Dear Newcastle January 7th  2020

I hope it is not too late to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and indeed a New Decade. I am immensely grateful to everyone in Newcastle Central, whether you voted for me or not, for the opportunity to be your Member of Parliament once again. It is a huge honour and privilege, and as I said in my acceptance speech when elected on December 12^th, it is an education. I learn so much from the people of Newcastle, about solidarity, hope, kindness and endurance. After ten years of austerity another Conservative Government means that no respite is in sight. Boris Johnson may claim to be the ‘King of the North’ but his policies will soon prove otherwise.

Anne Frank Ambassadors at Excelsior School

Thanks to Newcastle Central voters and the hard work of Newcastle City Council staff, I was  the first MP to be elected and for a brief period Parliament was entirely Labour. However by Friday morning the scale of our defeat was clear as constituencies from Blyth to Warrington turned blue. Jeremy Corbyn is stepping aside as the leader of the Labour Party, the timetable for the leadership contest has been announced. I nominated Emily Thornberry and Rosena Allin Khan for leader and deputy leader respectively. I have yet to decide who I will be voting for, but I wanted to make sure these strong, feisty, women leaders were on the ballot.  I set out my criteria for the leadership in a blog:

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-leader-hustings_uk_5e15c0bac5b6c7b859d360a7?ncid=other_twitter_cooo9wqtham&utm_campaign=share_twitter

As the newly returned Member of Parliament my first official engagement was with the BKW Residents Association in Elswick for their Winter Festival. Strong communities are essential for a thriving city.  For the new decade, my first official engagement was to welcome the children of Westgate Hill Primary School to Westminster. Meeting young people from Newcastle and those who serve their communities  always give me hope for the future!.

Westgate Primary student council in Parliament

Backbench and Constituency Role

• During the election I was a candidate, not an MP,  so I could not take up any casework but I am pleased to say the office continued to function in Newcastle, albeit with reduced capacity.  Most of the activities in this report are from before the election.
• I spoke from the backbenches 13 times in October Oral Q: Universal Credit ID (7^th), Topical: Benefit Freeze 2020 (7^th), Nazinin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (7^th), Prep for no deal (8^th), Racism in football (15^th), NI abortion (16^th), Sexual Harrassment at work (17^th), Pornography Age verification (17^th), Service Personnel recruitement (21^st), Queens Speech Response on the NHS (23^rd), Share Rural Broadband (28^th), Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment (29^th), Leaving the EU: workers rights (29^th)

I put down  8 written questions Written Questions in October: Northumbria Police: Northern Ireland (4^th), Fracking insurance (14^th), Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges (14^th),  Digital Technology: procurement (14^th), Local Government adverts (16^th), London Summit (16^th), Fracking consultation (14^th), Armed Forces Recruitment (21^st)

Shadow Ministerial and PES Role

• I spoke from the frontbench once in October on Electric vehicles  & Labour’s Green Industrial Deal (October 22^nd)

Organisation

• Gareth completed his PHD placement in the Newcastle Office and has now returned to Newcastle University. He is much missed but James Bamborough made an excellent start as my Parliamentary Assistant.
• Jessica Foster, our Newcastle Apprentice, completed her apprenticeship and won an excellent permeant job. We are now recruiting a new apprentice.

Media

Featured in national and local media before and during the election including Domestic Abuse Campaign interview with Metro Radio, BBC Sunday Politics, Capital Radio UAE Sports Show interview.

BKW Tenants Association Winter Festival in Elswick

Meetings and visits

City Baths Ground Floor tour, Jeremy Corbyn Rally, Anne Mensah Netflix, Federation of Small Businesses, US Embassy Aldrin Foundation Space Reception, GSK, APPG Africa Roundtable HM Trade Commissioner to Africa, How the Islamic World Influenced Western Art, Kew’s Botanic Gardens, Michael Buraimoh – Nigeria, Singapore Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Tan Wu Meng, Women Researchers at the UK Parliament, Holocaust Educational Trust Orientation Seminar, Community Leisure UK, Artsmark Celebration Week St John’s Primary School visit, Slug and Lettuce, Alison Blackburn Newcastle Disability Forum Chair, Election of the new Speaker: BAME Labour MPs Meeting, Raise Awareness and Discuss the Importance of Finding Suitable Accommodation for Women Released from Prison, Discuss Labour’s Race and Faith Manifesto, APPG Africa AGM, Celebration of English Wine, Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin Leaving Dinner, Make Menopause Matter, Taste of Sweden, WASPI, 25 Years of Eaga Charitable Trust, APPG Inquiry into the Sales Capabilities of SMEs Report Launch, Tech Tools and Data with Nick Lowles Hope Not Hate, Meeting the Battery Challenge Dinner Discussion, Media Awards 2019 to Mark Anti-Slavery Day, Institute of Physics Business Awards, Premier League Reception, Mrs T’s Café 4^th Anniversary,

Mrs Ts Café in Blakelaw

HSBC Anti-Slavery Day Event, Labour Bloc Let Us Be Heard March, Ghana Delegation, IPT UK Economic Diplomacy Priorities Post-Brexit, Festival of Learning: Celebrating Achievement in Lifelong Learning, Lord Freyberg and Annemarie Naylor, APPG for Children Who Need Palliative Care, Creative Industries, Food Standards Agency, Bridget Riley Exhibition, Reception in Honour of Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, APPG on Mozambique AGM, Runnymede Trust Black History Month event, Launch of Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for their Faith 2017-19, Honour the Retirement of the Speaker, Mitzvah Day, Embassy of Ireland Celebrate Black History Month, Gatsby Foundation, Dame Jackie Daniel Chief Executive Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sainsbury’s Reverse Vending Recycling Trial, RSPB, Black History Month Celebration, Parliamentary Space Committee APPG AGM, British Council’s Future Leaders, APPG on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform AGM, Builders Merchants Federation Innovation, Being Black British and Muslim today, ENA’s Pathways to Net-Zero: Decarbonising the Gas Network in Great Britain, How Vocational Training Can Transform the Lives of African Women, Embassy of Japan.

 

Speaking

Burger King Objection public meeting, Diversity in Energy Summit 2019, Digital Transformation Expo Europe, Rolls Royce Reps Meeting, CBI Companies Committee Meeting, Anne Frank + You Exhibition Launch, Democracy Café, Labour Black History Month Business Roundtable, Chair Roundtable Meeting with Andrew Stephenson MP, Ndi IGBO North East England, Hadrian School Pendower Land call.

 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, will undertake a charity parachute jump to raise funds for Florence Croce, a five year old from Dukinfield with a rare life-limiting illness.

Florence has Gangliosidosis GM1, an inherited disorder that progressively destroys the brain and spinal cord and which will slowly take away her ability to walk, talk and swallow.

Gwynne met with Florence’s mum Jenny in October and will be meeting Florence herself later this month ahead of the jump in May.

Florence lives in Dukinfield with her mum Jenny and big brother Riccardo, who are raising funds so that they can:

• ensure Florence gets the very best treatment possible.
• try to get Florence to America to join the Cure GM1 trials.
• contribute towards the adaptations to Florence’s house so that she can stay with her family as long as possible.
• make memories for Florence, her brother Riccardo and their family.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“Having heard so much about Florence from her mum, I am really looking forward to meeting her soon.

 

“Florence’s mum Jenny told me about Gangliosidosis GM1, the hideous disease that will slowly take away Florence’s ability to walk, talk, swallow until, eventually, the worst will happen.

 

“I am terrified of heights but have decided to take part in a parachute jump to raise funds for Florence and would encourage everyone who can to donate to this cause.”

You can read more about Florence and donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jenny-croce-fallout

At the start of the week I met with some inspiring ambassadors from The Voices Network, who represent asylum seekers and refugees from across the world. It was great to talk about what we can do to overcome the harsh and unfair family reunion rules the UK Government imposes, hindering families moving forward with their lives, while their loved ones remain in danger. We also discussed detention policies and ways to improve the asylum process. All too often, we forget that behind the statistics and political wranglings are human stories. The Voices Network website has some really important testimonials on what it’s like to be in the position of being a refugee and the awful realities you must face.

On Wednesday, I was on the Labour Front Bench in my role as Shadow Secretary of State for the first Wales Questions session of this Parliament. I pressed the Secretary of State for Wales about properly supporting Welsh steel workers, and demanded the UK Government intervene and reduce energy prices for the industry. Liberty Steel’s announcement last week that they were to cut more than 350 jobs, 72 of which would be cut from its plant in Newport, has led to huge concern for workers and families about the future of steel in Wales. The UK Government has to do more to protect the Welsh steel industry and make sure that Welsh steel workers get a fair deal – following the hands-on commitments from the Welsh Labour Government.

In a lively session, many Welsh Labour MPs demanded to know about the funding that has been promised to Wales through the Shared Prosperity Fund that should replace the £680 million that comes from the EU each year. The Welsh Labour Government needs answers so that businesses and communities can plan their support for the Welsh people after this year.

The UK Government also seems to forget that Wales extends to the west of Cardiff and Welsh MPs also demanded answers over electrification of trains travelling between Cardiff and Swansea and other investment promises into Welsh infrastructure.

Away from the Commons Chamber, I am really pleased to have been elected as Co-Chair of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hairdressing, Barbering and Cosmetology. We had our first meeting where we heard how barbers and salons can play such an important and positive role in alleviating loneliness and providing a lively hub for the community. In the current climate on our high streets, hairdressers and barbers have been among the more resilient small businesses, but their staying power isn’t their only strength. We were joined at the meeting by the Lions Barbers Collective, barbers who work to raise awareness of male suicide. Barbers, hairdressers, and beauty therapists can play such an important part in supporting people suffering from loneliness and mental health issues and it’s a really exciting prospect to be part of a group that will work with representatives from across the industry and charities to see how we can support communities in their fight against loneliness and mental health.

If you have any questions or issues and want to get in touch, please do not hesitate to drop us an email on christina.rees.mp@parliament.uk or call us on 01639 630152.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Thank you Lord Mayor

In January 2019 I made the pledge that the City of Nottingham would be carbon neutral by 2028. This was an ambitious pledge, which then transferred into our Manifesto and now is part of the Council Plan. The motion I brought to Full Council was passed unanimously, and I am hoping that today’s actions will also be welcomed across the political spectrum.

I am taking this opportunity to make the formal declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency, something which I was unable to do last year, but seems ever more important in the light of recent events.

The realisation of the seriousness of our situation surely cannot have been missed by even the most sceptical citizen. Around the world there are shocking events, which, taken individually might not be an indication of climate change, but when one seems to come around every corner the connection becomes clear.

Since my motion last year we have had:

• Probably the 2^nd hottest year on record
• Summer heatwaves in Europe, smashing temperature records
• Flooding around the world, including the UK and recently Indonesia,
• Drought in Zambia and eastern Africa, parts of Australia, and South America – Santiago the Capital of Chile received only 25% of its normal rainfall last year.
• Wildfires in Siberia and Alaska as well as terrible devastation in South America and more recently in Australia.
• Extremely powerful cyclones in Japan, the Caribbean and east Africa.
• Shrinking glaciers and ice caps in the Alps, Greenland, Antarctica and the Himalayas
• Coral reefs, some of the most diverse and beautiful ecosystems on the planet are suffering repeated bleaching events due to rising sea temperatures and are genuinely threatened.

None of this is good news, heatwaves, floods, cyclones and wildfires all directly threaten people’s lives and the ecosystems on which they depend. Shrinking glaciers and ice caps threaten coastlines around the world with inundation and reduce flow of water downstream, threatening drought to people dependent on river flows for agriculture and their water supply.

Around the world the ability of people to feed their families is affected by all these devastating events, and without healthy natural environments their long term future is threatened, creating a growing number of environmental refugees.

Here in Nottingham we are in a relatively safe place, we mostly have decent quality of housing, are comparatively well served by public services and the UK is not particularly vulnerable to the most devastating hazards, however, our citizens will gradually notice the impacts of changes in the environment. We will be increasingly affected by the changes both here and around the world, our young people are aware of the growing risk and are rightly demanding we take action.

Although we have not been hit by devastating disasters I’m sure members have noticed changes we are experiencing, last year in July, we experienced a new record temperature for the city of 36 degrees. I reckon we’ve only had one decent frost this winter, and we’ve had more heavy rainfall, and, in a city with significant rivers such as the Day Brook, the Leen and the Trent the risk of fluvial flooding is heightened. Anyone living at the bottom of a slope, of which there are many in the city, is also vulnerable to flooding from surface run-off as water rushes down hardened surfaces under gravity. Already, we as a city, are having to take increasing action to protect our citizens, which is why I had the pledge to protect a further 1,000 homes from flooding included in our manifesto, and now the Council plan.

More vulnerable citizens, young and old, and with existing health conditions are the ones who will be most severely impacted, and it is vital that we do not allow climate change to worsen increasing inequalities.

As a Council, one of our most fundamental duties is to protect our citizens from emergency situations, and we have a duty to take a lead in reducing emissions to protect future generations from the worst potential impacts of climate change.

There is also our wider responsibility as a Core City, recognised for its excellent record on climate change to lead on carbon neutrality in the country.

Do any of us want to live in a world where there are no polar bears, koalas, snow leopards and coral reefs? Obviously not, but that is what is staring us in the face, a real possibility that, within our lifetimes polar bears will starve to death because of the loss of sea ice, koalas will not survive because of destruction of their forest habitat and in particular the eucalyptus trees on which they depend, snow leopards are adapted to hunt in the high mountain areas of central Asia where the quantity of snow is depleting rapidly and coral reefs may well be bleached out of existence by warming seas.

Do we want to turn on the news and be bombarded every day with grim reports of more death and destruction by extreme weather events? Do we want people to be increasingly driven from their homes becoming environmental refugees because of sea level rise? Of course not.

More particularly, do we want mortality rates of our more vulnerable citizens to rise because of the impacts of heat waves in the summer, the increased threat of serious flood events in the city and the cost of food rising as the vegetable growing regions of the world, including Lincolnshire are inundated by rising sea levels? No we do not!

We want future generations to have a good quality of life, and, in order to help make that happen we need to join with all the other regions, cities, towns and parishes around the world who have made the commitment to make changes now in order to preserve our future.

We have made a good start. As the Charter before Council outlines, we have made significant progress in cutting carbon emissions already, from the Nottingham Climate Change Declaration, made in 2000. So far our emissions are down by an impressive 41% since 2005.

Various key actions have helped our progress towards this reduction, the use of our EnviroEnergy District Heating scheme, to heat 5,000 homes and businesses, a wide range of energy saving measures in homes, including large scale retro-fitting of Council Housing, for example in Clifton and Lenton Abbey, the establishment of Robin Hood Energy which now supplies green electricity to city residents and the Workplace Parking Levy, which enabled us to provide high quality public transport improvements to encourage people to get out of their cars and get on the tram or our electric buses.

These schemes have benefitted the city, not just in terms of carbon reduction, but by reducing air pollution, so that we now have the cleanest air of any UK city, reducing fuel poverty among our most vulnerable citizens and enhancing quality of life.

Since my motion last year we have continued to make progress for example:

• Converting more of our fleet, so that by the end of this year 30% will be EV, saving 2,500 tonnes of Co2 in their lifetime,
•  Installed more solar panels equivalent to 866 tonnes of CO2 during the year,
• Improved cycle routes around Clifton and the Meadows,

We have worked with partners in One Nottingham Green Partnership to develop the Carbon Neutral Charter and received support from many people and organisations. On Friday when I met with local members of Extinction Rebellion they congratulated the Council on the quality of analysis and vision of the Charter. It is a very high quality document which clearly sets out the challenges we face and the path we need to take to achieve our ambitious goals. At the core of this Charter is the expectation that this carbon reduction will take place in an environment which will deliver further benefits to our citizens.

• Continuing to improve air quality, reducing health problems and improving quality of life,
• Having a more sustainable built environment, enabling sustainable communities.
• Creating jobs in the green economy, our own “green industrial revolution”,
• And creating a more safe and attractive city, with good access to natural environments improving wellbeing and health.

Now we are launching consultation on our Draft Action Plan, which is ambitious and far reaching.  It is a plan for today, with understanding of today’s technologies and opportunities, it is the first plan, and will need to be reviewed regularly in order to maximise new opportunities and ensure we are on the right track.

We need to talk to everyone. We need to hear what people from every part of the city have to say about this vital issue, all generations, from different backgrounds. We hope that in the next few months everyone will get to have their say. Whether they live, work or study in the city, we want everyone to get on board and help us achieve this challenging target.

The Council cannot do this alone, everyone will need to play their part, even in the smallest way. Can we ask and support all our citizens to take simple and cheap actions?

• Switch to a renewable energy tariff,
• Reduce the quantity of meat and dairy they consume,
• Reduce car use, even if it’s just a couple of days a week,
• Plant a tree if they have the space in their garden,
• Increase their recycling and do it right!

Employers can easily help:

• By allowing staff to work from home,
• Gradually converting their essential vehicles to electric,
• Explore the opportunities for carbon neutral deliveries and improve energy efficiency of their premises.
• Make use of technology to video conference to reduce the amount of travel.

How can the government help?

• Speed up the phase out of petrol and diesel vehicles and incentivise people to change from more polluting cars.
• Provide funding for home owners to invest in insulation,
• Change planning regulations to ensure high level energy efficiency in new buildings,
• Invest in the electricity grid to enable new developments to access renewable energy, including projects like our Vehicle to Grid.

Over the coming years, more radical change will be needed, and the Council must lead the City on that more difficult path, among other things we will need to

• support our citizens to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and encourage people in communities to get involved,
• ensure that the benefits of new opportunities make a difference to the people we serve,
• monitor progress towards the goal,
• continue to seek funding from every available source to help deliver the huge scale of retro-fitting of poorly insulated homes and to extend our sustainable transport offer,
• collaborate with partner organisations, in the public, private and voluntary sectors to learn from them and ensure we are all pulling together to reduce blockages to progress,
• And be adaptable, so that our plans can change according to developments in technology, politically and in society.

As Councillors I hope we can speak as one on this vital issue, that we can lead our communities towards this cleaner, greener, healthier city and maintain our number one position nationally, while making a small but important contribution to global action.

Cllr Sally Longford.

The post Cllr Sally Longford’s Speech at January Full Council on Carbon Neutrality appeared first on Nottingham Labour.

Last month’s election was disastrous for the Labour Party. Whilst it is a huge honour to have been re-elected to represent Newcastle North, we face another four and a half years of a Conservative Government delivering the hardest of Brexits and Tory policies. We have let so many of our supporters and those that need … Continue reading Labour Leadership – Why I’m backing Jess Phillips and Ian Murray →

The post Greater Manchester Bus Consultation Response appeared first on Debbie Abrahams, Labour Candidate for Oldham East and Saddleworth.

Bristol South MP Karin Smyth has revealed that she is supporting Keir Starmer in his bid to become Labour Party Leader.

She has nominated Dawn Butler for Deputy Leader and also supports Angela Rayner.

She said: “All the declared candidates for Leader have very strong attributes; and I am confident that whoever wins will rise to the challenge and take the fight to Boris Johnson and the Tories.

“I am backing Keir Starmer.

“I worked closely with Keir both in my previous role as his Parliamentary Private Secretary and in my current role as Shadow Northern Ireland Minister. He’s campaigned with me here in Bristol South, most recently during last month’s General Election campaign.

“As part of his team, I’ve seen first-hand what a good leader he is and, when welcoming him to Bristol South, how well regarded he is on the doorstep. I have every confidence in him to lead the Labour Party and hold the government to account and I will work with him to achieve this.

“I think that both Angela Rayner and Dawn Butler would make excellent Deputy Leaders. Angela has already secured enough nominations, so I nominated Dawn; I look forward to hearing more from both of them – along with Keir – during the selection process.”

at the start of the new year I was at Newton-le-Willows station,  talking to local commuters, alongside the Chair of Merseytravel, Liam Robinson, and local Labour councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron. Passengers across St Helens North in Newton, Rainford, Earlestown and Garswood are putting up with cancelled and delayed services every day, alongside increasing fares and overcrowding. I’m glad that the government has finally bowed to pressure by suggesting it will strip […]

The debate over Brexit has destroyed faith in our political system and brought Parliament to an agonising impasse for more than two years. I know from the hundreds of people I spoke with during the election campaign how much they want us to move on from the never-ending bickering, Parliamentary manoeuvring and talk of a second referendum.

Following the general election result, the government now has a renewed mandate from the British people to deliver the referendum result. The Prime Minister’s revised European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill has passed its Second Reading, meaning Britain will leave the EU in January and we will begin the next stage of negotiations: our future relationship with Europe.

Many, many thanks to everyone who helped re-elect me as the Labour MP for the Llanelli Constituency.

I am absolutely committed to doing my very best for the constituency, and I look forward to continuing to work with many of you.

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.