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This month we had the Spring Statement and despite the fact we are currently living through a cost-of-living crisis this Government put forward no meaningful measures to tackle this.
Many people across the country are choosing between putting food on the table & heating their homes and this is completely wrong. I raised this with the Chancellor and called on him to introduce a windfall tax on North Sea oil & gas companies who have been cashing in on rising energy prices to help tackle rising energy bills. The Chancellor said to wait for the Prime Ministers statement on this but many can’t wait any longer, they need help now. To celebrate International Women's Day I was very proud to welcome two local women, Mickey Wells and Lisa Goodchild into Parliament for an evening reception with Keir Starmer to celebrate the work of female entrepreneurs. Mickey is an award-winning fitness instructor who kept me moving during lockdowns, supporting my mental & physical health. She has also raised £10,000 for local domestic violence charities. Lisa went to school with both me and my sister Rachel, she overcame the challenges of her childhood and set up a successful digital marketing company. Through her charity work, she also provides digital skills training to disadvantaged young people. These women are fantastic role models for our community, and it was brilliant to be able to recognise their fantastic achievements and work.  For International Women's Day this year I led Labour’s Opposition Day debate on this Government's appalling track record on tackling rape.
Under the conservatives we have seen the effective decriminalisation of this crime with just 1.3% of reported rapes being prosecuted. This is a record low despite reports of the crime being at record highs. Labour has a plan to tackle this which I put forward but until the Government backs it women and girls will continue to be failed. You can see my speech here and my article on this here. |