I challenged the Education Secretary on the shortage of people with digital and cyber skills in our country (see here). After recently visiting the Silicon Milkroundabout jobs fair, I discovered that many companies are not willing to recruit people straight from university or as apprentices. I urged the Government to do more and work with these companies so more young people in Hackney can get the digital skills they need and become the digital backbone of the future of our country.
Further chaos in the Home Office this week as it emerged that the asylum seekers who were housed temporarily at the Manston centre were placed in hotels up and down the country. But, crucially, this was done without alerting NHS bodies, MPs, councils and other key stakeholders who would need to give these vulnerable people support. This is an issue that the Public Accounts Committee raised in November 2020 and urged the Government to address.
The Chancellor announced the Autumn Statement this week, which attempted to fix 12 years of Conservative cuts and economic failure. The good news is that benefits and pensions will be uprated in line with inflation but otherwise the maths just doesn’t add up. The money announced for the NHS is, in fact, a real terms cut and will not be enough for it to even stand still. See me press the Chancellor on this here.
The Prime Minister that promised integrity, professionalism, and accountability chose to appoint Gavin Williamson, who this week resigned after evidence of his bullying emerged. He also re-appointed the Home Secretary despite her resignation six days previously for leaking sensitive information. It’s clear this government really has come to the end of its days and that we need a change. We need a General Election now.
I pressed the Prime Minister during Prime Minister’s Questions about the chaos in the Home Office (see here). In all my years as an MP, I’ve never seen worse treatment of people who are trying to get visas or other documents through the Home Office. The delays are unacceptable and having a real impact on people’s lives.
The new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was chosen this week by just over 300 Conservative MPs - a diminishing electorate. He announced that his government will be based on honesty and integrity but then immediately re-appointed the same Home Secretary who was forced to resign last week for breaching security rules. This is unacceptable. We need a General Election now.
Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned. At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday I asked who has confidence in her (see here). By Thursday it became apparent that nobody did and she resigned. She’ll remain in office until the Conservative Party picks a replacement by the end of next week. This will be the third Prime Minister in a year and the second imposed on us by Conservative Party members. We need a General Election now.
The Government’s been crashing the economy and causing havoc for all households. I pressed it to support families in receipt of benefits, many of whom are in work (see here). I also raised the case of small businesses, especially hospitality businesses, that are facing uncertainty with their energy bills after March (see here).
The markets have delivered its verdict on the Chancellor’s casino economics with the pound crashing to its lowest value against the dollar.
Compare with Sir Keir Starmer who set out Labour's plans for a publicly-owned GB Energy company, universal breakfast clubs for all primary school children, and how Labour is truly a government-in-waiting
Also my campaign to support dog day-care centres like Hackney's Hairy Hounds.
It’s been a sombre two weeks after the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on the 8 September. All parliamentary business was suspended during the national period of mourning as thousands of members of the public visited Westminster Hall to pay their final respects to the Queen. I was pleased to gather with residents of Hackney to remember Her Majesty, including at a memorial service at St John at Hackney the day before her funeral.