Yom Kippur

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish a meaningful Yom Kippur to Jewish communities across Edmonton.

The Conservatives have lost control of the economy

The Conservative Party conference this week showed a government that is completely out of touch, with no understanding of their appalling record over the last 12 years.

Liz Truss took the conference stage on Wednesday pretending that she was heading up a new government with a mandate from the country. Nothing could be further the truth. Liz Truss has personally been in Government since 2012 and while the slogans may have changed the same old failed economic policy remains – tax cuts for the rich and public funding cuts for the rest of us. This is the same trickle-down economics that failed Cameron, May and Johnson.

After more than a decade in government, the damage the Conservatives have done is difficult to understate. The UK is forecast to have the slowest growth of any major advanced economy next year, piling pressure on families who have been pushed into poverty and public services that have been cut to the bone by a Conservative party that has only achieved real growth for the rich.

Now this Government, which is falling apart in front of our eyes, has to push their unpopular agenda through Parliament without a mandate. I know that my constituents in Edmonton are vigorously opposed to the PM’s extremist plans and I’ll be giving voice to that opposition in the Commons. I’ll oppose fracking, tax cuts for the rich, benefit cuts, attacks on workers’ rights and further attacks on the refugees. If Liz Truss thinks she will easily get her extremist agenda through Parliament she is in for a shock.

Justice for Chris Kaba

I know that many of my constituents have been deeply affected by the murder of Chris Kaba at the hands of the Met police.

Chris was driving when he was followed by an unmarked police car. Without lights or sirens, the officers forced Chris to stop his car. According to the Met’s current account of events, an officer then stood ‘to the front of Mr Kaba’s vehicle’ and fired a single shot through the front windscreen, killing Chris. The Met are now investigating that officer for murder.

We all know the background of the murder of Chris Kaba. The Met are in special measures after a string of scandals showed the force to be institutionally racist, corrupt and misogynist.

Trust between my constituents in Edmonton and the police is at an all-time low. Just last week in Brixton a Black man was mocked by police as he lay on the floor complaining that he was seriously ill. That man, Ian McDonald-Taylor died a few hours later. The officers responsible face no disciplinary action.

We need Justice for Chris Kaba and every other victim of the Met. Most of all we need a new Metropolitan police force, rid of the racism and corruption that has infected it for so many years. Only then can the police begin to rebuild trust with the people it serves.

Female Parliamentarians Conference

This week I attended the British Islands and Mediterranean Women Parliamentarian Conference as part of my role with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK. Among other issues, we looked at the Government’s attempts to pass the Online Safety Bill and the impact that could have on Women’s’ and Children’s safety.

Many Governments across the world are attempting to push through legislation to hold digital giants like Facebook and google to account and most have been far more successful than the Conservatives. The Online Safety Bill is an important step in the right direction. However, social media sites in particular frequently provide the means by which women and children can be harassed, stalked and made to feel unsafe. Few regulations hold those websites to account when they put people in harm’s way.

I spoke at the conference about these issues and how important it is for countries to work across borders to ensure that the internet isn’t a safe haven for those who wish to target women and girls. For too long we have relied on self-regulation but it’s clear that has failed. We must stand up for women and girls across borders and pass laws that give regulatory bodies the power to hold social media giants responsible for their actions. That is a key test for tackling misogyny in the 21st Century.

Macmillan Coffee Morning

It was a pleasure to attend a Macmillan Coffee Morning at Austin Davis and Son Funeral Directors, where we discussed the important and moving work that they do for the local community.

Across the country Macmillan Coffee Mornings have been organised by a range of charities and local groups who have benefited from the wonderful work that Macmillan do.

More than 3 million people are living with cancer in the UK and the Macmillan support line is available to every one of them, 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. Sadly, almost all of us will be impacted by cancer in some way and many of us will find different methods to support those impacted and to be supported ourselves if that happens. Macmillan is one of those ways and the work they do is essential, now more than ever.

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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 MP