Tory Attack on Workers
On Monday I voted against the Government Minimum Service Level Bill, which seeks to sack nurses and other workers who go on strike. The bill represents a serious threat to the democratic right of workers to organise and is both unworkable and impractical. Even the government’s regulatory watchdog has deemed it ‘unfit for purpose.’
One of the most striking aspects of this bill is the glaring absence of any consideration for public safety. It is astonishing that a piece of legislation aimed at essential services does not even mention the word ‘safety’ once. It is clear that the government’s motivation behind this bill is purely political, as they seek to divert attention from the economic and NHS crises they have brought upon our country.
I voted against it at second reading, sought amendments during committee and report stage, and I’m backing a Lord’s amendments that would blunt some of the worst excesses of the bill. A Labour Government would make repealing this legislation a priority. I remain committed to fighting for the rights of workers, advocating for fair and just policies, and upholding the Labour Party’s principles.
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Our Schools are falling apart
On Tuesday, I took part in an important vote on school building safety. The Tory’s mishandling of this issue calls for immediate attention and decisive action. For over a year, Conservative ministers have known that school buildings have posed ‘a risk to life’, and more than a year since the Department for Education escalated the risk of building collapse to ‘very likely’, the government will still not tell the parents or the public where dangerous school buildings are.
Had Labour won the vote it would have forced the government to release detailed school-level data from the latest Condition of School Buildings Survey. This information would have included comprehensive reports on the condition grades of individual building elements in all schools. By making this data public, we could have identified urgent repairs and improvements needed to ensure our children’s safety.
Secondly, the government must accept responsibility for maintaining and funding school buildings. Their chronic underinvestment has resulted in dilapidated infrastructure and compromised safety standards. We urged the government to allocate adequate resources for urgent repairs and renovations, ensuring no child is left in an unsafe environment.
Unfortunately, the Government won the vote and will continue keeping this vital information secret. As your representative, I am committed to advocating for transparency, accountability, and the well-being of our students. The Tories must face up to this issue and act decisively to rectify their failures, ensuring the safety of our school buildings. Pupils and parents deserve nothing less.
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Leasehold Reform
There was another important vote on Tuesday on the vital issue of leasehold reform. Leasehold denies too many individuals power, control, and a say over their homes and communities. The government’s failure to deliver promised reforms, including ending the sale of leasehold on new builds and introducing commonhold as the default option, is deeply concerning.
The swift introduction of the Leasehold Reform Part II Bill, incorporating the recommendations from the three Law Commission reports of 2020 is vital. These recommendations include ending the sale of new private leasehold houses, empowering residents with greater control, and replacing private leasehold flats with commonhold.
Labour’s proposed reforms aim to grant leaseholders the right to extend leases to 990 years with zero ground rent or cap ground rents at 0.1% of the freehold value, up to a maximum of £250 per year. Additionally, we seek to reform the enfranchisement valuation process, tackle unfair fees and contract terms, and enhance transparency on service charges.
The leasehold crisis is widespread, affecting approximately 4.86 million homes in England. Issues such as high service charges, lack of transparency, and difficulties in exercising the right to manage plague leaseholders.
By enacting comprehensive leasehold reforms, we can establish a fair and transparent housing system that prioritises the needs of homeowners. Together, we can put an end to the leasehold scandal and create a housing environment that empowers individuals and strengthens our communities. Unfortunately, the Tories appear determined not to act.
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Retained EU Law Bill
On Wednesday I voted on the Lord’s amendments to the disastrous Retained EU Law Bill.
This ill-conceived legislation has shown a complete disregard for the potential impact on real people and businesses. Throughout the process, I’ve opposed this attack on hard-won workers’ rights and important legislation from the chaotic Conservative cliff edge that would have plunged businesses into further uncertainty at the worst possible time.
Despite the partial U-turn by the government, this bill remains deeply flawed. The key amendments I supported included the removal of the automatic sunset clause, which threatened to remove all retained EU law from the statute book by the end of this year. The government has now amended it to apply only to a list of 600 items, most of which were either unused or temporary measures that have long since timed out.
Another crucial amendment, amendment 15, ensures that the revocation of rights, powers, and liabilities established by EU court decisions will require parliamentary scrutiny. Parliament and relevant devolved legislatures should have the final say on any such revocations.
The government rejected these amendments and the Retained EU Law Bill, despite some concessions from the Government, remains deeply flawed. But I will continue to stand firm and vote to protect workers’ rights and preserve our democratic institutions.
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Thank you again 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
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