Kate Osamor MP
It’s been another busy week with a lot going on in and out of Parliament. With Local Elections just around the corner, the Government is doing its best to disown 13 years of failure while wages stagnate and prices rise. Whatever the Government does, I’ll continue to do everything I can to hold the Tories to account and speak out about those issues that matter the most to you. So here is an update on a few of the issues that I’ve been looking at this week. |
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It’s time to buildI am deeply concerned about the findings of a new report by the National Housing Federation into overcrowding in homes. The report highlights the critical shortage of affordable homes in England, with over 310,000 children forced to share beds with other family members due to severe overcrowding. This is an unacceptable consequence of thirteen years of Tory failure. Tinkering around the edges won’t end the housing crisis. We need a Labour government that will build social housing on a scale not seen since the post-war period, end the right to buy, and reform the private rented sector. The leading cause of overcrowding in England is the chronic shortage of social housing. Families already living in social housing are the most likely to be overcrowded as there are no larger social homes available for them to move to. This is a supply-side problem that won’t be solved by making it slightly easier for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder. The only solution is to undertake a huge programme of house building.
The next Labour government must prioritise the building of affordable homes for all, and not just for the few. The National Housing Federation is calling for a long-term, national plan for meeting housing needs, with the aim of driving a drastic increase in the number of affordable homes over the next decade. They are absolutely right. It is time to put an end to the housing crisis and ensure that everyone has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home. |
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Black maternal health disparity needs to be addressedThis week’s report from the Women & Equalities Select Committee highlights the shocking disparities in maternal health care. Shockingly, black women are four times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. Fixing the problem of maternal health disparities requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach. This includes addressing staffing shortages, properly funding maternity services, and ensuring that all maternity staff receive evidence-based training on delivering culturally competent care. The Maternity Disparities Taskforce must also be held accountable for its progress in tackling maternal health disparities, with tangible metrics to measure its success and regular updates provided to the public. While the government and NHS have taken some steps to address this issue, it is clear that more must be done.
We must continue to demand action to eliminate the disparity in maternal deaths between black and other minority ethnic women and white women, as well as between those living in the most and least deprived areas. We must push for a cross-government target and strategy, led by the Department of Health and Social Care, to ensure that all women have access to safe and personalised maternal care. This report should be a wake-up call to a government that has failed to prioritise this issue for too long. |
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Pre-payment metersThis week, all energy suppliers signed up to a code of conduct that prohibits the forced installation of prepayment meters in the homes of people aged 85 and over, as well as those with severe health conditions. However, this code only covers a limited group of vulnerable people, including those with terminal illnesses, serious medical conditions, and mobility issues. It also allows prepayment meters to be installed for many other vulnerable individuals, including those with dementia and single mothers with young babies. The fact that the forced installation of prepayment meters is still allowed for many vulnerable people highlights the need for a complete ban on such installations. It is unacceptable to subject individuals to these meters, which have been linked to high costs and poor service. The government and Ofgem have a responsibility to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by energy suppliers, and they must act decisively to ban prepayment meter installations for all vulnerable groups.
The energy industry’s track record of enforcing codes of conduct has been poor, to say the least. Simply creating a code of conduct is not enough; there must be strict enforcement to ensure that energy suppliers do not continue to exploit vulnerable customers. Ofgem should incorporate the guidelines into the energy suppliers’ license conditions and take strict action against any companies that do not adhere to the rules. Ultimately, a complete ban on prepayment meter installations for vulnerable individuals is necessary to protect them from the exploitation of energy suppliers. |
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Home Office Denying Justice to Windrush VictimsEarlier this week I wrote to the Home Secretary expressing my deep concern about the recent findings published by Human Rights Watch regarding the Windrush Compensation Scheme (WCS). The Human Rights Watch report highlighted significant defects with the WCS, which undermines claimants’ right to an effective remedy. It is critical that these issues are addressed urgently, as the right to an effective remedy is protected by the Human Rights Act. The scheme’s operation out of the Home Office creates a conflict of interest, which undermines its independence. Moving forward it is essential that the scheme is administered by an independent body, as recommended by Martin Forde QC. In addition, the application process for the WCS is unnecessarily complex, and the lack of legal aid for claimants makes the process even more challenging. The burden of proof on claimants is too high, and the Tier-1 and Tier-2 reviews do not provide an adequate right of appeal. In light of these issues, I have asked the Home Secretary to take action to address the concerns raised by Human Rights Watch. I have requested updated statistics and information in relation to the implementation of the WCS, plans to reform the scheme, a timeframe for ensuring full compensation to all eligible claimants, and the publication of a report commissioned as part of a commitment to educating civil servants about the causes of the Windrush scandal.
Unfortunately, the Home Secretary seems more interested in pandering to racists than delivering justice for those who have been subjected to it. Ultimately it will be for a Labour Government to implement the Williams Report Recommendations and finally deliver justice for the Windrush generation. |
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 |