Weekly Update 19th February 2021
Weekly Update 19th February 2021

This week all the indictors continued to head in the right direction, as the infection rate in Edmonton lowered further and the amount of people being vaccinated increased. In Lower Edmonton South, cases were down by more than 50% so that they are now below the average in England whilst in Ponders End cases were down by 38%.

Across the entire country more than 16 million people have now received at least once vaccination which includes more than 1.5 million people in London. There are now also signs that the vaccinations are starting to have an impact, with the infection rates among vaccinated groups falling at a faster rate than the rest of the population.

However, the scientists are clear in their advice. Despite all the positive news, if the PM once against lifts the lockdown too quickly we risk an even worse spike in cases than the one we have only just escaped. I therefore hope that the Government learns from its previous mistakes and this time follows the scientific advice. We need to lift restrictions only when it is safe to do so and radically increase support to everybody who needs it in the meantime.

For now, it’s important that we all continue to stay at home unless leaving home is necessary. Please also be aware of the support and advice that is available via the Council’s website here.

Solidarity with BT Group Workers

The unemployment rate in Edmonton is already double the national average and now BT Group are planning to cut another 187 local jobs in addition to another 4000 compulsory redundancies across London and the South. This is yet another example of highly profitable companies using the pandemic as an opportunity to increase their bottom line. This is wrong and is not just bad news for the workers at BT but for those who rely on BT to provide them with an important service.

The Communication Workers Union are doing a great job at holding the bosses at BT Group to account and I stand in solidarity with all the workers at BT Group as they fight to protect their jobs. You can show your support as well by signing this petition calling on BT to stop the job cuts. In the face of a right-wing Government intent on slashing workers rights and big business going to any lengths to increase their profits, trade unions are a vital tool for defending workers’ rights and its vital that we all do whatever we can to support them.

Housebound Vaccination

I’m very concerned about the delay in vaccinating housebound individuals across Enfield. This issue has been brought to my attention by health professionals and constituents. It is simply unacceptable and needs to be addressed as urgently as possible. Nobody should find they are unable to get the vaccine because they may have a disability and any delay could put at risk not only the housebound individuals but their family members too.

It is the responsibility of the Department of Health & Social Care to work with Local Authorities and health organisations to ensure that the vaccine roll-out does not pass over vulnerable housebound patients. That is why I wrote to the Health Secretary this week to ask that he looks into this matter and works with local officials to find a solution as quickly as possible.

It is good news that we are vaccinating so many people, but we should not let that success blind us to some of the serious mistakes which are being made. I will keep a close eye on this situation and continue to do whatever I can to make sure it is resolved as swiftly as possible.

Save the Union Learning Fund

The Union Learning fund helps more than 200,000 workers (both union and non-union members) to benefit from higher education projects which allow them to reskill and upskill. A partnership between the Department of Business and TUC the Union Learning Fund is an essential tool for workers in the middle of a historically deep recession. It benefits both workers in and out of work and at a cost of just £12 million out of a skill budget of more than £2.5 billion it represents incredible value for money.

Unbelievably the Chancellor has plans to scrap the fund in the upcoming budget. That would be a huge mistake. In the face of the last recession this Government abandoned ordinary workers and families by cutting public spending and consequently strangled the economic recovery. Instead of investing in the economy, in infrastructure, in jobs and in workers, the Government cut public spending leaving us with a decade of stagnant wage growth and falling living standards. The country can’t afford for the Conservatives to make that same mistake again. The Chancellor must abandon his plans to cut the Union Learning Fund and instead invest in jobs and growth.

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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

 

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