I had a lovely visit to St Michael at Bowes Primary School yesterday to meet the school council. We had an important discussion on bullying and the impact it has on children.
It was great to hear what they like about school and their favourite lessons, and discuss a visit for the council to come to Parliament!
Today, I spoke in support of Peter Lamb MP’s Free School Meals (Automatic Registration of Eligible Children) Bill.
Free school meals are a lifeline for low-income families and every child has the right to eat a nutritious meal to help them learn, achieve, & thrive at school.
According to the Food Foundation, 250,000 eligible primary school children are missing out due to barriers to entry. Auto-enrolment is the right thing to do.
Listen to the highlights of my speech here.
I welcomed the Southgate and Wood Green Women’s Constituency Labour Party to Parliament to have a serious discussion about tackling violence against women and girls in today’s society as we marked International Women’s Day last week. We spoke about the resources local authorities can use to help victims of domestic abuse and the severe impact social media has on cultivating misogynist attitudes among teenage boys and young men. We also discussed the role of the UK Government in supporting women in conflict zones internationally. We took a tour of Parliament where we saw pieces of suffragette history, including the cupboard where Emily Wilding Davison hid in on the night of the 1911 census!
This discussion served as a powerful reminder that there is still a long way to go in creating a safer society for women and girls. Currently there is a worrying level of sexual violence, domestic abuse and harassment experienced by women daily in the UK. By the end of 2023, there were only 2008 convictions for the 67,938 rape offences recorded by the police and data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown that almost a quarter of women aged 16-24 experienced sexual harassment last year.
Beyond these numbers are survivors whose lives have not only been deeply harmed by the abuse they have experienced, but also the failing systems they have turned to for support. It is imperative that the Government views the safety of women and girls as an utmost priority over this parliament, so we can strive towards a society where women are empowered rather than inhibited.
I am deeply concerned about recent attacks on Alawite, Druze, Christian, Kurdish, and other minority communities in Syria.
Today, I asked the Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan to condemn these attacks and to outline what support the Government can give to these communities.
Listen to his response here.
Sunday the 9th of March marked Covid Reflection Day, a time to remember the lives lost during the pandemic. I would like to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by our community and brave frontline workers in Southgate and Wood Green.
Marking the fifth anniversary of the pandemic, I paid a visit to the Covid Memorial Wall earlier this week, where families honour their loved ones and the 247,458 people who died from coronavirus.
This week, as part of the Great Daffodil Appeal, I met with nurses and volunteers from Marie Curie, along with their supporter, Larry Lamb, in Parliament.
It was important to discuss palliative and end of life care, focusing on how MPs can show support to the sector, as I continue to call for increased funding for hospices.
It was great to talk to them, and I am proud to support Marie Curie and the incredible service they give to people at the end of life.
Yesterday, I met with Year 9 students and school councillors at Mulberry Academy Woodside.
We had a productive Q&A, discussing a variety of topics. I was asked for my advice for young people, what parliament does, and to explain a typical day at work for me.
It was wonderful to meet so many young people keen to engage with and learn about politics. I hope to come back soon!
As the Chair of the APPG for Global Education, it was wonderful to meet Laura Frigenti, the CEO of the Global Partnership for Education, in Parliament.
We discussed the importance of quality education for improving life chances worldwide and the need for international support.
I was proud to commit both mine and the APPG’s support for GPE.
To mark Endometriosis Action month, I met with representatives from Endometriosis UK, Anita Nneka Jones, and Charlotte Henshaw in Parliament. We had an important discussion around the impact endometriosis has on the daily life as well as physical and mental health.
It was great to hear more about how MPs can how support for women’s health.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with issues relating to endometriosis, please contact Endometriosis UK’s nurse helpline.
Today is World Book Day!
As the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success, reading for fun matters. It gives children a sense of agency, choice, and empowerment.
Well done to all the parents, carers, librarians, and teachers helping children in Southgate and Wood Green pick up a book & discover reading in their own way!
