Recent analysis has revealed that in every region in Great Britain, real wages are lower now than they were in 2010 when the Tories came to power. On average, wages have fallen by 5% across the country, leaving people £1,600 a year worse off. In Edmonton, the situation is dire. Wages have fallen by a staggering £1,626, a cut of 4.5% from a base that was already lower than the national average.
One of the key factors in improving living standards and increasing wages is growing the economy. Unfortunately, under the Tory government, this has been neglected. Their cuts to public services and tax cuts for the wealthy have left us with a stagnant economy that only benefits a select few at the top.
If the economy had continued to grow at the same rate as it did under the previous Labour government, there would be an extra £30 billion available to spend on vital public services without the need to raise taxes. This money could be used to invest in our communities and improve the lives of ordinary people. As your MP, I am committed to reversing the damage caused by the Tory government and building a more equal society where growth is driven by the bottom and middle rather than just the top. I will fight for investment in public services and for a fair economy that benefits all members of our community.
Thirteen years of Tory rule should leave us in doubt about what Conservative Governments do when in power. They make us all poorer. They increase homelessness. They increase hunger. They slow economic growth and increase inequality. They destroy public services, including the NHS and ultimately lead to a breakdown of trust between workers and employers. They break Britain and, for all of us living in the real world, we can be in doubt that Britain is now broken. Only Labour can fix it.
|
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of participating in a Zoom call with students at Hazelbury Primary School, who have been running a digital week focused on creating a social media campaign on the cost-of-living crisis. The school has been directly impacted by this crisis, with many children and their families feeling the effects.
During the call, five classes made up of 145 pupils asked me a series of questions about the cost-of-living crisis and what can be done to address it. The questions covered a range of topics, including my own inspiration for becoming an MP, the actions I am taking to help my constituents, and the impact of rising costs on local charities and services.
I was heartened to hear about the efforts of organisations like the Felix Project, which is working to deliver food to local charities for people in need. It was also concerning to learn about the closure of some food banks due to rising costs. I assured the students that the Labour Party is committed to helping families with rising bills and will work to keep vital services like food banks running.
I also addressed the issue of high energy bills and their impact on schools, as well as the increasing number of homeless people in Edmonton. Finally, I offered some helpful advice for local people during this crisis, including seeking out support from community organisations and advocating for change at the government level. As always it was wonderful to meet with these bright, engaged students and I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss these important issues with the people who hold our futures in their hands.
|
I am deeply concerned by the government’s plans to introduce anti-union legislation that would allow bosses in key public sectors, including the NHS and schools, to sue unions and sack employees if minimum service levels are not met. This law, which is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks, represents an unacceptable attack on the rights of workers and is a clear indication of the government’s disregard for the vital role that unions play in protecting and promoting the interests of workers.
It is a fundamental democratic right that workers can organise and withhold their labour. That right is now under attack and we must do everything we can to protect it.
The government’s claim that these plans are necessary to ensure public safety is simply a smokescreen for their true agenda, which is to undermine the ability of unions to fight for fair treatment and better working conditions for their members. The fact that even the government itself has admitted that its approach could backfire and lead to more frequent strikes and non-strike industrial action shows that this legislation is not only unenforceable, but also deeply misguided.
As the MP for Edmonton, I stand with all workers, whether in the private or public sector, in condemning these plans and calling on the government to abandon them immediately. If the government persists in its attempt to introduce this anti-union legislation, it risks triggering a general strike that could have far-reaching consequences for our country.
I urge all workers to unite and organise against this move, and to make it clear to the government that we will not stand for this attack on our rights. Only by standing together and fighting for our collective interests can we hope to defeat this undemocratic and harmful legislation.
|
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
|
|
|
|