Category: Uncategorised

The NHS is in desperate need of greater funding. Millions of Britons rely on the NHS every week and, starved of the money needed, it is becoming increasingly difficult for it to keep up with demand. I absolutely recognise that funding should be increased by at least 4% to ensure the NHS can provide the…

This is an issue that I feel passionately for and am proud to support. I stood on a Labour manifesto that pledged to make British Sign Language a fully-recognised language – and one of the implications of that would of course mean it could be taught as a GCSE. I was very moved to see…

I am relieved to hear that Nazanin, and her husband Richard, officially ended their 15 day hunger strike on the 29th June 2019. Unfortunately, the charity, ‘Redress,’ who have been working on Nazanin’s case, have reported that her physical health has deteriorated, suffering from blackouts, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder, yet she has been denied…

Refugee Action are doing crucial work and I wholeheartedly support their efforts to support those seeking asylum. I understand there are many issues surrounding the way Home Office handles asylum claims, and that is why I signed EDM 190 which reads; ‘That this House notes with deep concern the findings of the recent research report…

Jeremy Hunt, alongside the views of many other Tories, pledged to bring back fox hunting if he was elected as Prime Minister, arguing that it is “part of our heritage.” This would be an abhorrent move and serves as a reminder that we cannot take for granted the strides in animal welfare standards we have…

Leaving the European Union will also see us leaving behind many of the laws that currently protect our environment. I believe that going forward it is important to cement ambitious environmental protection measures into our own laws. Therefore, in principle I do of course support and welcome a new Environment Act. The only issue I…

This is an issue that I have long taken a stance against and will be campaigning to oppose this within Parliament – and I’m proud to back Labours recent manifesto pledge: Labour will ban fracking because it would lock us into an energy infrastructure based on fossil fuels, long after the point in 2030 when…

I am a strong believer in the medicinal value of cannabis and was hopeful that the change of law last November would result in medicinal cannabis being prescribed to those who clearly need it. This, sadly, has not been the case. The new law has proven ineffective and restrictive in a number of ways. Supply…

This is a very a important issue, and I support the creation of an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary in the Weddell Sea.  I submitted a written question to the Foreign Secretary asking what diplomatic efforts he has made to garner international support for the sanctuary, however it was referred by the table office to the question…

I believe that the gambling industry has for too long been permitted to prey on vulnerable and desperate people. I am of the opinion that these addictive gambling machines are highly dangerous and that imposing a £2 maximum bet on FOBTs is an important step in tackling the problem of predatory gambling practices in this…

A major pillar of human rights is of course the rights of children. Children are our greatest asset, they are our future, and yet they are often unable to defend themselves from exploitation. My background in youth work makes me particularly passionate about the rights of children at home and abroad, and I will certainly be championing…

I am deeply concerned for the funding of our NHS. I am a passionate defender of and tireless campaigner for a publicly-owned National Health Service, that is funded properly to offer a world class service to all, from the cradle to the grave. Myself and Labour colleagues did indeed make representations to the Chancellor in advance of the…

I have long been very vocal in calling for the improvement of Southern Trains. Whilst campaigning in the General Election in June 2017, I welcomed Labour’s manifesto commitment to build a new Train line linking London and Brighton with the following statement: “Many residents tell me of the misery of the trains to Brighton and the hit to our economy, which…

I am a vocal and public backer of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s #NotFunny campaign. Raising minimum sentences for animal cruelty was a Labour manifesto pledge I was proud to stand on in June, and I welcome the government’s decision to finally listen and pledge the same. My overall voting record on animal welfare since…

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, aka Tommy Robinson, is not a martyr of free speech. He is a convicted fraudster and former football hooligan who broke strict reporting rules which exist in court cases for a very good reason: if they are broken, that can lead to the collapse of trials of those alleged to have committed serious crimes such…

Universal credit was ostensibly designed with three goals in mind – to reduce costs, simplify the benefit system, and to make work pay. Whilst many of these aims at first glance seem laudable, they were designed by people without any understanding of welfare, benefits or low pay. Moving to a monthly payment did not encourage…

I am enthusiastic about beer and believe that pubs should be cherished institutions and vital community hubs that must be protected. I believe strongly in supporting the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and local pub owners. This includes backing a reduction in beer duty and I have raised this with the chancellor before, and will…

The recently announced changes to TV licensing fees is a deeply disappointing development. Free TV licences for up to 3.7 million pensioners are being scrapped, with over 75s forced to start paying £154.50 per year to watch live television and BBC iPlayer as of June 2020.   As far as I am concerned, this is…

In his first Commons statement as prime minister, Boris Johnson gave ‘unequivocally our guarantee to the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us… I can assure them that, under this Government, they will have the absolute certainty for the right to live and remain.” In less than a day, the prime minister’s official…

A new campaign called the Hands Off Moulsecoomb Primary School campaign, has recently come to my attention and I feel it is we must all get behind. You may have already heard that the Government is trying to force Moulsecoomb Primary School to become an academy school and join a private multi-academy trust. This is…