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Dear *|FNAME|*,
The government has confirmed that there will be a vote on disability benefit cuts in Parliament next week. Current proposals would see £7 billion slashed from welfare, pushing at least 300,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.
Ahead of this crucial vote, I was one of 126 MPs from across the Labour Party to sign a reasoned amendment to scrap the legislation. The scale of opposition to these cuts from within Parliament reflects both the scale of the cuts and public anger towards them.
The government has announced that they will be making changes to the Bill, including ensuring that all of those currently receiving PIP will stay within the current system. I do not believe this concession is enough and fear thousands will still be pushed into poverty. We cannot underestimate their human or political cost.
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On Windrush Day, we pay tribute to the people who came from every corner of the Commonwealth to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War. I spoke in a backbench business debate to mark the occasion, celebrating the Windrush generation’s role in shaping Clapham and Brixton Hill, highlighting the injustices they faced, and pushing for justice. The Windrush Generation embodied the very best of British values. Sadly, they were not always treated with the respect that they deserved.
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This year, I reiterated my calls for a fairer and faster compensation scheme. Too many people have died without seeing a penny of justice. The early signs from this government have been encouraging but there is still work to be done.
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There was an incredible atmosphere at this year’s Big Caribbean Lunch, which coincided with Windrush Day for the first time. This was a fantastic celebration of our Windrush pioneers; the biggest yet. It brought together much of our community in Windrush Square to share food, music, dance and art. For the first time, we were also joined by the Migration and Citizenship minister, Seema Malhotra MP. I am hugely thankful to all involved in organising the event, particularly Chair of Friends of Windrush Square; Ros Griffiths.
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I met with Unison disability reps this week to hear about how PIP cuts could negatively impact disabled workers. One FOI request suggested that 55% of PIP claimants who are already working would have their PIP removed under current proposals. Meanwhile, for every 238 people on incapacity benefits in London, there is just 1 disability confident role.
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Of course, the contributions of disabled people to our society should be acknowledged and valued, not viewed purely through a cost lens. However, we heard compelling testimony that these cuts could increase costs rather than reducing them. Forcing disabled people into full-time work risks leading to burnout, withdrawal from the workforce, and greater reliance on other benefits and the NHS. I will not vote for cuts that would make it harder for disabled workers to undertake meaningful work and risk forcing experienced disabled staff out of our public services.
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Little Village Donation Drop-off
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This week, I delivered several bags of quality pre-loved baby clothes and equipment to Little Village’s Tooting headquarters. A huge thank you to everyone who dropped off donations at my constituency office. Your items will make a real difference to local families in need.
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I was proud to co-sponsor and attend the recent stem cell donation drive in Parliament, where Anthony Nolan and DKMS did an excellent job of educating and encouraging people to join the register. Stem cell donation can be life-saving, and it’s vital that we continue raising awareness; especially among young people and those from global south majority backgrounds.
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APPG on Ethnicity, Transplantation and Transfusion Drop-in
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On Monday, I attended the APPG on Ethnicity, Transplantation and Transfusion drop-in meeting, where we had important and constructive discussions on how to improve data collection and analysis in organ donation.
One key topic was the potential to match organ donor records with data from the 2021 Census, a step that could significantly enhance the quality of ethnicity coding. This would provide vital insights into the demographic makeup of the UK’s donor population and help identify and address disparities in organ donation and transplantation. Better data means better outcomes and ultimately, it could help save many more lives across our communities.
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I was grateful to attend the Sudan lobby hosted by the APPG for Sudan and South Sudan in partnership with Waging Peace on Wednesday. As the crisis in Sudan continues to escalate, these conversations are vital. Many in the Sudanese diaspora are feeling powerless as they watch events unfold and it’s crucial to continue these conversations and ensure that their voices are heard. I am honoured to represent a constituency that consistently shows compassion and commitment to global peace and justice.
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It was a pleasure to meet with constituents, this Wednesday, during the mass lobby as part of the Unite for Trans Rights campaign. We discussed the draft code of practice to the Equality Act published by the EHRC, following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of ‘woman’ in the Equality Act 2010.
With trans people making up just 0.5% of the UK population, it is vital that their rights and safety are upheld. I will continue to stand with all minoritised communities, because everyone, regardless of gender identity deserves to live free from fear, prejudice and harm.
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