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Dear friend,
I hope you’ve all had a positive start to the New Year!
Update on the London Ultra Low Emission Zone
As many of you will be aware, the ULEZ is due to be extended to cover Croydon.
Whilst of course I welcome environmental policies to reduce the air pollution in London that causes many to lose their lives prematurely, I have been approached by some constituents with concerns. My understanding is that around 85% of cars are compliant already and will not have to pay anything. For those who are not compliant, the Mayor is funding an £110m scrappage scheme which constituents will be able to apply for. However, I do of course share concerns that introducing this during a cost-of-living crisis will be difficult for some people.
Last week I met with Seb Dance, the Deputy Mayor for Transport, to pass on the concerns of my constituents. I am keen to receive examples of the direct impact of the ULEZ. Please do let me know if you have a non-compliant car and you do not think you will be able to afford a change. I am in discussions with other affected MPs and will be meeting with Sadiq Khan to discuss further, so examples would be very useful.
I have also written to the Government because they have provided no central funding to support Londoners. In other cities which have ULEZ equivalent schemes, such as Coventry, Bath, and Birmingham, the Government funded 100% of the scrappage scheme, and I find it extraordinary that they have not provided any support for Londoners whatsoever.
I would encourage all of my constituents to check whether their vehicles are ULEZ compliant here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/. The scrappage scheme for the ULEZ can be found here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/scrappage-schemes. It will help those eligible to get financial assistance to scrap their vehicles.
I mark Holocaust Memorial Day in Parliament
I was pleased to sign the Holocaust Educational Trust Book of Commitment in Parliament last week. It is crucial to remember and honour all those who died, and survived, the Holocaust.
Just before Christmas I visited the United States with the All Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism, talking about the approach to tackling this scourge in America and learning about the challenges of rising antisemitic rhetoric there. As antisemitic hate crimes rise here, too, we must be equally vigilant.
Out in Shrublands with Shirley Neighbourhood Policing
I spent time with the Shirley South Neighbourhood Policing team in Shrublands last week, as part of Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action. It was good to get a sense of how the officers build relationships with the community. Thanks to Inspector Smith for a really interesting walk-about.
Labour will put more police in our communities: watch below for more
I spoke from the despatch box about Labour’s plan to put 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs on our streets to tackle the crime and antisocial behaviour which blights the country. They will prevent and fight crime, and bring back security and respect to our communities. Watch an excerpt from my speech below:
https://twitter.com/LabourSJ/status/1620474827021897728
Govt. has failed on ASB, the blight of communities around the country. I discuss here:
I really enjoyed my first phone-in with Ben Kentish on LBC last weekend. We heard from a serving police officer and a firefighter about the challenges they’re facing. There was clear frustration from other callers about police station closures, crime and ASB. Labour will put crime and policing front of our offer to the public at the next election, and we know how much crime impacts communities.
You can watch clips of my questions here:
Discussing antisocial behaviour: https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1617231326800650241
On the Met Police: https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1617230707868241921 and https://twitter.com/LBC/status/1617229942369951751
This Government has failed to tackle shocking police misconduct but Labour has a plan
The last weeks have seen more shocking cases of misconduct by serving police officers. There have been shocking failures by repeated home secretaries to introduce national standards on vetting and misconduct in policing, something which Labour has repeatedly called for. Warm words won’t cut it: the complete lack of action by the Government on this lets women down, and lets policing down.
I was asked about my thoughts when I appeared on Politics Live, which you can see here:
https://twitter.com/LabourSJ/status/1615362106274074624/video/1
I celebrate Thai Pongal and pay tribute to Croydon Tamils
It was a joy to mark Thai Pongal as the guest of my friend Cllr Appu Dhamodaran and the Croydon Tamil Sangam. I spoke about the great contribution that the Tamil community make to Croydon. Over 1.5% of Croydonians now speak Tamil as a first language: over 5000 people. Pongal is the Tamil harvest festival, and a time to celebrate nature and the sun, as well as friends, family, and neighbours. I also attended an event in Parliament to celebrate Tamil Heritage Month, where I joined with other MPs to celebrate and honour the Tamil communities in our constituencies.
Speaking up for human rights around the world in Parliament debate on Iran
I spoke in a debate about the incredible bravery by women & girls protesting in Iran, but as one of my constituents rightly pointed out, the erosion of women’s rights is not just an issue for Iran: it reverberates around the world. The UK Government must defend human rights around the world & go further on imposing sanctions on Iran.
You can watch my intervention here: https://twitter.com/LabourSJ/status/1613548176052453376
Calling on the Government to finally make tackling violence against women and girls a priority
I spoke in Westminster Hall about the violent crime of Spiking. Labour has made repeatedly calls for the Government to take spiking seriously, and make violence against women and girls part of the strategic policing requirement. It speaks volumes that they have continued to resist both. Action is needed, now.
You can watch my speech on spiking here: https://twitter.com/LabourSJ/status/1613222811526434828
Amazing to visit the dedicated staff at Croydon Youth Offending Service
I spent a very interesting morning with the Youth Offending Service at Croydon Council, learning about how they support young offenders to rehabilitate themselves, get a legal job and earn some money. I also met with the team working on serious youth violence, who explained how they work with the police and other agencies to identify high-risk and vulnerable children and offer them support.
Croydon has the highest number of children of any London Borough, and high numbers of looked after children, too. The council workers that I met were invested in their work and it was great to hear them talk with such care the children they look after
In Parliament calling for an end to animal testing
I spoke out against commercial breeding of animals for labs this month, representing the Labour frontbench in a debate. I set out the Labour position: we believe that the unnecessary and prolonged suffering of defenceless animals has absolutely no place in a civilised society. That is part of the DNA of our party, and the history of our party is tied to the defence and protection of animal rights. I called for the Government to go further and fast, and to confirm that post-Brexit Britain will not become more reliant on products tested on animals abroad. Whilst I was left disappointed by the comments from Minister Dines, this is an issue which the Labour Party will continue to campaign on.
You can read the text of the debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-01-16/debates/CE7E0DD2-CD4E-4C47-A58D-983D6E2BC128/CommercialBreedingForLaboratories#contribution-16A09E34-A591-4C13-8D9B-AC27D2E2D566
Great to welcome Croydon groups to Parliament. Please get in touch if you’d like to visit!
At the start of this New Year I have been busy hosting constituency groups in Parliament. I’ve been lucky enough to have the wonderful children from Orchard Way and Rowdown Primary, a very energetic group of Scouts, and last week a group of well-equipped Croydon Ramblers came for a tour.
Last week I visited Ark Oval to talk about my work as an MP and the importance of democracy and citizenship, which the children had been learning about. As I’ve said before, these visits really are the highlight of my week. It’s good to know that Croydon’s future is in the hands of such bright and lovely kids!
If your constituency group would like to come and have a tour of Parliament, please do get in touch at sarah.jones.mp@parliament.uk – I’m always happy to welcome you!
Casework Update
My team and I have been working really hard on behalf of my constituents, and we’ve had some particular successes recently. Several constituents recently wrote in regarding their pensions. In one instance an elderly man had been underpaid by £6000, and I am glad that the Department for Work and Pensions has now reimbursed this. Many have written with difficulties in this cold weather, and I was able to ensure that one family’s boiler was fixed in temperature of -7, and secure them compensation too. Over the winter months I have made an increasing number of food bank referrals and was able to secure Christmas Food Parcels for many people too. Please get in touch at sarah.jones.mp@parliament.uk if there’s anything I can help with. |
