Weekly Update

This week saw more Tory infighting. The Conservative government spends more time on their internal party issues than the issues facing our country.

Simon Clarke MP called on the Prime Minister to stand down, in what is another sign of Rishi Sunak’s weak leadership and waning appeal.

But it’s also a symptom of a party that’s in government but not in power. The Tories continue to focus on their own interest, and not that of the national interest.

And there are a number of important issues where we need strong leadership.

Knife crime has gone up by a shocking 77% since 2015, and the number of fatal stabbings has hit a record high, with the steepest increases in our towns and suburbs.

Too many young lives are being lost, too many families and communities left distraught. 

Yet the Conservatives have repeatedly and shamefully failed to act.

Ministers have said 16 times that they will ban the online sale of dangerous knives. Yet even with the changes they belatedly announced yesterday, it will still be easier to buy dangerous machetes and ninja swords online than it is to buy a kitchen knife on the high street. 

Enough is enough. We need urgent action to save lives. Only Labour is determined to do that.

Keir Starmer has made it part of our mission for the next Labour government to halve knife crime. That is why we have set out an urgent plan:

• Get knives off our streets with an urgent crackdown on the possession and sale of lethal knives, and bring in new and stronger laws to crack down on dangerous knife sales.

• Crackdown on criminal gangs who are luring teenagers into violence, by making child criminal exploitation an offence and strengthening the serious and organised crime strategy.

• Community prevention work and early intervention to stop young people being drawn into crime through a major new Young Futures Programme including new youth hubs and mental health support.

•  Immediate interventions and serious consequences for young people caught carrying a knife with referrals to Youth Offending Teams, sanctions and bespoke intervention plans.

•  Create a new cross-government coalition to end knife crime, bringing together political and community leaders to help tackle the issue and keep young people safe.

You can see the full mission briefing here: https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labours-action-plan-to-cut-knife-crime/

Jack Petchey Foundation:

It was an absolute pleasure to host students from the Jack Petchey Foundation Speak Out challenge, the UK’s largest youth public speaking competition, in Parliament yesterday.

We heard some truly inspiring speeches from students from across London.

It was also great to meet Ethan from Enfield who was crowned champion at the grand final last year!

Zombie Knife Legislation:

The government’s inaction on zombie knife legislation has gone on for far too long, while outcomes for young people and families worsen around the country. 

We need action NOW to stop further tragedies. 

Labour would introduce a proper ban on these lethal weapons once and for all.

Private Members Bill:

I was proud to support Emma Lewell Buck MPs Licensing Hours Extensions Bill last week.

You can see the clip of what the Bill would do, alongside the boost it would provide to our pubs, bars, and restaurants here.

Youth and Community Connexions:

It was great to visit the Youth and Community Connexions Centre in the south of the borough today. Their hub has at its heart, a programme co-designed with the young people themselves.

I really enjoyed seeing what the team has brought together, and to speak to young people to learn how important this community resource it.

I wish them well as they go from strength to strength.