Kate Osamor MP
Lionesses did us proud Last Sunday’s World Cup final defeat to Spain was disappointing, but we should all be proud of the Lionesses. Going from European Championship champions to World Cup runners-up is a significant accomplishment that highlights how far women’s football has progressed in this country. But it’s disheartening to see that the Tory government has not harnessed the potential of the England Women’s Team’s success. Over the past 13 years, children’s sports funding has faced cuts, leading to a more than 12% drop in PE and Sport hours in schools since 2012. This has resulted in numerous young girls struggling to find available football teams in their schools. As we approach the next Women’s World Cup in four years, it’s vital to drive change. The Government should be proactive in its support of Women’s football. We have so much more to do to ensure equal opportunities for girls in sports from a young age. Direct investment in the Women’s game is essential. The Lionesses’ dedication has ignited enthusiasm, and it’s time for the government to match this commitment by providing the necessary support and investment to elevate women’s football to new heights. |
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Government needs to come clean about camp plans This week I wrote to the Home Secretary to urge her to provide clarity on the government’s plans to build multiple camps in which it detain refugees indefinitely. These proposed camps, earmarked for locations including RAF Scampton, MoD Wethersfield, Catterick Garrison, and Northeye East Sussex, have an estimated capacity in the low thousands. However following the passing of the Illegal Immigration Bill the government’s own policy is that anybody who claims asylum in the UK through unregulated routes must be deported or sent to a safe third country. Yet it is unsafe to deport the vast majority of asylum seekers back to their country of origin and the government has no functioning deals with third countries. So, the numbers of refugees that the government will have obligated itself to detain in its camps will not be in the low thousands but in the tens of thousands. On the face of it, that is a humanitarian crisis waiting to happen. That’s why I’ve written to the Home Secretary asking for greater transparency about these plans. The government needs to come clean. I will keep pressing for answers until I get them.
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