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MP’S UPDATE FOR BRENTFORD AND ISLEWORTH RESIDENTS

JANUARY 2021

RUTH CADBURY MP

You can find previous reports of my work on my web site;
www.ruthcadbury.co.uk [1] I also report regularly on my Facebook page [2]
and via Twitter [3] and Instagram @RuthCadbury [4]. You can see full
details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, and get Regular updates
about my Parliamentary activities on TheyWorkForYou [5]in Hansard [6]and on
YouTube [7]

SEE MY SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS WEB-PAGE [8] FOR INFORMATION ON

LOCAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES, HELP-LINES AND VOLUNTEERING;

 AND TO SIGN UP FOR HOUNSLOW COUNCIL’S DAILY UPDATES.

DEAR 

Happy New Year! And here's hoping that 2021 is a better year for everyone.
We now have the hope that the vaccination will roll out fully, so that at
some point this year Covid no longer threatens the lives and livelihoods of
so many, and we can enjoy life as we did.

However, I write this just after the country has had to go into another
national lock-down, children are studying from home well into February with
no certainty about the alternatives to key exams, and our hospitals are
almost at breaking point. In the first week of January WestMid has more
Covid patients than at the peak last April. The situation has not yet
reached the crisis level we have heard about at other London hospitals,
with patients waiting in ambulances in the car park to be admitted, however
the situation is serious there and staff are exhausted. Which is why we
have to all personally act as though we have the virus; "STAY HOME, STAY
SAFE (HANDS, FACE SPACE) AND PROTECT THE NHS".

It goes without saying that I am deeply disappointed about the repeated
delays and confusion over every Covid decision by this Government. They
have learned nothing from last year's mistakes, prevarication and lack of
planning. I attend almost daily calls with various Ministers where we pass
on questions and concerns raised with us by constituents; and so often
those Ministers have no answers.

Apart from Covid, THE IMPLICATIONS OF LEAVING THE EU last January and the
transition arrangements on 31st December are a growing concern. Travellers,
businesses, job hunters, students, any of us who buy stuff we want or need,
and many more people, are starting to experience the challenges created by
the very late, and very poor, trade deal the UK Government signed with the
EU, at the 11th hour, on Christmas Eve.

As most constituents know, I used every vote and speech since the 2016
referendum campaign to oppose leaving the EU, the Single market and the
Customs Union, and to support a confirmatory referendum. I was sacked from
the front bench for my stance. But we finally lost those arguments with the
2019 general election result.

Over Christmas, a few people wrote to me about the Parliamentary vote on
the TRADE BILL on 30th December. I, along with Keir Starmer and most Labour
MPs, voted in favour of signing the Trade deal, even though it wasn't the
deal we were promised, nor one we really wanted. But it was the only deal
the UK has with the EU and it's better than no deal, which would be
disastrous for everyone here. The agreed deal creates a foothold on which
to build a future relationship with the EU, who are our friends and allies,
with shared values and history.

[Image projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover on 31 January 2020]

We start now, working with partners in Europe to mitigate the damage of the
last 5 years and work for a new relationship that is positive and benefits
our businesses, jobs, citizens and the environment, and strengthens our
shared values on the global stage. Whilst I'm deeply saddened that the UK
left the EU last year, I hope that one day we will return as an integral
part of the EU.

THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THE WAY PARLIAMENT WORKS and MPs cannot speak
unless they are drawn in the ballot by the Speaker so it is pot luck, and I
was only drawn three times in December.

However I was able to challenge Home Office Minister (Victoria Atkins)
about the issue of “COUNTY LINE” GANGS exploiting young people locally.
I urged the Government to support local community based groups such as
Action Isleworth Mothers who work across Hounslow Borough with young people
who have unwillingly got involved with a gang, or are at risk of doing so,
and with their parents. As a result of this I am soon to meet the Minister
to brief her on this amazing initiative.

I led an adjournment debate on FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN SCHOOLS. I welcomed
Government support (only announced the night before - some coincidence?) to
extend the scheme for another year, but I raised questions around funding
levels and the need for the Government to promote their scheme.

At an Urgent Question session I urged Education Secretary Gavin Williamson
(before the lockdown announcement) to work pro-actively with schools & head
teachers around school openings in January and to treat school leaders with
respect - something that has been glaringly absent for months.

LETTERS:

* I wrote to the PM on behalf of our BEER AND PUB BUSINESSES about the
impact that Covid restrictions were having on the hospitality sector and
called for better support.
* I also wrote to Chancellor about the removal of TAX FREE SHOPPING due
to the impact that this would have on Heathrow and the wider economy

It is truly astonishing that the Chancellor has not come to the Commons
since December 1st to answer questions on these and many other issues
facing businesses, the self-employed left without support, and also low
earners who cannot afford to stay at home if they are required to isolate.

With colleagues on the TRANSPORT COMMITTEE I visited Heathrow's Terminal 5
to see the new fast testing centre for departing passengers. They use a
2-minute turnaround test that is accepted by most airlines and many
countries. However Heathrow and the airlines have been pushing the
Government for months to enable full testing for arriving passengers,
equivalent to that operating in many other countries. The facilities are
built and ready and waiting.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

ALTHOUGH THE INSTALLATION OF THE SEGREGATED CYCLE PATH IN CHISWICK IS being
carried out by TfL and Hounslow Council, I have received a certain amount
of correspondence on it. I welcomed the Government's leadership in
releasing funding and emergency regulations to enable Councils to quickly
roll out safe ways to support walking and cycling. These provide healthy
(and in the case of

cycling, often quicker) alternatives to public transport and private cars
when people start returning to work. Once the new signals, which allow a
phase for the cycle lane, were finally complete the path has been well
used. People who were previously nervous to cycle on this busy main road
are now feeling confident to get out on their bikes.

I joined representatives OF BRENTFORD FOOTBALL CLUB, the Brentford FC
Community Sports Trust and the Supporters Trust outside Morrisons in
Brentford to collect donations for HOUNSLOW COMMUNITY FOODBOX

I had a Zoom meeting with LEASEHOLDERS OF FLATS IN BALTIC AVENUE in
Brentford. Like so many owners of flats built in the last 15 years across
the country they cannot sell their flats as they cannot get safety
certificates to prove their buildings are fire-safe. As a member of the
Parliamentary Group on Leasehold I will continue to challenge the
Government to properly address the interconnected leasehold and cladding
scandals that were emerging even before the Grenfell tragedy, and fund
leaseholders for the costs.

RUNWAY 3 – HEATHROW WINS SUPREME COURT.  The Supreme Court ruled

against Friends of the Earth and others and determined that the Airports
National Policy Statement (ANPS) that gave approval for Runway 3, was
lawful. However the judgement, to which the Government was not a party, was
a technical issue about whether the Secretary of State should have had
regard to the Paris Agreement (on climate

change). This had not been transposed into UK law at the time the ANPS was
approved by Parliament, so the Court ruled the Secretary of State had acted
lawfully.

However I am not downhearted as there are many obstacles for the airport to
overcome if it still persists in wanting the deeply damaging third runway,
not least that the UK now has incorporated its climate commitment into law.


“BETTER NOT BIGGER”

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY

Several valuable local charities have asked for help. And many thanks to
readers who have donated to Watermans Arts Centre Appeal. They reached
their first target but with further lockdowns and uncertainty about
government support, they continue to need funds. The #SaveWatermans
Emergency Appeal page is HERE [9]

IF YOU CAN SPARE MONEY TO OTHER HARD-PRESSED LOCAL CHARITIES please do:
Hounslow Community Foodbox, [10] Ivybridge Foodbank (run by All Souls
Church, St Margaret's) [11], Age Hounslow [12], Hounslow Open Kitchen [13],
FoodWithLove [14]

 

MANY CHARITIES NEED VOLUNTEER HELP TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED.  FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BOROUGH CONTACT
HOUNSLOW VOLUNTEERING CENTRE [15]

THERE ARE REGULAR UPDATES about national and local information and services
from Hounslow Council _HERE [16]._

UNSUBSCRIBE [17]

Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP 367 Chiswick High Road
London, LON W4 4AG
United Kingdom




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