Fighting for Fairness - Fighting for Brighton
What I've been doing. Recent activity in Parliament
Here's where you can find important motions, letters and questions - raised in the House, sponsored or signed by me.
View my first question to the PM on this video - 30 June 2010 - forward to 16 minutes in.
Read my e-bulletin of recent work I've been doing in Parliament at this link:
PDF [234 kb] August 2010 bulletin
Read important letters from me to ministers and others here
They Work For You - online independent parliamentary monitoring site
It provides an informative and immediate update service on my recent work in Parliament.
Latest 'Early Day Motions' I've proposed, sponsored or signed at:
http://www.edms.org.uk/mps/24910/
My Parliamentary appearances at:
They Work For You - Parliamentary appearances
Parliamentary Questions to ministers I've put at:
They Work For You - Parliamentary questions
Selection of recent motions (June 2010)
Academies Bill
"That this House notes with serious concern and would reject the Secretary of State for Education's proposals to expand the number of academies by conferring on all school governing bodies the right for their school to become an academy without proper consultation with parents, school staff or the local authority; it notes the Secretary of State for Education's recent invitation to all schools deemed ‘outstanding' to become academies; and believes these plans will result in causing further disadvantage to already disadvantaged children and families, and raise fundamental issues such as loss of local democratic accountability; excessive cost; lack of fairness and administrative confusion."
Olympics
"That this House notes media reports of talks between the International Olympic Committee and Procter & Gamble regarding sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics; recognises that Procter & Gamble continue to use animals in painful and lethal toxicity tests for the sake of cosmetics and cleaning brands such as Herbal Essences, Olay, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Fairy and Ariel; notes that the UK, the host country for the 2012 Games, banned such animal testing for cosmetics on the grounds of unnecessary cruelty back in 1998 and plans to ban animal testing of cleaning products; considers that testing cosmetics on animals also puts Procter & Gamble in opposition to the fundamental principles of Olympism to uphold ‘universal fundamental ethical principles' and promote ‘a peaceful society'; and therefore calls on the Government to recognise that Procter & Gamble's unethical animal testing is in conflict with the values of the United Kingdom and the Olympic movement and asks the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to express its opposition to Procter & Gamble's proposed sponsorship of London 2012 and work to prevent any such sponsorship deal."
Free Gaza Flotilla
"That this House is appalled by the loss of life associated with Israel's attack on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza; notes that the attack took place in international waters and demands the release of UK nationals and others being held by Israel; endorses the call of the United Nations Secretary General for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards; recognises that Israel's blockade has destroyed the economy of Gaza, deepens poverty, inflicts widespread suffering and which, by imposing collective punishment on the people of Gaza, is itself contrary to international law; therefore calls on the international community to require Israel to end its blockade and to redouble international efforts to secure a lasting settlement with a secure and independent state of Palestine alongside a secure and independent Israel."
40th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act
"That this House celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act; notes that this was introduced following a historic campaign by female Ford workers in Dagenham who were being paid 87% of the rate paid to male colleagues doing the same work; therefore expresses deep concern that on average women working full-time can still expect to earn on average 16.4% less than men; notes that such a gap is completely unacceptable in the 21st century; welcomes the provisions included in the Equality Act 2010 which aims to close the gender pay gap including powers to allow the Government to require employers, from 2013, to report on the gender pay gap in their companies; and calls on the Government to demonstrate its commitment to closing the gender pay gap by making equal pay law more transparent and accessible and by committing to introduce mandatory gender pay audits if significant progress in closing the gender pay gap is not made swiftly."
Trident and Strategic Defence Review
"That this house welcomes the Government's intention to hold a Strategic Defence and Security Review; notes with concern the stated intention to conduct it without giving due consideration to the role of nuclear weapons in ensuring our defence; believes that not only does our commitment under the Non-Proliferation Treaty require nuclear weapons and disarmament to be considered within the framework of the review but also that the threat of spending cuts to the Defence and other government budgets makes this all the more important and urges Secretary of State for Defence to ensure that the review does include both the UK's ongoing possession of nuclear weapons and the current replacement programme."
