‘Take 5’
5 Places to Volunteer
Welcome to my new regular feature where I outline my own ‘top 5 suggestions’ for events, activities, and opportunities in Hackney South & Shoreditch. This week: ‘5 Places to Volunteer’.
Once again Parliament is faced with important votes on Brexit this week. And once again strong opinion on both sides is drowning the facts.
On International Women’s Day, I am reflecting on the political pioneers that pushed for greater female representation in Parliament. There’s still a long way to go but Rachel Reeves’ new book is a timely reminder of these strong women that helped pave the way.
Watch my new Brexit update vlog here. This week: the Costa amendment, Labour backing a second referendum, and the crucial upcoming Brexit votes later in the month.
This week on my weekly round-up: more action on London Overground services skipping stops in Hackney, the Public Accounts Committee’s latest report on the 2018 railways fiasco, and this week’s education debate.
If you’ve also been affected by London Overground skipping Hackney stops, please let me know by clicking here.
Read the full PAC report on ‘Rail Management and Timetabling’ here.
It is not good enough that London Overground services are still missing Hackney stops. I have already received a commitment from the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander, that TfL will investigate this matter and apply pressure to the train operator (ARL) to prevent continued disruption and inconvenience. However today I’ve written to the Freedom of Information (FOI) team at TfL to find out exactly how often Hackney commuters miss out.
See the new round-up of my week in Hackney and Parliament. This week Gascoyne & Morningside community youth club visit Parliament, an update on the political events of this week, and the upcoming votes on Brexit.
On the 14th February the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport told the Public Accounts Committee that the first letter they received from the Irish company backing Seaborne Ferries was in January. The next day Chris Grayling said in response to my question that it was Christmas. They both can’t be right!
Another example of the whole Seaborne Ferries mess and how Theresa May is pushing us to the brink. We’re not ready for Brexit let alone crashing out without a deal.