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News from
Debbie Abrahams MP
For Oldham East and Saddleworth
September 2017
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Dear <<First Name>> <<Last Name>>
This is the latest edition of my e-newsletter.
This edition contains information on the recent Labour Conference, and constituency and parliamentary updates.
For more regular news you can like my page on Facebook, follow me on twitter or visit my website.
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Debbie Abrahams MP |
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Labour Conference 2017
Labour's annual conference took place in Brighton this week with a large number of Labour members, charities and businesses contributing to many debates, events and meetings. There certainly was an optimistic and determined mood on the coast and I was delighted to be there.
As Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, I have the opportunity to address the main conference hall on important matters in my policy brief. In my speech, I announced new proposals to end the historic injustice faced by 1950s born women, as promised in our manifesto. As a starter and in addition to our plans to extend Pension Credit we are calling on the Government to immediately allow those affected by state pension age equalisation the chance to retire two years earlier at age 64. I also called on the Government to pause the roll out of Universal Credit, following evidence of deepening poverty under the programme. At present, the Government is failing to pay one in four claims within their own six week period. My speech can be watched here in full. I also took part in a number of debates and fringe meetings outside the main conference hall and met with many groups and organisations including Parkinsons UK, Guide Dogs, Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Care, the TUC and the CBI.
Jeremy Corbyn delivered his Leader’s speech on Wednesday. In a hopeful and wide-ranging address he declared that Labour is ready for government. As Jeremy argued, we are ready to tackle inequality; ready to rebuild our NHS; ready to give opportunity to young people and dignity and security to older people; ready to invest in our economy and meet the challenges of climate change and automation. We will also put peace and justice at the heart of foreign policy and build a new and progressive relationship with Europe. Watch Jeremy's speech here.
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Government launches consultation on criteria required to disqualify councillors and mayors
I wanted to update you regarding my campaign to ensure people who have been convicted of a child sex offence cannot serve as a local authority or parish councillor. Following pressure from me, Saddleworth Parish councillors and local residents, the Government has finally launched a public consultation on the criteria required to disqualify individuals from public office (including Parish Councils). Specifically, the consultation proposes updating the criteria to reflect modern sentencing practices.
The consultation will run from Monday 18 September until 5pm on Friday 8 December. Details of how to contribute to the consultation if you share my concerns can be found here. I will keep you updated on developments and continue to press the Government to change the rules.
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Parliamentary business
In addition to my work as Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary I have also attended meetings in Parliament including the AGM of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir. I was so pleased to be re-elected as Senior Vice Chair and I congratulate our new chair, Chris Leslie MP and my fellow officers.
I have been contacted by a number of constituents expressing grave concerns about the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation faced by the Rohingya. I share these concerns and condemn the violence. I have written to the foreign secretary calling for immediate UK action. It is also deeply concerning that political leaders in Myanmar have not expressed concerns about the displacement and violence. I believe more pressure must be put on them to find a solution and I have written to Myanmar’s ambassador to the UK this effect.
Labour has pressed the Government to suspend military co-operation with Myanmar's armed forces and I welcome the Government's recent announcement to do so, albeit a belated one. At Labour Conference this week, Jeremy Corbyn called on Aung San Suu Kyi to end the violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar now. I understand the situation in Myanmar is upsetting many constituents. You can raise your concerns by writing to the Foreign Office directly and pressing for action as I have. I will continue to work with colleagues to press the Government to take urgent action, both bilaterally and through international organisations to bring an end to the violence. Read my full statement here.
Constituents have also been in touch about the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, also known as the “Repeal Bill”. Firstly, I want to emphasise that this bill is not about whether Britain leaves the EU. The Labour Party has been very clear that we respect the referendum result and recognise that Britain is leaving the EU.
However, we must get the best deal possible for Britain and I am clear that Brexit must not lead to any drop in rights and protections – including workplace rights, consumer rights, human rights and environmental standards – and that power should be brought back to Parliament and local communities. Crucially, the Repeal Bill could also prevent Britain from being able to negotiate a strong transitional deal on the same basic terms we currently enjoy. That is why I did not support this bill in its current form. Labour has repeatedly raised these concerns with the Government but they have been utterly inflexible and unwilling to engage constructively. Our aim has always been to repair this bill, not wreck it. Given the bill has now passed Second Reading in the House of Commons, Labour will work constructively to improve the bill wherever possible. Read my full article here.
To read all my contributions in Parliament click here.
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