Weekly Round-Up — Feryal Clark

I want to start by wishing everyone celebrating in Enfield North and beyond a happy and peaceful Eid al Adha. Eid Mubarak!

Furthermore, over the weekend Pride is taking place around London, you can see more info on how to take part and celebrate here.

In parliament, this week laid bare just how out of touch the Government is with what life is like for working people in this country. On Sunday, when asked about the current mortgage rates rises, the Prime Minister urged people to ‘hold their nerve’. People need real help with the cost of living crisis, not to be told to ‘hold their nerve’ by the Prime Minister. It is patronising and offensive. Here in Enfield North, people are paying an extra £4700 per year on their mortgages. This is a Tory mortgage bombshell, caused in Downing Street and felt around the country. Labour has a comprehensive five-point plan that can ease the mortgage crisis immediately.

We also had the High Court ruling on the Rwanda deportation scheme. This was rightly deemed unlawful and acts as further evidence that the Prime Minister has no plan to fix the Tories’ mess. His only idea is completely unravelling.

Boundary Review

It has been an honour to serve as your Member of Parliament since 2019 and stand up for Enfield North in Parliament.

However, things are slightly changing. This week the Boundary Commission proposals were published.

What does this mean?

Well, Enfield North will continue as a constituency by name and by the area it represents.

Some small areas move to the new Southgate and Wood Green constituency, to align with local government boundary changes. The only major change we have in the final recommendations is the inclusion of Ponders End in Enfield North. This makes sense in terms of historical, industrial and community precedence.

I will remain the Member of Parliament of Enfield North until the election, so if you have any concerns, please contact my office as usual.

At the next election, I will again be standing as the Labour Party’s Candidate for Enfield North, and I hope residents will continue to put their faith in me as their elected representative.

You can read my submissions to the proposal here.

Thames Water

The UK's largest water company, which serves a quarter of the UK population, is in talks to secure extra funding as it struggles to pay its debts.

Thames Water is the story of a broken system, a complicit government, weak regulation and industrial scale profiteering.

Thames Water spent over 1,100 hours discharging raw sewage into the River Lea in 2019, now they want the taxpayer to bail them out. I do not expect residents of Enfield North to pay for their mess.

It is yet another example of a company that has been run into the ground purely for profit under this government’s watch.

Wellbeing Manifesto

It was a pleasure to learn about economist Lord Richard Layard’s Wellbeing Manifesto this week, which calls for Governments across the world to move ‘beyond GDP’ to a measure of wellbeing.

Find out more here.

The Enfield Over 50s Forum

It was great to see The Enfield Over 50s Forum annual meeting take place this week.

The Forum is going from strength to strength, and have an exiciting year ahead.

There were some important discussions taking place and I look forward to working with you all in the future.

Istanbul Pride

Despite bans, arrests, and harassment, Pride Marches in Turkey went ahead last weekend. Solidarity with Istanbul Pride and Izmir Pride.

However, over 100 activists were detained, and police continue to infringe upon freedom and assembly rights. This must change.

I am wishing everyone a free and happy Pride march next year. Solidarity with Istanbul Pride.

Armed Forces Day

Last Saturday was Armed Forces Day. I want to thank our Armed Forces for all they do to keep Britain safe.

I am deeply proud of our servicemen and women here in Enfield and around the country.

Thank you for keeping our country safe.