I am pleased to announce that I have been reselected to stand for the Labour Party in Sheffield Hallam. It is an honour representing the people of Hallam and I know that together we can keep fighting for a greener, fairer Sheffield. If you would like to get involved in my campaign you can find out more here.

This January I have been asking people in Sheffield Hallam to take a short survey to let me know what issues they would like me to focus on over the next year – whether it’s campaigning for a Green New Deal, standing up for our NHS, or tackling the cost of living crisis. Thank you to everyone who has already fed in their ideas! I will be keeping the survey open for another week, so please take two minutes to share your thoughts.

In Sheffield…

• I have objected to the proposed development on the site of the Dore Moor Garden Centre. The Dore Neighbourhood Plan was created to protect our precious Green Belt and to safeguard the setting and landscape character of the Peak District National Park. I do not believe this application achieves this. I’m also deeply concerned by the nature of the proposals. There is a need for more housing for older residents in Sheffield, but it needs to be genuinely affordable. Proposing building 125 luxury care homes shows more concern for maximising profit than adequately addressing the housing needs of our city.• Last week my team and I spoke to residents at Riverdale Park regarding ongoing issues with roof works and associated charges. If this applies to you and you need more support please get in touch with my office at  olivia.blake.mp@parliament.uk

• I am proud to support RCN nurses in Sheffield who have voted to take strike action for the first time in the College’s history. Since 2010 nurses have seen their real terms pay cut by 20%. As a result, 83% said there aren’t enough nursing staff to meet all patient needs safely. I will be doing everything I can to support striking nurses over the coming months. You can hear from some of Sheffield’s striking nurses  here.  I also joined ambulance service workers on the picket line during their strike. It is not striking workers that are threatening our safety, it is 13 years of Tory governments dismantling our vital services

In Parliament…

• I have been speaking out about the failures of the Government’s Levelling Up fund. During a Public Accounts Committee session I asked Department of Levelling Up officials why guidance about who could apply to the fund was changed once decisions had already been made. It is unacceptable that councils wasted precious time and money applying to the fund only to find out they were not illegible. When the South East receives almost double that of Yorkshire and when two thirds of the fund goes to Tory-held seats, it’s clear Ministers have abandoned any pretence to care about actually levelling up. You can watch the clip here and read my full response to the Government’s Levelling Up fund here.
• I joined refugees and campaigners in Westminster  to highlight the horrific impacts of this Government’s Hostile Environment and call for an end to the Rwanda Plan. During Prime Minister’s questions I called on the Government to introduce safe and legal routes for people seeking sanctuary. You can watch my question here.

• The Government is trying to stop workers from fighting for fair pay and conditions. Instead of addressing the real problems people are facing, their new anti-strike Bill means public sector workers could be forced to work during strikes and fired if they refuse. Along with Labour colleagues, I voted against this dangerous attack on our right to strike. I’ve written  this  for Labour Outlook, on how the Minimum Service Levels Bill must be seen as part of an orchestrated attack on our democratic right to resist. I was proud to join so many people outside Downing Street in an emergency demonstration. Together we can defeat the Government’s attacks on our right to strike, restore trade union rights and win the fight for fair pay and conditions for all workers
• This week I joined hundreds of PCS workers on their picket lines, attended the NEU rally in Downing Street and sent a message of solidarity to all of the 500,000 workers who took strike action on February 1st. I will continue to stand with every worker striking for fair pay, and to save our public services.

• I also joined NHS nurses marching to Downing Street on their day of action, to send a clear message to the Government: we have had enough of unsafe, understaffed and underfunded services. Staff and patients deserve better, and we are going to fight until we get it.

• Along with Labour colleagues  I’ve tabled a motion  in solidarity with Unison Environment Agency workers. Since 2010 the value of their pay has been eroded by over 20%. Some are now forced to use foodbanks. These workers deserve a pay rise, not another cut!
  
• During an Urgent Statement in Parliament  I asked the Minister  how Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill will undermine the Equalities Act, despite there being assurances in the Bill that it will do no such thing. The Tories have had years to reform the Gender Recognition process and have done nothing. Instead of using Trans people as a political football, we need to get on and reform our own dehumanising process. Along with members of LGBT Labour, I joined a demonstration outside Downing Street to show our solidarity to the Trans community across the UK. 
  
• The Government’s Retained EU Law Bill will see 1000s of EU laws expire automatically this winter, unless they are kept or replaced This includes vital laws protecting workers and the environment.  I wrote a piece for the Yorkshire Post  on why this must be stopped. Not only have they set an irresponsible deadline, they can’t even give us a straight answer on how many laws this applies to. Their dashboard says 570, whilst the Minister says it’s in the thousands.  I questioned DEFRA officials  on this worrying lack of transparency.
• The curriculum is leaving children unprepared to face the impacts of the climate and ecological emergency. That’s why I’m proud to back the Climate Education Bill and why it was great to meet with the students who have been campaigning for a change to the curriculum. Our education system must prepare all students with knowledge and skills to address the crises we face. 

• The need for the Climate and Ecology Bill couldn’t be more urgent. It’s an opportunity to take serious, democratic action to halt rising temperatures—and reverse the decline of nature. It’s time to unite against the climate and ecological emergency. I wrote  this piece  for Politics Home in support of the CE Bill. 
  
• I spoke during the Westminster Hall debate  on ending the use of snares. Snares are cruel, indiscriminate and ineffective – they must be banned. Thank you to the 267 of my constituents who signed the petition and made the important debate happen.
  
• Local Sheffield reporters did an amazing job helping spread vital updates during the major incident in Stannington and Malin Bridge last year. But many residents were still left in the dark. During a Public Accounts Committee session, I questioned the BBC on why this crisis wasn’t more widely covered nationally. You can read more in the Sheffield Star  here.
  
• Along with 38 colleagues,  I wrote to Gillian Keegan  about the derisory 2.8% rise to Student Maintenance Loan. This will have disastrous consequences on low and middle income families with talented young people priced out of university.
  
• It is a scandal that UK supermarkets are set to announce billions in profits whilst thousands more families will be forced to rely on foodbanks this winter.  I was proud to sign  this Early Day Motion  calling for urgent regulatory action and the Right To Food.• For Holocaust Memorial Day, I was honoured to have the opportunity to hear from survivors of genocide & attend the ceremony in Parliament. We must honour these survivors by fighting for a world free from genocide, prejudice and hate. 
• For Cervical Cancer Prevention Week I was pleased to join Jo’s Trust to hear about what we can do to increase uptake of cervical screenings and eliminate Cervical Cancer completely. Find out more  here.

Get involved

I am working with people in Sheffield to prevent a reduction in service at Crosspool’s (Sheffield West) Delivery Office. If you haven’t already, please add your name to the petition below and share it with your neighbors!

SIGN THE PETITION

Dates for your diary:

• 4th February, 10am – 4pm:  Sheffield Radical Book Fair
• 5th February, 1:30pm:  History Walk, Sheffield General Cemetery
• 9th February, 7:15pm:  Sands Support Group – St Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane
• 9th February, 7pm: ‘Join the fight for climate justice’ event organised by Green New Deal Rising Sheffield – Gut Level, 121 Eyre St 
• 18th February, 10:30am:  Active Travel Summit, Millennium Gallery.
• 24th February, 7pm:  City of Sanctuary Art Exhibition – Whirlow Spirituality Centre.
• 27th February, 2pm:   Compassion, Cuppa and Chat  at Stories from the Pandemic – Millenium Gallery. 
• 28th February, 1pm: Lockdown Babies event for parents and carers.