Here is a summary of my work for Brighton Pavilion locally and in Parliament from January 18-24. As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you need my help with anything. Sorry it's a little later than usual this week. 

Trains Meeting and the Railways Bill

Last Monday I joined MPs from across South Eastern England at a long promised ’summit’ meeting with the Rail Minister, Clare Perry, and officials for the Department for Transport. Like any regular train user in Brighton I am sick and tired of hearing half-baked excuses from the Government and train companies for the abysmal service on offer.

I went to the meeting hoping for evidence of a serious commitment to urgent improvement but, unfortunately, it looks likely that more misery is in store for those of us who travel by train.

You can read my blog about the outcomes of the meeting here: http://www.carolinelucas.com/latest/todays-rail-summit-more-misery-in-store-for-train-users

I was also hoping that my Railways Bill  - which would bring rail back into public ownership - would be debated in Parliament on Friday.  Frustratingly, we didn’t reach the Bill on the agenda in time, so it rolls over to a future session on 11 March.  

PSHE Bill

The same fate befell my Bill for statutory PSHE too.

But the fight to get PSHE on the curriculum is still gaining strength. Just this month I was delighted to see that the chairs of no fewer than four Commons Committees: Education, Health, Home Affairs and Business, had sent a joint letter to Nicky Morgan calling for PSHE education to be made a statutory entitlement for every pupil. An intervention of this kind – supported by both senior Labour and Conservative Committee Chairs – is highly unusual and a truly promising sign that, for statutory PSHE, it must surely be a question of ‘when’ not ‘if’.

I wrote in more details about the growing campaign for statutory PSHE in this piece for the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/caroline-lucas-if-david-cameron-wants-to-help-kids-he-needs-to-a/

Trident

There is a rising tide of opposition to a Trident replacement, with military experts and senior ex-cabinet members now being joined by key figures in the Labour party in arguing against renewing our nuclear weapons programme. With a vote on the issue looking likely in the coming months, it’s crucial that the arguments against Trident renewal are more widely heard and debated. It’s a hugely expensive and outdated weapon that does nothing to keep us safe against the threats we face today. Indeed the government’s own analysis has relegated “nuclear weapons proliferation” to being a “tier 2” threat – below far more pressing concerns such as terrorism, public health and major natural hazards.

In a piece for the Guardian I explained why I’m opposed to the replacing of the both Trident nuclear warheads and the submarines which carry them.

Energy Bill

Last Monday Parliament debated the Energy Bill, which locks us ever more firmly into dependence on fossil fuels.  I wrote in more detail on why I tabled a reasoned amendment (which aims to stop the legislation passing): http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/caroline-lucas-this-energy-bill-proves-camerons-husky-hugging-days-are-over

Basic Income EDM

On Wednesday I tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling on the Government to fund and commission further research into the possibilities offered by the various Basic Income models, their feasibility, their potential to guarantee additional help for those who need it most, and how the complex economic and social challenges of introducing a Basic Income might be met.

A universal basic income is the idea of paying all citizens a flat, unconditional income, unusually instead of existing policies like means-tested benefits.

The Independent wrote up a story about the EDM here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-basic-income-british-parliament-to-consider-motion-uk-a6823211.html

Western Road Post Office

I’m demanding that the Post Office allow residents to put in a bid for the closing Western Road Crown Post Office in Hove so they can run it as a franchise.

The post office looks likely to close its door later this year as it is, they claim, “no longer commercially sustainable”.

I’m really worried about the impact the Hove branch's closure will have on the Churchill Square Branch in my consistency, which is already overburdened. Other options exist – but the Post office need to let local people have a chance to bid to run this important local service.

The Argus reported the story this week:http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14216492.Caroline_Lucas_launches_campaign_to_save_Western_Road_Post_Office_in_Hove/

Surgery Closures

I’m deeply concerned about the effect of the possible closure of 5 surgeries in the city, currently run by the Practice Group. I’m urging NHS England to enable an reprocurement process to take place, rather than closure, for the funding linked to the surgeries to stay in the city, and for the whole process to be conducted with full transparency.  You can see more on the story here: http://brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/the-future-of-five-brighton-and-...