A number of Hackney residents have been stranded overseas because of the grounding of flights due of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Where flights have been available they have been at hugely inflated costs - beyond the reach of most people.
I have been working closely with the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry as well as the Foreign Office directly.
Emily met the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, on Thursday 26 March and she pressed him on this issue and the complex individual situations.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, we are currently dealing with a higher volume of emails in the office. This means we may not be able to meet our 10-working day turnaround as we are prioritising urgent cases. However, my office phone lines are open Monday – Friday 10am-5pm if you need any assistance.
Hackney Council have created a support hub and I would encourage you to visit their website to find out information on what is being done in the local community.
This week I've been pressing the Government on:
✅ Time limits for the Coronavirus Bill
✅ Support for start-ups, small businesses and the self-employed
✅ Homes for overcrowded and homeless families
The coronavirus pandemic means people are losing their jobs but some are banned from accessing public money, like Universal Credit.
I’ve written to the Home Secretary asking for a clear commitment and today Diane Abbott also raised this issue. People need reassurance now.
I know too many families struggle living in severely overcrowded accommodation. Already children are forced to share beds with parents and some vulnerable families are crammed into single flats with other families. Many live in a single-room hostels. The closure of schools, self-isolation, and family quarantine will make an already unbearable situation impossible.
We can do better than this. Other European countries have stepped up to the challenge – Norway is supporting freelancers/self-employed workers by providing 80% of their average salary over the last 3 years.
The Government needs to announce a proper plan.
Self-isolation for families in overcrowded accommodation and single-room hostels is hard.
We need a better solution than this – what about empty new build homes being provided for people in desperate need?
It’s a worrying time but we can help each other by not panic buying. There are families in Hackney who can’t afford a weekly shop let alone stockpiling.
For further info and advice on coronavirus see: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
I know that this may be an uncertain and worrying time for many.
Please be assured that my office remains open and working as normal. Please do get in touch with your views, comments, issues and casework.
If you have an ongoing case and would like an update, or if you wish to update me, please email meghilliermp@parliament.uk, or call my office on 020 7219 5325. Phonelines are open Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm.
If you know a friend or neighbour who’s been forced to self-isolate because of coronavirus or who is ill – check up on them, give them a ring. We need to continue looking out for one another in Hackney.
For a summary of my week in Westminster and Hackney see my round-up above.