Welcome to my e-newsletter.
Inside you'll find information about my work during September 2021.
View this email in your browse ([link removed]) r
Tommy Sheppard MP Newsletter
If you’re on a low income, the constant stream of news about cuts to universal credit, rise in national insurance rates, the alarming rise in energy prices and warnings that inflation could reach 4% this winter must make everything seem a bit hopeless at the moment. It’s true that the combination of Brexit, Covid and a heartless, self-serving Tory government has made life a lot tougher for a lot of people, but please don’t despair. You are not alone. There is help out there. If you are struggling to pay your bills, Citizen’s Advice Scotland ([link removed]) can offer help and advice about your rights and about what grants and benefits are available to you. And, as we enter the colder months, Home Energy Scotland ([link removed]) is also there to help people in Scotland create warmer homes, reduce their
bills and help tackle climate change. Funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust, they offer grant funded assistance to homeowners and private sector tenants who are struggling to heat their home and worried about their energy bills.

Rest assured, until we secure independence for Scotland, myself and the other SNP MPs in Westminster will continue to hold the UK Government to account, and do everything in our power to make them do the right thing, and to stop abandoning the less well off in order to line the pockets of their wealthy friends.
Westminster

In all, it's a bit strange being back at Westminster, but one small return to normality is attending the annual Macmillan Cancer Support ([link removed]) event in Parliament. Always happy to support this very worthy cause.

[link removed]
As well as going to the Commons to vote against the unfair Tory national insurance rise, I also took the opportunity to tell them to stop fighting me in the courts and just publish their secret polling on the union. What are they trying to hide?

While down in Westminster, I joined Crisis ([link removed]) for the launch of their #HomeForAll ([link removed]) campaign in England. The pandemic has really shown us how important a secure home is, and why everyone should have one. You can find out about the fantastic work Crisis do in Scotland here [link removed] ([link removed])

It was a pleasure to meet Becky Speight, CEO of the RSPB Love Nature ([link removed]) . They are launching their Strategy to 2030: Mission to make this the decade of action to tackle the nature and climate emergency. Find info and ways to support RSPB Scotland ([link removed]) here.
[link removed] ([link removed])
[link removed]
Tory Universal Credit cuts will hit 6m people. 40% of those people are in low paid work. All of them deserve better than they are getting from this government. I voted against those cuts. Every MP with a conscience should have done likewise.
Towards the end of the month, the saga of the secret union polling was still going on. And on. And on. Even after a judge refused the Cabinet Office leave to appeal ([link removed]) , they still declined to confirm that they will comply with the ruling to hand over the information.
Are they going to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court? Just how much more taxpayers’ money are they going to waste?
I signed this open letter ([link removed]) to the Bank of England, calling for action to penalise fossil fuel financing and to seek an increase in spending on green finance. Central banks need to start playing their part in meeting our climate targets.

[link removed]
The UK Government is hitting everyone with an increase in the cost of energy. £139 is the figure quoted in the media, but if you've been on a fixed tariff that's just ended or been withdrawn, it'll be much, much higher. I urged the Secretary of State today to cap these bill bombshells.

I joined Iain Dale on his radio show on LBC. Unsurprisingly, the topic of Scottish independence came up ([link removed])
I was pleased to put my name to this extremely important letter to Boris Johnson, calling on him to support a comprehensive plan to protect and provide education, both in Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees.

More press commitments: this time joining Jo Coburn on BBC Politics Live ([link removed])

Women and girls are disproportionately set to suffer the consequences of the climate emergency. It doesn’t have to be that way. Governments can, and should, do more to empower those who will bear the brunt. During Great Big Green Week ([link removed]) , I joined Care International for #Wednesday4Women ([link removed])

============================================================
Edinburgh East

It was great to meet board and staff members from the Queen's Hall and see superb improvements to public areas. It’s now an even better night out than before. Check the autumn programme at ** [link removed]. ([link removed])
Congratulations to ** Craigmillar Castle Park ([link removed])
who won ** Scotland's Finest Woods Awards ([link removed])
Large Community Woodland Award! Well-deserved recognition here for such a cherished green space.
9,000 of my constituents, the ones on lowest incomes, have had their support slashed by the UK Government with the cuts to universal credit. I met with the organisations that are doing excellent work advising these people and helping them manage their finances. The message to Downing Street is clear: cancel the cut.

Tired of tourist keyboxes in every doorway? Give your views through this council survey and you'll help them build the case they need to end the current short lets free-for-all. Please respond ** here ([link removed])
- and share onwards.

Following the news that Edinburgh City Council have granted funding for ** Thistle Charity ([link removed])
, it’s great to see the All-Ability Bike Project back up and running. These amazing side-by-side bikes help people with long term conditions and additional support needs to experience and relearn the joys of cycling.
Seven years ago, we were told to vote No if we wanted Scotland to stay in Europe. Now we know better. Lovely to join Yes4EU at Scottish Parliament to mark the anniversary. #WontGetFooledAgain
And finally…

My office has started a phased reopening. In-person surgeries are now resuming, with safety measures in place. Appointments aren't needed for surgeries, but they are helpful. Please, as with every other in-door activity, wear a mask, and try not to be more than a couple of minutes early for your appointment as there will be limited waiting area space.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DATA
You may are receiving this newsletter as you have signed up to receive monthly updates from me. You can unsubscribe at any time - there's a link at the very end of the email. You can read my office privacy notice on my ** website ([link removed])
.

STAY UP TO DATE
Make sure you take a visit to my ** Website ([link removed])
to keep up to date with all my work for you in both Edinburgh East and Westminster.

You can also find me on ** Facebook ([link removed])
and follow me on ** T ([link removed])
** witter ([link removed])
or ** Instagram ([link removed])
.

** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
Copyright © 2021 Tommy Sheppard MP, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
94 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh, EH15 1AN
0131 661 8023

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Tommy Sheppard MP . 94 Portobello High Street . Edinburgh, EH15 1AN . United Kingdom

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]