Welcome to my regular newsletter, keeping you updated on my work as your Member of Parliament.

I want to begin by thanking the many constituents who have written to me about the ongoing devastating situation in Gaza. Over 30,000 Palestinians have now been killed. The case for an immediate ceasefire has never been more urgent. As you may already know, I am organising an appeal with other Sheffield Labour MPs for the charity, Medical Aid for Palestinians. I hope that, if you can, you’ll join us in supporting their emergency appeal for the current crisis.

I will continue to keep pushing Ministers to do all they can to push for an immediate ceasefire, for aid to enter Gaza, and for the release of hostages.

• Having long campaigned for the UK to leave the damaging and outdated Energy Charter Treaty, I was delighted to see the official announcement of the UK’s withdrawal. The treaty posed an immense risk to Climate Change Act targets by allowing fossil fuel companies to sue governments for profits lost due to climate action. Last year I spoke in the chamber calling on the Government to leave the treaty, you can watch my speech here.
• Asylum accommodation has a devastating impact on people’s mental health. Despite this, the Government have changed the rules to make it even harder for asylum seekers to access the mental health support they need. I raised the issue with the Minister, calling on him to ensure the safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers.
• I have continued campaigning for an outright ban on heather burning. Following my Westminster Hall debate in January on the issue, I wrote for Parliament Politics about how the burning is undermining action to tackle the twin nature and climate emergencies. Rather than destroy and degrade our peatlands, their restoration is key to mitigating against the effects of the climate emergency.
• I remain deeply concerned about the plight of Ukrainian refugees both in Sheffield and across the country. I spoke in a parliamentary debate on the Homes for Ukraine scheme where I called on the Government to step up and assure Ukrainians that they will have long-term protection in the UK. I also wrote for the Sheffield Star about the challenges faced by Ukrainians arriving here, including the risk of homelessness. We urgently need a recommitment to introduce more safe and legal routes, so that all refugees fleeing war and persecution can reach the UK safely.
• It was great to mark Heart Unions week in February – the trade union movement would be nothing without its members, reps and activists. If you would like to get involved in the fight for better workplace rights, please do consider joining a union.

• I wrote for Left Foot Forward on the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill and how it does nothing to fulfil our climate and nature targets. The Government needs to ditch the Bill and start planning for a just transition to renewables.
• Along with Friends of the Earth, I was pleased to support the report launch of Sir Michael Marmot’s Institute of Health Equity, which lay bare the dire state of Britain’s homes. The latest evidence shows that 9.6 million UK households are living in heat-leaking, poorly insulated homes and have incomes below the minimum required for an acceptable standard of living. It was good to meet with campaigners, and hear more about the meaningful action the UK needs to take to tackle Britain’s cold homes. I will continue to press the Government to insulate the millions of homes needed to tackle fuel poverty and the rising cost of energy.

• Following on from my campaigning with baby loss charity Tommy’s, I was pleased to see the launch of the new voluntary baby loss certificate scheme for parents who have lost a baby before 24 weeks. I will continue to push the Government on the introduction of a graded model of care for families suffering.
• Eating disorder services are at a breaking point. During Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I was pleased to co-lead on a parliamentary debate on the issue. I called on Ministers to acknowledge the crisis and commit resources to tackle waiting time backlogs and implement waiting time targets for adult services. You can watch part of my speech here. I also attended a drop-in session, where I spoke to campaigners about the need to push Government on resourcing preventative care.

• As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, I have been looking at NHS supply chain and efficiencies in procurement. At a recent oral evidence session, I raised concerns about the dentistry workforce, with many experienced dentists leaving the NHS. You can read a recent transcript of my activity on the Committee here.
• More than 50,000 people are detained under the Mental Health Act – an Act that is long overdue for reform. Despite repeated promises of reform, the Government has failed to act. I called on Government Ministers to urgently bring forward the Mental Health Bill – people in a mental health crisis deserve better.
• During HIV Testing Week I attended a parliamentary drop-in held by the Terrence Higgins Trust where I took a quick and easy HIV test. An estimated 4,500 people living with HIV in England don’t know their status – you can order a test kit to your home here.

Dates for your diary: 

23rd March: Retrogaming Cafe at Wesley Hall, Crookes

29th March: Bank Holiday Afternoon and Evening of Soul Music

29th – 31st March: Sheffield Folk Session festival on Easter weekend around Kelham Island 

6th April: The Doggy Café at Stannington Community Centre

28th April: Sheffield Vegan Market

18th May: The Spring Plant Sale at the Botanical Gardens

Thank you for reading my newsletter. If you would like to share it with your neighbours or friends in Hallam, you can share the sign up link with them 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 with!

Olivia Blake

MP for Sheffield Hallam