The Government continued its habit of making headline announcements whilst providing scant details – this time on social care. The headline is an increase of 1.25 percentage points in National Insurance. But there’s no detail or plan for care workers, nothing on stabilising the social care market that has been rocked by COVID-19, and nothing on financial support for local authorities. See here to watch in full my speech calling out the Government. 

I voted against the rise in National Insurance as there are better ways to fund social care. It disproportionately hits Generation Rent whilst protecting the assets of the wealthiest.

The Public Accounts Committee published a report calling out the Department for Work and Pensions for being unable to explain the stark inequality in unemployment figures during the pandemic. Young black unemployment surged to 42% compared to an increase to 12% for young white people. See here to read the report in full and see here for a summary.

And I held a surgery for families impacted by the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. Thanks to Hackney Community Law Centre for attending and providing support. There are still multiple barriers in the immigration system that are preventing those fleeing the Taliban from being reunited with their loved ones. I raised these concerns with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons. See here to watch me press the Prime Minister and here for my question to the Foreign Secretary. I'm following up these concerns with the Home Office.