Weekly Update – 17 April 2020

 Dear Reader,

I’m writing to you again with another weekly update, outlining some of the work I’m doing as the MP for Edmonton. I know this is a very difficult time for many, so I also want to take this opportunity to thank all Labour members for the help and solidarity they have shown to those who have needed It during the lockdown. Edmonton has really come together as a community in response to difficult circumstances.

Parliament moving online

Parliament has now agreed to work, at least partially, online. This means that as Parliament returns from Easter Recess next week I’ll be able to continue my job representing you and holding the Government to account. Although no agreement has yet been made on voting, we will be able to ask questions of Ministers in Parliament from home using webcams. I will also be able to continue my work on the International Development Select Committee virtually. My office will keep on tackling casework and conducting meetings online, as we have done since the start of lockdown. As an MP it is vital that I’m able to hold the Government to account during this crisis while keeping to Government guidelines on social distancing.

Universal Basic Income 

This week I joined doctors, economists, campaigners and academics from across the world in calling for the immediate adoption of a Basic Income to prevent economic and humanitarian crisis across the UK. Basic income is a regular cash payment that goes to everyone, regardless of income, background, behaviour or employment status.

We currently face an economic crisis which threatens to dwarf the 2008 recession. We need an economic exit strategy to avoid a recession becoming a depression. Many countries across the world are implementing similar strategies or considering doing so. In the coming weeks, I will keep pressing the Government on this issue along with other colleagues. After COVID-19, the economy needs to work for everybody.

NHS Meeting – keeping updated

I continue to remain in regular contact with our local healthcare providers, and this week met with the directors of the North Central London CCG. Our health workers and hospitals are doing amazing work, but need more help from the Government. The Government urgently needs to provide adequate PPE to all health care workers, whether they are based in hospitals or care homes, and we need to see a huge ramping up of testing. There is a growing international consensus on how to defeat COVID-19 – testing, testing, testing. So far the Government has failed on this front.

Nigeria APPG

I’ve continued to work remotely in my roles as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Nigeria, No-Recourse to Public Funds, and Eritrea. The worrying news of widespread racist treatment towards Africans in China as a by-product of the country’s attempts to tackle COVID-19 has been widely condemned internationally, but not by our Government. I’ve raised this directly with the Foreign Secretary. The UK needs to speak up about human rights abuses around the globe – even when it isn’t convenient to do so.

No-Recourse to Public Funds APPG

Meanwhile, as Chair of the No-Recourse to Public Funds APPG I’ve been running a campaign to focus attention on the vulnerability of migrants without recourse to public funds during this crisis. The extra assistance which has been given to those impacted is welcome, but more now needs to be done. Migrants who fall under this category, and have no access to public funds, are normally not entitled to any form of housing assistance so often end up destitute and street homeless. That was wrong before COVID-19, and it is wrong now. After this crisis is will be unacceptable for the Government to simply push those affected back out on the street. I will keep pushing the Government to give us answers on this important issue.

Repatriation Update

I’ve previously spoken about a number of my constituents who have been abroad and unable to get home during this lockdown. I’m pleased to say that the majority of those constituents have been able to return safely home. I’m in touch with the remaining few who have so far been unable to return home and continue to make representations on their behalf to the Foreign Office.

Kind regards,

Kate