Dear Constituent,

 

Last week, the Chancellor announced a lot of new spending and schemes as we enter the next stage of the Coronavirus outbreak and lockdown starts to ease up. Many of these were welcome measures that will help businesses get back on their feet. These of course replace or add to various other schemes that have been in place for the last few months like furlough and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

 

Whilst I am very glad that the Government has provided support to so many during this crisis, there are still many who have received no support whatsoever. In fact, there’s around 3 million of them.

 

These people have organised into a group called Excluded UK which represents a wide range of people who – for one reason or another – have slipped through the net. This includes the newly self-employed, PAYE freelancers, new starters, those who’ve been denied furlough and the self-employed with more than £50,000 in trading profits.

 

The impact of not being eligible for support schemes can be massive. People’s livelihoods are at stake, and some will lose their houses or the businesses that they have spent years building.

 

I’ve come across many excluded constituents who have got in touch with my office about the issues that they’re facing as a result of not being able to access support and this is far from unique to my constituency. In fact, MPs from across the country have set up the Excluded UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to discuss these issues and how to persuade the Government to extend support to these 3 million people.

 

Almost a third of MPs – including me – have joined this group, and we come from all of the different political parties. I think it is particularly helpful to have Conservative MPs involved in the group, as these are the people who Government Ministers are most likely to listen to.

 

Many of those affected feel not just excluded, but forgotten and neglected too. They want to know that the Government is thinking about them and how they can get the support that they need. Through the APPG and other means, I’ll make sure I play my part in standing up for the Excluded in Parliament. If you’re one of these people, I’d highly recommend looking up Excluded UK – they’re not just a great campaign group, but also a support network that provides advice and an opportunity to talk things through.

 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has welcomed the inclusion of a question on service in the Armed Forces in the next census, following a campaign he supported that was led by The Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland.

The 2021 Census will include a question to provide information on whether someone has served in HM Armed Forces for the first time ever.

The Royal British Legion, which led the campaign, is at the heart of a national network offering a range of support and services to the Armed Forces community. The decision to include the question on the 2021 census will provide the Legion, as well as public bodies, local authorities, and other military charities with valuable information to ensure they can best meet the needs of serving personnel, veterans and their families.

It has been estimated that there are 2.4 million veterans currently living in Great Britain, who make up part of a wider ex-Service community which includes their spouses, partners, dependent children and widow(er)s. However, little is currently known about the exact numbers, location and needs of this significant group. Including an Armed Forces question in the next census would provide public bodies, local authorities, and charities with valuable information to ensure they are able to deliver the best services they can for our Armed Forces community.

‘Count Them In’ is part of The Royal British Legion’s ongoing campaign work to help champion the interests, welfare, and contributions of the Armed Forces Community.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“I am delighted that the Count Them In campaign has succeeded and that this question will be included in next year’s census.

 

“This is a historic change that will give us all a better understanding of the profile and needs of veterans.

 

“Getting this improved understanding is absolutely key to making sure that our public services are tailored for our armed forces community.”

Charles Byrne, Director-General of The Royal British Legion, said:

“This is an extremely proud moment for the Legion. After leading a successful campaign, the fact that a military question will be in the 2021 Census will significantly improve our understanding of the Armed Forces community which up until now has been very limited. It will ensure that we, along with other charities and service providers, can deliver the best service possible to them when and where it is needed most.

 

“This is something we have been striving towards for many years, it will have a huge impact on service personnel, veterans and their families well into the future, as the outcome will allow us to provide more effective care and support to those who are in need. We are delighted and are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported the campaign and helped us to achieve this historical success.”

 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, is supporting Strep B Awareness Month to improve knowledge and awareness of Strep B.

Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep, Strep B, Beta Strep, or GBS) is a type of bacteria which lives in the reproductive systems of around 2-4 in every 10 women in the UK (20-40%). This is often referred to as ‘carrying’ or being ‘colonised with’ GBS.

Group B Strep is not a sexually transmitted disease. Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. Carrying GBS is not harmful to you, but it can affect your baby around the time of birth.

GBS can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies – including meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia – and, very rarely, during pregnancy before labour.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“Strep B Awareness Month is really important in drawing attention to an issue that many are unaware of, but which is the leading cause of severe infection in newborn babies in the UK.

 

“I’d strongly encourage people to visit the Group B Strep Support website to find out more about Strep B. It is a fantastic resource for both health professionals and people affected by Strep B.”

You can find out more information here.