Weekly Summary: June 22-28

Here is a summary of my work for Brighton Pavilion locally and in Parliament from June 22 -28. As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you need my help with anything.

Protecting Music Venues

On Monday I joined a group of MPs in sending a letter to the Culture Minister calling for a change in law to protect music venues. This comes after a number of music venues in Brighton have closed, including the Blind Tiger only last year. The change of law would put the onus on housing developers to ensure that they properly soundproof new properties near music venues, to stop venues having to shut down because of noise complaints from new homes built nearby. You can read a story about the proposal in The Argus: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/13347575.MP___s_push_to_stop_live_music_venue_closures/

 

Anti Academies Alliance

On Monday evening, I spoke at a meeting of the Anti-Academies Alliance to highlight the lack of democracy inherent in having academies imposed on communities. The meeting, which brought together those who are fighting for schools to remain under the control of local authorities, took place in the week that Parliament was debating the Education and Adoption Bill. In that debate I asked the new Chair of the Education Select Committee to consider the conclusion of the Education Committee’s report published earlier this year, which stated that there was no clear evidence that the academies programme had helped to raise standards. You can see my intervention here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-06-22b.638.0#g662.0

 

Palestine Lobby

I spoke in Parliament ahead of the one year anniversary of Operation Protective Edge in Gaza – the military operation by the Israeli Government which saw thousands lose their lives and homes. Operation Protective Edge may be over, but the suffering does not end. And this is not confined to Gaza. The Israeli Government continues to flout international law by demolishing homes - according to the UN, 77 Palestinians in the West Bank were made homeless in January 2015, as their homes were illegally destroyed. 

It was great to meet constituents on the same day who had come to Westminster to speak to me about their concerns about the breaching of Palestinians’ human rights. I’ll be pushing the Government to follow countries like Sweden in adopting a more progressive policy on Israel and Palestine.

 

Ovarian Cancer

It was shocking to learn this week about the postcode lottery when it comes to survival rates for ovarian cancer. Indeed Sussex has one of the lowest survival rates with just 36% of sufferers surviving five years or more.

More needs to be done to ensure that all women with ovarian cancer get the support and care that they need, regardless of where they live. I have pledged to do all I can to ensure that is happening in Brighton.

You can read more about the wonderful work of Target Ovarian Cancer here:  http://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/

 

Green Investment Bank

The Government announced plans last week to sell off a big share in the Green Investment Bank. This proposed sell off, which could see up to 70% of the GIB being privatised, is a big blow to the Green Economy. At precisely the time when we should be leading the world in the fight against climate change our Government appears to be in retreat. The Government should keep at least a majority stake in the Green Investment Bank to ensure investor confidence is upheld and the commitment to low-carbon lending remains. You can see an article on the sell-off, with comments from me, here: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/25/green-investment-bank-tories-14bn-sell-pay-down-deficit and you can see my request for a debate in Parliament on the subject here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-06-25a.1054.0#g1059.3

 

Europe

David Cameron was travelling across Europe once again this week as he attempts to sell his planned reforms to other leaders across the continent. While I agree that the EU needs reform, I couldn’t disagree more with the direction that Cameron wants to take us in. 

The EU must urgently change direction, away from an obsessive focus on competition and free trade and towards placing genuine co-operation and environmental sustainability at its heart. As a first measure the EU should scrap the proposed Transatlantic trade deal (TTIP). It’s also vital that we work together to build a compassionate response to the unprecedented Mediterranean migrant crisis, which has seen more people displaced than at any time since World War II. 

We now have a huge opportunity to make EU institutions more democratic and accountable. That means taking power away from the unelected European Commission and handing it to democratically elected politicians. It also means ensuring that EU countries work together to make cross-border decisions but that power is kept in local communities whenever possible. A letter I co-signed on the EU was published in the Guardian a few weeks ago:http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/20/european-union-benefits-about-more-than-business-greens-welcome-referendum

 

Patcham High School

On Friday I met pupils at Patcham High School who are taking part in the Send My Friends to School campaign.

2015 is an important year - world leaders will gather this September in New York to decide how to tackle global poverty over the next 15 years. The Send My Friend to School campaign is asking young people to ‘step into the shoes of world leaders’ and tell their local MPs how they would deliver a better future for the world’s children.

In 2000 world leaders promised universal primary education by 2015, but 58 million children are still out of school, and girls, children in conflict areas and children with disabilities are missing out most. At the current rate of progress it will be 2086 before every child worldwide gets an education.

The pupils at Patcham High School had created some great pictures of world leaders and also gave me some messages for the Prime Minister urging him to do all he can to ensure every child across the world gets a decent education. 

Coldean Community Festival

On Saturday I had the honour of being a judge for the Coldean Bake Off.  Sampling 23 different cakes (including gin and tonic cup cakes) was a great experience, and some of the most beautiful cakes had been made by the children.    A wonderful lemon drizzle/lemon curd cake was a worthy winner, along with a cake baked in a bucket, with star fish and a spade on top!

Regency Society Garden Party

On Saturday I was also lucky enough to be invited to the Regency Society Secret Garden Party - a wonderful opportunity to visit a hidden treasure of a garden in the heart of Kemptown, owned by the Antony Dale Trust.

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