Green Party mailing
BRIGHTON COVID AMBER ALERT
Since my last newsletter, the number of Covid infections has risen sharply.
In Brighton and Hove, cases more than doubled in a week, from 39 to 115.
Some of that can be attributed to increased testing, but not all, and our
city has now been placed on amber alert - the last stage before the
Government will declare the city an area of national concern. My statement
in response to this was covered in the Argus [1].
A few days before came the news that 16,000 positive tests had been missed,
meaning thousands of close contacts had not be traced or spoken to, leaving
them free to unknowingly spread the virus in the community. It wasn't only
worrying, but potentially dangerous [2].
The failure to set up an effective test & trace operation has been one of
the worst aspects of the Government's mishandling of Covid, and the picture
doesn't seem to be improving. Ministers have also failed to work closely
with local authorities and public health officials in devising measures to
tackle the virus' spread - even though local public health directors are
the ones with the knowledge and experience of controlling the spread of
disease.
The Brighton and Hove Green party has launched a petition calling on the
Health Secretary to deliver a system which would allow anyone with symptoms
to get a test locally, with the results within 24 hours. Please sign it
[3].
NON-COVID NHS TREATMENT
With our NHS services under growing pressure, I'm extremely concerned about
delays accessing non-Covid treatment. I've been in touch with local
providers about their backlog for some treatments, such as pancreatic
cancer diagnosis and treatment times, child and adolescent mental health
services, and access to IVF. It's vital that NHS providers have the
resources they need to continue offering these treatments in a timely way
and I'm taking up the problems with Ministers.
The situation isn't helped by the logistics problems at the private
pharmaceutical company, Roche, who have been unable to deliver essential
equipment to many NHS Trusts across the country. This failure serves to
highlight the fragility of some supply chains, and underscores the need for
the Government to improve its contingency plans, particularly around the
imminent end of the transition period with the EU and the worrying prospect
of leaving without a deal.
ALL PARTY PARLIAMENT GROUP ON CORONAVIRUS
The failings in the test and trace operation were the subject of the latest
hearing by MPs into Coronavirus. We are looking into the rollout of test
and trace in the social care sector, to see whether the situation had
improved. It may have for staff, but the problems with testing still leave
many families unable to visit relatives in care because tests aren't
available for them and it was heart breaking to hear some of their stories.
THE 10PM HOSPITALITY CURFEW
The Government's imposition of this curfew, apparently without consulting
its scientific advisers, is threatening to make a bad situation even worse.
It's devastating for the hospitality sector and it's not clear that it will
have any impact on the spread of the virus - it may even make things worse
because of crowds all leaving pubs at the same time, then gathering on the
streets. I joined other MPs in writing to the Business Secretary calling
for the medical evidence behind the curfew to be published, and for the
furlough scheme to be extended for sectors worst affected.
The Prime Minister himself was challenged at PMQs to produce the evidence,
which he failed to do. I was a guest on Sky News' politics programme - this
was my summary [4] of the Prime Minister's lamentable record on Covid.
THE PANTO PARADE
The live entertainment sector has been one of the hardest hit by Covid
restrictions. I was pleased to lend my support to hundreds working in
theatre and live events on a Panto Parade, as they brought their case for
more support to Parliament. The lack of support for theatres and other
creative venues, and the people who work in them, is shameful.
Like many Brighton and Hove residents, I was very sad to hear about the
closure of the Duke of York's which followed the earlier announcement made
by Cineworld. Places like the Duke of York's are the beating heart of city,
they play an important role in the local economy and they should be
supported through this crisis so that they can be there when our economy
reopens. I will continue to push the Government to review its support for
the arts sector, and to properly recognise the role that venues like the
Duke of York's play.
Another local arts venue, the brilliant Komedia, currently has a
crowd-funder running. If you feel able to donate, you can do so here [5].
THE CORONAVIRUS ACT
Rumours of a serious Tory backbench revolt against aspects of the
Coronavirus Act have come to nothing, but I share the deep misgivings of
many MPs about the powers the Act gives to ministers to curtail civil
liberties and the way they are exercising those powers, and voted against
its continuation in its current form. I wrote about these concerns in my
column in Metro [6].
GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON WIND POWER
We are still waiting for the promised major speech on the environment from
the Prime Minister, but it was announced last week that the Government
would press ahead with its manifesto commitment to build 40 GW of wind
power in the next 10 years. It's a welcome, if belated, conversion to
renewable energy but green rhetoric needs to be matched with green policies
rather than schemes (like the £27 billion road building programme and HS2)
which will destroy the environment.
PROTECTING THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM PLANNING REFORMS
There is growing opposition to the Government's planning proposals which
would do away with the right of local communities to control building in
their area, and hand a blank cheque to the Tories' developer friends to
build wherever they want - all determined by algorithm (do ministers never
learn?). I had a meeting with the CPRE and Sussex Wildlife Trust about the
threat posed by these proposals to the countryside and habitats around
Brighton and Hove. While we need more homes, concreting over precious green
space, creating car-dependent developments, is not the way to deliver them.
THE RIGHT TO ACCESS NATURE
It is not only surrounding countryside which is at risk - so is green space
close to where people live. I've tabled an Early Day Motion [7] in
Parliament demanding the planning reforms put democracy, affordability and
the right of access to nature at the heart of the planning reform process.
My letter about the right to access nature was published in the Guardian
[8].
MY OPPOSITION TO THE INTERNAL MARKET BILL
I remain strongly opposed to the Internal Market Bill, both over its
details and because of the huge reputational damage to the UK caused by its
brazen intention to break international law. But if ministers are to have
the power to give financial assistance to any chosen company, it is
essential that it is consistent with climate and environmental targets. I
tabled an amendment to secure this (part of my speech is here [9]), it was
put to a vote but was defeated by the large Conservative majority, 258 in
favour 351 against. So much for the Prime Minister's green rhetoric.
GOOD BUSINESS FESTIVAL
I was "in conversation" with the BBC's Evan Davis last week at the Good
Business Festival, originally planned to be in Liverpool but moved online.
We were talking about what makes good leadership, and the need for
integrity, compassion and co-operation - all in short supply at the moment.
Links:
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