President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustifiable attack on Ukraine is a crime against peace. The Government has announced a package of severe sanctions targeting the Russian economy and the military and political elite. But the malign influence of corrupt Russian money in the UK has been clear for some time. The Government has been too slow to act against this dirty Russian money and it must urgently get its own house in order after concerning reports of suspect Russian donations to the Conservative Party.
Last month, the Government gave emergency authorisation for the use of the Cruiser SB pesticide (containing a neonicotinoid) in England. A number of constituents contacted me about this authorisation and raised concerns about its impact on our bee population. This is a vitally important issue as research has shown an overall decline in wild bee diversity over the last 50 years.
The Government’s actions have caused a huge injustice against those falsely accused of cheating on English language tests for visas. Its disregard for the impact on people’s lives and reputations is shameful. Many lives have been ruined.
Many have gone to court and proved the Government wrong, but at great cost to themselves and the British taxpayer. The simplest, fairest, and most cost-effective solution for everyone is to allow those accused of cheating to re-sit the test.
Lives have been ruined due to the Government’s actions against those falsely accused of cheating on their English language tests for visas. Many have gone to court and proved the Government wrong, but at great cost to themselves and the British taxpayer. The simplest, fairest, and most cost-effective solution for everyone is to allow those accused of cheating to re-sit the test. But the Government is so far refusing. This scandal feeds into a wider pattern of behaviour and culture in the Home Office, as seen with the Windrush scandal. The Government must change tack.
Private renting is unaffordable for too many in Hackney.
I’ve seen children grow into adults unable to move out of the family home because they cannot afford private rents, even though they working in good jobs with good salaries.
As MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, I can obtain tickets to Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) for constituents. But as these tickets are very limited (I can only get two every month, subject to availability), I operate a ballot system.
It was a delight to visit Hackney New Primary School which, due to the pandemic, is the first time in a while I’ve been able to visit a school. As ever, the pupils spoke eloquently about the issues that matter to them, particularly on the climate crisis. I encouraged them to remain involved in politics and write letters so that their voice can be heard.
My visit also included a first-class demonstration of the musical education offered at Hackney New Primary School and the rooftop garden managed entirely by pupils.
Yesterday’s announcement of an increase in the energy price cap will hit most Hackney households with a rise of about £700 in their energy bills. The Chancellor’s response does not do enough to support struggling families and forces households to pay later for today's high energy costs. It is also a gamble that energy prices will fall in the future and there is still not enough detail on how local authorities will be supported in rolling out parts of this plan.
The energy price cap increase will hit struggling Hackney families hard. It comes after a decade of dither, delay, and poor planning of Britain’s energy sector by this Government.
The Chancellor's response forces households to pay later for today's high energy bills and gambles on energy prices falling in the future.
There is also little detail on how parts of it will be rolled out. I'll keep pressing for answers.
Read my Monthly Report for January 2022 here.