Weekly Round-Up
This week is Carers Week. I would like to pay tribute to carers in Enfield North and across the country for the huge contributions they make to families and communities every day.
Carers week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. You can see my full statement on this important week here.
This week the Prime Minister visited the United States to attempt to broker mini deals for business and an agreement on Ukraine. This was an opportunity to learn real lessons from how President Biden is transforming the US economy. A moment to show he understands that 13 years of a failed trickle-down approach have led to slow growth, low productivity, and many parts of Britain becoming poorer, including here in Enfield North, as many grapple with spiralling energy bills and rising mortgage rates.
Labour’s mission is to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7, with good jobs and productivity growth in all parts of the country.
There is a better economic future for our country to be built. Labour is determined to fight for it.
APPG for the Dog Welfare
Great to see a packed room for the APPG for the Dog Welfare event in Parliament this week.
It is clear that reform is needed to tackle the alarming rise in dog bites and fatalities, as well as dog on dog attacks, in the U.K.
In 2021 I presented a petition to Parliament on making dog on dog attacks a criminal offence and more robust actions enforced on owners.
I believe the current approach to dog control is misguided and does not protect people adequately. Safety must be our top priority but without unnecessarily punishing responsible dog owners or harming dogs that are not necessarily a risk.
We need to review the Dangerous Dogs Act and work with groups to prevent further serious attacks.
Opposition Day on Mental Health
This week in Parliament there was a really important debate in the chamber put forward by the opposition. Led by my colleague Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour highlighted the government’s failure in addressing the mental health crisis in this country. Worse, they have delivered the worst mental health crisis in our history.
1 in 4 have a problem with their mental health in England every year. 1 in 6 experience a mental health condition each week. 3 out of 4 people receive little or no treatment. The government should wear these statistics like a badge of shame.
You can watch the full debate here.
ULEZ Announcement
Last week, the Mayor announced a major expansion to ULEZ scrappage scheme to cover all small businesses in London and all London families receiving child benefit. It was great to see that my concerns, and those from residents in Enfield North, have been listened to by the Mayor.
Care workers who need support are also to be targeted for help
The Mayor says additional action was taken after listening to concerns about plans for further improvements in air quality by the expansion of ULEZ.
This expansion will make a huge difference to families, charities and small businesses.
Dentist Drop In
It was great to drop by the APPG for Dentistry and Oral Health’s parliamentary drop in event this week and hear about the state of dentistry in the country.
Danielle Watts was at the drop-in event. She extracted a dozen of her own teeth because she couldn't find an NHS dentist. Failed by an overstretched, underfunded system.
Her story shows why the government needs to act.
Around 4 million people can’t access NHS dental care due to Tory mismanagement, forcing them to take dentistry into their own hands
Residents need a dental system that works for them, not against them
