Weekly Update
At Prime Minister’s Questions, the Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer led on the former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s new book, in which she claims that the Tory party’s disastrous kamikaze Budget, which triggered chaos for millions, was the “happiest moment” of her premiership. I know mortgage holders and residents from around the country will be rightly bemused by this statement.
In the book, the former Prime Minister has a long list of people to blame for the economic misery. She blames the Governor of the Bank of England, the Treasury, and the Office for Budget Responsibility. The American President is blamed at one point. However, as we all know, It was the Tories’ unfunded tax cuts—tens of billions of pounds of unfunded tax cuts—that crashed the economy and left millions paying more for their mortgages.
Finally, this week in Parliament we also had votes for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which Labour voted in favour of. We support the ban on selling cigarettes to kids and stopping vapes from being branded and advertised to appeal to children.
Home Office Question
On Monday I got the opportunity to question the Home Secretary on their decision to U-Turn on making assault of retail workers a standalone offence.
Labour has been calling on this for years, so why has it taken so long for the Government to decide to protect our retail workers? They are facing record levels of abuse, which is sadly no surprise given the Tory Government’s hollowing out of neighbourhood policing since 2010.
I questioned the Government on why they haven’t followed this up by stealing other Labour ideas they keep denying: like the restoration of neighbourhood policing and getting rid of the £200 rule which stops shoplifting from being investigated?
You can see the Home Secretary’s response here.
Enfield Police Officer Update
Many of you will have seen the shocking news this week that a police officer in Enfield was stabbed on duty. I am pleased he is now in a stable condition and I hope he makes a full recovery.
A man has also been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the attack.
This incident highlights how our police officers put themselves in harm's way to protect us from criminals. I thank the officer for his bravery and service in protecting our community. He showed us the very best of the police force, as did his colleagues who provided emergency medical attention.
Sadiq Khan Campaign Launch:
It was great to attend Sadiq Khan’s manifesto launch yesterday and see the plan he has for London and our borough of Enfield.
Some of his key pledges include:
Work to make universal free school meals permanent for all state primary school children. This includes over 12,000 children who currently benefit from this in Enfield.
Freeze TfL fares until at least 2025 and continue to freeze fares for as long as economic conditions allow.
Work with a Labour government to put an extra 1,300 neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs on the streets. This includes more police support for Enfield.
There are lots more exciting pledges for a fairer, safer and greener London for all.
You can read the full manifesto here.
NHS Parliamentary Awards Nomination Extended
This year I am once again looking for local NHS health and care heroes to come forward for national recognition at the 2024 NHS Parliamentary Awards.
Please send your nominations to me at feryal.clark.mp@parliament.uk
Find out more, including the categories and nomination process at www.nhsparliamentaryawards.co.uk
Nominations are open until 26th April.
