Weekly Update
In welcome news this week there has been the return of the Northern Ireland Executive. This is an important moment, we must have all sides working together to get Stormont up and running for the people of Northern Ireland.
At Prime Minister's Questions, it became even more obvious that the Prime Minister just does not get how hard it is for people across the country. People are seeing their mortgages go up, their council tax going up, food prices still going up and bills spiralling. Yet when questioned about this by the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister has no answer, instead referring to the “politics of envy”. Every week it seems like this Conservative government become more and more detached from the real world, more detached from focusing on real issues and the real costs of their decisions.
On Thursday, business leaders from across Britain came together to hear the Labour Party’s plans as we look to build the foundations for a partnership in government. A partnership of growth, to drive our country forward.
Some of the proposals from the business conference can be seen below:
- A review of City regulation to cut outdated rules and reduce overlap between different watchdogs
- Regulating the buy now, pay later sector and “exploring” the prospects for long-term mortgages
- Endorsing the use of artificial intelligence in the City and becoming a “global standard setter”
- Building a more “collaborative relationship with the EU”, including mutual recognition of professional qualifications
- Empowering the British Business Bank to invest more in growth capital Rolling out 350 “banking hubs” to help people have free access to banking services
It has become abundantly clear that the Labour Party has changed. We are the party of business.
On the other hand, the business world has had enough of this Tory government, chopping and changing through various Prime Ministers, Chancellors and failed economic plans. Only Labour can deliver the change this country needs.
You can watch Keir Starmer’s speech at the business conference here.
Wellingborough By-Election Visits
It was brilliant to visit Wellingborough this week on two occasions to support our fantastic by-election candidate Gen Kitchen!
The Conservatives have held this seat since 2005, with a current majority of 18,500, however, it was clear from speaking to residents that they felt let down by this Tory government and wanted a fresh start for the country.
There was lots of support throughout both days for The Labour Party, as well as the change we need in this country.
Zombie Knife Attack in Enfield
Last week revealed another tragic attack on a young person with a zombie knife in Enfield.
This should act as another tragic warning about why we need these zombie-style knives off our streets in Enfield and across the UK.
Online sales are still too easy. Labour has already pledged to launch an urgent crackdown on the availability of machetes and zombie-style knives, along with interventions to help prevent young people from getting involved with knife crime and tough sanctions for those who do.
A major part of this would be the launch of our Young Futures Scheme, a £100m-a-year programme that would fund new youth workers and mental health hubs in every community, youth workers in A&E and mentors in pupil referral units and custody centres.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Saturday the 27th of January was Holocaust Memorial Day, a day to remember the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis and bear witness to their suffering.
Each year, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust chooses a different theme to enable audiences on Holocaust Memorial Day to learn something new about the past. Every theme is relevant to the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and to each subsequent genocide. Parliament also holds a debate in the House of Commons Chamber every year to allow Members to commemorate the holocaust.
The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day was ‘fragility and freedom’. Freedom means different things to different people, but what is clear is that in every genocide that has taken place, those who have been targeted for persecution have had their freedom restricted and removed.
We must never forget the Nazi atrocities and as antisemitism rises across the world, we must all learn from the past and commit ourselves to always combat it.
