Weekly Round-Up

After weeks of infighting, with the government ceasing to function, we have the final two contenders in the Tory leadership election, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss.

They are both stooges of the Johnson administration whose fingerprints are all over the state the country finds itself in today.

Despite their attempts to trash the Tory record of the last 12 years, both Truss and Sunak have backed every decision along the way.

Both of them voted for every one of Boris Johnson’s 15 tax rises and both reliably parroted his lies when the whole country could see the truth.

Rather than plans to tackle the Tory cost of living crisis or grow Britain’s economy they are simply offering the fantasy economics of unfunded giveaways.

They have nothing to offer working people except more of the same.

Whichever one of the continuity candidates wins, one thing is clear: the more time we give the Tories, the more damage they will do.

Only Labour can provide the fresh start the country needs.

Debate on Human Rights sanctions

Thank you to the constituents who got in touch with me regarding this week’s debate on UK sanctions for human rights abuses and corruption.

Labour welcomed the introduction of the Magnitsky regime here in the UK in 2020, and continues to urge the government to go further, be bolder and quicker in their application of these sanctions.

One instance where this has particularly concerned me was following the Lekki massacre in Nigeria.

This shameful event, where military and police forces opened fire on unarmed protestors, was completely barbaric with Nigeria’s Judicial Panel of Inquiry finding those forces clearly responsible.

Despite a series of vague commitments from the government, we have still not seen sanctions imposed despite the clear judgement of the JPI.

Read my full statement here: https://bit.ly/SanctionsDebate.

Women’s Health Strategy

This week we saw the long delayed release of the government’s Women’s Health Strategy.

This "plan" will do nothing to solve the crisis in women's healthcare after 12 years of Tory mismanagement.

Breast cancer waiting times are through the floor, 500,000 women are waiting for gynaecology treatment, and too many still can’t get HRT when they need it.

This strategy simply will not solve the crisis women’s healthcare is in after 12 years of Conservatives mismanagement.

Every day we give this Conservative government is another day women will have to wait for the care they desperately need.

Labour will provide the staff, equipment, and modern technology the NHS needs to get women seen on time.

Station Tavern Planning Update

Thank you to the many constituents who shared their objections to the proposed 21-storey development on the site of the old Station Tavern on Green Street.

At the council’s planning committee on Tuesday the decision was deferred, meaning the developer will have to provide further information, with a new report being published for consideration later this year.

I will continue to keep you updated throughout this process, and work with residents to ensure the voices of our community are heard.