Weekly Update
It has been a busy week in Parliament. On Wednesday, there was a vote on several proposed amendments to the Government’s King's Speech, regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. As some residents will be aware from contacting me, I have recently been on maternity leave and am therefore having a phased return to Parliament and was not in Parliament for the vote. I was paired for the vote, which means that a Conservative MP voting the opposite way to me also didn’t attend to vote. This, therefore, will not change the overall result of the vote. You may read about pairing here: https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/pairing/.
I subsequently tested positive for Covid which meant I was unable to attend Parliament for any work.
However, as some of you will know, I had already written to the Prime Minister last week asking why our government has not been calling for a ceasefire.
I also questioned why our Government is not doing more to ensure humanitarian aid is getting into Gaza through regional and international partners, as well as calling on them to work with Western regional allies to secure the release of Israeli hostages.
I cannot imagine anyone wanting this war not to come to an end, and in my letter to the Prime Minister I call on the Government to:
Call for a cessation of hostilities to prioritise the preservation of human life.
Demand that Israel immediately ends its complete siege of Gaza and ensure that humanitarian aid safely reaches people in need in accordance with humanitarian principles. Israel must allow safe and unimpeded entry of fuel, water, food, and other humanitarian necessities into Gaza.
Demand that all parties comply with international law and ensure that civilians are protected from harm. All parties must not target civilians or civilian infrastructure and must ensure that civilians have access to basic necessities such as water, food, and power.
Increase UK aid to Palestine to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs and work with international partners to ensure that governments continue to fund UN agencies such as UNRWA, and humanitarian organisations responding to the crisis
Work with Western regional allies to secure the release of hostages.
Should I have been in Parliament I would have voted for the Labour Party amendment which called for exactly what I set out above and:
Condemnation of the terrorist attacks: Condemning the horrific terrorist attack and murder of civilians by Hamas on October 7th.
Release of the hostages: Calls for the immediate release of all hostages.
All human life is equal: Asserts that all human life is equal and that there has been too much suffering, including far too many deaths of innocent civilians and children.
Respect for international law: Reasserts the UK’s commitment to the rules-based international order, international humanitarian law, and the jurisdiction of the ICC to address the conduct of all parties.
Lift the siege: Calls on Israel to protect hospitals and lift the siege conditions allowing food, water, electricity, medicine and fuel into Gaza.
Prevent escalation: Requests the UK Government continues to work with the international community to prevent a wider escalation of the conflict in the region.
Right to return home: Ensures people in Gaza who are forced to flee during this conflict can return to their homes.
End illegal settlement expansion: Seeks an end to the expansion of illegal settlements and settler violence in the West Bank.
Cessation of fighting: Calls for longer humanitarian pauses to allow in aid and the movement of civilians as a necessary step to an enduring cessation of fighting as soon as possible.
Two-state solution: Seeks a credible, diplomatic and political process to deliver the lasting peace of a two-state solution.
I understand that some are disappointed that the specific word “ceasefire” was not used in the amendment, though I would argue that an “enduring cessation of fighting” is in fact stronger.
In the face of such an extraordinary threat to children, Labour is also calling for an emergency plan from the government to support the children of Gaza, to prioritise aid to children, safe and protected shelters for food, clean water, and medical care as winter sets and a long-term coordinated plan to support this traumatised generation. I will be working with local leaders to help coordinate and promote fundraising efforts here that can contribute to those efforts.
In the long term, there can only be a political solution to this crisis. Labour will make clear to the Palestinian people that there is a genuine will and determination to finally address their plight in deeds as well as words by recharging diplomacy and efforts for a political path to a two-state solution based on an independent Palestine and a secure Israel.
I will of course continue to raise this matter with our Government and continue to call on the Prime Minister to call for an end to this brutal war. However, if a ceasefire is to work it will need both Hamas and Israel to agree to one. We also need the Gulf countries to exert all efforts into forcing Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and to return the hostages and for the West to call on Israel for a ceasefire.
Without this multilateral international diplomatic pressure, the sustainable cessation of hostilities will not be delivered. I can assure you that, despite this, I will continue to call on the Prime Minister to do more.
This week there were also the remaining debates for the King’s Speech, on the NHS, the economy and crime, three areas in which the Tories have utterly failed Britain.
The Prime Minister wants to present the government as agents of change, however, after almost 14 years in power, five failed prime ministers, seven economy-crashing chancellors, mortgages through the roof, a cost of living crisis, an NHS on the brink of collapse, school roofs crumbling, sewage water on our shores and just to top it off, a government mired in sleaze and scandal, it is clear the only way we can provide change is by removing the Conservatives from power.
What is the Prime Minister’s response to our nation's woes? David Cameron, the ex-Prime Minister who left us with Brexit chaos and no plan.
This is thirteen years of Tory failure laid bare.
Visit to Co-Op for Respect Shopworkers Week
Today I visited the Co-op on Lancaster Road with Usdaw Union for Respect for Shopworkers week.
The current scale of abuse and threats towards shop workers is completely unacceptable. No one should be intimidated in their place of work.
Enfield Car Meets
As promised in our residents meeting last month, progress is now being made to stop the car meets that blight the lives of Enfield residents.
Enfield Council is currently working to secure a court injunction to grant police and council enforcement officers additional powers to address dangerous driving and car meets.
Furthermore, the Council will seek hefty fines and up to a two-year prison sentence for offenders.
I am pleased that residents' ongoing concerns are being listened to and acted upon.
I will continue to support residents and the Council in dealing with these car meets.
See more here.
Winter Support
I will be spending the festive season visiting various events and organisations, if you would like me to pop down to something you are organising, please drop me a line at feryal.clark.mp@parliament.uk