Hello and welcome to a bumper edition of my newsletter!

In this issue, you’ll find out what I’ve been up to this month representing you: 

Working for Poplar and Limehouse
Cost of Living Crisis
Tacking the housing crisis
For an inclusive education
Fighting for our NHS
Supporting workers’ rights
Our civil liberties
For an anti-racist future
Calling for trans-inclusive equality
Tackling violence Against Women and Girls
Migrant Rights & internationalism  – citizenship under threat
Towards climate justice

Working for Poplar and Limehouse

Representing our local communities in Parliament and engaging local people is my key priority – from Labour Party members to community campaigners to local students and teachers and so on. I have continued to provide assistance to constituents for a large amount of casework and enquiries.

Since being elected I have hosted hundreds of surgery sessions – online and in person around the constituency (most recently in Poplar and Lansbury ) – and raised over 38,283 casework emails, and 17,864 pieces of casework.

Home Office application delays

I have been working hard to follow up with the Home Office on all types of passport applications for constituents. Like with most other MPs, I am experiencing severe delays in getting replies from the Home Office but I will continue to raise cases and follow up until we hear back.

Eid ul-Fitr 

Earlier this month it was a pleasure to celebrate Eid in person after the pandemic. I was pleased to see local stakeholders deliver Eid in the Park again at Mile End stadium after the pandemic, in which thousands of local residents attended for prayers.

Local businesses

I have continued to support local traders lobbying our council for fair rates and calling on the Government for a just recovery as we emerge from the pandemic.

In particular, I know that too many small businesses across Poplar and Limehouse – including on Salmon Lane and Chrisp Street  – are being priced out of the community and are facing rent increases of up to 76%.

Yasmin Begum murder: Local vigil against violence & abuse

In April, I joined a local vigil organised by women in memory of Yasmin Begum, who was killed brutally by a man last month. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Domestic Violence and Abuse, of which I am chair, has is continuing to argue for that domestic abuse, and its impact on survivors’ mental health, should be recognised as a public health priority.

To top

Cost of Living crisis

I have been raising concerns at the cost-of-living crisis, including speaking in Parliament, writing articles and wider campaigning.

I voted against the Government’s imposition of a real-terms cut on pensions and other social security benefits. I have continued to fight against the Tories’ ongoing dismantling of safety nets and support for people with disabilities, under the guise of “welfare reform”- including voting against the Welfare Cap.

I have also spoken out against soaring food insecurity and the normalising of food aid as the solution to it. I have been advocating for a bold radical comprehensive rescue package – including for the £20 cut to Universal Credit to be reinstated immediately, VAT on household bill scrapped, for the winter fuel allowance double, for energy companies being taken into public ownership and for the extension of the energy price cap to commercial contracts.

To top

Tackling the housing crisis

I am continuing to make representations in Parliament and beyond to ensure that local communities are empowered and involved in decision making processes around local planning.

I have advocated in Parliament for a National Landlord Register to hold unscrupulous landlords to account.

To top

For an inclusive education

Last week I participated in a panel discussion after the showing of the Great Schools Robbery organised by the Socialist Education Association.

On the Education Selection Committee of which I am a member, I have been focusing on a number of ongoing inquiries including on the future of children’s homes, and the investment in and empowerment of specialist support teachers in relation to the SEND Review.  

I have raised questions on the support for prison education staff many of whom went on strike from one provider last year, as well as the need for the Ministry of Justice to adopt the UCU union’s Safer Inside Charter which would reduce abuse and violence inside prisons.

I’ve also been continuing to scrutinise actions and decisions made by the Department for Education including asking questions about digital exclusion barriers to education and the impact of the Government’s initiatives on mental health.

To top

Fighting for our NHS

I am continuing to champion the NHS and stand against privatisation and underfunding. I have been calling on the Government to address racial health inequalities. 

I have also raised concerns about the future of the Barts NHS Trust of which our NHS services come under with local NHS leaders and stakeholders, advocating against the further privatisation of our local GP surgeries and the merging of NHS services, which I believe would mean constituents will have to travel further for services, and experience even greater waiting times for services.

I am delighted that The Big Comedy Night for Your NHS will be taking place in Poplar and Limehouse on the 12th July. Tickets can be purchased here.

To top

Supporting workers rights

As a proud trade unionist, I have consistently stood up for workers’ rights locally and nationally in Parliament and on picket lines. I have supported all workers – from Uber drivers to cleaners to public sector workers and so on – in fighting against exploitation and low pay.

This included supporting the Barts SERCO workers who recently secured a landmark victory – on picket lines outside Royal London Hospital and raising it numerous times in Parliament.

On International Workers’ Memorial Day (28 April), I joined construction workers at the Unknown Building Worker memorial in our constituency in remembrance.

To top

Our civil liberties

I have repeatedly opposed and voted against attacks on our civil liberties and trade union rights – including opposing the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and the Covert Human Intelligence Sources Act at every stage.

Just last week, I voted against the Tories’ Public Order Bill which will make it harder for people to protest by expanding stop and search powers, and further restricting civil liberties. In a recent article I argue that instead of taking action to address the cost-of-living crisis and injustices like racism and climate breakdown, the Government want to stop people sounding the alarm

To top

For an anti-racist future

I continue to call out racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia. Along with other MPs, I wrote to the Home Secretary and the Met Police Commissioner regarding the disturbing case of Child Q and the ongoing concerns of institutional racism. I stand in solidarity with our communities and local cultural diversity. I spoke in Sylheti for the first time in Parliament.

I was also delighted to participate in a local event (11 May 2022) with Zarah Sultana MP and Mish Rahman discussing turning back the rising tide of Islamophobia.

To top

Calling for trans-inclusive equality

Hundreds of concerned constituents have written to me about the Government’s assault on the human rights of trans people. I fully support a trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy and have written to numerous constituents who have been in touch about this important issue.

To top

Tackling violence Against Women & Girls

I am continuing to speak out about the fact that the very institutions that are meant to protect women are all too often failing us. I highlighted that the cruel “no recourse to public funds” condition prevents women from accessing help.

There is an urgent need for funding for specialist #DomesticAbuse services, including for ethnic minority survivors who often face longer waits for support and additional barriers.

I have spoken out in Parliament about the heavy-handed silencing and intimidation tactics that survivors and victims’ face during a debate on lawfare and the UK courts system.

To top

Migrant Rights & internationalism – citizenship under threat

I continue to campaign that all migrants should have the right to access support without fear of detention or deportation – from tabling an amendment to the Health and Care Act about the effect of NHS charging on migrants and the hostile environment policies on the NHS, to my vehement opposition to the Nationality and Borders Act. 

Towards climate justice🌍

I am campaigning for a public ownership driven Green New Deal and more support for countries who continue to be worst impacted by climate change despite polluting the least – such as Bangladesh and Somalia, the former which has seen devastating floods in the last few weeks in the Sylhet district.

Last month, I met with students from New City College with Greenpeace to commit to lobbying the government to eliminate single-use plastic and replace this with reusable alternatives, taking into account the views of the disabled community. Just recently I also took part in the #BigPlasticCount along with over 100 MPs.