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Welcome to my February newsletter, with updates of what I have been up to as your MP. If there is anything you think I should know, or anything you think I could help you with, please get in touch by clicking here. |
Government adopts my ‘Mission Coastal’ plan to support young people in coastal areas |
Last year I launched my campaign for a targeted education programme to improve outcomes for young people in coastal communities – modelled on the New Labour-era ‘London Challenge’ that transformed school standards and life chances across the capital. I’m thrilled that this month the government announced ‘Mission Coastal’, formally adopting my policy. The programme will focus on improving outcomes for young people in disadvantaged coastal areas, who despite their potential often lag behind their peers when it comes to education and life chances. The programme will work with schools and local partners to tackle barriers to learning and strengthen the conditions that allow young people to thrive. You can read more about the programme by clicking here. You can also read my recent article about why it’s important for Thanet that the government is changing how it makes the spending decisions that impact us all – something else I have campaigned strongly for. |
Delivering a better SEND system for families in Thanet |
From speaking to so many of you at my surgeries and through my Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) survey, I know how badly children are being let down by the current system. That’s why I made securing changes one of my top priorities, and have campaigned against attempts by Reform UK to restrict access to SEND transport in Kent. This month the government published its reform plans, which deliver £7 billion in additional investment into SEND and guarantees that all children in year three and above today will retain their existing support until at least age 16. Coming from a family of teachers, making sure every child gets the support they need to thrive is something I am hugely passionate about, and I am excited by the genuinely transformational impact these reforms will have across our education system. You can read more about what has been announced by clicking here and watch me talking about the plans in a recent interview here. |
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Launching Cllr Joanne Bright's campaign for the Cliftonville byelection with Dame Emily Thornberry MP and some of our amazing local Labour campaigners |
Byelection in Cliftonville |
Last year, Cliftonville elected a Reform UK councillor who was subsequently sent to prison for the coercive control of his partner for more than ten years. My thoughts are with his partner and child who suffered this appalling abuse. As a result, Cliftonville now has the opportunity to choose a new representative on KCC, and I will be campaigning strongly against the politics of hate and division that Reform UK represent. The results last time show that only Labour can stop Reform in Cliftonville. The Greens came a distant fourth last year, with only 12% of the vote. Our candidate Joanne Bright has been a brilliant councillor in Thanet, co-founded the Thanet Women and Girls Network, and is long-time campaigner for women and against cuts to local services. I hope you will give her your vote as I know what a fantastic county councillor she will be for Cliftonville. You can also sign her petition to KCC for action to tackle domestic abuse by clicking here. |
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Raising Gemma's campaign at Prime Ministers Questions this month |
Local breast cancer petition passes 100,000 signatures |
I am proud to be backing my constituent Gemma’s campaign to lower the age for breast cancer screenings to 40, which this month achieved 100,000 signatures, making it eligible for a debate in parliament! I raised the campaign at Prime Ministers Questions and secured Gemma a meeting with a health minister. You can still sign the petition by clicking here and watch the ITV news report on the campaign by clicking here. |
Standing up for women in public life |
I share people’s revulsion with the revelations about Peter Mandelson. My thoughts are first and foremost with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. It was heartening to have received so many supportive messages from constituents about my response. I am pushing hard for action to prevent anything like this happening again, including speaking out in parliament. I am pleased the Prime Minister has recognised ‘structural misogyny’ is holding women back in our country – not just in politics but in all walks of life. Standing up for women is one of my highest priorities as an MP, which is why I am pushing hard for more action to crack down on violence against women and girls, clean up the internet, and put women at the heart of political decision-making. |
My revelations about Reform UK's false claims about savings they've made in Kent were featured on ITV News, in the Guardian, and in Kent local press |
My Freedom of Information request catches Reform UK lying about savings they have made in Kent |
Last year I submitted a Freedom of Information request to KCC about Reform UK’s claim to have saved £40 million by cancelling ‘net zero projects’. After a seven month battle, Kent’s response to me confirmed these projects never meaningfully existed and were never funded, yet Reform UK continue to lie to the public about these so-called savings. My campaign to get Kent to stop peddling these false figures was featured on ITV news this month – you can watch a clip here. The reality is that Reform had no plan to deliver savings at KCC, and now they’re lying to people rather than admitting their council is in chaos and they’re hiking council tax to cover up their mess. They need to stop lying to people and focus on delivering betting services for the people of Kent. |
Two new free breakfast clubs for Thanet |
I’m delighted that two more schools in Thanet – Northdown Primary in Margate and Dame Janet Primary in Ramsgate – will be launching free breakfast clubs this April. After seeing first-hand the positive impact at Thanet’s first breakfast club at Salmestone Primary School in Margate last year, I know how valuable this support is for ensuring children get a healthy start to the day and families can juggle work and childcare. These breakfast clubs are just one of the ways Labour is standing up for families: we’re rolling out 30 hours a week of free childcare for preschoolers; opening new nurseries; capping school uniform costs; and scrapping the two-child benefit cap to lift more than 4000 children out of poverty in East Thanet. |
East Kent MENCAP's Gold Group visit parliament |
East Kent MENCAP Gold Group visit parliament |
It was wonderful to welcome the East Kent MENCAP Gold Group to parliament. The group had a tour and spoke to some of my parliamentary colleagues about their campaign for greater inclusion for people with learning disabilities, something I will be taking up in parliament and with KCC. It was a wonderful visit – you can watch a video here. |
I have visited some fantastic local organisations and initiatives this month, including: I had the opportunity to meet some of the staff working in and check out the facilities at the new Thanet Community Health Hub in Broadstairs. I spent some time meeting with the leaders from churches across Thanet in St Peters. We spoke about our ambitions and aspirations for Thanet, the Isle of Culture bid, and what we hope for our communities. I helped interview candidates to become the new chair of the Pride in Place Board, which decides how the £20million Pride in Place funding for Ramsgate will be spent. I’m delighted that Bernie Morgan has been appointed – you can find out more about Bernie here.
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Visiting the fantastic new Thanet Community Health Hub in Broadstairs |
Over the last couple of months, my team and I have been able to assist residents to resolve issues that they’ve been experiencing. I advocated for a resident with disabilities to receive increased support from the DWP to help them get back into work I pushed for a reassessment of a Personal Independence Payment application, leading to an increased award. Following issues with access for waste collection vehicles on a Ramsgate street, I contacted Thanet District Council who agreed to put measures in place to prevent future occurrences. I contacted Kent County Council on behalf of a resident who requires carers and had seen his entitled hours significantly reduced, and was able to push for a review and subsequent amendments that will see the constituent have their care needs met.
I’m always happy to help. If you think I could be of assistance, please get in touch by clicking here and I will see what I can do. |
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