Weekly Update – Monday 27 April to Friday 1^st May

This week Boris Johnson claimed that there will be many people looking at our ‘apparent success’ in dealing with COVID-19. I wrote in the Independent (unfortunately it is behind a paywall), about how insulting this claim is to the British people. Despite our small population we now have the third-highest death toll in the world. That is a tragedy we owe it to those who have lost their lives to be honest about the scale the Governments failures.

Domestic Abuse Bill

We currently face a domestic abuse emergency – during lockdown domestic violence has surged and the resulting death toll is horrendous. It was therefore right that the Government finally put the Domestic Abuse Bill back before Parliament this week.

Getting this bill passed is crucial – it provides extra support to victims of domestic abuse. Unfortunately, the bill largely excludes individuals with unstable immigration status from receiving that support.

People without recourse to public funds will continue to find it difficult to access support and remain vulnerable to domestic abuse as they have fewer escape routes from violence. All domestic abuse victims must have access to the support they need to remove themselves from abuse and I will continue to fight for that to be the case.

Stand up to Racism – COVID-19 BAME Deaths

Despite claims that we are all in this together, COVID-19 is have a disproportionate impact on BAME individuals and poorer communities.

This week I was proud to join a panel including Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott to discuss the disproportionate number of BAME deaths as a result of COVID-19. Despite only 13% of the UK population is non-white, 35% of COVID-19 patients are non-white. Some of the underlying reasons for this may be clear – those on the front line of the fight against COVID-19 are disproportionately BAME.

But this also points to wider issues that must be tackled. Inequality of access to health care and wider inequality. It is a problem that must not be ignored.

Universal Credit needs to be fixed NOW

I know that many of my constituents continue to experience problems trying to claim Universal Credit. This includes being unable to access the online portal and being told they may have to wait 8 hours on the phone before being able to speak to someone.

I’ve raised these issues directly with the Secretary of State for the Department of Work & Pensions, Theresa Coffey. Her response, that the DWP are putting further resources into Universal Credit is not good enough. Months into this crisis, these issues should be fixed. The Government’s delays are pushing people towards food banks and rent arrears. Urgent action is needed now, we can’t afford further delays.

Social Distancing in Edmonton

This week, many constituents have been writing to me concerned that social distancing guidelines are not being followed in Edmonton. I understand the frustration this can cause. It is essential we all follow the rules to protect the NHS and Save lives. Throughout this crisis I have kept in regular contact with Enfield Council and the Police who I know are working hard to ensure everybody follows the Governments advice. Although there is a lot of talk about relaxing the lockdown, it’s important to remember that has not happened yet. We should only be leaving our homes once a day for exercise and as little as possible to buy essential items. The latest government advice can be found here.

The Government needs to keep its promise to Enfield

Enfield Council has done amazing work in supporting residents during this crisis. But the extra services and the loss of council tax and business rates receipts has come at an estimated cost of £68 million. The Government had promised to fund local authorities’ response to this crisis but it now appears they may not keep that promise. Enfield have so far only received £8.8 million from Government. The current situation is not sustainable, so I have written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to call on him to keep his promise and support our Council.

Minimum Income Requirement

Our economy and the NHS rely on migration to function and as we recover from COVID-19 it will be those coming to contribute to our country from abroad who help get us back on our feet. Yet the Home Office continues to insist on a Minimum Income Requirement of £18,600 a year for non-EEA partners of British nationals before they can apply for Further Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain. COVID-19 has caused a global economic catastrophe and as a result, more and more people will be unable to meet the Minimum Income Requirement. That is why I wrote to the Home Secretary this week calling for it to be suspended.

Thank you for taking the time to read my latest update and thank you to everybody in Edmonton who is showing such a brilliant community spirit during this difficult time.

Kind regards,

Kate Osamor