Thank you Hackney South and Shoreditch for re-electing me.
Now, more than ever, Hackney needs a strong Labour voice to stand up for:
We’re living through a climate emergency.
We need to reach a net zero carbon economy as soon as possible.
I’m proud that Labour-run Hackney Council is leading the way. They’re fast greening their fleet of vehicles, sourcing 100% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, and working with residents to promote green initiatives. The solar panels and green energy co-op set up by residents in Banister House, where I filmed my video, are an excellent example.
Hackney has a housing crisis.
I see the impact of overcrowding, insecure private tenancies, and unaffordable house prices at every advice surgery I hold.
We urgently need a Labour Government to build properly affordable social-rented homes, and stand-up for private renters’ rights.
I've long supported Big Breakfast, which works in Hackney schools to feed young people who aren't getting breakfast at home. Sadly when schools are closed for the summer, holiday hunger becomes a real issue for too many families in our constituency.
Are you under 18 and an EastEnders fan?
Summer holidays mean lots more time to get creative so I’m extending the deadline for my EastEnders set-design competition. Send your entries in by 10th September to be in with a chance of winning a visit to the EastEnders set.
Young people can enter by either drawing (minimum A4 paper) or making a 3-D model of a shop, house, or location that will help make the EastEnders set reflect the modern, up-to-date East End.
I’m supporting The Food Chain in their appeal to raise £100,000 in the next 9 months so they can continue their vital work.
The Food Chain is a charity which has been providing invaluable support for over 30 years to Londoners living with HIV. A dedicated small staff team alongside more than 200 volunteers provide food and support for people during times of crisis.
It was an honour to nominate Barley Massey, founder and owner of Hackney business 'Fabrications', for the All-Party Corporate Responsibility Group’s ‘2019 Responsible Business Champions’ award. Today I welcomed her in Parliament at the awards reception and thanked her for her business' 20 year dedication to championing sustainability in Hackney.
As a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on cycling, I know the real mental and physical health benefits that regular cycling can bring. Not only is regular cycling better for our health, it is also better for the environment.
It's estimated that around one million women cycle in the UK compared to three times as many men. Cycling UK want to double that number of female cyclists and get a million more women cycling.
Join me in taking their cycling pledge for the month of July:
It was a real pleasure hosting a productive meeting between the FA and Hackney Wick FC.
On the agenda was inclusion, investment, and better facilities for grassroots community football.
It was also a welcome reminder of the important role that sports plays in our communities – everything from building community spirit to keeping us fit and healthy (both physically and mentally).
The £11.7 billion of taxpayers’ money committed under the Government’s ‘Help to Buy: Equity Loan’ scheme is the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s (MHCLG) largest housing initiative by value. Yet it has done nothing to counter homelessness in Hackney or fix Hackney’s broken housing market.