Monday 22nd January

• In Parliament, on Monday evening I hosted a drinks and nibbles New Year celebration for members of the Edmonton & Winchmore Hill CLP. With the new CLP only having existed for a few months this was a great chance to meet some new faces and for members to hear from fantastic Labour MPs like Ed Miliband, Tan Dhesi, Marsha De Cordova and Florence Eshalomi.
• On Monday I voted against Government plans to expand oil drilling in the North Sea. Our only chance of lessening the impact of the climate crisis is by ending fossil fuel extraction. If we do that, while super-charging investing in renewable energy, we will bring down energy prices, improve energy security and get ourselves back on track to reach net zero by 2030.

Tuesday 23rd January

• On Tuesday I voted to protect the UK Steel industry from Tory plans to let it collapse. The Conservatives have presided over the decline of the British steel industry and their plans will see thousands of people made redundant and leave the UK as one of the few advanced economies unable to produce primary steel. Labour has a plan to invest up to £3 billion in green steel, creating jobs and bringing down emissions.
• On Tuesday I also voted for Labour’s plan to tackle school absences. Under the Tories, absences in schools have increased by 202% since 2016. Labour in Government would introduce mental health counselling for pupils, breakfast clubs and a register for home-schooled children.

Wednesday 24th January

• Enfield Council apologised to my constituent after a lack of contact from his housing caseworker regarding his impending eviction. The Council has committed to giving him more proactive assistance moving forward.
• This week I signed Early Day Motion 170, opposing the continuation of the cruel and unnecessary two-child limit for benefits, introduced by the Tories. The two-child cap pushes thousands of children into poverty and costs more money than it saves. It must be scrapped.

Thursday 25th January

• Origin Housing Association attended my constituent’s property to assess the damp and mould after several emails from my office. A surveyor will also assess what works are needed to ensure that the issue of mould and damp at the property can be resolved for good.
• I have signed Early Day Motion 284, calling for Israel to stop targeting journalists in Gaza. More than 85 journalists and other media workers in Gaza have been killed since October 7th and many more are critically injured, missing or have been kidnapped by IDF forces. Without journalists in Gaza, the world could not bear witness to the ongoing atrocities being committed there by Israeli forces.

Friday 26th January

• This week almost 300 constituents contacted me and my office sent out 267 emails to constituents. The most common issues raised this week were regarding housing and homelessness. Many constituents are living in temporary accommodation or renting properties that have severe issues with damp and mould. The UK faces a housing emergency and the Government must urgently give Local Councils like Enfield the funds they need to build social housing and requisition private rented accommodation.
• On Friday the International Court of Justice delivered its interim ruling on the case brought by South Africa against Israel for its actions in Gaza. The court ruled that there is a plausible risk of Genocide in Gaza and it imposed emergency measures on Israel over its military operation, measures that if implemented would amount to a de-facto ceasefire. The UK Government must now call for an immediate ceasefire, suspend weapon sales to Israel and ssintroduce sanctions against Israel until the ICJ ruling is complied with.  

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Thank you for taking the time to read my latest update, if you have any issues that you would like to raise directly with me then please do email  edmontonconstituency@parliament.uk. I’m always happy to help whenever possible.

Kind regards,

Kate Osamor

Member of Parliament for Edmonton