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Coronavirus - Impact on business
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Shortly before lockdown was announced I visited two brilliant local businesses who were both deeply concerned about how the Covid-19 crisis was going to affect them.
I visited Banana Moon Clothing based in Birstall and Batley chair specialists HSL, who had both seen orders wiped because of Covid-19, to discuss how the crisis might affect them and to see how I could support them.
Both are brilliant, successful companies ingrained in our communities, and are just two examples from our area. We have so many great businesses employing thousands of people and they need to be protected.
That's why it was a relief when the Chancellor announced the Government's business rescue plans to pay staff and keep companies alive. But the plans were not exhaustive, missing out charity workers, the self-employed and freelancers, and I have and will continue to push the Government to ensure as many people as possible are protected in these unprecedented times.
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Access to loved ones in intensive care and maternity units
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When a loved one gets taken into hospital, it's an extremely scary and stressful time for family members. When they are ill, it's only human that you want to be there with them to help them through it.
The following information is from Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, I am sharing it to keep you and your family up to date, for the latest information please check their website here.
Due to social distancing measures, the Trust has taken the unprecedented step of suspending visits. This is to protect you, your loved ones and NHS staff, and to combat the spread of Covid-19.
This is a difficult time for us all, and I cannot imagine how much harder not being able to see your loved ones in hospital is making it for those of you affected, but it's crucial we abide by the social distancing rules to beat this virus.
One visitor will be permitted in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the ward manager. Those exceptions can be made for:
- Parents of a patient under the age of 18
- Carers for patients requiring assistance
- Relatives collecting a patient being discharged
- Immediate family/partner of those at end of life
- Birthing partners.
I know it will be tough, but by sticking to these rules we can beat Covid-19.
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At the last Prime Minister's Questions before Parliament was shut down, I asked Boris Johnson what was being done to support charities throughout the Covid-19 crisis. Charities supporting the most vulnerable people in our society are really struggling, facing a £4.3 billion drop in income.They can't just furlough staff, it's not an option when there are vulnerable people who need help. More than 150 MPs from across Parliament have called for an urgent package to support charities. The Prime Minister said the Culture Secretary and Chanceller were "looking at a package" for charities, and on Wednesday afternoon that finally came, a £750 million package to support charities. This included £360m for hospices, children’s charities and charities for vulnerable groups, which will be allocated by Government departments, and £370m for small and medium-sized charities.While this is a start, far more money is needed to keep our beloved local charities going.
Watch my question to the Prime Minister here.
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During this dark and worrying time, there have been so many rays of light across Batley and Spen brightening people's lives with amazing gestures, often going above and beyond the call of duty to help people in need.
Local businesses, charities, community groups and members of the public have all put their hands up to help, whether that being to help deliver food to those in need, entertaining people on their street or helping out in the Kirklees Community Response.
The Batley Food Bank team have been working hard since the outbreak began ensuring vulnerable families have enough food; the team do amazing work and their response to the Covid-19 crisis has been incredible.
The fantastic Ellie's Flowers in Birstall has been delivering packages of fresh fruit and vegetables to people, providing families with the healthy and nutritious food we need. This is so important for keeping people's diets healthy, especially for those who can't make it to supermarkets.
At the weekend I saw an amazing video on Facebook showing the community spirit we have in Batley and Spen. It was from Cleckheaton-based Dancercize, whose leader Emma Kitching led a mass dance in the street for her neighbours to get them out in the sun exercising. It was great to see so many people taking part and having fun. I'm sure it cheered up everyone taking part and those watching it online, it definitely put a smile on my face.
I also want to thank groups such as One Nation, Batley Cricket Club, Soothill Community Association, the Al-Mubarak Foundation and many more who have signed up to the Community Response programme and are working hard with the Council to ensure the most vulnerable people in our communities are looked after.
If you know of any more local heroes who deserve recognition please get in touch and let me know so I can help celebrate their selfless work.
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Last week, Keir Starmer was elected as the new leader of the Labour Party, with Angela Rayner as deputy leader. I nominated both Keir and Angela, and the Batley and Spen Constituency Labour Party also nominated both in the election, so I'm delighted they have been chosen as our new leadership team. Keir has visited Batley and Spen a couple of times, most recently earlier this year during the campaign when he visited Batley Food Bank and Foundations Nursery, and Angela has joined us campaigning numerous times across the constituency. I think Keir's message of hope and unity really resonated with local members. I'm delighted to have been asked by Keir to join his front bench team as Shadow Minister for Cultural Industries. We have lots to do to support freelance workers in creative industries during the Covid-19 crisis, and working towards a future Labour Government.
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At the start of this month, I unveiled the Culture for All white paper calling for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to be at the heart of everything Labour does going forward.
You can read the white paper here, and view a dossier of stories from freelancers affected by Covid-19 by clicking here.
The cultural sector is the fasting growing sector of our economy, employing millions and contributing billions of pounds to the UK economy. It also enriches the lives of millions of people, whether that be watching top-quality television dramas, going to the theatre, the digital infrastructure which binds our society together, high-quality, trusted local journalism or going to cheer on your favourite sports team at the weekend.
My 30 year career in the arts showed me what can be achieved when working class people are given opportunities, and since I became an MP I have seen the disconnect between careers in the arts and certain communities who think it's "not for people like them".
DCMS also has the ability to improve people's physical and mental wellbeing, whether that's technology reducing loneliness by allowing kids to video call their grandparents, the joy of expression that comes with performing arts, or donning your whites to run out for the local cricket team. DCMS is in every area of our lives. It binds our communities together and it's ingrained in British life.
By putting digital, culture, media and sport at the heart of our journey forward, Labour can heal the wounds of division on our country and rebuild the sectors left to rot by a decade of Conservative austerity.
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