Louise Haigh MP Fighting for Sheffield's future
Last month I started my newsletter by saying that we now had our fourth Prime Minister in six years. Well, things are moving fast, and by the time you read this, there will be another Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minster, and who knows who will be in their Cabinet – unless they do the right thing and call a General Election.
The Tory government has crashed our economy forcing mortgage prices and people’s bills to rise, we’ve seen inflation rocket to 10.1% the highest rate for 40 years – adding to the cost-of-living crisis and they have trashed our economic credibility. After 12 years of Tory failure, it’s quite clear Britain can’t afford the Tories. The country needs economic stability and responsible government that is committed to investing in our public services and growing the economy – we urgently need a General Election and a Labour Government.
It has also been a busy time in the constituency. I’ve been out and about speaking to people about the issues that are affecting them, from the cost-of-living crisis to anti-social behaviour, climate change and road safety – more on that below.
Government’s mini budget
The now previous Chancellor announced his and the Prime Minister’s mini-budget, which the current Chancellor has u-tuned on all but a few policies. This budget showed the public who the government were backing – and it wasn’t hard working people. They chose instead, to back bankers and wanted to introduce policies that would make the rich even richer.
It’s now proposed that the government will announce a new budget on the 31 October. We wait to see if this emerges.
Avanti West Coast Contract Extension
It’s appalling that the government have once again decided to reward abject failure. Avanti West Coast have caused misery for millions of railway passengers, and the government has decided to award them £1million in taxpayers’ money and extend that misery for passengers for a further six months.
It’s even more dreadful, that in November and December there isn’t a single bookable service on the busiest mainline in the UK.
Fracking debate
Labour brought forward a motion in the House of Commons that if passed would ban fracking for good. The Tories voted against this motion, going against the wishes of their constituents, the British people and their manifesto commitments.
I will continue to fight and ensure that fracking doesn’t take place in Sheffield. Sign my petition below.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
I joined the GMB Union and workers from Doncaster Sheffield Airport to hand in a 100,000 strong petition to the Department for Transport calling for the site to be saved. The current owners Peel Group plan to close the airport at the end of the month, meaning more than 2,900 jobs are at risk. I will continue to support workers and work with colleague to do all I can to secure this strategic asset for the region and the North.
Unreliable train services
I and fellow leaders across the North of England have spoken out about the ongoing fiasco of cancelled and delayed trains and how the government is undermining the right of working people to negotiate better pay and conditions.
Instead of attacking working people the government should get round the table and find a resolution to this dispute.
Heeley Levelling Up bid
I’ve called on the Secretary of State for Communities and Levelling up to back a bid submitted by the Heeley Development Trust and Sheffield City Council which would transform Heeley and bring job opportunities and community resources to the area.
The bid would invest more that £17million into the area which will be used to transform and regenerate derelict public building of heritage significance.
Sheffield Bloom
I’ve been supporting a local charity, Sheffield Bloom who are based in Heeley and Meersbrook. They have taken over a community garden in the constituency and, with the help of volunteers, transformed it to a green pleasant garden and a green resource for the community.
Anti-social behaviour in our communities
Many people contact me to report anti-social behaviour and share with me that they feel that crime is on the increase within their community.
I was extremely concerned to hear about further incidents that have occur in Arbourthorne and I am working with South Yorkshire Police who have increased their patrols in certain areas of the constituency.
Supertram into public control
The Mayor of South Yorkshire has announced that he is bringing the Supertram network into public control. This is great news and the first step in ensuring that our public transport system works for passengers and not private companies.
£2 bus fares for South Yorkshire
We have taken great strides in South Yorkshire to not only encourage people back onto public transport but to also ensure that it is affordable, accessible and reliable for all. It’s great to hear that bus and tram fares are going to be capped to £2 from the beginning on November.
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