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Dear *|FNAME|*,
Last Sunday, I visited the Covid Memorial Wall to mark the COVID-19 National Day of Reflection. Five years after the pandemic was officially declared, I joined people who lost loved ones to commemorate those who died, remember the sacrifice and care that guided us through the worst days of COVID-19 and vow to learn from government failures. It is absolutely vital that we take these experiences forward to ensure we are much better prepared to deal with future pandemics and epidemics.
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Women in Westminster: The 100
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I was pleased to make this year’s Women in Westminster 100 list alongside some really amazing women. Last year’s general election returned the most gender equal Parliament this country has ever seen. I was pleased to join the official launch event on Wednesday to celebrate the gains we’ve made in Parliament and the ongoing work to secure equal representation at every level of public life.
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Laying Ancestors to Rest: APPGAR Report
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This week, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations launched its ‘Laying Ancestors to Rest’ report. Its core recommendation is that remains should no longer be displayed in UK museums. It highlights clear ethical concerns around the display and holding of African ancestral remains in British museums and private collections. So many of these were acquired under colonial rule. They are not objects, but human beings deserving of respect and dignity. I hope the report will encourage museums, collectors and the government to work to respectfully repatriate African ancestral remains acquired under colonialism.
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A Library for Every Child in Every School
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On Friday, I visited Clapham Manor School, where pupils have just started a book club as part of the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Libraries for Primaries’ campaign. It was great to hear from the pupil librarians about the ways in which reading is already enriching their lives. Sadly, one in four schools in the most disadvantaged communities do not have a library—one factor behind the declining number of kids reading for fun. I fully support efforts to end the postcode lottery and ensure every child has access to a proper library at school.
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Visiting Stockwell Primary School
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It was wonderful to start the week with a visit to Stockwell Primary School as part of their International Women’s Day learning. It was great to speak to pupils about my pathway into Parliament, the importance of representation in politics and what MPs actually do on a day-to-day basis.
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The Use and Abuse of Stop and Search
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On Wednesday morning, I took part in a debate on the use of stop and search powers. As the government looks set to create new policing powers, I argued it is important to scrutinise their use of existing powers. I highlighted ongoing disproportionalities around the use of stop and search, which mean Black people are over four times more likely to be stopped and searched than their White counterparts.
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I raised my continuing concern that the overuse of suspicionless stop and search powers is counterproductive. Searching people without evidence undoubtedly alienates those who are searched despite having done nothing wrong and undermines trust in policing among the public as a whole. Rather than helping the police to do their jobs and keep us safe, this actually undermines their ability to do so – particularly in my constituency.
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An Overdue Upgrade to Workers’ Rights
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On Wednesday evening, Labour MPs voted through one of the biggest upgrades to workers’ rights for a long, long time. The Employment Rights Bill contains measures to ban zero hours contracts, extend statutory sick pay to millions of low-paid workers and reduce bureaucracy on trade unions. These changes will help to put more wealth and power in the hands of ordinary workers, which will in turn put some demand back into the lifeless economy we inherited. No surprise then to see Reform and Tory MPs lining up to vote against these changes.
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Sickle Cell: Protecting Patients’ Rights
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Despite being a chronic condition, Sickle Cell disease is still not legally recognised as a disability. This makes it harder for those living with the disease to secure flexible working, adjustments and medical leave. I’ve tabled this Early Day Motion, calling on the government to recognise Sickle Cell disease as a disability, improve awareness among employers and take action to protect Sickle Cell warriors’ workplace rights.
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