My monthly newsletter: September 2022

21st September, 2022

Visiting Whittington Hospital maternity services

My latest monthly e-newsletter has just gone out to thousands of homes across Hornsey & Wood Green. You can read a copy below or if you’d like to receive my e-newsletters, and you don’t already, you can sign up here.

Welcome to my September e-newsletter

The return to Parliament this month has been a sombre one, following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I joined Haringey’s Council Leader, Mayor and people across our borough to sign the book of condolence, attend the special remembrance service and pay tribute on my website to her long life and legacy as Head of the Commonwealth. May she rest in peace.

Later this week, Parliamentary business resumes and we will finally get the chance to scrutinise the Tory plans to tackle the cost of living crisis devastating families and businesses across our community.I have no confidence in what I’ve heard so far.Trickle down economics doesn’t work. Getting rid of the cap on banker bonuses, ripping up workplace rights and ruling out a windfall tax on the energy giants making more money than they know what to do with will do nothing to help people struggling in Hornsey & Wood Green this winter. The new Chancellor won’t even publish an economic forecast but we know, from the woeful Tory record, that people will be left paying the bill for their failure for years to come.If you’d like to hear the thoughts of Labour’s Shadow Treasury Minister, Tulip Siddiq MP, and TUC Women’s Officer Nikki Pound on the state of our economy and what it means for working people, please join us on Sunday 2 October. Previous events have sold out quickly, so RSVP now to be sure of your place.

Here are some of the other things I’ve been doing this month. If you know anyone who would like to receive these updates, please share this link .

Homes for Ukraine schemeI recently met with several Hornsey & Wood Green residents who welcomed Ukrainian refugees into their homes through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. They’re just some of the 400+ host families in our borough who stepped forward to help, yet as the initial six-month sponsorship period nears an end, they’re anxious about what comes next. I raised this in Parliament and have urged the Government to produce a follow-on plan that gives Ukrainians and host families the support they need.Say no to frackingAs I told the Ham & High, fracking is never the answer. It’s terrible for the planet, hugely unpopular and will do nothing to bring down bills. Yet again, it tells you everything about the priorities of the new PM that she’d choose fracking and fossil fuels over popular, cheap, green solar and wind power. In Parliament, Labour will always oppose fracking and support calls to accelerate efforts on energy efficiency and homegrown renewables.On my website, you can read my latest full Climate Change & Environment report.Sewage pollutionThe scenes over the summer show that the Government have not taken sufficient action to tackle filthy raw sewage discharges. Over the last six years, more than one million sewage discharge spill events have taken place. It’s clear that fines are not incentivising water companies to change their behaviour, and that the Government is allowing raw human waste to be dumped on beaches and playing fields and into streams and bathing waters. At the same time, the enforcement budget for overseeing these incidents has been cut by a quarter. In 2021, I voted to retain amendments made to the then Environment Bill in the House of Lords to require water companies to take all reasonable measures to prevent sewage discharges which could have avoided the dumping of waste into our waters, but the Government voted these down. I don’t believe they’re doing enough to address the problem and in Parliament, I spoke about my meeting with the Hampstead Heath Angling Society, sewage in London’s rivers and the need for much bigger fines for Thames Water and others for polluting our waterways. Watch here .UkraineIn recent weeks the pace of the horrific war in Ukraine has once again quickened, with Ukrainian forces liberating significant parts of the north of the country from Russian occupation. While there is no doubt that the war will continue for as long as President Putin denies Ukraine’s right to self-determination, the images of grateful civilians greeting Ukrainian forces are heart-warming. I am proud that Labour has consistently stood by Ukraine, including while I was shadow Europe Minister in the 18 months before the war, and this support will continue.

Register now: Developments in Colombia – where now for the peace process?On Sunday 16 October , I’m delighted to be joined by Shadow Foreign Office colleague Fabian Hamilton MP and Justice for Colombia Director Hasan Dodwell to discuss developments in Colombia and what it means for the peace process. I had the privilege of visiting the country back in 2019 and, following the recent elections, the hopes of all those who want to see peace now lie with the new president Gustavo Petro. Book your place here.Stop RwandaHere’s the message of support I sent for the day of action opposing the Government’s cruel, unworkable “offshoring” plan.New Met Police CommissionerFollowing the appointment of the new Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Mark Rowley, I joined other London MPs for a virtual introductory meeting with him. It is vital that the new Commissioner steps up efforts to restore shattered confidence in the Met Police particularly amongst black communities and women. The recent killing of Chris Kaba has provoked horror and outrage, and whilst I am pleased that the officer involved has now been suspended and that the IOPC have opened a homicide investigation, there are serious questions to be answered about what happened. My month in numbersIn August my office received over 1,100 casework emails and opened 170 new cases. The shambles at the Home Office still dominates my mailbox, with ongoing passport delays and the largest asylum backlog since records began. I’ve also seen a concerning rise in residents in the private rental sector facing evictions, soaring rent rises or reporting disrepair. I’ve raised Parliamentary Questions following unacceptable concerns raised with me that landlords are still refusing to rent to people on benefits.Over 500 of you got in touch last month on policy issues. I am receiving more and more emails about the growing cost of living crisis and Tory inaction. Households are facing record high inflation, increases in energy bills, rent, mortgage, food shops, clothing… the list goes on and on. This winter, people will have to choose between eating or heating. In particular, many of you are disappointed that the Tories spent the summer fighting each other to become the next leader, instead of coming together and tackling the crisis. I have also seen a rise in concerns about how the NHS will cope in the winter months. After more than a decade of Tory mismanagement, this winter is going to be extremely difficult – we need more staff, equipment and urgent funding. Johnson’s promised 40 new hospitals would be very useful right now. My Labour colleagues and I will continue to call for the proper funding and staff recruitment our NHS so desperately needs. Since Parliament returned, I’ve asked 41 Parliamentary Questions and you can read the full list here.

Defending our high streetsI’d successfully secured a Westminster Hall debate on Employment and our High Streets to speak about the decline of the High Street, mainly in Wood Green, where despite high footfall many businesses are struggling to thrive. I would have made the case for government action on business rates and drawn on research from the USDAW Trade Union about the difficulties facing the retail sector and retail workers including cost of living concerns. I would have also discussed the impact of bank closures to our high streets, a subject I have long campaigned on. Following the Queen’s passing, my debate was postponed, but I will reapply for a new slot at the first opportunity.Transport for London funding dealThe TfL funding deal agreed on 30 August is welcome, and Sadiq Khan has won some important concessions from the Government. But it is a disgrace that TfL and Londoners are being punished for doing the right thing and staying at home during the pandemic. The deal has some unwelcome strings attached that are seemingly intended to push fares up and reduce our vital bus network. Here’s the response I sent to the consultation earlier in the summer.Can you help Jacksons Lane support older Londoners this winter?For decades, Highgate’s Jacksons Lane have opened their doors to older adults, providing companionship, a warm lunch and a vibrant creative programme. This winter, their Social Lunch will be more needed than ever, but they urgently need to raise £3,000 to keep it going. I know how tough times are for everyone, but if you can support or share their fundraising campaign, please do. Donate and Support – Jacksons Lane – The Home of Contemporary Circus . You can also read more about what the social lunches mean for attendees on my website.

Advice & support:

Remember, these e-newsletters are only a snapshot of the things I’m doing each month. If there’s an issue that concerns you which I haven’t covered here, please drop me a line.If you’d like to speak to me at one of my regular advice surgeries, held by telephone and in-person, find out here how to book an appointment.My website also has lots of information on where you can find help with the cost-of-living crisis. You can also keep up-to-date on my work in Parliament and in the community on Twitter , Facebook or through my website at www.catherinewest.org.uk .