Merry Christmas, and a happy festive period, to everyone in Hackney.
See above for my weekly round-up of what I've been up to in Hackney and Westminster. This week I voted against the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, challenged senior officials at the Home Office on the costs of the Rwanda scheme, and visited the Bishopsgate Goodsyard development.
Please see above for my weekly round-up of what I've been up to in Hackney and Westminster. This week I spoke about shoplifting in the Criminal Justice Bill debate, challenged the Government's record on onshore wind, and saw Aladdin at the Hackney Empire.
This article was first published in the Hackney Gazette. To read the latest edition, see here.
A big welcome to the new Mayor of Hackney – Caroline Woodley. She is a formidable campaigner, dedicated public servant, and tireless champion of Hackney. I know she will always protect and fight for Hackney.
But after thirteen years of Conservative government, austerity, and deep cuts to local authority budgets, she inherits a tough situation.
See my monthly report for November 2023 here.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt MP, unveiled his Autumn Statement. Unfortunately, there was very little in there to help people in Hackney. Thanks to the thirteen years of failed Conservative government, households are paying more tax than they have for decades. And although the Chancellor made a great deal of cutting National Insurance by two per cent, this will do little to help the one in two Hackney children growing up in poverty. There was also little support for local government, which has had its budgets squeezed both by inflation and cuts.
Amendment (r)
Keir Starmer
Angela Rayner
Mr David Lammy
Yvette Cooper
Lisa Nandy
Sir Alan Campbell
The Government unveiled its forthcoming legislative agenda this week in a ceremony called the King's Speech. This lays out the laws the Government want to pass in the next session of Parliament, which is likely to be the last one before the next General Election. Unfortunately, this Government has run out of steam, and its plan for the next year is very thin. There are some welcome changes - on renters' rights and leasehold reform - but the proposals aren't enough to satisfy the problems so many renters and leaseholders are facing.
Read my monthly report for October 2023 here.
I was really pleased this week to welcome a number of students and young people from Hackney to my Westminster Experience Day. They got the chance to talk to me and another MP, as well as senior members of staff at the House of Commons, about career opportunities in Parliament. Seeing such bright and politically engaged young people is always reassuring – they asked focused, sharp, and pertinent questions about the issues of the day. It is good to know the future of Hackney and the UK is in safe hands.