John’s Monthly newsletter June 2017
I want to thank all my campaign team who worked so hard to secure such a great result in our constituency on 8th June and to thank all our supporters.
This is the sixth time I have been elected to serve our constituency and I want my constituents to know that I will continue to do my best to represent them, assisting with their problems and speaking up with a firm voice for the whole community.
Below is a brief summary of just some of my activities locally and in Parliament in the last month.
Bakers Union Conference 13th
Speaking at the BFAWU Conference in Southport I told delegates that now the election is over, the next phase of our campaign to win power for the majority has already begun. We must remain in permanent campaign mode on a general election footing. We achieved what we on 8th June because we were a united party during the campaign and we need to maintain that unity and collective discipline in the weeks and months ahead.”
Grenfell Tower Disaster 13th
My thoughts go to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire as well as my admiration and thanks to the heroic firefighters who serve us so well.
The tragic fire that occurred on Grenfell Tower must never be allowed to happen again. The lessons of Camberwell, Shepherds Bush and Southampton have not been learned, and it is the responsibility of government to provide solutions. .The Government must now as a matter of urgency lift the housing revenue account borrowing cap to free councils to undertake the urgent retrofitting work required on all existing housing stock found not to meet required safety standards.
Iftar at the Islamic Centre 14th
I joined the Trustees, Executive Committee and community of The Hayes Muslim Centre to share a Community Iftar Dinner in breaking of the fast during Ramadan.
Glastonbury 25th
I spoke at a debate on the left field stage at Glastonbury Festival which was hosted by Billy Bragg. I spoke about the horrific disaster at Grenfell Tower laying the blame fair and squarely at political decisions not to build homes, and to view housing as only for financial speculation rather than for meeting a basic human need and the decision to close fire stations and to cut 10,000 firefighters and then to freeze their pay for over a decade.
I also told supporters to prepare for another general election “any day” and predicted Labour would secure a majority when voters return to the ballot box.
RMT in Exeter 26th
I spoke at a fringe meeting organised by RMT members to discuss reaffiliation to the Labour Party. I am hoping the union comes back to the Labour Party.
Labour Business 27th
I spoke at Labour Businesses summer reception to thank its members for the policy ideas for business which were embedded in our manifesto.
Queen’s Speech Debate on Economy and Jobs 29th
This is a Queen’s Speech devoid of content which offers no solutions to the pressing issues facing Britain today. I have been in the House now for 20 years, never have we seen such a threadbare scrap of a document as this Queens Speech.
Despite being promised in the Conservative manifesto, we have heard no plans for legislation to end the triple lock. We have heard nothing about legislation to end winter fuel payments. We have heard no legislative plans for the so-called dementia tax. Nothing of the policy to take food from the mouths of infants and younger primary school children. Even the flagship grammar schools policy seems to have been ditched from the Queen’s Speech.
This could have been the Queens Speech that ended austerity once and for all. It certainly doesn’t. So we have a government that can’t feed our people, can’t house our people or protect our children and older people from poverty. It cannot ensure that when people go to work they earn enough to live on. And it can’t maintain our basic public services. That’s a government that doesn’t deserve to remain in office.
This is a Queen’s speech which is devoid of any serious measures to address the economic challenges facing this country and the pressures ordinary people and our public services are under. Austerity continues to impact on our schools, health services, emergency services and peoples living standards.
This Queen’s Speech does nothing to solve our problems. It confirms a Government isolated from the real world in which our people live. Labour’s amendment today sets out the alternative our country so desperately needs.
The full debate can be accessed by clicking http://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-06-29/debates/D199DEF4-2B92-4D43-BF7D-01F7D98591A3/EconomyAndJobs
People’s Assembly March and Rally 1st
I marched with 100,000 people who are disillusioned with this Government’s Manifesto of Misery. Together we will win the next election and form a government for the many, not the few. Another world is not only possible, it is in sight. My speech can be seen by clicking https://youtu.be/TMZ_QygGCuc
Young Achiever Awards 5th
I was proud to present my constituent Luke Sagay, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Young Achiever Awards (YAA) at a ceremony in the House of Commons. Luke has been a volunteer at the organisation Disability Sports Coach, since January where he coaches children within our community in a variety of sports such as football, basketball and table tennis. He has also been involved in larger sports day events that Disability Sports Coach run.
Urgent Question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer 5th
I asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement outlining the Government’s policies with regard to the public sector pay cap. The Chancellor has refused to lift the cap which is cutting wages as inflation grows.
The full debate can be viewed by clicking this link https://goo.gl/B33Xps
Stand Up for Labour 6th
I joined Comedians, writers, journalists and politicians to celebrate Jeremy Corbyn’s 2017 election campaign. Featuring Tez Ilyas, Robin Ince, Shappi Khorsandi, Jeremy Hardy, Francesca Martinez, Paul Mason, Tariq Ali, Matt Abbott, Dave Ward at the Forum in Kentish Town. We had a truly fantastic evening.
Hayes Carnival 8th
I was so pleased to lead the Carnival procession with the mayor and my joint chair of the Council Committee, John Chamberlain. The procession comprised several local voluntary groups walking with a large number of supporters from each group. The diversity of the parade and the numerous community stalls in the park reflected the multicultural community of Hayes and Harlington. It was a great day, with sunshine and numerous entertainments.
Tamil Centre
I attended and spoke at the 6th anniversary of the opening of the Tamil Community Centre in Hayes. Wonderful entertainment from the Tamil children.
ADS Apprenticeships Reception 11th
I was pleased to meet two of our constituents George Fox and George Bayley at the ADS Apprenticeships Reception in the House of Commons who are both serving their apprentices with TMD Technologies. The event recognised the valuable contribution apprentices make to our important, high-skill manufacturing industries, and highlighted the world-leading technologies that many of the apprentices are working to develop.
British Airways Mixed Fleet Cabin Crew Pay Dispute 12th
I joined other MPs to show solidarity and support to our Unison members at British Airways Mixed Fleet who are currently in a dispute over pay and conditions who are taking industrial action from 1st-16th July.
Belmore Diversity Day Festival 14th
I attended the Belmore School Diversity Festival which started with Year groups performing their Belmore Eurovision Song Enjoy. We watched a special performance from a local children Bhangra group and a Cultural Dress Parade as well as a Somali Traditional Dance.
St Barts Secro Strikers Rally 15th
I spoke at a rally at the Royal London Hospital in East London, which was organised by Unite in support of the 700 porters and cleaners working for the private company Serco across the St Barts hospitals, who went on strike over pay and working conditions. This is one of the largest cleaners strike in this country’s history.
Guru Nanak Sikh Academy’s Parkash Festival 2017
I attended the annual Parkash event at the Guru Nanak Sikh Academy and spoke to the congregation
Southlands
I attended Southland live. This is their 5th year organising and hosting this event showcasing the vast wealth of talent in our area. Great event.
Interview with Andrew Marr 16th
During the Interview with Andrew Marr I asked the out of touch Chancellor, who thinks public sector workers are overpaid, if he could live on the wage of an NHS cleaner.
Fixed Odds Betting Terminals All Party Parliamentary Group 18th
I attended the drop in session, hosted by the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals All Party Parliamentary Group to support their campaign to see these machines properly regulated. FOBTs, also known as B2 machines, are touch screen roulette machines found in betting shops all across Britain, on which gamblers can play casino games with a stake of up to £100 every 20 seconds During 2015/16 constituents in Hayes and Harlington lost a combined total of £7,200,294.
Yeading Junior School 19th
I absolutely enjoyed my visit to Yeading School. Had a great discussion with the children and adults too. Thanks for inviting me.
Broxtowe 20th
I went door-knocking in Beeston with party members and East Midlands Young Labour. Later in the day I spoke at a members event in Beeston about the political engagement process we had in this election that we have not seen in generations”
Dragon’s Den 23rd
I joined a group of young constituents who are taking part in National Citizen Service (NCS), a nationwide youth programme which brings together 15 – 17 years olds to learn new skills during the school holidays. Young people participating in NCS take part in a variety of activities, including personal and team challenges, which benefit our local community. I was pleased to sit in on a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style panel to listen to the young people’s pitch for their community action project and was amazed by their innovation and commitment to the programme and our community.
Thurrock 24th
I spoke at Thurrock Civic Hall along with John Kent, Leader of the Thurrock Labour Party, Cllr Oliver Gerrish and East of England MEP Alex Mayer about the recent election campaign nationally and locally, where Cllr Kent missed out by just 345 votes. If the campaign had been extended another week I believe we could have won an overall majority in Parliament. I also encouraged local activists to keep up the pressure on the Conservatives in the event of another General Election.
Whilst campaigning in Pembrokshire I spoke to a large group of suporters about the cancellation of the electrification of the Cardiff to Swansea stretch of the Great Western line being an act of “retribution” by a Conservative Government, whose majority crashed last month from 4,969 to 314.