Earlier this year the Environmental Audit committee said the Government had ‘no strategy indicating how new biodiversity policies will work together’, calling their approach ‘toothless’ and ‘devoid of effective delivery mechanisms’. This week I questioned the Environment Minister on their lack of any plan to halt and reverse the nature and species decline.
I also spoke during the Westminster Hall debate on COP26. Ministers should be taking a plan to these important talks, leading by example and pushing for ambitious targets – not waiting for the international consensus before taking action. Without a plan to tackle our own Nature Emergency, how does the Government hope to negotiate one for the entire UN?
The Tories discriminatory Anti Refugee Bill was brought to Parliament this week. It violates our international treaty obligations, is inhumane, spiteful, and badly thought through. Upholding the best traditions of our city, I voted against it. Sadly, the Government voted it through. You can watch my full speech during the debate here.
I signed this letter, along with Sheffield’s other Labour MPs, calling on Priti Patel to urgently stop plans to deport dozens of Zimbabwean asylum seekers, who had no access to legal advice, as is their right.
I wrote this piece for the Yorkshire Post on the urgent need to expand natural solutions to flooding to both restore nature and protect our communities. As the last few weeks have shown, there is no time for Government inaction on flooding or the climate.
Stillbirth rates are twice as high for Black babies than white babies and 1.6 times as high for Asian babies. A baby’s risk of death should not be determined by their parents’ ethnicity or income. I called for an urgent confidential enquiry into these deaths during a debate in Westminster Hall on baby loss.
It was fantastic to go to the Yorkshire Show last weekend to talk to the National Farmers Union about all things nature and water. I failed to take a picture of myself enjoying the sunshine, so here is one of some fabulous sheep instead!
As Chair of the all party group on SEND, I criticised the Government’s latest unacceptable delay of the publication of the review of support for special educational needs, initially announced in September 2019. You can read my full statement here.
I spoke to BBC Look North and ITV Calendar about the Government’s dangerous and reckless approach to unlocking. The Government needs to get on top of rising covid infections to avoid a summer of chaos, with hundreds of thousands required to self-isolate every week.
I also spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield about my relief that the Waspi women are finally having their concerns recognised. The Parliamentary Ombudsman’s ruling is a vindication for those who have been campaigning so hard on behalf of all those affected. For too long the Government has ignored these women. Now they must respond.
