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Dear *|FNAME|*

We’re facing the worst cost of living crisis in living memory and the government benches have reduced us to talking about parties and porn. But because their privilege and processes seem designed to stop them facing the consequences of their actions, we are stuck in a groundhog day of revelations without repercussions. I wrote about what the revelations that a Tory MP has been caught watching porn in Parliament show about our system.

The end of the current session of Parliament saw the passage of several bills that have very worrying implications for our rights and freedoms: a Policing Bill that curbs our right to protest, an Elections Bill designed to supress voter turnout, a Judicial Review Bill that gives the government powers to overrule the courts, and a Nationality and Borders Bill that criminalises people for seeking safety in the UK. I fought tooth and nail to prevent these bills from passing, laying down amendments to throw out the Policing Bill and supporting and tabling amendments to strip the worst elements out of the others.

Protesting the Policing Bill when it was first before Parliament in March 2021

I know from the floods of emails I received in my inbox urging me to vote against these bills and strip out draconian provisions, that these aren’t the values of people in Streatham. We need to recognise that the attempt to silence, marginalise, and ostracise people fundamentally comes from a place of weakness, and ultimately, fear, and that hope is stronger than fear. It falls on us to stand together and stand up for the right to call for change, overcome voter suppression tactics, and keep welcoming refugees into our community.

In Streatham

Little Village Donation Drive

We had a very successful morning at St Margaret’s Hub collecting several van loads of pre-loved baby equipment for baby bank Little Village, who support families in our area. I’d like to say a massive thank you to the people who donated hundreds of items and to all the brilliant volunteers who sorted, packed and delivered donations. I’d also like to send special thanks to Mosaic Clubhouse for lending us their community van for the morning.

Since the beginning of 2020, Little Village have responded to 919 requests for help from Lambeth families. They are still running low on many essential items, such as beds, buggies and clothes for the high number of families that need support. With 98% of baby banks expecting 2022 to be their busiest year yet, it’s really important that we do what we can do support those plugging gaps left by Tory cuts and austerity. If you couldn’t make it along last weekend, please feel free to drop any smaller pre-loved baby items (for 0-5 year olds) at my constituency office over the next few days: 218 Brixton Hill (SW2 1HE).

Visiting Bishop Thomas Grant School

It was brilliant to join Bishop Thomas Grant Sixth Form Students this week to talk about my role as their MP and answer questions about our political system. They asked me some insightful and incisive questions about everything from knife crime to tuition fees, the cost of living crisis and lowering the voting age. It’s really important to encourage our young people to participate in the democratic process and clarify the power they have as citizens.

Supporting Residents at St Giles House

Last week, I visited residents at St Giles House who’ve been dealing with a number of issues. An elderly resident recently had her bag stolen outside the front door of the building, losing her front door key and key fob to access the building in the process. Sanctuary, her housing provider, replaced her front door lock but failed to reprogram the key fobs for the whole building, leaving residents potentially compromised.

On my visit, I was made aware of several other issues that Sanctuary had failed to address, including a serious leak that has been going on since before Christmas. The floor was so wet when I visited that it went through my shoes. The group of primarily elderly residents who live there have effectively been left to manage this for themselves. I’m in contact with Sanctuary Housing urging them to address these problems and St Giles residents’ other issues as a matter of priority.

Back in Parliament

Black Maternal Health – From Awareness to Action

In September last year, I joined Five X More to found the All Party-Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Black Maternal Health. This week saw our first public meeting in Parliament as we discussed the progress made since Five X More founders Clotilde Abe and Atinuke Awe first launched their campaign in 2018.

One panellist put it perfectly: “we’ve raised awareness, we need action.” We know about the suboptimal conditions and barriers Black women and birthing people face in maternity care. We know that Black women feel the impact of chronic NHS midwifery shortages and retention difficulties most acutely. We need a commitment from the Government to set a binding target to tackle the crisis in NHS midwifery and end these lethal health inequalities.

Cut Visa Fees Now

It was great to chair the official launch of Migrant Voice’s report on building a fairer visa renewal system this week. The financial burdens and stress around the process have a damaging impact on every area of migrants’ lives: from their personal finances to their employment, their relationships, their quality of life, and their children’s prospects. Covid and the cost of living crisis are only exacerbating these issues. With some visas charged at seven times the admin cost, we need to cut fees and create a more compassionate system to stop people being driven into deprivation and exploitation.

Lower the Voting Age

I met with the APPG on Votes at 16 this week to support their campaign to lower the voting age. Our democracy is at its best when it involves everyone and encourages people to have their say. In my work as an MP, I’m passionate about teaching our kids about the power they have as citizens. Young people deserve a say on the decisions that influence their lives. It’s our responsibility to encourage them to participate in our democracy. We shouldn’t keep them locked out.

As ever, if you have any questions about the work I’m doing as MP, please get in touch at this address: bell.ribeiroaddy.mp@parliament.uk.

Best wishes,

Bell Ribeiro-Addy,
Labour MP for Streatham

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