Search results for: “islington”

Dear friends,

I am very proud to represent Islington North: our communities, mutual aid groups,community centres, faith groups; our voluntary legal advice organisations, Islington Council, the Whittington Hospital and all NHS, public services and key workers. Many continue to work effortlessly to ensure that we all have access to essential services. The positive bonds of mutual aid and solidarity that have grown throughout 2021 will be built upon to give us an even stronger sense of community in the future.

I will continue to highlight the devastating impact that a decade of government cuts has had on local authorities, public services, and schools, children, families, and the wider community. Many on Universal Credit (UC) are worse off, especially since the Government’s callous and cruel decision to scrap the £20 uplift, and in not applying the uplift to legacy benefits, affecting the disabled, and the most vulnerable.

Schools, teachers and other staff, pupils, and parents have faced enormous challenges. The pandemic brought additional tasks of having to study and/or teach from home, return to school, and with ongoing limited resources. I will recommence regular school visits very soon because I’m always inspired by the students.

Our NHS deserves better than more privatisation, and clapping never was going to pay any bills. To all our health and care workers at the Whittington and elsewhere, my enormous thanks for all that you do.

Islington Council continues to provide new housing, despite its very limited resources – and that’s a tough call. For many years I’ve lobbied the Government on this, especially for more regulation and secure tenancies in the private rented sector, and more and better Council Housing for all.

Cladding is a very high priority for many Islington residents who have this ongoing hardship to cope with. It is wrong that leaseholders are left to pay for building safety works that have arisen through no fault of their own. The situation of freeholders passing on costs to leaseholders,many of whom will challenge these charges, will mean we continue to see works delayed, and all residents, including private renters, will remain at risk. I will continue to raise these concerns at any given opportunity.

Well done to all those who do so much positive campaigning on behalf of women. We have witnessed atrocious acts of violence against women, no doubt exacerbated by the pandemic and lockdowns. Trust in the police has suffered enormously, and more needs to be done by the Government and the police to ensure women’s safety: investing in local services that provide support to the victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and ensuring all legislation protects their fundamental right to protest.

We must also honour and remember the 27 people who expected safety in the UK but who lost their lives in that tragic November channel crossing, and at the end of a year of disturbing humanitarian emergencies, Afghanistan being the most memorable and for all the wrong reasons. Many Islington residents contacted me seeking help for their family members who were frightened in the face of a Taliban led future. I stand in solidarity with the global community and everyone who continues to face human rights abuses as a result of war, poverty and hostile immigration policies. A humane government approach and a constructive role is needed so that we can address the underlying causes of international human rights violations.

If you haven’t yet seen the Windrush memorial statue outside the Whittington Hospital do go along. It had a truly memorable unveiling as many of the Windrush generation and their descendants worked in the hospital over the years. I thanked them for their work in the NHS and other services. The racism they faced was abhorrent. Racism faced by anyone is appalling.There is no place now, or ever for any form of racism in our society.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which is the United Nation’s environment body, issued a (June 2021) report declaring a“Code Red for humanity” due to quickly rising global temperatures. We know the severe impact a 1.5 degree global raise in temperature will have on the environment. The future of our planet depends on the choices we make now.
Then, at COP (Conference of the Parties) 26 global leaders were called upon to commit to more ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and prevent a global temperature increase above 1.5 degrees. This didn’t happen because too many world leaders are more interested in representing the interests of fossil-fuel exploiting billionaires, than in people and the planet. So leading up to COP27, while the UK shares the presidency with Egypt,we’ll have a lot of work to do in setting ambitious emission targets. This past year motivated so many more people on the environment and we must harness that enthusiasm.

I fully supported Nadia Whittome’s Private Members Bill to have climate education included in the school curricula.
It is important to remain hopeful here, and the school student climate strikes showed that the next generation cares about putting the interests of people and planet ahead of those of corporate greed; their message must be heard.
Low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) must be seen in the above context and for this reason I support their rollout in Islington North, in consultation with local residents. LTNs meet legislative commitments for citizens to live in a clean and safe city, by decreasing thru traffic on certain roads and thus making our streets friendlier and safer, especially for cyclists,wheelchair users, mobility scooters, and babystrollers.

I am pleased that our council has agreed the installation of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, allowing registered blue badge holders to move through restricted areas of traffic. Islington Council and Disability Action in Islington met with me to discuss these issues.

Alongside other MPs, GPs, residents and campaigners, I have publicly expressed my opposition to the ongoing development of the Edmonton Incinerator. I cannot support a project when there are serious health concerns about the ultra-fine particulate emissions on local residents. Burning our waste is also too carbon-intensive at a time when we should be reducing waste and increasing recycling; an urgent pause and review is essential.

Let’s look toward 2022 with optimism, and build on the mutual compassion and respect we share. We must build back better, to create a more equal, prosperous and hopeful future for all.

I am pleased to represent our community, locally and in Westminster. I wish everyone a safe and happy festive season and look forward to meeting up in 2022.

Local Papers are the glue of communities. The Islington Gazette and Hackney Gazette do vital work in raising awareness of the very real, and present fuel poverty crisis.

This week it has been reported that the Government has missed its own 2020 target for tackling fuel poverty – it has failed to ensure all fuel-poor homes have an energy efficiency rating of E or higher, and it is also at “high risk” of failing to meet its goals for 2025.

Despite a “price cap” being in place, household energy bills are soaring, with around 15 million households having energy bills rise by 12 percent since the start of this month. In 2022 they could rise by as much as 30 percent.

Mounting energy bills are only one aspect of a deepening cost-of-living crisis for millions of people this winter – a crisis made much worse by the Government’s appalling decision to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week.

This inhumane cut came at the same time as prices are rising in the shops, yet the Government has no plan to deal with it.
And rather than taxing the wealthiest companies and individuals – who can afford to pay a bit more – to secure NHS funding and build a National Care Service, National Insurance contributions have been raised, further squeezing the incomes of people who are already struggling to get by.

The premature end to the furlough scheme has also hit people hard.

It is little wonder then that many constituents here in Islington North feel like they have stepped up again and again during the pandemic, but the Government is now pulling the rug from under their feet.

Whilst Boris Johnson talks the talk when it comes to “levelling up,” he certainly doesn’t walk the walk. In reality, this is a Government of the establishment for the establishment, which consistently puts private profit ahead of people’s jobs, health and livelihoods.

There is a better way – one based on sharing prosperity and investing in our future. As the MP for Islington North, I will keep fighting for that alternative.

Here is the link to the article itself: Jeremy Corbyn on the cost of living crisis | Islington Gazette

London is currently operating under the Government’s national pandemic restrictions that came into force on 5th November (as this report goes to print) and our streets are not at all reflective of this time in previous years.  The crisis in Covid-19 testing remains the single biggest indicator of the Government’s failure to provide us with policies that would see us through. 

The latest revelation that (at the outset of the pandemic) the Government paid the colossal sum of £21m to a go-between when personal protective equipment (PPE) was being secured has left the public reeling.  It is a particularly shocking revelation when so many local businesses and individuals are being impacted upon negatively with this new lockdown, and our communities continue to reach out to those who need our help. 

My job in parliament is to represent the needs of those who contact me, and as always, I welcome being kept well informed on peoples’ personal and professional needs, offering guidance and assistance in the most appropriate way.

My parliamentary participation was briefly limited following the Equalities and Human Rights Commission Report’s publication and my Labour membership suspension, however I had secured a backbench debate to raise the very urgent and pressing issues that refugees and in particular the Rohingya are facing, which are of course being exacerbated by Covid-19.  This is an issue that we seldom hear about on the news despite it being among the largest and fastest movement of people in recent history. You can find my speech at: 
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-11-03/debates/3CE105AC-4E98-4519-9222-A622CC0BBC32/RohingyaHumanitarianCrisisCovid-19?highlight=rohingya#contribution-857A192A-F43F-4E9B-81A2-BC1D93FFCACC

Al Jazeera interviewed me on the above subject (the Rohingya) and you can see the interview here:
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2020/11/9/jeremy-corbyn-rohingya-refugees-are-being-ignored-ajopinion/

Contentious Bills that continue to make their way through parliament include: The Overseas Operations Bill, The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Spycops) Bill, and the Agriculture Bill.

The Overseas Operations Bill is currently in the Lords and was opposed by quite a few of us.   Among other things it will limit both the right of Service personnel to bring claims against the government, and those of prosecutors to investigate and prosecute war crimes.

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill had its third reading and has now moved onto the Lords but I supported a number of my colleagues in positioning myself against this dangerous bill.

Understandably, I received a reasonable amount of communication from concerned constituents regarding The Agriculture Bill which does nothing to safeguard animal welfare, food standards and the environment, and I supported Lords amendments to address these shortcomings.  However, thanks to this Government’s position these amendments got nowhere. 

Black History Month debate:  In parliament (20^th October) and my speech is here:  https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-10-20/debates/5B0E393E-8778-4973-B318-C17797DFBB22/BlackHistoryMonth
Subsequently, Dawn Butler MP honoured the CLP by addressing members for Black History Month (18^th November) and I later spoke to members reiterating my firm belief that any form of racism divides people.  I focussed especially on the importance of education as the route to understanding the present, I hope we can seriously develop a black history narrative in all of our schools to ensure that everyone is much better informed on everything from the anti slavery movement to the current Black Lives Matter movement.

The value of teaching colonialism and all its impact cannot be overstated and would enlighten so many in education on a myriad of issues that would bring about a sense of unity long outlasting annual Black History “Months”.  Advances in maths and science and other areas were not the monopoly of the West but took place long before European colonialists arrived, and we don’t do justice to this and so many other aspects of the routes of our diverse culture.

Young people must learn about the brutality of the slave trade and the role of the slaves themselves;  those who took part in uprisings which destroyed the commerce of the sugar industry through to the Chartists who did so much via their demands, all but one of which were met in their lifetime.  

Ultimately, if we understand the common heritage that we share we can then see that all racism comes from a misunderstanding of history and historical roles.  The Coronavirus continues to impact heavily on Bame (Black and Ethnic Minority) communities and the inequality it has highlighted must be a lesson to us all, with the poorest communities in the wealthiest countries suffering significantly.

The Parliamentary Assembly of which I am a member have regular sessions and I am perfecting the management of their translation system which enables the very many different European members to be translated to simultaneously.  As a member of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons and we cover a lot of ground in our regular meetings.

I participated in a very interesting Interparliamentary Union Nicaragua bilateral meeting with members of the Nicaraguan Assembly and the UK parliament (22^nd October).

I was delighted to join with a number of interesting speakers on the 12 November’s virtual public meeting about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, organised by their UK Committee UK.   There was consensus on the need for the Government to offer a formal apology for this massacre as well as that this subject be included in our national curricula.

Pablo Navarrete interviewed me (26^th October) for Alborada – a Latin American media outlet – to comment on the victory of progressives in Chile and the referendum on having a new constitution.

In ISLINGTON my team and I continue to participate in regular conference calls with various authorities and individuals though most frequently with Islington Council and the Whittington Hospital. 

In a virtual meeting with Islington Council’s Housing Department (12th November) we discussed the Council’s allocation scheme of social housing.  I was very pleased to learn that a new team within Housing Options has been created to provide even more focused support to the most vulnerable members of our community and those in need of urgent rehousing. 

Separately, I had a discussion (virtual) with Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Executive Member for Housing & Development regarding ongoing housing issues in the borough.  We both agreed that for the Holloway Prison development we must ensure final development plans include as much social and truly affordable housing as possible and that the planned women’s centre works to serve the community.  We also shared our ongoing concerns over cladding at both Tiltman Place and Queensland Road, as well as the Council’s plans to prevent rough sleeping during this second peak of Coronavirus.  On the latter, I am very pleased with the Council’s proactive efforts to ensure there is enough provision to house all those who, sadly,  are rough sleeping in our borough, and to ensure there are resources in place to help them move into secure housing.

I had one of my regular calls with Islington Council’s Leader, Cllr Richard Watts and Dan Lawson, the Council’s COVID-19 Silver Commander (5th November) for an update on Islington’s ongoing pandemic situation. 

I remain concerned that students who must continue their learning from home for a variety of reasons often do not have access to laptops. I commend the Council’s ongoing efforts to secure more equipment for students after the government announced an enormous reduction in the number of laptops they would allocate.

Unfortunately more local residents are needing to access food banks than ever before, and the Council has reopened the We Are Islington helpline (020 7527 8222) to assist those who are being affected by this crisis.

On 10^th October Islington People’s Right’s (IPR) Annual General Meeting (AGM) marked their 50th anniversary and it was a pleasure to speak and celebrate their excellent provision of essential services to Islington residents.  This organisation provides ongoing welfare benefit and debt advice, supports disabled families, and delivers outreach sessions to the community.  I am very proud of the work done by IPR and especially the 12 trustees who keep the organisation going.  I must also thank the various organisations and trusts that work with IPR to fight poverty and inequality, including Islington Council.

The Covid-19 crisis has put the spotlight on the inequality in our society.  Those who have especially suffered and are vulnerable include many who have been made redundant, and/or are not able to work due to the risk of Covid, or are struggling mentally.  We have to reflect on what we are learning during this pandemic.  In a post Covid world, we must ensure we provide resources to end rough sleeping, support the vulnerable, and invest in local businesses and society.  I am determined to be one of those voices demanding more from the government.

The lesson we are learning here are that we are only as secure as the person next to us.  If people in our country are living in a dangerous way because of a lack of health care or financial security, we can all be affected by it. As a society we must invest in ourselves, our neighbours and our communities.  Thank you to IPR for always working with this in mind, and investing through their projects.

On 13th November I met with Mohammed Kozbar, Chair of Finsbury Park Mosque to discuss a troubling increase of racism and islamophobia they have experienced in recent weeks.  We should never tolerate racism in any shape, and we are all proud of our diverse borough.  I commend the ongoing, tireless work of all faith groups in Islington North to support all those in need at this incredibly challenging time.

At the start of November I met with Roy O’Shaughnessy, Chief Executive Officer at Capital City College Group, alongside Sean Vernell, University College Union (UCU)  Vice-Chair of Further Education Committee to discuss growing concerns around the safety of staff and students in schools and colleges during this second spike of Coronavirus.  I also spoke at the joint National Education Union (NEU)/UCU Islington meeting  on 11th November, and listened to the concerns of union members.  I appreciate that this is an incredibly difficult time for all, where the benefits of in-person teaching must be balanced with the risks of Coronavirus.  The safety of staff and students is paramount and must always be the first priority.

I attended a modest vigil at Hillrise, Warltersville Rd(10^th November) for a young boy – Ben who suffered with mental health issues and took his own life on the estate.  Ben’s passing should remind us of how vulnerable some people are, particularly at this isolating time.  Whilst there, Cllr David Poyser and I spoke with some of his lovely and supportive family, neighbours, and community members.  Despite this, a young person living on their own is bound to have a bigger struggle at this time, and support from neighbours and family is not a guaranteed route through.

I am pleased to support Roger McKenzie in his bid for the position of General Secretary of Unison and spoke at a rally in his support (27^th October).  In Islington many of us know Roger well from his time as an Islington Councillor.

I was pleased to visit Mary on the Green (Newington), sculpted by Maggi Hambling which has inspired a great deal of divided comment.  This statue was the result of an enthusiastic local fundraising team dedicated to ensuring that the memory of feminist writer and advocate, Mary Wollstonecraft was upheld and indeed celebrated in the place where she had such close links with, and where she opened a boarding school for girls.

Reminder:  Socialist Campaign Group:  You can sign up for the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs newsletter at https://socialistcampaigngroup.com/  and also follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/socialistcam

CONTACTING JEREMY CORBYN MP
My contact details remain unchanged and due to Covid-19 restrictions my Advice Sessions are being held over the telephone.
e-mail: jeremy.corbyn.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency Office Tel: 0207 561 7488 (Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am – 12pm)
Write to: Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
t @jeremycorbyn
f JeremyCorbynMP

As the beautiful autumn leaves once again transform our environment into something very memorable, many of us remain subject to a variety of Covid-19 restrictions, depending of course upon where one lives. 

Clearly, in the absence of a decent Track and Trace system, lockdowns have become the order of the day for Boris Johnson’s government.  And there is very limited agreement among the different authorities on how they are being implemented, who is directing them, and significantly, what help is to be offered to local businesses and people who will suffer indeterminably as a result of the harsher and long running lockdowns.

At the same time, the government is busy pushing through legislation that many of us find abhorrent.  Two significant bills stand out this month:  The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill and The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. 

Yesterday (15 October) I spoke up in the debate against the Covert Human Intelligence Services (Criminal Conduct) Bill and you can see my contribution here:  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=669067510709325. This bill represents an appalling threat to the human rights standards that we have in this country and quite simply, would enable covert operatives to commit criminal acts with impunity, including rape.

Additionally, The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill which I also oppose is part and parcel of the same thinking; creating immunity for those engaged in police or military operation, and fundamentally undermining the human rights laws in Britain, as well as our support for the International Criminal Court and the conventions on human rights.

I think it was a great mistake for the party to abstain, and I made it clear to the Whips that their calls for us to do so, given how seriously flawed the two above are, is most unwise. Opposition to such measures is what is required and so along with several colleagues, when the time came, we voted in the No lobby.

Significantly I feel strongly that the 10pm curfew makes no sense and that the huge fines up to £10,000 in some cases within the legislation are quite simply ridiculous.

Outside of parliament the month has been very busy, and the online meetings have taken on a life of their own.

On 12^th September over 1700 people joined an International online Rally for Socialist Change hosted by Arise, in advance of the TUC and Labour online Conferences.  I was pleased to speak alongside Portuguese MEP Marisa Mathias and Gullaume Long, the former Foreign Minister of Ecuador, and a number of fellow Labour MPs.

You can watch it online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DK6osz9lqs and sign the accompanying #PeoplesPlan at

I was also delighted to take part in an in-depth interview with Laura McAlpine (Labour’s candidate in Harlow at the last General Election) for the new website ‘Labour Outlook (17 September). They have posted a number of preview clips of the interview on issues such as standing up for refugees and tackling media misrepresentation at www.facebook.com/LabourOutlook 

Building solidarity with the people of Bolivia:  I have taken a keen interest in Bolivian affairs since I visited the country in the late 1960s and in particular the amazing social progress the country made under President Evo Morales until he was deposed in a military-led coup last year.

As part of building solidarity with the people of Bolivia and their struggle for democracy this month I have taken part in:

• A private briefing with the Friends of Bolivia group (see their solidarity statement at bit.ly/boliviarepression) and former Minister of Communications Amanda Davila on 25^th  September.
• A call hosted by the Progressive International featuring Evo Morales and others on the upcoming elections in Bolivia and the need for vigilance against right-wing, anti-democratic violence (also on 25^th  September).
• Bolivia, the left and international solidarity: In Conversation with Álvaro García Linera – this conversation took place (22^nd September) as part of ‘The World Transformed’ and can be viewed here.

Stop the War Online Labour Fringe Meeting on US-China Tensions & the Threat of War:  Over 600 people tuned in for this event on 19 September with other speakers including Diane Abbott MP entitled ‘A Dangerous World: The US, China & The Threat of War’.

I looked at how we need to break from our so-called ‘special relationship’ with the Trump administration, including through stopping selling arms to Saudi Arabia that are used in the deadly and illegal war on Yemen.

You can watch the video online at https://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition/videos/658977888327988/

Morning Star Fringe Media on Labour and the Media:  It was great to have hundreds of people tune in for this informative ‘Morning Star’ event (19^th September) at which other speakers included Labour’s Leader in Scotland Richard Leonard MSP, looking in-depth at how we tackle media distortions and also build up our own labour movement and progressive media.

I still write regularly for the ‘Morning Star,’ which is our daily dose of peace and socialism, and would encourage you to sign-up at www.morningstaronline.co.uk

Campaign for Labour Party Democracy Fringe and Online Rally:  I was pleased to speak alongside a range of fellow MPs, NEC members and leading trade unionists and social justice campaigners at the annual CLPD rally on 19^th September.

I have supported CLPD since its foundation in the 1970s and its core aims of extending party democracy and promoting socialist policies.

You can find out more information at www.clpd.org.uk

Jeremy Corbyn and Mustafa Barghouti in conversation; this was a hugely successful webinar chaired by Diana Buttu in which Jeremy and Mustafa discussed the need for a progressive response from the global community in the face of the threats faced by Palestine.  1,600 people watched the event live and 10,000 have done so since:  https://www.facebook.com/labourandpalestine/

Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs Online Rally:  Over 3000 people watched this year’s Socialist Campaign Group rally on 21^st September, and thousands more have watched since online.  The time for socialist ideas and policies has come!

You can sign up for the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPS newsletter at https://socialistcampaigngroup.com/  and also follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/socialistcam

You can watch the rally online here.

On 10^th October I had an online meeting with Mark Dearn from CORE Coalition.  The company is the UK’s long-standing civil society network on corporate accountability, with a wide range of members including Amnesty International UK, Unison, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, War on Want and more.  We discussed Labour’s commitments to corporate accountability and what these mean for human rights and the environment and significantly, how I might make a positive contribution to their work.

In the summer (July) I was interviewed in some depth, with the excellent ‘Tribune‘ magazine on the priorities facing socialists and Labour.

You can now read that full interview at
https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/10/jeremy-corbyn-we-didnt-go-far-enough?fbclid=IwAR2g4zNKKbD77fPIbvr1svpzgOR9Ku1FEsV_Gw5BLlW-cwIhLsJKK1HJimQ

LOCALLY:

Blackstock Road continues to draw attention to itself and on 17th September I participated in the regular stakeholder engagement meeting to discuss the issues affecting this busy and popular road.  The issues are many and complex and a lot of work is needed to address the root causes. I was very pleased to see that partners are still working closely, and progress is being made on the plans discussed in July’s meeting.

I had several meetings across the constituency on 18^th September starting with the local Jobcentre Plus on Medina Road. I toured the ground floor of the building, which is open to the public, to see the new social distancing measures put in place to protect staff and those visiting the centre. The work of the jobcentre is a very challenging one especially while Universal Credit remains in place, which during the pandemic has shown once again that it is a wholly inadequate form of social security. Over the years I have observed the work done by the Jobcentre on Medina Road to reach out to the wider Islington community and I was very pleased to discuss the extension of their partnerships with local organisations. 

I had a zoom meeting with Network Rail to discuss the vegetation management at Canonbury Station. We discussed the impact of the works on residents and the importance of maintaining the vegetation. Railway borders are important wildlife corridors and I expressed that I was keen for them to be maintained where possible.
As readers will be aware, over the past few months I have had regular conference calls with various authorities though most frequently with Islington Council and the Whittington Hospital. 

At the end of a busy Friday (18 September) I visited with Siobhan Harrington, Chief Executive of Whittington Health.  It was an important discussion ahead of the second wave of Coronavirus.  As you may have seen in the news, local health authorities across Camden, Haringey, Barnet, Islington, and Enfield have collaborated to move paediatric A&E services to the Whittington and Great Ormond Street for the winter.  This means paediatric A&E at the Royal Free will be closed at this time.  I appreciate this has been of concern to some residents, however, I have been assured the change is temporary and necessary to ensure the best care is provided to children and young people during the second wave of Coronavirus, which is coinciding with the traditionally busier winter months.

I met with Islington Council’s Chief Executive, Linzi Roberts-Eagan and Council Leader, Richard Watts on 25th September who briefed me on the latest Coronavirus developments in the borough and the measures they are taking ahead of a second wave.

Meeting with members of the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN) on 5th October was a real pleasure.  UKSCN is a group of mostly under 18 year-old students campaigning for stronger action to tackle climate change.  They continue to work during lockdown to make the environment more important on the education curriculum.

In my capacity as Patron of Friends of Finsbury Park I went on a walkabout there with Police representatives of Haringey, Islington and Hackney.  It was a rare chance for them all to meet together and we had a good discussion about security and the park which was followed by a constructive meeting with the Friends of Finsbury Park.  The discussion was productive and we were able to prioritise a number of concerns we had that need addressing including:  the unattractive nature of the Seven Sisters Road entrance and the levels of reported crime; evening security as the Haringey Police who cover the Park have to cover the whole of Harringay Ward and therefore have limited resources;  any future festivities being unlikely which may then lead to financial difficulties; we complimented the staff for keeping the park clean and welcoming, for all.  I have expressed strong opposition to moving the Seven Sisters Road boundary further into the Park to allow a new cycle route. Parks are, in my view, sacrosanct and not to be given up at all.

I met online with senior members of the North London Waste Authority and Islington Council’s Director of Environment and Regeneration (16th October) to discuss the planned incinerator at Edmonton.  I have received emails from a few constituents and am aware of the environmental and air pollution concerns.

***

SADLY: Sadly, Bisi and Ginette Williams lost their mother Mary Williams (January 1930 – October 2020) last week. 

An energetic 90 year old, Mary never stopped living – she was planning her next long bus trip on the day she died.  Witty, sharp-tongued and a talented artist, she will be much missed.  Our sympathy to her family.

CONTACTING JEREMY CORBYN MP
My contact details remain unchanged and due to Covid-19 restrictions my Advice Sessions are being held over the telephone.
e-mail: jeremy.corbyn.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency Office Tel: 0207 561 7488 (Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am – 12pm)
Write to: Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
t @jeremycorbyn
f JeremyCorbynMP

Parliament resumed last week and an unusual summer break, is now behind us.Caution, and ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are continuing everywhere including of course in the Houses of Parliament. 

Dissenting voices among government ranks are complaining about the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of lockdown rules. Between towns and regions there are also intermittent variations on these restrictions as the government struggles to deal with a crisis which has now been ongoing since early this year. 

The Sirco Track and Trace system is failing abysmally, and the confusing rhetoric being served up to the public is focused on targets almost always unmet.  Indeed, the track and trace test that so many countries manage to use successfully remains out of the reach of many of us, and winter approaches. According to the NHS the test is:
“not 100% accurate; at present it is thought to detect approximately 70% of coronavirus infections. A negative test does not mean that you stop self-isolating if you have coronavirus symptoms”. 
We all need to need to be vigilant in going about our business.

Brexit is very much back on the agenda, and it is right to fear the worst whilst campaigning against it as the government proposes to ride roughshod over the current Withdrawal bill.  Ahead of this report being mailed out there’ll have been much behind the scenes effort to ensure this doesn’t happen, including the tabling of an amendment by a former Tory minister aiming to avert the worst.  UK relations with both Ireland, and the EU are not going well and the prospect of the government taking control over Brexit-Ireland border arrangements is, quite simply, illegal, and wrong.

The business of flouting international law is not new to the Conservatives despite them labelling themselves as the party of law and order over many years.

When the International Court of Justice and the United Nationals General Assembly effectively quashed Britain’s claim to the Chagos Islands last year, the government refused to accept the decision.  We are acting illegally every day on which this matter remains outstanding. The remedy is really not complicated but there exists an ongoing determination to turn a blind eye on this when few other countries do.

At the end of August I wrote to the PM to address the fact that our government has been found responsible for providing military training to countries with the most appalling human rights records and the most inhumane treatment of their peoples is an abomination.  I put it to him that this was shameful and must be addressed, and relates to Bahrain; Saudi Arabia; Egypt; China; Belarus; Turkey I await his reply. 

On Climate Change, I remain extremely concerned about the growing threat climate change poses to our world and I am therefore supporting the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill which has been drafted by leading climate scientists, academics and lawyers.  If this bill is successfully passed into law, it will represent a significant step forward in ensuring that the government brings about a proper strategy to dramatically reduce emissions.

In 2019 I tabled a motion which was passed, and which meant that the House of Commons became the first Parliament to declare a formal climate and environment emergency.  I am also proud that in 2019 Islington Council passed a unanimous motion declaring a climate emergency and pledged to work towards becoming a net zero borough by 2030, in line with the recommendations of the UN’s Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change.

Subsequently, our manifesto was clear about both the threat of the climate emergency, and the radical action necessary to address that threat – coming out top in Friends of the Earth’s environmental assessment of the main UK-wide party manifestos.

In keeping with this I support the calls by climate campaigners for our government to do more to meet international obligations in this.  I have been concerned by the pace of progress so far and have added my voice to those calling for urgent action to be taken.

***

I was pleased to speak at the launch of the Northern England Labour Left conference on 5^th September.  Other speakers during the day included John McDonnell MP, Clive Lewis MP, Jamie Driscoll (Metro Mayor of the North of Tyne) and NEC candidate Laura Pidcock.

Topics discussed included democratising the Labour Party, the need to prioritise a Green New Deal as part of our socialist solutions to the crisis, and the importance of community and local politics and organising in resisting the Tories and building support for progressive alternatives. I spoke in a virtual international conference in Irkutsk entitled:  ‘The Current Pandemic Crisis: Analysis and Policy Responses’ (2^nd September) alongside a number of interesting panellists from around the world.  I pointed out this new and greater sense of international solidarity and understanding and communication in the world, and the fact that meetings in Britain now routinely have international speakers from different continents; a trend I hope continues when the crisis is no longer. 

The issues we face are global and require a global response to them be they of an economic, security, environment or human rights nature.  The pandemic has highlighted the needs of the underprivileged in a way we could not have imagined, and among other things, exposed the vulnerability of health and care systems to underfunding by their own governments.  At the outset there was limited scope for dealing with this crisis and the ability of the health service to cope was achieved essentially by a huge and voluntary effort by health workers, delivery workers and other key workers.   There has been a rise in deaths from other causes because of the lack of capacity at the outset.  The NHS is now desperately trying to catch up.

The volunteers and individuals in our community and in the health service have excelled themselves.  I made this point to the Prime Minister in parliament earlier in the year, and continue to repeat it.

A greater sense of community and interdependence has now come about and is at the heart of this political moment; against a backdrop of greater levels of inequality and a jobs crisis. We have much to do, in Islington and beyond.  

I also participated in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign Rally (1st September) entitled:  End the Siege Now.  The situation in Palestine, and significantly Gaza: a strip of land within which live 2 million Palestinians under blockade, now facing a potential Covid-19 crisis is dire.  The “strip” (as it’s often referred to) lacks many resources to deal with the most basic needs so a recent surge of cases should have all of us worried, and actively speaking up and lobbying on their behalf.  That is precisely why I took part in this rally.

Lottie Stables organised a virtual Barnet Transformed launch event (26 August) and I was pleased to speak on a myriad of different issues including local government spending, the importance of international solidarity, and my reflections on having worked as a union organiser fighting cutbacks in public services in Barnet earlier on in my career.   I was joined by a number of interesting guests on the panel.

I joined a Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) Strike outside the Tate (22 August): where workers and others gathered to demonstrate my support to these workers resisting unjust redundancies and cuts. The PCS union argues that the redundancies at the Tate are unnecessary, and are asking for just 10% of the expected government bailout of the gallery to save hundreds of jobs. Members of the union and the public alike are right to ask, if the financial situation at the gallery is so dire, then why are their senior executives still earning eye watering salaries way over £100,000?

I was delighted to be nominated for the ‘MP for the Year Award’, and being voted ‘Best Prime Minister We Never Had” in a Sky Twitter Poll remains an interesting experience!

LOCALLY:

Over the past few months I have had regular conference calls with various authorities though most frequently with Islington Council and the Whittington Hospital, and both have managed the pandemic with extraordinary skills. However, when the NHS Parliamentary Awards were announced, the tireless dedication of the Whittington hospital, and especially their commitment, and their dedication to the care of both their staff and their patients was in the forefront of my mind.  I expect the awards are quite competitive but regardless, the Whittington Health is now in the running for an Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award.

I had a brief conversation (4^th September) about the Council’s People Friendly Streets scheme with Cllr Richard Watts – Islington Council leader, and Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment and Transport.  In the last couple of months the scheme has been rolling out in Islington South, and some of you will be aware of the ongoing discussions with residents about extending this to Highbury Hill. 

I appreciate the Council’s efforts to reduce air pollution in our borough and to use the opportunities the otherwise devastating pandemic has presented to introduce long-lasting change that will improve the environment for all.  Similarly I am aware of concerns raised by local residents in anticipation of the new scheme.  I look forward to spending the next couple of weeks speaking to residents in Highbury Hill to find out more on their thoughts and expectations.  The Council has developed an online tool inviting comments on the proposed scheme which you can access here. If you live in the area and will be affected by the changes I would encourage you to make a contribution.

I also had the great pleasure of having a zoom meeting on 4^th September with Lawrence Curtis, founder of social enterprise Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies (HMHB). The project has been very successful supporting people, mostly focusing on those who are unemployed, by promoting a healthy lifestyle through access to health, fitness, budget and nutrition advice. I was very pleased to hear the project continues to be successful and that more organisations are interested in setting up partnerships with them. I wish them all the best and look forward to seeing how the project will expand.

I visited the Islington Somali Community(1^st September) to congratulate them in person for winning the National Lottery Fund. They have been doing a fantastic job supporting the Somali community in Islington since 1990 and I was very pleased to hear that they have been working even harder during the pandemic, providing support to the elderly with medicine collection, delivering food parcels to families, and providing IT equipment and tutoring to youth and children. It is important to recognise that just as their demand has increased so has their need for more resources. I therefore look forward to supporting them in any way I can so that they can continue to provide invaluable support to the Somali community in Islington during the difficult and challenging times we are facing. 

I was delighted to learn that Sunnyside Community Gardens received a People’s Postcode Lottery award of £18,887 to increase access to and improve natural spaces in Islington. They announced that this would enable them to employ a community gardener two days a week to run volunteer gardening and conservation sessions for local people who live nearby with no or very small gardens. This project will help to build Sunnyside as a community hub where people from many different backgrounds can take part, and in doing so socialise with their neighbours in the outdoors whilst social distancing.

I continue to support the organisations I am a Trustee of and to this end I spent time with the wonderful team at the Light Project International.

HAPPILY: Two wonderful individuals entered their 91st year recently:

Our beloved Annette Thomas who remains an active and dedicated member of Islington North CLP marked her 90^th birthday in the company of close friends and relatives, with myself and Laura calling in briefly.  I have tried to retire Annette from her volunteering at my Advice Sessions but it remains a difficult task, such is her enthusiasm.  Never mind the fact that my local team are too attached to her! Some of you may also know Maggie Bowden though she’s not an Islington resident.  On the back of an interesting political and legal career, Maggie headed up Liberation for the past decade and has slowly and unwillingly stepped aside, handing over the reins to Katie Ferola.

CONTACTING JEREMY CORBYN MP
My contact details remain unchanged and due to Covid-19 restrictions my Advice Sessions are being held over the telephone.
e-mail: jeremy.corbyn.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency Office Tel: 0207 561 7488 (Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am – 12pm)
Postal address: The Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

The past few weeks have not been at all typical of summer months in years gone by.   The country is experiencing record high temperatures, and Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions continue to dominate our lives. Solutions to the pandemic are slow in the making and in the absence of a vaccine, or a massive shift in the numbers of people with Covid-19, we are required to exercise ongoing caution in much of our behaviour. 

Parliament adjourned on 22^nd July (to return at the beginning of September) for its summer recess and the work goes on remotely by MPs and staff.  Where possible, we aim to take turns incatching some time off at this time.

For many across the world who flee persecution and poverty, the summer months can be life changing: 11/08/2020 Socialist Campaign Group Statement on the “Migrant Crisis”

“We stand in solidarity with migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, and reaffirm the moral and legal right for refugees to claim asylum in the UK.  

While the Conservative government and their billionaire press baron allies try to whip up fear about a “migrant crisis”, we know that the real crisis is the war, poverty and persecution that forces people to flee their homes and take dangerous journeys in search of a better life.  

Rather than treating these people with hostility, with threats to deploy military vessels to deter crossings, the UK should provide safe and legal routes to people seeking to claim asylum. 

The UK must do its fair share in providing a welcoming home to refugees. The current support for asylum seekers – £37.75 a week – and the ban on their right to work is inhumane. 

The fact that it is often aggressive wars led by the UK and our allies that forces people to flee their homes give us a special responsibility to these people. 

This latest drive by the Conservatives is a blatant attempt to distract the public from their calamitous handling of Coronavirus, which is leading to economic turmoil that will devastate working peoples’ livelihoods. 

This divide and rule tactic must be fought by the entire labour movement. The real cause of problems working class people face is an economic system rigged for the super-rich, not migrants.“

Dawn Butler MP has been in my thoughts this past week since being stopped by the police while travelling in a car driven by a friend.  Dawn is a colleague, friend and a hard working MP who has used the experience in a positive way in order to raise the issue of racial profiling.  She has my full support and that of so many of her colleagues in doing so.  To  have subsequently had to endure negative, and inappropriate comments on her experience is an indication of how significant the Black Lives Matter movement is in educating the public toward achieving a racist free world.

A significant number of local, national, and international meetings have continued apace. Technology continues to dominate what we do, with the exception of mutual aid groups and food banks.  Locally, I continue to visit foodbanks in Islington and assist at some including Brickworks, Sunnyside, and the Light Project.  My visits continue to be a wonderful opportunity to see the brilliant work local residents, the Council, community organisers, and ward councillors are doing to continue supporting the most vulnerable during this pandemic. 

Every year I attend the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing and this year was the 75^th anniversary.  I broadcast live to the CND event from the Elthorne Park Peace Garden on 6^th August. Organised by the very capable Carol Turner, CND commemorated the lives lost in the bombings.

It was an opportunity to campaign for a nuclear free world, which is something we must actively do at all times to send a clear message to government across the globe that never again must we allow another tragedy of this nature to reoccur. 

I spoke at a virtual meeting Stop the War held to discuss the very serious and urgent issue of the Yemen humanitarian crisis on 29^th July.  I highlighted the fact that Covid-19 has exposed problems of people in Yemen just as it has exposed injustice and health poverty all over the world. The situation in Yemen is deeply concerning and we must demand an end to the UK’s arms sale.  Our media has also been slow to report what’s happening in Yemen and it is therefore up to us to raise our voice.  We need to look at global action. On 21 July I did an online interview as part of a series on what the world after COVID-19 might look like which is being done by the School of Global Studies at Boston University. You can watch parts one and two on YouTube, and we discussed issues ranging from the refugee crisis to global health inequalities, to the future of the NHS and public services here in Britain. I took parliament’s Valuing Everyone course virtually (23/07).  All MPs are doing this 2 hour training course, which as its name suggests, can only be a good thing.

The People’s Assembly Against Austerity hosted a key event on July 23 on why we must keep fighting NHS privatisation and the prospect of our NHS being sold-off to Trump in a one-sided free trade deal. The People’s Assembly have played a vital role in opposing the government in recent years, and it was great to also be joined by representatives of Keep Our NHS Public and We Own It on the panel.

The Rohingya crisis:  I have become increasingly concerned about the Rohingya and as part of my research I had a virtual meeting Wai Wai Nu, a Burmese activist who advocates for the rights and equality of all people in Myanmar, including the Rohingya.  Ours was a very productive meeting on 24^th July and I hope to continue working on this very important issue. We must continue to campaign internationally for the Rohingya people.

On 27 July I joined an international panel to discuss Cuba’s health internationalism and effects of the US blockade on the island during the Coronavirus crisis, alongside Fernando González (previously one of the famous Miami Five Cuban prisoners in the US,) Her Excellency Bárbara Elena Montalvo Álvarez, Cuban ambassador to the United Kingdom and Gail Walker, from Pastors for Peace in the USA.

I also conducted two interviews (on July 28 and 3 August) which will be released in the autumn – one for the next print issue of Tribune magazine on next steps for Labour and the Left, and the other for the economist Grace Blakeley’s new podcast – ‘A World To Win’, on Britain and the world after the Coronavirus crisis.

LOCALLY

I hosted an Islington North Environmental Forum (20 July) inspired by Beto Cortez, which was very well attended by constituents, and supported by party members.  We had an excellent discussion as well as a Q & A in which we covered much ground including the issue of the proposed North London Waste Authority (NLWA) incinerator plans; Cop 26; and local pollution issues.  Considerable support was evident for:  local anti-pollution and sustainability measures in all places throughout the borough;  Islington Council on traffic reduction measures; as well as Transport for London on pavement extensions.  There is pressure on Transport for London regarding the levels of pollution which is of course at its worse along the Holloway / Seven Sisters Rd including of course the Nags Head gyratory.

I am also getting in touch with Network Rail who have today contacted my office to advise me of some “upcoming vegetation clearance work we’ll be undertaking around Canonbury station”!

Separately I also had a virtual discussion with Cllrs Rowena Champion and Richard Watts specifically on the matter of the NLWA incinerator going forward.

Elthorne Park walkabout (21/07):  I have been in conversation with Council officers and local ward councillors of Elthorne Park regarding the re-installation of the “Upon Reflection” statue by Kevin Atherton to its original position.  It is also hoped that the height of the wall that surrounds the garden can be lowered to make the garden more accessible. 

I visited Sunnyside Gardens (27/07) where the team have been extremely supportive and I am grateful for their involvement in the Elthorne Peace Project.  I look forward to seeing the changes to the Peace Garden and more people making use of such a wonderful space.

I am also delighted to learn today that the Gardens have been awarded lottery funding (the Postcode Local Trust)of £18,887.00 for their Increasing access to and improving natural spaces in Islington project.

Among the other events I have attended were: 
Islington Stakeholder meeting on Coronavirus
The Bedford Pub (30/07) opened its doors and social distancing is of course being enforced in all pubs for the foreseeable.
Light Project International trustee meeting (31/07).

CONTACTING JEREMY CORBYN MP
My contact details remain unchanged and Advice Sessions are being held over the telephone with my staff.
e-mail: jeremy.corbyn.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency Office Tel: 0207 561 7488 (Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am – 12pm)
Postal address: The Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0A