You may have noticed that this is my first blog for a few weeks. This is because Parliament broke for Easter recess and therefore there is no parliamentary business to report back on. I used the break to join a delegation of MPs and Lords on a visit to Taiwan.  

It was fascinating to see the impressive infrastructure that Taiwan has and to learn about the very real threat they face from across the Taiwan Straits. An unexpected part of the visit was a major earthquake that caused our hotel building to violently shake! Fortunately, the impact of the quake was relatively contained in Taipei City, with buildings in Taiwan and the general public well prepared for these incidents. However, 14 people tragically lost their lives nearer the epicentre and my thoughts go out to their loved ones.  

Parliament returned last week, and it was a particularly busy time for me with a packed diary of speeches, parliamentary activity, and meetings.  

This started off on Monday with me asking a Home Office Minister about the Conservative record on policing. The Tories have cut 10,000 police officers from the beat since 2015, leaving us all less safe and secure. A Labour Government would restore neighbourhood policing by recruiting 13,000 new officers and PCSOs, with a named, contactable officer for every ward in the country. See my question here.  

Later in the week, I had a constructive meeting with representatives of Greater Manchester Combined Authority in which we discussed how we can best work together in the interests of people in Stretford and Urmston. Our main topics for discussion were housing and transport, areas which regular readers will know are close to my heart.  

I also had an important meeting with the Community Security Trust about the deeply worrying increase in antisemitic hate crime in the UK. I reiterated my full support for stamping out this disgusting form of racism wherever it appears, as I do racism in all its guises.  

On Wednesday, I convened a parliamentary debate on access to dentistry for cancer patients. I organised this debate on behalf of Michele, a resident of Flixton, who has been a phenomenal campaigner on this issue for years (you can see her campaign page here).  

Dental health problems are a common but underappreciated side effect of cancer treatment, yet many cancer patients are finding it almost impossible to access affordable dentistry. What this means is that those with cancer, who are already facing one of life’s toughest challenges, are also having to cope with sky-high dental bills or going without the treatment they need. This is unacceptable.  

I invited Michele to Parliament to watch the debate but before it started, we both met with Labour’s Shadow Minister for Public Health and Primary Care, Preet Kaur Gill to talk about Michele’s campaign and the important issues behind it. I want to thank Preet again for being so generous with her time.  

During the debate, I asked the government minister responsible for dentistry for a meeting with myself and Michele so we could discuss what more can be done to improve access to dental services for cancer patients. The Minister kindly agreed, and I will be setting this meeting up in due course. You can read my speech from the debate here or watch a clip of the debate here.  

On Thursday I met with the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. It was an informative discussion in which we covered the visa scheme which has allowed Hong Kongers to come the UK, the influence of the Chinese state in UK universities and what this means for national security, and the disgraceful incarceration of the pro-democracy campaigner, Jimmy Lai. I will be looking to raise each of these issues in Parliament in the weeks ahead.  

Trafford is home to many Hong Kongers and I am proud that the Labour Party cares deeply about ensuring Hong Kongers in the UK can thrive, but also that those still living in Hong Kong can rely on UK support in the face of suppression and attempts to silence peaceful protest.  

Friday was a slightly unusual day in that it was a “sitting Friday” meaning that parliament was still debating and voting on business. Traditionally MPs return to their constituency on Fridays, but there are several of these Fridays across a parliamentary session and as I had secured the day’s Adjournment Debate, I was in London instead of home.  

The Adjournment Debate (which are debates at the end of each day in parliament) was on age-disputed refugee children. This is an issue that I care deeply about. Over an 18-month period the Home Office wrongly assessed over 1,300 children to be adults and placed them into adult detention centres or hotels. Not only is it deeply inappropriate and potentially dangerous for children to be housed with unrelated adults, but it is also hugely damaging to the wellbeing of the child who is denied the educational support and safeguarding they are entitled to.  

During the debate, I set out all the issues with the current system for assessing the age of asylum seekers and pushed for the Minister to make urgent improvements. You can see a clip of my speech here or read the transcript here.   

Ahead of the debate, I was privileged to meet with Omer, Motawakil and Amanual, three refugee children who have wrongly been classed as adults and placed into inappropriate accommodation as a result. They kindly shared their deeply moving stories with me and I have assured them that I will keep pressure on the government on this issue in the months ahead. 

 I did get back to Stretford and Urmston for the weekend and managed to cap off a busy week by heading to St Clement’s Church in Urmston for the installation of Rev David Carlisle in a beautiful service led by the Archbishop of Manchester.  

Finally, in the week ahead, I look forward to supporting my local party and our excellent Labour candidates across Trafford for the local elections. Polling Day is next Thursday, the 2nd of May. Postal votes should now have arrived for those registered, so please complete and return those as soon as possible to ensure that your vote counts. For those of you who vote on the day, please remember to bring photographic ID, or you will be turned away. You can view a list of the ID that will be accepted here.