Louise Haigh MP Fighting for Sheffield's future
It’s been a busy month again both in my Transport brief and across the constituency.
Obviously, we saw the resignation of the Prime Minister this month after dozens of Ministers spectacularly resigned from his government. Absurdly, given the fact he was removed was because of his unfitness for office, he is still clinging on until the Tories pick their new leader in September. And we’ve seen the Tory candidates to succeed him fall over themselves to offer unfunded tax cuts whilst not talking about any of the major issues facing the country. Instead, they are indulging in a race to the bottom on climate change, cuts to public services and our economy.
Labour tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government, which they refused and then led to the bizarre spectacle this week of the Government tabling a confidence motion in themselves. It is quite clear that the Tory Party are now in freefall and distracted entirely by themselves and their own careers. Whilst they tear themselves to shreds, the Labour Party has been talking about the issues that are affecting people’s everyday lives – offering policies on affordable childcare, funded by taxing private schools, addressing the cost-of-living crisis and the climate crisis whilst the country has been experiencing record-breaking temperatures.
£2 Bus fares
Whilst the Tories fight amongst themselves, I’ve been working with Labour Mayors across the country who are demonstrating what Labour can do when in power. Mayors across the country, in Greater Manchester, Liverpool and West Yorkshire are lowering fare and fighting for cleaner, greener, affordable public transport.
They’re turning the page on the failure of deregulation and putting passengers back at the heart of our public transport system.
Rail Strikes
In the coming weeks we will all see more strikes on our railways, as workers take power into their own hands and take industrial action in the face of threats to their jobs and ongoing pay cuts.
We have seen in the aviation industry that when people unite against one cause then they can affect change. Heathrow Cabin along with their Trade Union representatives, secured a game-changing pay deal for their members, removing the need for strike action.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
It’s extremely worrying that Peel Group the owners of Doncaster Sheffield Airport have announced that they are reviewing the commercial viability of the airport, putting the future of the airport and all who work there at risk.
I have met with Peel Group along with fellow South Yorkshire Leaders and MPs to discuss this review in more detail. I have also written to the Secretary of State, Grant Shapps demanding he take every possible step to secure the future of South Yorkshire’s only airport and key strategic asset.
Supporting our young people
Across the country the early years sector is under threat from years of Tory underfunding. I’m concerned about the impact the Government’s failure to support this sector is having on our local nurseries, childminders and pre-schools across the city and of course the impact on children’s development and the ability for parents to work.
Labour has put forward a £15 billion Children’s Recovery Plan, which would invest in a two-year Education Recovery Premium, including a boost to the Early Years Pupil Premium so that funding is available on the same basis as in primary schools.
We have outlined plans to tax private schools to raise more than £1.7billion which will be invested in our primary and secondary schools, benefiting all children.
Labour is committed to ensure that every child has the very best start and education they can to help improve their life chances.
Further Bus service cuts
It’s been revealed that South Yorkshire faces further cuts to our bus services in the coming week. By the end of the month more than a third of our services will be cut with more coming in October.
I’ve been working with the South Yorkshire Mayor, Leaders, MPs, Councillors and interest groups and calling on the government to take action and provide funding for bus services across the country, before services are decimated and lost for communities for good.
Passport delays
I have been inundated for months now by people who are chasing their passports from the Home Office. My team and I have been working around the clock chasing the Home Office for people who have been waiting more than 10 weeks for their passport.
I also revealed, earlier this month than the government are now capitalising on desperate holiday makers, and people who are waiting for their passports can now pay an extra £66 per passport – but with no guarantee that their passport would be returned in time.
Scrapping of BTEC qualification
I’ve been speaking to students across Sheffield, Sheffield College and school children from across the city who are really worried about the government’s plans to scrap the BTEC qualification.
I’ve seen first-hand the transformational impact the BTEC Level 3 qualification has for young people in Sheffield. They provide students with options who may not have done so well earlier in school and help prepare them for the world of work. Despite the value that students, employers and universities place on this qualification, this government is determined to put barriers in the way for students to achieve their full potential.
Help with the cost-of-living crisis
This Summer, more than 32,000 children and their families across the city will receive support, in the form of a £50 food voucher to help with the rising cost-of-living crisis.
Labour Councillors understand the strain that many people face and how this can be exasperated during the school holidays. That’s why they are using their Household Support Fund to support even more people.