Alex Norris MP's Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to the latest issue of my weekly newsletter. 

This week was the Budget – so the Parliamentary week has been filled with 4 days of debate on what the Chancellor proposed. And as Bonfire Night is just around the corner and Fireworks have already begun, I’ve spent this week campaigning for more firework regulation to protect our pets from the anxiety they cause, as well as my usual Committee commitments, and more. 

Read on to find out what I’ve been up to… 

As I’ve said before, I will strive to send you a newsletter like this each Friday to keep you updated on the work I’m doing in Parliament as well as in our community, and to inform you of any interesting events taking place in our area. To help me with the latter, if you are running or know of anything that you think may be of interest to others, feel free to drop me an email at alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk and I will include it in future issues. Please also forward it onto anyone you think may be interested. 

Fireworks

As Bonfire Night approaches, it is important that everyone stays safe—including our beloved pets. While I’m sure you’re all looking forwards to firework displays, as I am, this can be a scary time for dogs, which is why I have teamed up with Dogs Trust to help educate dog owners and communities on the impact of fireworks on dogs’ emotional wellbeing.  

Looking after pets is a great priority to me, especially during this noisy time. My two border collies, Boomer and Corona, get very agitated by loud noises and I know that they are not alone. In fact, a Dogs Trust survey of 3,750 pet owners found that two-thirds of dogs are worried by fireworks, so it is important that we do everything we can to minimise the trauma for our pets. 

Therefore, I am also working with the Dogs Trust as we attempt to revisit fireworks legislation in order to do the best for our dogs and other animals. Fireworks can currently be sold and set off between 7am and 11pm at any time of year, instilling a constant fear in dogs that could lead to long-term vulnerability to loud noises. I’m also supporting further restrictions on fireworks legislation, granting retail licences to sell fireworks only at certain times of the year. On Tuesday I visited an event they hosted in Parliament to sign my support for this. 

Not only am I supporting this change, but throughout this week I have also posted some helpful videos on my Twitter, highlighting the importance of going to local fireworks displays, keeping your neighbours informed of your Bonfire Night plans, and distracting your dog from loud noises from inside your home. Do check them out! 

Here are two great local organised displays you can go to instead of doing your own, which will help reduce the effect it has on the animals: 

4th Carlton Scouts Firework Display 
Saturday, 3 November 
Bonfire lit at 7.15pm, with the display beginning at 8pm. 
£5 (Children £3; Family £15) 
King George V Playing Fields, Aspley Lane, Aspley, Nottingham, NG8 5RX 

Nottingham Council's Firework Display 
Monday, 5 November 
Children's display begins at 7.15pm, and the main fireworks begins at 9pm. The bonfire will be lit at 7.45pm. 
Free 
Forest Recreation Ground, Russell Road, Nottingham, NG7 6HB 

I hope that everyone has a fun and safe Bonfire Night, but please do remember to take steps to reassure your pets in this stressful time. Further information can be found here. 

Committee Work

It was a bit quieter than last week, but as usual, I had my regular Committee commitments this week, which consisted of an evidence taking session of the Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday and the third week of the Public Bill Committee for the Overseas Electors Bill. 

Tuesday’s session was focused on the preparations the Home Office, and other Departments who operate at the border, are making to ensure that UK border operations proceed smoothly after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in March 2019. We were able to question the Minister of State for Immigration and officials from the Home Office and HM Revenue and Customs on preparations to ensure UK border operations run effectively and efficiently after March 2019; as well as representatives from the Metropolitan Police Service and the National Crime Agency on preparations to ensure UK policing and security operations continue effectively after March 2019.  

You may have seen that the Minister didn’t do too good a job, incorrectly telling the Committee that employers would be expected to differentiate between resident EU citizens and those arriving after exit, when in fact the Home Office has told us there will be a transition period. Unfortunately, as per usual, the Government are not on the same page. 

During this session, I was also able to receive confirmation from Jon Thompson, the Chief Executive of HMRC, that there will be no further job cuts at HMRC as a result of Brexit, which is testament to some excellent campaigning by the PCS Union. The work is far from over, but it’s a good step. You can watch that here. 

And on the Overseas Electors Bill Committee my Labour colleagues and I continued to argue in favour of our amendments to improve the Bill, but unfortunately, we are outnumbered on the Committee and have had no luck in getting any of them to stick.

In Nottingham

Budget debate meant I was held in Westminster until Thursday evening, so I’ve only had today in the constituency this week, but the mini-recess next week will allow me time to catch up with Wednesday onwards in Nottingham. Here’s what I’ve been up to today: 

• This morning, I met with Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero, City Council leader Jon Collins and Broxtowe Councillor Richard Robinson to discuss the potential extend the Nottingham Tram 
• Following that, I spoke this afternoon at an event for retired GMB members, who worked across nearly all industrial sectors, in retail, security, schools, distribution and the utilities, social care, the NHS and ambulance service and local government 
• I spoke with a constituent individually about a housing issue. If you’d like to speak to me similarly, please get in touch 
• This evening I’m off to support a local amateur boxing event in Arnold – should be good fun and a chance to meet some local boxers and discuss the issues surrounding amateur sport locally. I think boxing is a really good outlet for young boys and teaches lots about discipline. 
• And tomorrow I’m speaking at ASLEF, the train driver’s union’s school for their representatives and organisers – looking forward to passing on some tips to those who want to get even more involved politically and discuss the issues that their industry is currently facing

The Budget

I couldn’t finish this newsletter without mentioning the Budget, which the Chancellor presented on Monday.  

As we’ve come to expect from this Government, this was a Broken Promise Budget. Austerity is not over. Cuts to social security will continue, and there are no guarantees that departments won’t face further cuts. The Tories have presided over eight years of economic failure. Austerity has damaged our economy, delayed and weakened our recovery and endlessly postponed fixing the deficit. 

Here are a few “highlights”: 

• There’s not a penny for the day to day costs of our schools even though school funding has been cut by 8%. “Little extras” won’t stop schools having to send begging letters to parents to cover basic expenses. 
• The £20bn promised for the NHS is “simply not enough” according to the Health Foundation. 
• Local councils face a funding gap of £7.8bn by 2025 and are being cut by £1.3bn next year – the Government are giving with one hand and taking away with the other.  
• There’s not a penny for regular policing even though 21,000 police have been cut and violent crime is on the rise.  
• Police, teachers, nurses and doctors have had no reassurances that the public sector pay squeeze will end this year.  
• And despite all the fuss, this budget raises less from internet giants than it does from the self-employed, and the Digital Services Tax will do little to stop tax avoidance because it relies on self-assessment. 

I supported the Labour Leadership’s amendment to the Budget resolution, which was unfortunately voted down last night. We won’t stop fighting though until all these Departments get the funding they need under a Labour Government.  

Looking ahead to next week

I’m in Westminster on Tuesday for a Home Affairs Select Committee meeting on Modern Slavery, before a busy three days in Nottingham North. Read next week to find out exactly what I get up to.

What's On

I want these emails to be as interesting as possible. That means there’ll be some politics – it’s important that I am held accountable. But I also want to offer information about what’s on locally. So, if you have an event you’d like me to advertise, let me know.

If you would like your events advertised here, or further information on those advertised, please email me at alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk.

That’s all for now! Details of how to get in touch or to have a look at the things I’m doing are below…

All the best,

Alex

GOSPEL STREET is a powerful mix of theatre, comedy and spoken word – a breath-taking ride through all the important issues of life, death… and miraculous street food. Good news with wisdom, laughter, energy and insight.

At Bulwell United Reformed Church:
Saturday 17th November
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