The Public Accounts Committee published a report on the Government’s response and preparedness for the pandemic. I was astounded that the most senior civil servant (Permanent Secretary) at the Treasury, Tom Scholar, conceded that the economic implications of a pandemic were not considered during pandemic preparations in 2016.
Failure to plan is planning to fail. Read the full report here.
At today’s statement on the Windrush Lessons Learned review, I challenged the Home Secretary to remove the barriers for citizenship for young people who've been in the UK since childhood.
They are passionate about the country that is their home.
I’ll keep pressing the Government to learn the lessons from the Windrush scandal.
Better track and trace data means better outcomes in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
I’m pressing the Government so Hackney and Hackney Council gets the data it needs to keep us safe.
Good news this week as the Government listened to my concerns about late night drinking in streets and parks, and backtracked on some of its proposed easing of licensing restrictions. No off-premises sales will now be permitted after 11pm.
This should help tackle some of the antisocial behaviour we’ve been seeing most weekends in Hackney parks like London Fields.
A number of constituents contacted me to raise their concerns about Israel's plans to annex parts of the West Bank. I wrote to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and received this response from the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa.
I am pleased to see that the Government has condemned these actions. I believe the best way to end this conflict would be a two state solution.
Young Hackney – I want to hear your voice!
The English Speaking Union’s ‘Festival of Speaking’ is your chance to record a quick clip of you speaking about anything you are passionate about. You can also recite a poem or a play.
Click here to find out more and don’t forget to use the hashtags #esuhackney and #esufestivalofspeaking so I can hear what you have to say.
Weekend raves in local parks like London Fields cannot continue. Without proper safeguards, the Government’s rushed easing of alcohol licensing restrictions is only making things worse.
Of course, businesses need support but not at any cost. We have already seen antisocial behaviour on a scale that would have been unimaginable a few months ago.
The Chancellor’s announced more spending but still nothing for the forgotten freelancers. These are the hardworking taxpayers who are falling through the gaps in Government support. I’ve been clear that surviving on zero income is not a solution – these people cannot live on air alone.
It’s been nearly another month and the Government is still “reflecting” on the issue of the forgotten freelancers. This is not good enough.
These people's income will not just magically reappear in October and many are struggling to put food on the table now. The Government needs to find a solution.
Click here to see my speech in full.
I secured a debate on domestic abuse and black women. Smaller specialist organisations often do not have the finances or resources to bid for larger contracts. This has resulted in the erosion of black and minority ethnic specialist services. These services provide a lifeline for women when they are at their most vulnerable. We need greater representation of the needs of black women at policy level. No decision that disproportionately affects black women should be made without them.