Weekly Update – Friday 3 July 2020

This weekend lockdown is easing again as more businesses reopen, including pubs and hotels. While I welcome this step it is important that the Government does more to support those who are still unable to return to work. I know that for many of my constituents it still isn’t ‘business as usual’ and I’ll continue speaking up for you and calling on the Government to do whatever it takes to support you through this difficult time.

Public Transport needs to be accessible to everybody

A number of constituents who are blind or partially sighted have contacted to raise their concerns about reduced access to public transport in a post-covid world. The changes that have needed to be made to enforce social distancing have made it harder for some to use public transport while more needs to be done to make sure public transport providers continue to use signage that is accessible to the visually impaired. I was able to raise this in the chamber this with the Minister of Transport.

Priti Patel needs to keep her word to Windrush victims

More than a year on since the Windrush compensation scheme was established it has so far failed to deliver for the vast majority of applicants. Not only have the majority of people not received any compensation, but the Home Office has failed to communicate effectively so that people know how long they might have to wait or why the process is taking so long.

As a result, many of those whose lives were turned upside down by the Home Office continue to live in limbo as they wait for justice. Last week I asked the Home Secretary if she would publish the compensation criteria guidance, to increase transparency around the process. She said she would, but is yet to do so. This week I wrote to her to ask her to keep her promise and publish the guidance.

No child should go hungry

I’ve been writing to the Minister for Children Vicky Ford, to urgently try and get some clarity around the Governments extension for the free school meals criteria. Although the Government announced an extension of the criteria, they did not update their guidance to reflect the changes.

As a result, schools and local authorities have been denying many children free school meals they should have been entitled to. The Government needs to get a grip. When their incompetency is leading to children going hungry we have to say enough is enough.

I voted against the Immigration Bill

This week I voted against the government’s immigration bill. The bill ends our right to freedom of movement, introduces a salary threshold which will damage the NHS and gives incredibly expansive powers to the Government allowing them to create an entirely new immigration system without any parliamentary oversight.

I did however, support several amendments to the bill which would have improved it, including on lifting the ‘No Recourse to public funds’ restriction and exemption NHS and Social Care workers from the health surcharge.

Israeli annexation of West Bank must be met with strong response

A lot of constituents have been writing to me this week about the Israeli proposals to annex the West Bank. I’ve listened to your concerns and have been working with my colleagues across Parliament to build cross-party consensus on this issue.

It is clear that any annexation by Israeli of the West Bank would be illegal under International Law and warrant a strong reaction from the international community, as the annexation of Crimea by Russia did in 2014. I believe strongly in a two-state solution but if Israeli goes ahead with its plans then we will be further away from that solution 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