After a week in Hallam whilst Parliament was on recess, this week I’ve been back in Westminster. Here’s a quick update on some of the things I’ve been getting up to: 

🥪 Last Friday I visited The GreyStones pub, to help with the amazing work they’ve been doing providing free lunches to children who need them during half term, and to hear about how lockdown is affecting local business. Thank you to everyone in Hallam, who during these difficult times are helping make sure no child goes hungry during the holidays.

✉️ In light of the second lockdown I have been doing everything I can to hold the government to account over their failing economic support package. I’ve signed an open letter, calling on Rishi Sunak to allow councils to trial universal basic income. I’ve also added my name to a letter to Sunak calling for a minimum wage flaw in government support, so that no one is forced to get by on anything less. You can read my full statement here. 

🌎 On Tuesday I once again voted against the government’s Overseas Operations Bill – which fails to meet our obligations on human rights abroad or to service personnel when they return home. Thank you to everyone who got in touch with me about this bill. You can watch my full speech here.

🏥 I went on BBC Look North to speak about the important campaign Hallam resident Anna is running, calling on Health Minister, Matt Hancock, to adapt restrictions so both parents can visit their sick children in hospital. You can sign Anna’s petition here. 

✊ I also signed an Early Day Motion on policing in the 1984-85 miner’s strike. The EDM is supported by The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign who are campaigning for justice for the miners who were assaulted by police and unjustly arrested at the Orgreave coking plant in 1984. Read more about their campaign here.

🐑 I voted for a House of Lords amendment to the Agriculture Bill to protect food, environmental and animal welfare standards in post-Brexit trade deals. The government voted down the amendment but conceded that before any trade deals are signed, there should be a full report on the impact of any deal on standards. It’s a step forward, but the government need to do much more a commitment to food standards, animal welfare and the environment is written into law.

🏥 Finally, alongside brave colleagues, I shared my own experience in a debate on #BabyLossAwareness in the hope that no one else is forced to go through the same incredibly difficult situation. You can watch my speech here.

As always, please get in touch if there are issues you would like me to raise or campaigns you would like me to get involved in.

Olivia Blake MP