Highlights from 2022
As another turbulent year comes to a close, being together with friends, family and a community feels more important than ever.
A lot has happened in 2022, so I hope you are able to take time over the festive period to be with your loved ones and have what after the last couple of years might be a return to a familiar Christmas.
With Parliament rising for the year today, I wanted to look back on my personal highlights from 2022, and share some of what I've been up to in Westminster and Enfield North.
I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Section 21 Evictions
Enfield has the highest rate of Section 21 evictions in London, with dozens of families every month finding themselves homeless through no fault of their own.
Despite repeated promises and u-turns from the Tories, we are no nearer to getting rid of it.
I have raised this time after time in Parliament, and will continue to do all I can to make the voices of tenants heard.
Watch my exchange with Rishi Sunak at Prime Questions on his complete lack of action on Section 21.
Primary Care
In my role as Shadow Minister for Primary Care & Patient Safety, I have been firmly challenging the Government on their shameful record when it comes to our primary care system.
Whether it's GP appointments, or finding an NHS dentist, the Tories are failing communities across this country. It is clear that they have no plan and have run out of road.
Only Labour has a plan to give our NHS the staff it needs to get patients seen on time.
Watch my closing speech from Labour's Opposition Day debate on Primary Care back in June.
Gambling Venues
For far too long, gambling venues have been breaking up and denigrating our high streets in Enfield North.
Despite consistent efforts, both residents and the local authority are powerless to stop these venues opening, despite the damage they are doing to our community.
I have been consistently calling for a desperately needed update to legislation, but the government are dragging their feet on a review that is now over a year late.
Watch me raise the issue of the Government's tardiness on bringing forward the review of the Gambling Act which was due in October 2021, with the then Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, back in January.
(Spoiler alert: we're still waiting)
ECAA Visas
Thousands of Turkish businesspeople across the UK continue to face severe delays to the processing of their ECAA visa renewal applications.
This prevents them from running their business or leaving the country.
I have raised this issue with Ministers in the House and in meetings, and have spoken to a range of local and national media outlets to raise the plight of those suffering from this unfair system.
Watch my question to Home Office ministers on this from January.
Ockendon Report
I was proud to respond to the Secretary of State's statement in April on the Ockenden Report into devastating failings of maternity services at Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust.
Not just as Shadow Minister for Primary Care & Patient Safety but as a woman and a new mother.
The report laid bare the harrowing truth of what those families had to face, and why their fight for justice has been such a fierce one.
That women were silenced and ignored at their most vulnerable, when they were relying on the NHS to keep them safe, is shameful.
We must have independent accountability and oversight of maternity services and trusts, to ensure no mothers or families ever have to go through this again.
Watch my response to the Secretary of State's statement in April.
Enfield Town FC
In Enfield Town FC, we have a fantastic local football club that cares deeply about its community, and is working to make football more accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.
It's been a real pleasure to support their work this year, including writing to Ministers to ensure the fan-led review of football ensures that local non-league clubs like Enfield Town get the fair share of funding that they need to deliver long-term sustainability for the grassroots game.
Read my letter to the former Culture Secretary here: https://bit.ly/ETFCLetterFC.
School Visits
Since I first got elected, I pledged to try and visit every school in my constituency, and am already over halfway there.
Every set of students I speak to show a real interest and engagement in national politics and their local area and ask some very trying questions.
From traffic on school streets to improving special needs provision, I have consistently stood with teachers and school staff to ensure our local community and local children get the funding and resources they deserve.
Local Health Services
When it comes to healthcare, residents in Enfield North are getting a raw deal.
Our public health funding has been left unchanged for almost a decade, leaving our services under staffed and under resourced.
Despite the immense sacrifices our local NHS staff made during the pandemic, they are not getting the support they need.
Having visited GP surgeries and hospitals across the constituency, it is clear that staff are doing all they can, but want to know that help is on the way.
My recent local healthcare survey has given me a strong insight into the priorities of local people, and I will keep fighting to ensure local residents can access the care they need.
Enfield Pride
This year saw Enfield's inaugural Pride event, a festival stretching over a weekend which showed the very best of our community and its diversity.
I was particularly pleased to see such a great range of local organisations coming out to support the event, from the Council, the local police, to Enfield's fantastic LGBT+ Network who do really impactful work whether it be on community cohesion or access to mental health services.
I look forward to working with colleagues and friends from across Enfield to ensure our Pride events go from strength to strength, and I hope to see an even bigger and better Enfield Pride next year.
Supporting our Postal Workers
Our local posties did an incredible job over the pandemic, yet face a real attack on their jobs, pay, and terms & conditions.
I've spent time this year visiting local sorting offices, as well as meeting with Royal Mail officials and CWU members.
To end the industrial action, Royal Mail need to stop trying to divide their workforce, and to get round the negotiating table.
I stand in solidarity with local CWU members, and will always defend their right to strike.
I will continue to engage with both workers and Royal Mail bosses to ensure we have a system that protects jobs and pay, as well as delivering for our community.
