🌳This week I took part in the Planning Inspectorate inquiry into the proposed development of Loxley Valley. I raised a number of concerns including the strength of objective community feeling and the appropriateness of the site. You can read my statement here.
💵 I also spoke during a debate in Parliament on the Greensill lobbying scandal. The Government would do well to remember that they are elected to represent the people, not private interests, and that those private interests should never view public finance as an easy access cash machine. You can watch my full speech here.
💰Whilst I sadly didn’t get the chance to speak during the Finance Bill debate, you can read what I was planning to say here. We desperately need a Government that will drive a green transformation in our economy, advancing living standards as we tackle the climate emergency. Instead we have a Government committed to their failed austerity agenda.
🏥Following the lack of any funding announcement during the budget, I am continuing to campaign for more support for eating disorder services during Covid-19. This week I met with South Yorkshire based eating disorder charity SYEDA – whose work providing support for people with eating disorders and their carers has been more vital than ever this past year. I have also written to the Chancellor and spoken to Politics Home about the issue.
🌱I met with representatives from Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust to see some of their work and hear more about the natural flood management and vital woodland restoration projects. I am looking forward to working with them to promote nature based solutions!
🎓Following the complete omission from Boris Johnson on the 12th April of any information about when students could return to face to face teaching, I joined up with MPs in Sheffield to write to the Department of Education demanding an urgent announcement. The Government have now announced that students can return from the 17th May.
✍️I have been working with my constituent on an urgent case to find her sister, who has gone missing following a protest in her home town in Mexico. I have been in contact with Amnesty International, written to the FCDO and spoken to the press. If you are able to, the family are asking for donations to pay for legal support.
🍲Finally, thanks so much to everyone who came to our #HallamClimateManifesto event last week – to discuss how we can build an alternative food system that works for people and planet. Special thanks to our speakers from Our Cow Molly, Foodhall Project and BFAWU.