The Government should support people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. I'm calling for a family reunion visa scheme, so that Hackney residents can help their vulnerable family members. There's significant historical precedent for this.
When it comes to asylum, the Home Office is the worst I’ve seen it in 18 years.
As a result, asylum seekers are living in appalling and dangerous accommodation.
Watch me press the Immigration Minister on when we will see any improvement.
Hackney is home to a wide range of brilliant hospitality venues, including many great pubs. I recently visited the George & Vulture pub in Hoxton to discuss how it has been affected by the cost of living crisis and other inflationary pressures. The removal of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme in March, and its replacement with a less generous scheme, will mean that many pubs will be massively squeezed.
Nadhim Zahawi set the nation's taxes but was careless with his own.
He then threatened to sue those raising questions.
If he doesn't resign, Rishi Sunak must sign him.
BBC
Hackney needs more properly affordable homes. Children are growing up in severely overcrowded or temporary accommodation – and the idea of owning a home is for many a pipe dream.
See me challenge the Government on what it will do to help councils build more affordable housing.
The Home Secretary leaked sensitive information and is overseeing inhumane conditions at the asylum processing centre in Kent. She needs to go.
The Prime Minister's policies have caused chaos in the markets and wrecked the economy. How can anyone in the country have confidence in the Prime Minister?
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I spoke at a panel event at this year's Labour Party conference on how a future Labour Government would work with the civil service. I stressed that turnover is a huge problem. In the seven years that I have been Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, only one permanent secretary is still in post.
I am concerned by reports that the Government is considering uprating benefits in line with earnings rather than inflation. 28% of families in Hackney are on means-tested benefits and this change will mean a real-terms cut to their incomes. This comes at a time when bills are rising to eye-watering levels and many families in Hackney are struggling.
I pressed the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this and urged him to increase benefits in line with inflation. I will continue to press for better support.
Not one river in England is in a healthy condition, with none meeting good chemical standards and only 14 per cent meeting good ecological standards. This has been a particular issue in the River Lea in Hackney. Over 1000 hours of sewage was discharged into the river in 2019.
This situation has been exacerbated by cuts to the Environment Agency which have weakened its ability to enforce environmental protections.