Stephen urges Government to protect workers rights

On Tuesday 8 June, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets gave a statement to the House of Commons on employment rights. Stephen spoke in the following debate about workers in the gig economy.

Earlier in the year, the Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers must be treated as workers rather than self-employed, making them entitled to basic rights such as the national minimum wage and holiday pay. The Government have said that the courts are independent and that it will not intervene in their rulings.

In the debate in the House of Commons, Stephen asked the Minister – Paul Scully – when the Government is likely to bring forward the “long promised” Employment Bill, so that legislation can be implemented to provide security to all workers. The Minister responded: “the Employment Bill will come forward when Parliamentary time allows.”

Speaking after the debate, Stephen said “the Supreme Court’s ruling was a victory for working people and testament to the hard work of the GMB union. However, the Government should not leave it to workers to fight for their basic rights through the courts.

I hope the Government brings forward the Employment Bill urgently, to ensure protection for the millions of people in the gig economy in insecure work.”

You can watch Stephen’s full contribution below.

Stephen calls for action on inpatient care units

Stephen has written to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, asking why the government has failed in publishing its action plan to transform care.

Ten years ago, undercover filming by BBC Panorama exposed horrific abuse at Winterbourne View hospital, an ‘assessment and treatment unit’ near Bristol. Patients with a learning disability and/or autism were repeatedly pinned down, slapped and taunted by staff. Four people were arrested and a further 13 employees were suspended. The hospital was later closed.

After the abuse was exposed, the government said hospitals were not homes and promised to “transform care”. Ministers said people placed inappropriately in inpatient units should move out of these settings and get the right support in the community. In his letter to the Prime Minsiter, Stephen noted that little has – seemingly – changed. According to statistics from the charity Mencap, there are currently over 2,000 people with a learning disability locked away in inpatient units. 355 of these have been there for ten years or more.

Speaking about his letter Stephen said “The in-patient model of care is inappropriate. It is deeply troubling that so many vulnerable people are still at risk of chemical and physical restraint and being kept in solitary confinement, often many miles from their families. The government must now publish its cross-government action plan on impatient units, and must do so without delay.”

Stephen attends event on child food poverty in East Ham

Stephen met with End Child Poverty to discuss the rate of child food poverty in his constituency and hear from young people about their experiences.

End Child Poverty is a coalition of organisations, charities and local groups, campaigning together for a UK free of child poverty. Their recent publication of the latest estimates of child poverty after housing costs found that 20,173 children in East Ham are in poverty. As a whole the figures show the growing scale of child poverty across the UK, even before the pandemic hit.

Speaking after the event, Stephen said: “It is deeply troubling that 50% of children in East Ham are in poverty.

I applaud the tireless efforts of local faith groups, community organisations and charities to meet the needs of hungry families in the borough. They have been a lifeline for many throughout the pandemic.

However, if we are to live in a society where every child has the chance to succeed, we need to see greater commitment from the Government. Ministers must make their plans for ‘levelling up’ a reality by urgently introducing a credible plan to end child poverty.”

Stephen meets students at Oasis Academy Silvertown

Stephen virtually met with Oasis Academy Silvertown for a Q&A workshop about his role as the Member of Parliament for East Ham.

The group consisted of three year eight classes at Oasis. They asked questions such as “how did you become an MP?” and “do you like your job?” Stephen described his journey to becoming an MP and the work he does in both East Ham and Parliament.

During the session, the students also raised questions on issues such as crime and the environment. Stephen expressed his concerns on these important matters and explained his plans to tackle local violence and climate change.

Speaking after the workshop, Stephen said “I enjoyed meeting with the students of Oasis Academy Silvertown and answering their questions. They are clearly enthusiastic about politics and social issues in Newham. I thank them for their interest and look forward to visiting the school soon.”

Stephen speaks in child food poverty debate

On Monday 24 May, MPs debated Marcus Rashford MBE’s petition on ending child food poverty, which received over 1 million signatures. It calls on the Government to support vulnerable children by widening access to free school meals, stopping holiday hunger and expanding the Healthy Start scheme.

In the Westminster Hall debate, Stephen highlighted evidence given to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which he chairs, demonstrating the sharp rise in relative child hunger. The Committee’s inquiry into children in poverty has already found that food bank usage has doubled during the pandemic and that 18% of schools have started their own food bank since the first lockdown.

Stephen also raised the plight of families with No Recourse to Public Funds and highlighted the urgent need to ensure children affected by this condition do not go hungry. He welcomed the Government’s decision to expand free school meals to children from families with No Recourse to Public Funds and urged the Minister to make this change permanent.

Speaking at the debate, Stephen said “we need a clear Government focus on tackling this growing problem of child poverty. Extension of free school meals at the start of the pandemic for families with No Recourse to Public Funds was exactly the right thing to do. I hope that will be made permanent.”

Stephen meets students at Dersingham Primary School

Dersingham students virtually met with Stephen for a lively Q&A session about his work in Parliament and the local area.

The students, aged 7 to 10, form the school’s cabinet. Stephen congratulated them on their appointments. They asked questions such as “how many meetings do you have in the House of Commons?” and “what are the future plans for London?” They spoke about the history of Dersingham school and Stephen revealed he had first visited in 1979 – and countless times since.

The school cabinet also announced their plans to plant more trees in their local area and introduce more recycling bins in their classrooms.

Speaking after the Q&A, Stephen said “I very much enjoyed answering the students’ questions and hearing about their excellent plans to plant more trees and encourage recycling in their school. I thank them for the work they are doing on behalf of their fellow pupils and look forward to visiting Dersingham Primary School this summer to see the changes their cabinet have put in place.”

Stephen urges Government to tackle online scams

Stephen spoke in the House of Commons on Monday 17 May and pressed the Government to include protection against harmful scams in the Online Safety Bill.

A new version of the Online Safety Bill was introduced in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May. Whilst the Bill seeks to combat online fraud through user-generated content, it does not address scams through advertising, emails or cloned websites. This includes ads on Google or social media, such as fake investment opportunities.

In the debate, Stephen raised the case of a recently bereaved woman, who was scammed out of £200,000 after finding a fake site on Google in September. Google had been alerted of the fake site the previous May, but failed to remove it. The omission of legislation against online investment fraud in the Online Safety Bill means that cases like this are likely to reoccur.

Stephen said, “in letting crooks and scammers continue to ruin people’s lives, Ministers are being abjectly soft on this appalling crime. They could still do the right thing and legislate in this Bill. I urge them to do so.”

Stephen calls on Government to support families with no recourse to public funds

On Monday 17 May, Stephen urged the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Work and Pensions to provide further support for those with no recourse to public funds, as we approach the end of the Job Retention Scheme.

No recourse to public funds is a condition that applies to most migrants granted limited leave in the UK. It prevents people from accessing the majority of benefits like Universal Credit. The pandemic has been particularly difficult for families with this condition, as many have lost hours or income. Some have been eligible for furlough, which has been a lifeline for many.

However, the Job Retention Scheme is due to end this September. Many of those who have been able to benefit from furlough are worried about how they will be able to stay afloat when the scheme ends.

At the Department for Work and Pensions Oral Questions in the House of Commons, Stephen shed light on the difficult situation many families with no recourse to public funds will face as the Job Retention Scheme comes to a close. He asked the Minister, Will Quince, to lay out plans for how these families will be supported come the winter. Will Quince acknowledged that the Government were restricted by what they can do to help those with no-recourse condition on their visas. He did, however, assure Stephen that he would raise it with the Immigration Minister

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen said “Hard-working, law-abiding families without Indefinite Leave to Remain haven’t had as much support as others during the Covid-19 outbreak because of the no recourse to public funds condition.

Some of those families have been able to benefit from the Job Retention Scheme, so how will they be supported after that scheme closes in September?”

Stephen urges the Government to end fire and rehire

Stephen has co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to immediately end the fire and rehire practice, in support of Unite the Union’s campaign to strengthen UK employment law.

In the letter, Labour MPs and trade unions outline the impact of fire and rehire on UK workers. This – currently legal – practice allows employers to threaten unemployment should their workers not agree to accept pay cuts. Since the first lockdown in March 2020, an estimated one in ten workers have been told to reapply for their jobs on worse terms.

In January, the Prime Minister said the use of fire and rehire tactics are “unacceptable” and announced that the Government was working with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on this issue. The Government is yet to respond to the findings, despite 70% of the public backing a change in the law. As the letter states, “UK workers should have the same protections as workers in other countries. Fire and rehire is outlawed in parts of Europe and it should be no different here.”

Speaking about the letter, Stephen said “threatening workers with job loss to reduce pay and diminish terms and conditions undermines good employers, harms working people and damages our economy. Worryingly, this practice seems to have become more common during the pandemic, at a time where many workers have been facing severe financial pressures and personal difficulties.

The Government’s lack of action has allowed this practice to become widespread. It must now introduce urgent measures to outlaw fire and rehire.”

You can read a full copy of the letter here.

Stephen condemns evicitions in East Jerusalem

Stephen has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to speak out on behalf of Palestinian families who are being forcibly evicted from their homes in East Jerusalem to make way for Jewish only settlements.

In total, 58 people, including 17 children, are imminently due to be forcibly displaced to make way for Jewish only settlements. Over the last week we have seen violent settler groups, backed by the Israeli state, intimidating, assaulting Palestinian residents and setting light to Palestinian fields.

The evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah are part of an ongoing process of the Nakba that started in 1948 where over 750,000 Palestinians were forced out their homes and made refugees. 2020 saw the highest rate of settlement expansion in East Jerusalem on record and over 1500 Palestinians are under threat of their homes being demolished and forcibly displaced.

Speaking on Monday, Stephen said: “I am deeply troubled about the eviction of families by Israeli Government authorities in the West Bank. The evictions contravene international humanitarian law, jeopardise the possibility a genuinely two-state solution and undermine social stability and security.

“These proposed evictions demand action from the UK Government and the international community. With our permanent seat on the UN Security Council and our historical role in Israeli-Palestinian affairs, I believe the UK has a moral duty to be proactive on this important issue.”

Stephen’s letter suggested that the Prime Minister should look at imposing sanctions on Israel for illegally annexing Palestinian land, something which he has previously refused to do.

Stephen urges government to draft ambitious HIV action plan

Stephen has written to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, urging him to “bold and ambitious” when writing the government’s HIV Action Plan.

The government has committed to end new cases of HIV by 2030. Campaigners, however, are concerned that nearly 6,000 people living with HIV do not know their status because HIV testing remains a postcode lottery across the country.

In his letter to the Health Secretary, Stephen set out a number of proposals suggested to him by some of his constituents. These included the provision of free at-home testing kits being made available all year round and the funding of a new anti-HIV stigma campaign in schools.

Having sent the letter, Stephen said “I support the government’s target to end new HIV cases by 2030 and am pleased the government is looking at re-writing its action plan.

“I am very grateful to residents of East Ham for their suggestions as to what should be included. They are bold and ambitious, which is required to meet the government’s target.”

Stephen launches the East Ham Cladding Working Group

Stephen has formed the East Ham Cladding Working Group, which will meet fortnightly to discuss the latest developments around the cladding crisis in Newham and Westminster.

Following the Grenfell tragedy in 2017, the Building Safety Programme was established to ensure tenants and leaseholders are protected from unsafe cladding. However, nearly four years later, around 700,000 people are still living in high-rise blocks with flammable cladding. Several buildings in East Ham are affected, including within the Waterside Park and Upton Gardens developments, where dangerous cladding and insulation has been found on the high-rise buildings.

At the inaugural meeting of the group, Stephen explained how he is pressuring developers of affected buildings in East Ham to shoulder some responsibility for the removal of dangerous cladding, and address the costs of interim fire safety measures – such as waking watch. Stephen also gave an update on the situation in Westminster and the progress of the Fire Safety Bill, which returns to the Commons this week. MPs will have the chance to debate and vote on amendments to give leaseholders a guarantee that building owners cannot pass on the costs of any remedial work.

In addition, Stephen invited residents on the call to share their experiences and concerns on this issue. Many expressed their anxieties around living in unsafe housing, as well as the unforeseen costs associated with temporary safety measures. One leaseholder described feeling “powerless” and a “hostage” in their own home, as they have been unable to re-mortgage their flat with its current EWS1 rating.

Speaking at the meeting, Stephen said “I appreciate and sympathise with the cost and anxiety many leaseholders have endured due to issues for which they bear no fault.

I look forward to meeting fortnightly with local leaseholders in East Ham to give residents the chance to tell me what issues I should be raising with landlords and managing agents. There may also be opportunities to invite external speakers to address the group.

In the meantime, I will continue to call for reforms to the leasehold system and will push the Government to go further with the provisions laid out in the Fire Safety Bill. No one should have to endure the enormous anxiety this cladding is causing and the Government must act with urgency on this.”

If you are interested in joining the East Ham Cladding Working Group, please follow this link and complete the form. A member of Stephen’s office will be in touch with the joining details for the first meeting.

Stephen calls for pay rise for NHS workers

 Stephen has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, encouraging him to give a pay rise to NHS workers.

The government has supported the NHS Pay Review Body, which recommended that NHS workers should received 1% pay increase. With inflation set to rise to this year, it represents a real-terms pay cut for many NHS workers, including nurses, consultants, health visitors and wider clinical staff.

A number of constituents have contacted Stephen in recent weeks outlining their concerns at the “insulting” 1% pay rise. They have told him “…our health workers “need a morale boost now more than ever due to their tireless work throughout the pandemic”.

According to data from NHS England, the Barts Health NHS Trust saw 87,011 people in February still on a waiting list for treatment. Of these, 10,803 have been waiting longer than a year. As such, NHS doctors and nurses must continue with the challenge of this increasing backlog and provide care for those who have had their treatments delayed.  

Speaking about the letter, Stephen said “The battle against COVID-19 has been a long and difficult struggle. NHS staff have been at the heart of the fight against coronavirus, working day and night to protect our NHS and save lives. I am calling on the Chancellor to provide them a much-needed pay rise to support them in this crucial recovery period.”  

Stephen addresses youth employment prospects post-pandemic

Stephen has spoken at an event run by the Learning and Work Institute entitled “Facing the Future: employment prospects for young people after coronavirus”.

Organised in collaboration with The Prince’s Trust and HSBC, the event was an opportunity to explore the impacts of Covid-19 on young people in the world of work. Young people are more likely to have been furloughed, 16–24-year-olds account for three in five of all jobs lost since the start of the pandemic, and youth unemployment is three times the overall unemployment rate.

Drawing on his work as the Chair of the Select Committee for Work and Pensions, Stephen highlighted the possibility of the pandemic entrenching existing inequalities in the labour market, particularly disadvantaging black young people and those with disabilities. He also warned of the ‘scarring’ effect of the pandemic, with the time out of employment or education impacting this generation in the longer-term.

Stephen welcomed the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, launched to support young people into work. However, he argued that it did not go far enough. It should be open to for 16-24 year olds who are not in receipt of Universal Credit, and it should run for longer than planned. He also called for the government to seriously consider a ‘job guarantee’ scheme of some sort, which proved very effective in the Future Jobs Fund launched in 2009 after the last financial crash.

Speaking at the event, Stephen said: “To tackle the long-term impact of this pandemic on our young people, we will need to see a concerted national effort – from government, to employers, to the charitable sector. That is why I am delighted that the Learning and Work institute have hosted this important event alongside HSBC, The Prince’s Trust, and those of us in the House of Commons.”

Stephen joins calls to ban asbestos in Ukraine

Stephen has joined his Labour colleagues, Ian Lavery MP, Mick Antoniw, Member of the Welsh Parliament and Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party in writing to the Head of Ukrainian Parliament, Dmytro Razumkov. The letter asks that Ukraine take action to ban the use of asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous material which is mined. Several forms are recognised but all are dangerous to health following inhalation of fibres. It is well known that there is a long latent period between exposure and development of disease. Use of asbestos has been widespread in the industrialised world since the mid-nineteenth century, particularly in the shipbuilding and construction industries.

The banning asbestos in Ukraine has been caught up in a geopolitical conflict over the country’s quest to join the European Union and the determination of Russia to prevent it from doing so.

The letter states “…[we] whole-heartedly endorse Ukraine’s determination to protect its citizens by ending asbestos use…[and] look forward to engaging in future discussions with you.”

You can read the letter here.

Stephen calls on government to protect migrant women in Domestic Abuse Bill

Stephen spoke in the second reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill in the House of Commons on Thursday 15 April, pressing the government on the need to protect and extend the rights of migrant women who are survivors of domestic abuse.

The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill came back to the Commons this week after several amendments were tabled in the Lords. Stephen spoke in support of amendments 41 and 40 which would, respectively, seek to enshrine and extend protections for migrant survivors of domestic abuse in law and prevent public authorities from sharing survivors’ data for the purpose of immigration enforcement.

Currently, migrant survivors of domestic abuse face many challenges in accessing support. Most migrant women are subject to ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) which means they cannot access housing benefit, often used to support refuge spaces. In Women’s Aid’s 2019 report ‘No Woman Turned Away’, NRPF was named as one of the five most common challenges for women seeking a refuge space.  

Unlike the millions of people who have made a Universal Credit claim over the pandemic, migrant survivors with NRPF do not have this option, leaving many trapped with abusers. Survivors can apply for the destitute domestic violence concession (DDVC) allowing temporary leave and public funds access, but this is limited in scope. Only those on spousal visas or some family visas can apply, and temporary leave and public funds are only granted for three months.

Stephen said: “I hope the Government will urgently address the needs of migrant survivors of domestic abuse.  At the moment, their access to support is being blocked.  This needs to change.”

East Ham Cladding Working Group

Stephen plans to form the East Ham Cladding Working Group. The group will meet fortnightly to discuss the latest developments in Newham and Westminster.

The meetings will be constructive and give residents the chance to tell him what issues he should be raising with landlords and managing agents who are the source of so much grief for local residents.

The inaugural meeting is at 8 p.m. on Monday 26 April, via Zoom. Should you wish to join the group, then please complete the form below.

Stephen congratulates local kebab shops

Credit: Francisco De Legarreta C, Unsplash

Stephen has congratulated three businesses in East Ham on being long-listed for a prestigious British Kebab Award.

The Ottoman Doner in Manor Park, Best Turkish Kebab in East Ham and Anatolian Foods in Beckton have been long-listed for the British Kebab Award for Best Newcomer in London, Best Takeaway in London, and Supplier of the Year respectively. They were announced as the semi-finalist and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in London later this year. Awards will be presented for a total of 17 categories at the ninth annual British Kebab Awards, following a competitive nomination process.

A panel of judges including MPs Nadhim Zahawi, Carolyn Harris, David Warburton, Angus Mcneil as well as James O’Brien of LBC will help to decide the winners of each category – although anyone could vote for their favourite kebab outlet from a shortlist for each category. The Awards have become a fixture in the annual food awards calendar, and celebrate the growing contribution of the kebab industry to the UK.

The British kebab industry contributes over £2.8 billion annually to the British economy, supporting around 200,000 jobs across takeaways, restaurants, suppliers and the food industry in the UK. There are also around 200 doner kebab manufacturers in the UK, with a turnover in excess of £750m.

Stephen said: “I am delighted that these three businesses have been long-listed for the prestigious British Kebab Awards, which highlights their contribution to the kebab industry in the UK. I wish them many congratulations for their success so far and wish them good luck in the semi-finals!”

Stephen supports call for more learning disability nurses

 Stephen attended a Show Your Support for Learning Disability Nurses Event on Friday 26th March, engaging with self-advocates and carers about the national shortage of learning disability nurses.

Stephen discussed with carers and self-advocates with lived experience of a learning disability the issue of the national shortage of learning disability nurses and their experiences of accessing treatment from the NHS.

The Learning Disability Nurses Not Hearses Campaign, which recently won the parliament awards digital campaign of the year is run by Harrow Mencap and supported by the Royal Mencap Society and supported by the ALL Party Parliamentary Group on Disability, calls for every NHS trust in the UK to have at least two learning disability nurses.

Stephen said: “I was moved to hear the testimonies of self-advocates and carers. They do an incredible job but it is clear the national shortage of learning disability nurses needs to be addressed. Those with learning disabilities must not be side-lined.”

Stephen writes to Foreign Secretary urging action on Yemen

Stephen has written to the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, asking that the UK suspend its arms deals with Saudi Arabia. He also urged Ministers to continue the provision of financial aid to the Yemeni civilians. 

The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since the failure, in 2011, of a Saudi-backed transition from long-time President Saleh to his deputy Abd Rabbuh Mansour al-Hadi. The rebel Houthi movement took control of much of the country. In 2015 a coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, was established to prop up the al-Hadi Government. Since then, the conflict has produced the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, with millions of people at risk from starvation and disease. Attempts to broker a peace deal, ended in failure last year.

Stephen addressed the concerns his constituents in his letter to the Foreign Secretary. He requested a ban on selling  arms to Saudi Arabia, and urged Ministers to look again at its plans to reduce the amount of aid to Yemen.

Speaking about the letter, Stephen said: “I have long supported the Government to ban the selling of weapons to Saudi Arabia. It seems clear to me that the UK cannot carry out its proper role in reinvigorating the peace process if we are arming one side of the conflict.

“The Government must lead initiatives to impose a ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors and restore peace talks. It is vital that we help sustain the momentum required to end this brutal conflict, bring all parties back to the negotiating table, and stop the suffering of the Yemeni people.”