A year ago I was re-elected as the MP for Brighton Pavilion. It’s been an enormous privilege to continue representing my constituents. Below is a small sample of the issues I’ve been working on. Thanks, as ever, to the residents of Brighton & Hove who keep me inspired every day in the face of an ever more brutal Government.
NHS
It’s not every day that MPs get a musical accompaniment on their way to Parliament but, on the 11th March this year, that’s exactly what happened to me as I made my way to the House of Commons to present the NHS Reinstatement Bill. The Bill, which was supported by tens of thousands of people across the country, aims to end the damaging marketization of our health service that has done so much harm over the last 25 years. Sadly, and despite such widespread support, Tory backbenchers clubbed together to ‘talk out’ the Bill – meaning there was very little time for a proper debate.
The last twelve months have been bad for the NHS. Waiting lists are getting longer, funding is being squeezed and staff have been treated appallingly by the Government. I’m proud to have stood with junior doctors in their fight for a safe and fair contract.
Economy
The last year has seen continued failure by the Government when it comes to managing the economy. Not only have harsh cuts continued – affecting services like libraries, children’s centres and adult social care – but Ministers have also failed to meet their own targets to cut the debt and deficit. I’ve heard from countless people in Brighton & Hove who are feeling increasingly desperate as these drastic cuts affect their daily lives.
In the face of such prolonged and unnecessary austerity I’ve continued to work with community groups, unions and campaigners to mount an opposition. I’ve also been working with people in Brighton to develop ideas around a basic income – a universal payment which would ensure people are protected from slipping through the cracks of the welfare state. Such a payment would also give freelancers and precariously employed people a base income, to ensure they are protected no matter what happens in their working life.
Education
Teachers in Brighton tell me that they feel like their profession is under attack from the Government. With ministers trying to force schools to become academies, cuts being made to budgets and class sizes increasing, it’s no surprise that they are worried. I’ve been campaigning alongside the National Union of Teachers and others against the Government’s shortsighted mismanagement of our schools and colleges. In recent weeks I challenged David Cameron in the House of Commons over his plans to impose academy status on all schools.
In Parliament I’ve also been pushing forward with a PSHE Bill which would give every child the right to personal, social, health and economic education.
Housing
Every time it seems that the housing crisis couldn’t get any worse, it does. Our social housing stock is fast diminishing, buying a home is still an impossible dream for many
and the rental market is both viciously competitive and increasingly unaffordable. Brighton & Hove is among the least affordable places to live in the UK – and every week I hear from residents whose housing situation means they face being forced out of the city. It’s within this context that I attempted to amend the Housing and Planning Bill to include the establishment of a living rent commission – a proposal I had promised to take forward as part of the housing charter I published before the election. The remit of the Commission is simple: to establish what a living rent should be and how to get there. That means considering not just so-called “smart” rent controls – which would limit rental cost increases in line with inflation – but also mechanisms to cap and lower rents.
I’ve also been working locally to highlight serious failures on housing. In particular i’ve been working with local journalists to put a spotlight on the terrible conditions at an emergency housing block called ‘Windsor Court’. I’m hoping that public pressure will force the council to improve their inspection routine and make the company running the block vastly improve their service.
The Refugee Crisis
Earlier this year I joined the Brighton-based Hummingbird Project in a volunteer visit to the refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk. The situation in Calais is deeply troubling –
with large parts of the camps being destroyed by the police and many people living in desperate conditions. In Dunkirk – thanks in part to the local Green Party Mayor- there have
been some significant improvements, but the huge numbers of people being left in limbo in Northern France is clearly unacceptable.
The situation in Calais and Dunkirk is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the refugee crisis unfolding across the world. In Parliament I’ve been working with MPs from other parties to encourage our Government to accept more refugees and those with family ties to the UK and unaccompanied children. It’s clear that the Government needs to take a lead from British volunteers at Calais and Dunkirk, and bring a measure of their compassion and empathy to Parliament. I believe that this is the true spirit of Britain and that the Government needs to take urgent action to provide real solutions for those seeking safety and security.
Protecting Animals
Like so many people in Brighton and Hove I’m passionate about protecting animals. That’s why I’ve continued to campaign against the cruel badger cull, lobbied for the Hunting Act to be extended to protect more animals, and took part in a cross-party campaign which saved the Wildlife Crime Unit from being cut.
Peace
As an MP there is no greater responsibility than voting on whether to commit British Forces to military action overseas. At the end of last year Parliament voted to
bombing targets Daesh targets in Syria. I opposed the action then, as I continue to now, because I don’t believe that British involvement will bring about peace in the region or protect us here at home.
I’ve also continued to campaign against the replacement of Trident – and I was recently appointed as Chair of Parliamentary CND. Replacing these nuclear weapons is neither necessary nor sensible. The evidence is stacked against spending billions of pounds on these exceptionally dangerous weapons. They won’t make us safer. I’m proud to have joined party leaders from across the UK in marching against spending over £100bn on this Cold War relic.
Trains
As a regular commuter I know all too well how dreadful the train situations is in Brighton and I’ve been doing all I can to put pressure on Ministers and train operating companies to cut delays and cancellations. Ultimately the solution to the major problems on our railways won’t be resolvable while we have an inefficient privatised system in place. I’ve retabled my Railways Bill this year – hoping to get more backing than ever for putting our trains back in public hands, and will continue to press for investment in a second Brighton line.
Europe
In just over a month every British Citizen will have a chance to vote in the most crucial poll in a generation. This vote will be a defining moment for our country, and I’ll be using every possibly opportunity in the coming weeks to campaign for Britain to remain a member of the EU. Britain is a fairer, safer and greener country because of our EU membership. Our economy is stronger, small businesses are better off and our rights at work are protected. When it comes to protecting our environment – safeguarding our green spaces, cleaning up our beaches, looking after endangered species and fighting climate change – the EU is absolutely crucial. I know that the EU isn’t perfect – it needs to become far more democratic and transparent – but we can only make it better by staying a member, not shouting from the sidelines.
Environment
We’ve witnessed a truly disastrous year of environmental policy from the British Government. We’ve had cuts to support for solar and wind power, tax breaks for dirty fossil
fuels – and blunder after blunder on the multibillion pound nuclear energy project at Hinkley Point. When combined with a continued failure to tackle the cold homes crisis, we see a Government that’s given up pretending to care about our environment.
Despite such a gloomy picture the last year has seen some limited progress towards climate justice on a global level – with the signing of the Paris climate deal. I was
in Paris as the deal was struck and marched alongside Brighton residents on the Champs Elysee as we demanded that fossil fuels be kept in the ground. The deal agreed in Paris didn’t go anywhere near as far as many of us would have liked – but it is a basis upon which we can and must build an international movement for the bold action we desperately need.
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