My latest e-newsletter has gone out to thousands of homes across Hornsey & Wood Green.  You can read it below.

If you’d like to receive it and don’t already, you can sign up here.

Welcome to my May e-newsletter

This month’s local election results showed that up and down the country, voters are fed up of the chaos of the Tories and their 13 years of failure.  The British people are crying out for the change that a Labour Government would bring with a bold plan to improve public services, invest in our crumbling infrastructure, build a green economy, tackle the housing crisis and protect workers’ rights.

I spoke to voters in Erewash, Basingstoke, Folkestone and beyond during the campaign and am incredibly grateful to the brilliant teams of Hornsey & Wood Green Labour volunteers whose efforts in our twinned seat helped turn Erewash red!   Without doubt the impact of our extra numbers, and all the conversations we were able to have, made a difference on polling day.

The May elections also saw disturbing stories of people being turned away from polling stations because they didn’t have the ID they need, and Jacob Rees-Mogg openly admit that the new Voter ID rules were a Trumpian attempt to rig democracy.  Labour always opposed this anti-democratic voter suppression to solve a problem that didn’t exist – we should be actively working to increase eligible voter turnout, not make it harder.   

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

Protecting our urban trees
I secured a Parliamentary adjournment debate on protecting our urban trees which you can watch online here .  We have seen right here in Haringey the impact of the lopsided balance of power between councils and insurers, with tree roots only needing to be implicated in property damage or subsidence for the tree owner to be liable.  I wrote a column for the Ham & High on why our street trees are so important and together with Cllr Mike Hakata, we’ve followed up from my debate with a joint letter to the Secretary of State calling for government action to protect our trees.

Renters’ Reform Bill
London’s private rented sector is a complete mess. I’m receiving more and more emails from renters whose landlords have hiked up their rent, failed to carry out basic repairs or issued Section 21 eviction notices throwing their lives into turmoil.

Renters need security and action, yet it has taken four years for the Government to bring their Renters’ Reform Bill to Parliament.  I’m delighted a Bill has finally come forward, it’s desperately needed and measures such as abolishing Section 21 evictions; a new property portal and Ombudsman; a simpler tenancy structure; the end of rent review clauses; and prohibitions on multiple in-year rent increases will help private tenants in Hornsey & Wood Green.  But I’m extremely concerned that the draft Bill leaves some serious loopholes that rogue landlords will exploit, fails to strengthen Council’s enforcement powers and doesn’t outlaw the shameful discrimination against renters with children or people receiving benefits.  Unless this legislation is strengthened, tenants will still be vulnerable and Labour will be scrutinising it line-by-line as it makes its way through Parliament and pushing for a wide range of improvements so that private renters finally get the protection, long-term security and better rights and conditions they deserve.  If you’re affected by these issues, do get in touch to share your experiences. 

Standing up for leaseholders
As well as renters, the Government is letting down leaseholders by rowing back on their manifesto commitment to end the sale of leasehold on new builds and leaving people at the mercy of rip-off fees and poor performance from service companies.  Labour forced a Parliamentary vote on ending this archaic system of homeownership and I spoke out about sky high lease extension charges and disrepair issues affecting my constituents.  If the Tories abandon fundamental and comprehensive leasehold reform, a Labour government will finish the job.

My letter to the Secretary of State – act now to prepare for extreme weather
Across Europe, we’re seeing the catastrophic impact of our changing climate. I am extremely concerned that the UK isn’t prepared for future heatwaves or flooding – something that affects my constituents every year. Scientists have been ringing the alarm bells but, as usual, Ministers are behind the curve.  That’s why I’ve written to the Secretary of State to understand what he is doing to mitigate this growing crisis.  Read my letter here .

Investing in our National Health Service
I attended a useful briefing with the Chair of the Whittington Hospital regarding a capital bid for Maternity Services. They’re in desperate need of proper investment, and I’m in touch with Haringey and Islington’s Council Leaders to offer any support I can and am also speaking to the Head of NHS services locally to make the case.

This month in Parliament the Health Secretary took questions on his ‘primary care recovery plan’.  Despite the heroic efforts of staff, too many people in Hornsey & Wood Green are waiting too long to see a GP, often in pain and discomfort. Across the country, we have lost 2,000 GPs since 2015 and 350 practices have closed in that same time.  The Health Secretary said he would try some of the ideas Labour has long been supporting calls for, such as allowing pharmacies to prescribe for common conditions, and improving telephony systems (something I called for back in Parliament back in 2021).  But overall the Government is offering little more than tinkering around the edges. The Health Foundation said the plan “falls well short of addressing the fundamental issues affecting general practice.” And it comes with no new funding. The plan talks of “retargeted” money, but not where that money has come from.  You’re not going to “end the scramble for 8am appointments” just with better phone lines –  we need to increase the workforce.  Labour would build an NHS fit for the future and end the non-dom tax status to pay to train 7,500 more doctors a year and give patients greater choice over their care.

My Month in Numbers
Lots of you got in touch about the EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill which returns to the Commons this week. The Secretary of State has now watered down some aspects because she has finally realised it was impractical.  As Labour has said all along, it would risk hard-fought rights and protections for British workers, consumers and the environment while diminishing democratic scrutiny and accountability in key areas of British law. It’s clear the Government doesn’t even understand its own legislation, going from one crisis to the next whilst trying to appease furious backbenchers. I look forward to debating this Bill and voting against it.

I also sent my support to all those coming to Parliament for the TUC rally to defend the right to strike.  A Labour Government would repeal this vindictive anti-worker law and will always stand up for working people and defend the right to strike.

Since my last report, I’ve asked 57 Written Parliamentary Questions and you can view the full list here.

In the Chamber, I challenged ministers about the backlog in our criminal justice system.  When I visited Wandsworth Prison at Easter, 75% of prisoners were still awaiting sentencing.  These shameful delays are letting down victims and leaving our prisons dangerously overcrowded. They are the result of 13 years of disastrous Tory choices and incompetence. I asked the Minister what he’s doing to fix it.

In the community:

FINAL CHANCE: apply for my Politics Summer School, 17-21 July 2023
I’ve already received a lot of applications for my next summer school, a fantastic opportunity for 16-19 year olds to learn more about how politics works.  The deadline for applications is Monday 5 June.  If you’re interested, you can find out more and apply here.

My social care survey
Over the summer I’m visiting care homes and sheltered housing schemes across the constituency, together with local Councillors, to chat to residents about the key issues affecting their life to help inform my work in Parliament.   Thanks to residents at Roden Court and Cranley Dene for chatting to me last week about life post-COVID, accessing services, the state of social care and more.   Loneliness is sadly a real issue that residents raised time and again, and I am pleased that Haringey Reach & Connect is supporting Loneliness Awareness Week 12-18 June 2023.   Find out more and get involved here .