Today, I spoke up for Enfield and Haringey in the Local Government Finances in London Westminster Hall debate.
Damping council funds is plain wrong. Enfield and Haringey deserve the right funding to provide good services for residents.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
I had a lovely visit to Our Lady of Lourdes on Friday to meet their school council! We spoke about the similarities in how we were both elected, how children can support their community and what issues matter most to them.
It was great to hear about the positive changes they have made to their school already – introducing reading buddies, improving their facilities, fundraising, and starting a calm club.
Well done to all the school councillors at Our Lady of Lourdes!
It was wonderful to meet my constituent Michael Efstratiou’s uncle and daughter, Costas and Ellianna, today in Parliament as they continue their tireless campaign to find a stem cell match for Michael.
Before Christmas, Michael was sadly diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer and urgently needs a stem cell transplant. Due to his Cypriot heritage, it is proving difficult to find a match for Michael.
He needs people to sign up to the stem cell register, in the hope that they could be a match for someone just like him.
Aged 16-30? Sign up to the register today @ https://www.anthonynolan.org/…/michaelsstemcelldrive
On New Years Eve, I joined the Chief Nurse for London, Karen Bonner MBE, to officially open the sickle cell and thalassemia emergency department bypass unit at North Middlesex University Hospital.
I want to thank those who played a huge role in making this bypass unit possible, improving care and securing better outcomes for patients who present to the emergency department with sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
I had the privilege of attending the Compassionate Neighbours six-year celebration at North London Hospice Enfield on the 12th of December.
The Compassionate Neighbours model is a volunteer led support programme that assists people in the community with life-limiting illnesses to overcome the physical and mental barriers that stop them actively participating within their community.
Having an illness can often feel very lonely for individuals, and the Compassionate Neighbours model offers thoughtful support for those who are socially isolated, so it was an honour to join people from North London Hospice and commemorate the model’s success.