Kate Osamor MP – My Week Representing Edmonton

Monday 31^st July

• Throughout this week I’ve been writing to schools across Edmonton, jointly with Enfield Climate Action Forum, to let them know that I would be happy to work with them to push the Council to provide them with Air Pollution Monitors so parents can know how their children are being impacted by pollution levels every day.

• Months after my constituents won their appeal at their PIP tribunal the DWP finally reinstated their payments. Frequent delays by the DWP to comply with tribunal decisions can have tragic consequences.

Tuesday 1^st August

• Many constituents wrote to me objecting to the Prime Ministers announcement that he would license new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. The Prime Ministers decision is a disaster for our planet and economically illiterate. It will not bring down the cost of energy, as the oil and gas will be sold on the open market by private companies, all it will do is make reaching net-zero impossible. A Labour Government must reverse the decision.

• After waiting for more than yea, one of my constituents finally received their refugee status from the Home Office.

Wednesday 2^nd August

• A number of constituents wrote to me with concerns about the welfare of migrants who may be housed in a barge in Portland, Dorset. The Government has been forced to delay housing migrants on the Barge because of warnings over Fire Safety. Housing migrants in such conditions is cruel, dangerous and unnecessary. We need to end the hostile environment, give refugees the right to work and open up safe and legal routes to stop refugees from being killed crossing the channel.

• Constituents who are being impacted by the Council’s new housing policy have started to contact my office in large numbers, including a family who were given less than 24 hours to accept a property in the north of England and another family who were sent to multiple viewing at which more than 20 other families showed up.

Thursday 3^rd August

• After making representations on behalf of my constituent his school appeal was successful meaning that his child will now be attending the school of their choice, allowing them to receive Special Educational Needs support.

• A number of constituents wrote to me raising their objections to a planning application to add two additional storeys to flats at Ruskin Walk. While it is Enfield Council who have authority to make decisions on issue of planning, I will of course listen to concerns of residents, though with hundreds of families currently homeless across Enfield building social and affordable housing is a priority.

Friday 5^th August

• 221 constituents contacted me this week, with the majority contacting me about problems related to housing including homelessness and disrepair. My constituents also contacted me about policy issues like the Government’s abandonment of its climate pledges and the Cost of Living Crisis.

• This week on the International Development Select Committee we revealed the full extent of the Government’s cuts to the aid budget, including a 54% cut to the Girls Education Department and 50% cut to aid to Yemen, Bangladesh and Syria. I’ve called on the Government to reverse these cuts and reinstate the Department of International Development.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my week representing Edmonton. 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