentleman appeared beside me.

We looked at each other, I could sense he was poised to deliver his judgement.

He then uttered the following – words that will stay with me evermore…

“It used to be a lovely little car park”

I believe Barnsley deserves more former lovely little car parks – we deserve the best because we are capable of the best.

Anyone who questions that ambition has a short memory, look at what we have achieved and how we have achieved it… as one.

 

In every direction, there is much to do. Just as we emerge from a health crisis, we have entered an economic one. Families facing hardship, businesses facing uncertainty.

The challenges we face today and those we face tomorrow are daunting but like the challenges of yesterday, they will be overcome.

You only have to walk around our community and speak to the people who make it so special to know that holds true.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you take comfort in knowing I still have holes in my socks just as I take comfort in knowing our people don’t care, they are still more interested in what you have to say.

Enjoy the rest of your evening. And Madam Mayor, congratulations once again. Thank you.

Unemployed Claimant Count April 2022 Ione Fri, 05/20/2022 - 10:41

The post The Government has Again Refused to Back Energy Sector Windfall Tax appeared first on Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth.

Liz’s MP representative Sarah Russell caught up with New Parks Community Hub Director Jo Randall as well as the brilliant Premier League Kicks team, which runs community football sessions on the Hub site. 

The Hub is a fantastic community centre for New Parks – Jo and her team have created a really welcoming environment at the centre, which hosts an incredible range of activities and events, including their Team Cafe, Team Tots sessions, and regular housing surgeries, as well as lots more. 

Sarah also had the chance to see the Hub’s new football pitch in action and meet the Premier League Kicks team. They run regular community football sessions from the site, for both children and adults. They welcome players of all abilities and sessions are free of charge- to find out more about the Kicks programme see here https://www.premierleague.com/this-is-pl/the-communities/409192Premier League Kicks

 

The post Premier League Kicks and New Parks Community Hub appeared first on Liz Kendall.

The House resumed on Tuesday 19th April, because Monday was a Bank Holiday, and I began by attending the UK Steel re-launch of the UK Steel Charter. The event brought together Government Ministers, MPs, steel producers, consumers, and other supply chain partners to discuss the issues of procurement, infrastructure, and steel’s place within it. The event celebrated new signatories, thanked existing ones, and attendees heard from organisations who support domestic supply chains and maximise social values achieved through procurement activities. But the manner by which public and private organisations source steel will fundamentally change in forthcoming years. We were told that the UK Government’s Transforming Public Procurement and Levelling Up white papers, and the Government’s Steel Procurement Task Force publications, commit to harness the power of public procurement to support jobs and local communities. The UK Steel Charter has encouraged this proactive approach for many years, and numerous public and private sector organisations, including BEIS, and devolved administrations have become supportive partners. MPs and Unions have a pivotal role in maximising opportunities and value for the steel sector. I pledged my continued support for the UK Steel Charter and my ongoing commitment for steel workers, employees, in every region of the UK.

On Tuesday, there were three Government statements in the Chamber: Global Migration Challenge (Rwanda Plan); Prime Minister’s Statement: Government Update; and BEIS Statement: Energy Security Strategy. The first statement was led by Home Secretary Priti Patel who set out her Government’s plan for immigration published in March 2021, which is based on three objectives – increase the fairness and efficiency to better protect those in genuine need of asylum, deter illegal and dangerous routes, breaking criminal smuggling networks, and remove those without a right to be in the UK. The Home Secretary set out the international agreement with Rwanda, which states that Rwanda is a state party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, operates the seven core UN human rights conventions, and has a strong system for refugee resettlement. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper disagreed and said that this statement was unworkable, shameful, and a desperate attempt to distract from the PM’s lawbreaking, and undermining the rule of law. It didn’t include costs of people transferred to Rwanda, but the Home Office had briefed that it might be £30,000 per person to cover 3 months accommodation, and that is three times the cost of dealing with an asylum case in the UK. Ms Cooper said that the top police chief and anti-slavery commissioner said that this agreement will make it harder to prosecute people traffickers. Former PM Theresa May stated that she did not support it for legal, practical and efficacy grounds.

The second statement was led by the PM who stated that on 12th April he received a fixed penalty notice (FPN) relating to an event in Downing Street on 19th June 2020, which he paid immediately, and offered a full apology to the British people, and today on the first sitting day after receiving the FPN he repeated his wholehearted apology to the House. He said that it did not occur to him then or subsequently that a gathering in the Cabinet room just before a vital meeting on Covid strategy could amount to a breach of the rules. The Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer MP, did not accept the PM’s assertions, and stated that the public has made up its mind and they do not believe a word the PM says. Many MPs questioned the PM during the 80 minute statement, and many read out heart-breaking stories of their constituents who had lost loved ones during Covid but had obeyed the rules that the PM had made, and consequently didn’t have the opportunity to visit, or pay their respects to loved ones who had died. In total, the PM apologised 35 times.

The third statement was led by the Secretary of State for BEIS, Kwasi Kwarteng, who said that the UK Government’s energy security strategy provides a clear, long-term plan to accelerate transition from expensive fossil fuel prices set by global markets, and is based on well-constituted energy policy, security, affordability and sustainability. Mr Kwarteng quoted the Chancellor’s £9 billion support package, including a £150 council tax rebate, £200 energy rebate in October, and decarbonisation of people’s homes saving low-income families £300 per year. Shadow Climate Change and Net Zero Minister, Ed Miliband MP, disagreed and said that it’s all hype, promises, and fails to live up to the scale of the energy crisis that families are facing, and once again the UK Government cannot deliver what the national interest demands.

The Online Safety Bill Second Reading was led by the Secretary of State DCMS Nadine Dorries, and was debated for two and a half hours, but was not pushed to a division. Therefore, the Bill was carried over for the Committee Stage, following the Queen’s Speech which will take place on 11th May.

On Wednesday I attended a drop in event to support the Fan-Led review of football governance organised by Fair Game UK to show that we must build a future for football that puts financial sustainability, good governance, equality standards, and fan community engagement, at the heart of football in the UK. I met former England International John Scales and Niall Cooper, the CEO of Fair Game who have both been instrumental in campaigning for reform after the failure of the European Super League. Football fans must play a central role in reform.

I also dropped in to the RNIB and LEGO Group event to celebrate their amazing initiative to develop LEGO Braille Bricks to help young people who have vision impairment to learn braille. This is a concept that is a play-based methodology which teaches braille to children who are blind or visually impaired. Each brick retains its iconic form, but the studs are arranged to correspond with numbers and letters of the Braille alphabet. Each brick also shows the printed version of the symbol or letter, so that sighted and blind children can play and learn on equal terms. Over the past 15 months RNIB has delivered training to 800 teaching professionals and distributed 2,000 sets of bricks to 220 Local Authorities. I met with teachers and students who have benefited from using the LEGO Braille Bricks and took the opportunity to try out the bricks.

I attended the TSB’s “Tackling Fraud Together” event and report launch which is campaigning for better protections for consumers against fraud. Online fraud has a significant impact on the cost of living for many families in the UK. Research by TSB found that in Wales 26% of people would not be able to afford food, and 21% would not afford their rent or mortgage, for one week, if they lost up to £500 through fraud. 53% of the claims seen by TSB are for less than £500, and I’m supporting TSB in their call for stronger action from the public and private sector to protect people from fraud. TSB has refunded 97% of fraud claims since April 2019 compared to the rest of the banking sector which has refunded less than 50%. I’m calling on other banks to refund more fraud victims.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Lords Amendments to the Subsidy Control Bill, the Building Safety Bill, and the Nationality and Borders Bill were debated in the Commons Chamber.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for BEIS, Paul Scully MP, led the first Bill, and the UK Government accepted all the Lords Amendments, apart from 46, which were then agreed to by Members without pushing to a division.

Labour supported the following Lords Amendments regarding the Building Safety Bill when they returned to the Commons:
Amendment 8: major concerns about safety in buildings should be addressed in a timely way.
115: extended the cost protections to leaseholders in buildings of all heights containing two or more residential dwellings.
117: ensured that leaseholders in enfranchised buildings are not excluded from protection.
155: reduced the maximum amount leaseholders could be made liable for fire remediation to zero.

Unfortunately, the UK Government were successful in opposing all these Lords Amendments.

There was a Government concession on Labour Lord’s Amendment 22 which ensured that social housing providers are exempt from the additional financial burden of the Government’s proposed levy, ensuring that council tenants would not subsidise the failures of private developers, and will be enacted through Secondary Legislation. There were 250 Government Lord’s amendments agreed without divisions.

We voted on 12 Lords Amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill when they returned to the Commons late Wednesday night.

Amendment 4B removed the retrospective power of the Secretary of State so that any existing deprivation orders given without notice would have to be reissued through the lawful process in the Bill.

5B ensured that nothing in the Bill authorises policies or decisions which do not comply with the Refugee Convention.

6B ensured that refugees which have been separated into 2 groups, based on whether or not they have passed through a safe third country, should have the equal entitlements. They will be given Convention and family reunion rights.

7B provided asylum seekers with a right to work whilst they are still waiting for a decision after 6 months.

8B ensured that inadmissibility rules cannot be commenced until there are safe return agreements in place.

53B-D removed offshore processing of asylum seekers from the Bill.

10B replaced family reunion rules lost under the Dublin III scheme and provided a route for unaccompanied children.

11B provided that the Secretary of State published a target for refugee resettlement each year and put in place resourcing and infrastructure to support it.

13B provided that it is only an offence if someone arrives in the UK in breach of a deportation order, rather than criminalising anyone who arrives without clearance.

20B ensured that anyone rescuing lives at sea would be protected from prosecution.

25B narrowed the prosecution of those identified as a “threat to public order” to those convicted of terrorist offences.

26B put in place 12 months of support for victims of modern slavery.

The UK Government defeated all these Lords Amendments.

On Thursday the opposition parties tabled and the House debated a censure motion entitled “Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges”, which contained: fixed penalty notices in relation to events in 10 Downing St; assertions made by the PM with regard to – the legality of these activities under Covid regulations; that no parties and no regulations were broken; appeared to mislead the House; and that this should be referred to the Privileges Committee to consider whether the PM’s conduct amounted to contempt of the House, but that this should not begin until inquiries by the Metropolitan Police have concluded. Sir Keir Starmer MP opened the debate and Angela Rayner MP closed the debate on behalf of the Opposition. The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General Michael Ellis MP wound up the debate for the Government. Angela said that she hoped it was the last time that the Minister was wheeled out to defend the indefensible, and that members from across the House have spoken about the heart-wrenching sacrifices their constituents made throughout the pandemic, and about the principles of integrity, honesty, and dignity, which are at stake. She also stated that the debate is a historic moment and it’s about the crucial question of whether the PM intentionally misled the House. The Minister said that the PM has made it clear that he is happy to face whatever inquiries Parliament sees fit, and he is happy for the House to decide how to proceed, so the Tories were not whipped, but free to vote. He also stated that the Government Amendment was tabled last night because it wanted Sue Gray to publish her report without delay and the Metropolitan Police to conclude their investigations, but now recognise that these will happen, so the Government is happy for the Labour Motion to go through. The Minister said that the PM has apologised repeatedly for what has happened. He has asked for the House’s forgiveness and should be allowed to get on with serving the country. The debate lasted for over 5 hours and, as the Minister said, the UK Government did not oppose the motion and it passed without a vote.

The Government also announced that it anticipated that Parliament will be prorogued on Thursday 28th April and will be resumed on Tuesday 11th May, when the Queen will make a speech opening the new Parliamentary session.

On Saturday 23rd May I was honoured and humbled to join many people from the local community who attended the Ukrainian Vigil in Ynysfach Primary School. A committee made up from Resolven Community Council, the ladies from the Welfare Club, and local residents was set up to organise the Vigil, which took place in the school yard. The pupils had made Ukrainian banners and flags with which they had decorated the yard, and they joined in the Vigil. Neal Francis, the Chairman and Mayor of Resolven Community Council introduced the speakers, including a local resident from Tonna who has family in Ukraine and is raising funds to send over much needed supplies including medical equipment; Jeremy Miles gave an update on Welsh Government support; and Reverend Jane Shaw said prayers and a blessing. We listened to the Black Eyed Peas song for Ukraine “Where is the Love” and the Ukrainian anthem. After the very emotional Vigil, we attended a fund-raising buffet where all the food was made by the WI, and held in Building Blocks Family Centre, hosted by the centre manager Ceri Pritchard. The local shops and clubs had sold ribbons, held raffles and collections. The total raised was an amazing £1196.66. Slava Ukraina. Slava Resolven.

The last week of the current Parliamentary session started on Monday 25th April. The business in the Chamber was – UK Government statements, Urgent Questions, and Lords Amendments returning to the Commons, to be voted down by the UK Government.

At 3.30pm on Monday, The Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace MP, updated the House on Ukraine. He said that it is 61 days since Russia invaded Ukraine and 74 days since his Russian counterpart assured him that Russia would not invade. The UK Government assessed that 15,000 Russian personnel have been killed, over 2,000 armoured vehicles, 60 helicopters and fighter jets, have been destroyed or captured. Last week the Russians admitted that the Moskva had sunk, and the Russians have refocused to try and capture Donetsk, Luhansk, Donbas, and connect with Crimea via Mariupol. The Minister listed the support he had given Ukraine: 5,000 anti-tank missiles; 5 air defence systems; 1,360 anti-structure munitions and 4.5 tonnes of plastic explosives. Also, 90,000 ration packs, 10 pallets of medical equipment, 3,000 pieces of body armour, 77,000 helmets, and 3,000 pairs of boots. The Minister stated that the PM had announced another £100 million of high grade equipment and the Minister said that Stormer vehicles will also be gifted to Ukraine. He said that the next three weeks would be key, and the UK is working with Canada, US, and EU, and that NATO is reassessing how it can deter and defend against threats. The Minister quoted the President of Ukraine who said that if Russia stops fighting there will be peace – if Ukraine stops fighting there will be no more Ukraine.

The next statement was the UK Government’s response to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance delivered by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nigel Huddleston MP, but before he called the Minister, Mr Speaker yet again voiced his disappointment that the UK Government had already released its response to the media the night before. Mr Speaker said that it was discourteous to the House and to Tracey Crouch MP who had chaired the review, and had put so much work into this and she has been cut out, but the Speaker would give her more time to speak in the statement. The Minister said that his Government endorsed all 10 strategic recommendations set out in the review, and would Implement its responsibilities, but the football authorities should implement theirs too. The UK Government also published the findings of a study by Kieran Maguire and Christina Philippou, which confirmed there is a widespread issue of fragile finances across English Football Clubs. The Minister said that the UK Government would publish a White Paper in the summer which will set out details of implementing the recommendations, including a new financial regulation regime, an independent regulator, a new directors and owners test, a minimum level of fan engagement, fans consent before changing stadium, colours, and badge, protection of players welfare, and the UK Government will implement these reforms as soon as possible. The Minister said that the Premier League should strengthen its support through the football pyramid. The Minister said that the UK Government will also launch a dedicated review of women’s football, and that the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and UEFA European Women’s final will be made available to free-to-air broadcasters. Tracey Crouch MP welcomed the UK Government’s endorsement, but said she was concerned about the timeframe for implementation, and asked the Minister to clarify: what does summer mean; will he rule out housing the independent regulator in the FA; will the owners and directors test be split into 2; does he share her disappointment that no progress has been made on discussions between football authorities regarding redistribution and parachute payments; what is his position on the transfer solidarity levy; and will there be a veto for fans on heritage matters. The Minister said that he would bring back further information about: the definition of “summer”; the home for the regulator; financial distribution agreement; and the precise nature of fan engagement and heritage assets in the forthcoming weeks.

The debate on consideration of the Lords Message for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill followed the statements, and we voted to support the Lords Amendments. The first Lords Amendment group 73, 74 ABCDEFG, and 87 ABCDEFH, removed provisions for police to impose conditions on “noisy” protests, and in-person impact to people in the vicinity of protests – defined as intimidation, harassment, serious unease, serious alarm, and serious distress. We lost by 300-220 votes. The second Lords Amendment group 80 ABCDEFH removed provisions for police to impose conditions on public assemblies, and static protests. We lost by 302-221 votes.
The next debate considered the Lords Amendments for the Health and Care Bill. We voted on Lords Amendment 29B which required workforce projections to be published every three years rather than two years, to reduce the bureaucratic burden, replacing Lords Amendment 29 which we lost last week. We again lost by 278-182 votes. We voted on Lords Amendment 80 which removed the clause relating to a cap of £86,000 on social care costs, and also stated that Local Authority contributions would not count towards the cap. Lords Amendments 80P and Q ensured that the cap cannot be brought in until results of the Trailblazer pilots schemes have been evaluated. We lost by 282-183 votes.

On Tuesday morning I joined the AGM of the Environment All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and was re-elected as one of the vice-chairs. The Green Alliance was confirmed to continue as the secretariat. Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP, who was the UK Government Minister who signed net zero into law, was elected as chair. We discussed the work and events programme for the next twelve months, including meetings on energy security with the Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Greg Hands MP, environment land management with the Minister for Farming, Fisheries, and Food, Victoria Prentice MP, and CBD COP15 with the Minister for the Pacific and International Environment, Lord Goldsmith.

In the afternoon I chaired the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee which debated The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2022. This instrument will enable the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to raise and collect a levy on employers in the construction industry. The levy funds the expenses of the CITB in carrying out its functions encouraging training in the industry under the Industrial Training Act 1982. The purpose is to address market failure in the development and maintenance of skills in the construction industry. A previous instrument in 2018 allowed levies to be collected in 2018, 2019, 2020, but the 2021 instrument allowed for a one year levy to halve the 2018 rate in response to the pandemic. The instrument debated in this committee allowed the rates to return to the 2018 levy, and extended it for the levy periods ending in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The increased threshold for small employers remained unchanged. I called on the Minister, Alex Burghart MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, to open the debate by moving the motion, but he only managed to read the title of the motion, when the division bells rang, and I had to suspend the debate so that members of the committee could vote on Lords amendments of the Judicial Review and Courts Bill.

Labour abstained on Lords Amendments 1 and 5, and voted to support Lords Amendment 11, which introduced a new entitlement for bereaved persons to receive publicly funded representation in inquests where public bodies are legally represented (Hillsborough Law) and we lost by 299-168 votes.

I resumed the Delegated Legislation Committee after all the votes had taken place. The Minister moved the motion and opened the debate. The Opposition Spokesperson Toby Perkins MP responded and asked the Minister questions, but did not oppose the instrument, which was passed without a vote.

The UK Government added the Nationality and Borders Bill to the end of Tuesday’s business. Starting at 10.30pm we voted again on three of the Lords Amendments that we had voted to support last week when we were defeated by the UK Government and sent back to the Lords for “ping-pong” (when Lords Amendments to a UK Government Bill are voted down in the Commons and sent back to the Lords to be re-amended or conceded). Labour again supported Lords Amendment 5D, losing 296-206; Lords Amendment 6DEF losing 299-205; and Lords Amendment 7FG losing 288-212. These amendments were then sent back to the Lords for them to decide whether to concede defeat on these amendments or send them back to the Commons for more ping-pong.

On Wednesday I joined the APPG on Rare, Genetic and Undiagnosed Conditions for Undiagnosed Children’s Day (29th April). Approximately 6,000 children are born every year with a genetic condition likely to remain undiagnosed. There are multiple factors which stop someone from receiving a diagnosis, for example, some people may not be able to access tests to identify their condition, while others may have a condition so rare it is yet to be discovered. We heard from two speakers: Marie Pritchard, representative from SWAN UK, which is run by the Genetic Alliance UK Charity and provides 24/7 support for its members, on her experience of having a child with “a syndrome with no name” and Nick Meade, Joint Interim Chief Executive and Director of Policy at Genetic Alliance UK, who spoke on the findings from the Good Diagnosis report which underlies the importance of diagnosis for people living with rare conditions and sets out some guiding principles for diagnosis: increasing awareness of rare conditions among healthcare professionals; people with rare conditions should receive information and support throughout their diagnosis; and a good diagnosis patient rights charter should be developed. I asked Nick what he thought of the Welsh Government Rare Diseases Implementation Plan and he said that it was clear, ambitious, and achievable.

The Elections Bill came back to the Commons on Wednesday night for some “ping-pong”. Labour has advocated that voting is safe and secure in Britain and Ministers should be promoting confidence in our elections, rather than threatening our democracy, by proposing a voting ID system taken from the Republican Party Playbook. In the 2019 General Election, there was one prosecution for voter impersonation out of over 59 million votes. Three and a half million people of the UK electorate do not have access to any form of photo ID. We saw the severe consequences of the Windrush scandal when communities struggled to provide official documentation. Labour supported Lords Amendments 22 and 23 tabled by Lord Judge which removed clauses that make provision for a power to designate a “Strategy and Policy Statement” for the Electoral Commission which will be drafted by the Government, and will undermine the independence of the Commission. Amendment 22 was defeated by 306-215 votes, and Amendment 23 was defeated by 306-213 votes. Labour supported Lords Amendment 86 tabled by Lord Willets, which added a list of documents that would be accepted as a form of identification for electors voting at polling stations, many of which are non-photographic, but this was defeated 306-213. Parliamentary protocol stipulates that because I chaired the Committee Stage of the Elections Bill I was not allowed to vote on the other stages of this Bill.

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Baca artikel lainnya di: Link Situs Judi Bola Terpercaya Alternatif, Solusi Paling Tepat Bermain

The post Keuntungan Saat Memainkan Situs Judi Slot Online appeared first on Chrisleslie.

Today Nottingham City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen responded to the Government’s long overdue “Levelling Up” White Paper, cautiously welcoming the next steps on devolution but highlighting that these words do little to reverse the damage that twelve years of unprecedented Conservative cuts has caused to Nottingham. 

Cllr Mellen said: “Nottingham people will hear the Government talking about ‘levelling up’ today, but they will wonder what it really means for them in their daily lives and what it means for the place they call home. That is the big test for the Government.

“Words from Government Ministers won’t deal with the soaring cost of energy and food or assist with the enormous pressures on household budgets. In April many of the people I represent will see big increases in National Insurance, steeply rising prices for home-energy and the government’s adult social care levy added to Council Tax bills yet again.

“I’ve worked proactively with colleagues in other Councils across Nottinghamshire to make the case to government about the investment our area desperately needs after 12 long years of cuts and underfunding.

“We’ve always been pro- devolution in Nottingham, but detail in terms of additional powers and new investment must be forthcoming. If Government is serious about genuine devolution for our area it has to be about more investment, better transport infrastructure, higher skills for local people and creating more good jobs in our area.

“The East Midlands region has suffered greatly over the past decade with chronic under investment. Our residents and our businesses expect and deserve much better than the sustained funding cuts we’ve seen and the huge regional funding variations with the East Midlands often losing out.

“If the government is finally recognising that to create stronger regional growth that the investment is required I absolutely welcome that.

“It is imperative that the Minister matches his word with deeds and begins to deliver in a meaningful way.  As a Core City, Nottingham has much to be proud of and much to build on. We have ambitious plans to truly unlock the potential of our area and be at the heart of growth in our region, plans that are ready to be put into action if we get the green light on funding.

“I urge the government to work with us, to adequately fund local public services, which continue to be under severe strain, to invest in the huge potential of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands and to start to deliver for people.”

The post City Council Leader Responds to “Levelling Up” Announcement appeared first on Nottingham Labour.

Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East, stood up for the thousands of Menopause Warriors in Wales during the Welsh Grand Committee debate earlier this week as she discussed the work of the menopause revolution and how it is benefiting women across the nation. 

 

A key success of Carolyn Harris’ Private Member’s Bill last year was the formation of the Menopause Task Force, of which Carolyn is co-chair, which will be holding its inaugural meeting in the coming weeks.  

 

Through the Taskforce, Carolyn aims to totally transform menopause support and services for women right across Wales and the UK with three key aims- to improve diagnosis and treatment pathways; to ensure women have the understanding and support they need from doctors, employers and their families; and to develop the school curriculum so the next generation are better educated on the menopause. 

 

Carolyn has also been working closely with the Welsh Labour Government, who have put the menopause high on the political agenda, to make the  improvements in healthcare and education so that women in Wales will be able to access the support and services they need when it comes to menopause care.

Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East, said:

“2021 saw the menopause revolution really take off.  We have already achieved so much in breaking down the barriers and getting people talking about the menopause, putting the menopause high on the political agenda.

 

“In Wales, we are so lucky to be able to access HRT free of charge thanks to the Welsh Labour Government, but I’m looking forward to working with Welsh Government colleagues to make further improvements to menopause support and services to ensure women across Wales can always access the support and services they need.

 

“Our combined efforts across the Senedd and Westminster are helping us revolutionise menopause care throughout the UK to help keep women wonderful.  There should be no politics in women’s health, and we must work together cross-party and with the devolved governments to make a difference to women’s lives and achieve our common goals.”

Right now, the pros of distance learning in school are not at all obvious to thousands of teachers. It seems that distance education is nothing but inconvenience, a threat to discipline and academic performance. But it isn't: distance education has many advantages. 

Here are some of them.

 The opportunity to work with each student individually. 

1) Distance teaching technology helps to find a personal approach to each student. There are times when a shy child is shy to work actively in a classroom where twenty classmates are staring at him. 
But such a shy kid feels freer at a distance, asks the teacher questions in a chat room, and successfully completes tasks. And the teacher can choose additional tasks for such students, which correspond to their aptitudes, to maintain an interest in learning. 
Distance learning is a great chance to get to know your students better.

 2) Automate routine processes.

Simply put, technology can take over the most boring part of a teacher's job. For example, checking homework and compiling classroom statistics. On average, using technologies with automatic checking will save at least 1-2 hours per day, if not more. This system works very simply: the teacher goes to the site, selects a subject, class and topic, finds the appropriate assignment and sends a link to the students, and then just look at the same site to see how they did. 

 3) A chance to learn new technology. 

The high demand for teachers with distance learning experience is a reality. Knowing how to use interactive learning platforms, Google Docs, electronic workbooks, and video conferencing services increases your value in the job market and gives you a chance to find a part-time job at an online school (and there are many such schools, they are growing and in need of new personnel). But even more valuable are the skills to organize your time, work with students remotely, and be able to monitor and motivate them from a distance. If you can manage it now, by the next school year you can try your hand at online tutoring.

4) Game assignments. 

Distance learning involves a very active use of digital technology. Including gamified tasks: online games, quizzes, interactive tasks for ingenuity. Let us not forget that for any child the game is the most natural way to learn the world. And older students like these more dry tasks from the textbook. Games not only make learning fun - they help to evaluate progress and bring to school an element of healthy competition. Learning games are not part of the official curriculum, but we recommend that you dilute regular assignments with them. A child who enjoys learning will make more progress than one who is bored in class.

Minuses of Distance Education

1. Limited choice

Unfortunately, not everything can be learned remotely. In some cases, you cannot do without practical studies under the guidance of an experienced tutor. You can study history or literature remotely, you can become an excellent designer or programmer. But you cannot learn to be a pilot or a surgeon.

Perhaps that will change in the near future. One day, virtual reality technology will allow people from different parts of the world to participate in collaborative lab work. When that happens, the list of professions and skills that can be learned remotely will greatly expand.

2. Lack of face-to-face interaction
Face-to-face learning is not only valuable as a set of knowledge. An important element of offline learning is personal communication. While getting traditional higher education, a student spends several years simmering in the swirling cauldron of university life. He interacts with professors and classmates in an informal setting. These interactions can generate amazing ideas and dramatically change people's lives.

3. the absence of positive "side effects
The fact that distance learning gives a person a specific set of knowledge can be considered not only a plus, but also a minus. By studying remotely, a person deprives himself of many of the positive "side effects" of academic education.

For example, the process of taking notes on long lectures trains the speed of writing, develops mechanical memory, and teaches on the fly to isolate the most important fragments from the flow of information. All these skills are very useful in everyday life, but distance learning does not provide them.

The post Benefits of Distance Education appeared first on Berger.

End Fire and Rehire Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 10/22/2021 - 16:02

Visit my Facebook page for upto date news on my work as your Member of Parliament.

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A&E @ the Glam – Strength in Unity

I have said from the very beginning that if we are to ensure a 24 hour A&E Service at RGH then we need to forget about Party Politics, and come together to work cross-party.

We need you to play your part too, by signing the below letter. If you wish to do so then please let me know by filling in the form at the bottom of this page:

 

The configuration of Emergency NHS services across Cwm Taf Morgannwg has changed over the years – and will continue to change along with medical advances and changes in the local population. We welcome, for instance, the development of the new Major Trauma Centre at UHW, which will almost certainly save lives and we recognise that for some specialist forms of care it will be necessary to travel to a regional centre of excellence such as the Burns Unit at Morriston. We also understand that there is a UK-wide shortage of Emergency Consultants. and that Cwm Taf Morgannwg is not in a unique position with the recruitment challenges it faces,but would note that 5 of the 7 LHBs in Wales have substantially increased emergency consultant numbers over the last 6 years whereas Cwm Taf Morgannwg has not. We would argue that the uncertainty created over the future of the hospital due to the South Wales Programme has itself created a self-fulfilling prophecy about recruitment problems.

Our starting point, however, is that all NHS services should be safe, efficient and delivered as close to people’s homes as is medically and logistically feasible. Time-critical medical interventions can make the difference between life and death in many emergency situations and we are concerned that if the A&E were permanently to close at any one of the three hospitals, significant numbers of patients in some of the most deprived communities would not be able to get to an Emergency Department in time. A&E cannot be seen in isolation from other services such as GP surgeries, local minor injuries units and out-of-hours support. Additional capacity in these services would almost certainly lighten the load in the Emergency Departments, but this must be put in place before any changes to the configuration of Emergency Care is considered, let alone implemented, with evidence that they have substantially reduced the load on Emergency departments required before any changes. Changes to A&E provision at any one of the hospitals would have serious implications for other services within the hospital, including ITU and theatre and might harm the recruitment of other specialists.

There would be significant knock-on effects if the A&E at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital were to be downgraded to a Minor Injuries Unit, as the hospital would almost certainly lose its Intensive Care Unit and operating theatre. This could jeopardise the long-term future of the hospital. The RGH’s Emergency Department is the most used in the area, with roughly 65,000 attendances a year, and ranked the best in terms of viable outcomes.  We fear the two other Emergency Departments would find it impossible to cope with the additional workload and that many patients will travel instead to UHW, which is also already over-stretched. We are also concerned that extra A&E admissions to PCH and POW would put additional pressure on not just their respective A&E depts but onwards and throughout the hospital system. We are determined to work with people of all political parties and trades unions (and none) to get the best possible outcome for the communities we represent. We believe the eventual decision should be informed by clinical best practice and local experience on the ground – and not by any partisan consideration.

We are calling on the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to do the following:
1) Rule out the closure of A&E at the RGH or changing it to a 24-hour Minor Injuries Unit.
2) Reinstate the option of maintaining a full consultant-led A&E at all three hospitals. This would require a serious new attempt at recruiting Emergency Consultants who would have secure full-time permanent posts working across all three hospitals. It would also require at least a ten-year commitment to RGH so that potential staff can apply with confidence.
3) Bring forward proposals to extend the opening hours of the Minor Injuries Unit at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda and Ysbyty Cwm Cynon and make these units more readily accessible for walk-in patients.
4) Bring forward other proposals for community health services, including improvements in the out-of-hours GP service, that might alleviate the pressure on all three A&E departments
and bring services closer to local communities.

In addition, we are calling on the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to publish the following:
1) A socioeconomic and equality impact assessment of any proposed changes.
2) Detailed analyses of travel-to-hospital times, average ambulance response times and levels of car ownership, for all electoral wards in the area. that analyses such times during periods of poor weather.
3) Detailed statistics for levels of ischemic heart disease, diabetes, stroke and infant and adult mortality for all electoral wards in the area. and how they compare with the Welsh averages/wealthier wards in Wales.
4) An assessment of how many patients from each electoral ward would be affected by a proposal to move to an 8 to 8, and 8 to 10 and an 8 to midnight Emergency Department.
5) An assessment of capacity in the Emergency Departments at POW, PCH, and UHW and how they would cope with additional patients.
6) Statistics for the number of patients who are admitted on towards at each hospital from A&E.
7) An assessment of the impact to the Welsh Ambulance Service, Ambulance response times, handover response times, in terms of waiting times at hospitals, blue light trauma travel times
and non-emergency transport between hospitals.

The post A&E at The Royal Glam appeared first on Chris Bryant.

First of all, thank you to everyone who has sent such kind messages to me after last night’s result in Birmingham Northfield. Even though I never took this election – or any election – for granted, it is still a big blow to lose the seat I have represented for 27 years and which is […]

Labour has pledged compensation packages for millions of women hit by state pension age rises imposed by the Tories.

Pay-outs of up to £31,000 will be made, with an average payment of £15,000.

The scheme will be delivered within Labour's first full five year term of government.

Payments will go to women born in the 1950s who had their state pension age hiked.

David Cameron's coalition government presided over a change in the law that increased the women's state pension age to 65 in November 2018 - followed by 66 in October 2020.

Labour will introduce a compensation scheme as rapidly as possible for the 3.7million women hit by the changes, which Cameron's Tory-Lib Dem government imposed in 2011.

It comes after Boris Johnson u-turned on his pledge to help those affected.

He dismissed the concerns of a woman who has lost out on her pension, telling her it’s “not possible” to right the huge wrong she and so many others have suffered.

The next Labour government will compensate women who were unfairly hit by the rise in the state pension age and give them the respect they deserve.

They were not able to prepare and have had to suffer serious financial consequences as a result.

We have a historic debt of honour to them.