Olivia Blake Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam
🦅This week I joined RSPB at their Parliamentary launch to hear about their 2030 strategy for nature recovery and thank them for all their vital work pushing for action on species and biodiversity decline.
🌱I also spoke at a CPRE event to welcome the launch of their new hedgerow research and talk about the importance of hedgerows in storing carbon, protecting and restoring the UK’s wildlife, and mitigating the effects of the Climate Emergency that we’re already experiencing.Â
🚶The Young Christian Climate Network have organised for people across the country to walk from Cornwall to Glasgow, to raise awareness of COP26 and spark conversations around climate! I had a wonderful time meeting them on Sunday, when their #RelaytoCOP26 arrived in Sheffield.Â
🛒I have been continuing my campaign to end the abuse of our front-line workers. Next week I will be bringing a motion to Parliament to make this a criminal offence. If you have experienced abuse in your workplace, please share your story with me here.
✊I pledged my support for the cleaning staff at Sheffield University who have been on strike this week. These staff have worked throughout the pandemic and it’s time we rewarded these key workers with a wage that offers them the dignity and respect they deserve. Please join the campaign and sign their petition.Â
🏞️I spoke to the Sheffeild Star about our campaign to honour my historic constituent, Ethel Haythornthwaite, who was a pioneering campaigner – playing a pivotal role in the formation of the Peak District National Park. If you are able, please consider donating to our campaign to erect a plaque in honour of her amazing work:Â
🗳️This week the Government brought to Parliament their controversial plans to introduce voter ID. If made into law, every voter will have to show a photo ID before casting their ballot from the next election. Three and a half million citizens – 7.5% of the electorate – don’t have access to any photo ID at all. My Labour colleagues and I voted against these controversial plans and will continue to fight this discriminatory and dangerous policy.
🔬I met with the BioIndustry Association to hear about its recommendations for the Comprehensive Spending Review coming up later this year, and what can be done to turbo charge growth in the innovative UK biotech and life sciences sector.
🏥This week the Government announced their long awaited plans for social care. Instead of addressing the huge crisis we face, their plan will do nothing to mitigate the decades of underfunding local authorities have faced and will not be funded fairly.Â
🌍I spoke to the BBC about why Yorkshire is welcoming more refugees than other regions and why the government must help us meet our moral and humanitarian obligations and step up funding to local authorities so we can give people all the support they need.