Weekly Round-Up

Another busy week in Westminster saw the Chancellor deliver the Budget, which was a real opportunity for him to provide much needed support for hard-working families in Enfield North.

Sadly, it was an opportunity he didn’t take.

This week also saw MPs look ahead to the crucial COP26 summit in Glasgow, which begins on Sunday.

COP26 can, and must, be a turning point in the global fight against climate change, and as President of the Conference the UK must be a leader in that fight.

However, the Prime Minister continues to show a frustrating lack of ambition, putting at risk the progress that we need to make at COP26.

Constituents can be assured that myself and Labour colleagues will continue to do everything we can to put the pressure on the Government during COP26, to deliver the meaningful change we need to step up the fight against climate change.

The Budget

The Budget announced by the Chancellor on Wednesday shows the Government are out of touch and have the wrong priorities.

They’ve let shortages and prices get out of control, gas bills are up, petrol costs are up, food costs are up.

At the same time, they’ve handed tax cuts to big companies like Amazon, while putting taxes up on working families and cutting Universal Credit.

This comes at exactly the wrong time, just as people are increasingly feeling the pinch.

Many Enfield North constituents were in touch with me expressing their concerns ahead of the budget, particularly about the state of our public services and support for key workers.

Despite the Chancellor’s rhetoric today, he did nothing to ease the concerns my constituents have raised.

Whilst the minimum wage increase is to be welcomed, it does nowhere near enough to support those key workers on low wages who have sacrificed so much during the pandemic.

You can read my full reaction to the budget here: https://bit.ly/Budget2021Statement

Borough Commander Commendation Ceremony

It was a pleasure to join colleagues from Enfield Council and our local police force at the Borough Commander’s commendation for local officers.

These officers do a fantastic job in keeping our community safe, and I was delighted to be able to join with their families to celebrate their achievements and thank them for their continued service.

ULEZ Expansion

Residents should be aware that this week saw the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) which now covers all roads up to, but not including, the North Circular.

If your vehicle does not comply with restrictions, then you will have to pay a surcharge when you enter the ULEZ area.

You can check the status of your vehicle, and the details of any surcharges you will need to pay, here: Check your Vehicle (tfl.gov.uk).