Weekly Round-Up

This week, we have seen the reputation of this government fall even further into the gutter.

Whilst we still await news of further fixed penalty notices, as well as the release of the full Sue Gray report, the issuing of the first fixed penalty notices to the Prime Minister and Chancellor was a watershed moment.

The Prime Minister has made numerous statements to the House about his knowledge of events reported to have taken place in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office during the coronavirus lockdowns.

The fact that he and the Chancellor have now been fined makes these statements highly questionable.

In normal times he would take responsibility and resign.

However, his unwillingness to do so meant the Leader of the Opposition had to bring forward yesterday’s motion which having passed unanimously, after Tory whips couldn’t organise their own MPs to come and defend the PM, will open an investigation into whether these statements were deliberately misleading.

If the Privileges Committee determine that they were, this would amount to contempt of Parliament.

The British public know what happened. The Met police know what happened. The Prime Minister knows what happened. He lied and he needs to resign.

Health Questions

At this month’s Health Questions, I called out the government’s shameful record when it comes to access to NHS Dentistry.

Patients are stuck with a never-ending wait for an NHS appointment, or footing the bill for going private, which is simply not an option for most families suffering with rising bills and taxes.

Rather than provide the practical solutions which patients and dentists alike need, the Minister chose to police my tone once again.

After 12 years of Tory government, the Minister had nothing else to offer.

Sodium Valproate

The Sunday Times published a harrowing report on the scandal of Sodium Valproate continuing to be prescribed to pregnant women.

For far too long, women’s health has been an afterthought for this government, and the voices of women have been at best ignored and at worst silenced.

The women and their babies who have been affected by Sodium Valproate deserve justice, not the half-baked response they have received. Ministers need to explain why they have failed to implement the Cumberlege Review’s recommendations in full.

Women deserve the security and respect of a health service that listens to them, it is high time for the government to deliver it.

You can read the report here: A scandal worse than thalidomide | News | The Sunday Times (thetimes.co.uk)


M25 Junction 25 works

I have been informed by National Highways that a series of further works on Junction 25 of the M25 will be carried out overnight across the coming weeks and months.

I understand the disruption these works can cause local residents, and I will be in regular contact with key stakeholders to ensure that any changes are communicated quickly and effectively.

You can find the details of the latest works and how they might affect you here: M25 junction 25 improvements - Highways England (nationalhighways.co.uk)