This week was a challenging one, with stark warnings of the threats we face, hope for the future and timely reminders that we have more in common than that which divides us.
On Monday, the Foreign Secretary provided an update on Ukraine, which followed the Prime Minister signing an historic 100-year partnership between our two countries in Kyiv last week. This is a landmark agreement which will deepen our security ties and strengthen collaborative work on areas of strategic importance such as trade, technology and health. The Government is steadfast in our support of Ukraine and this partnership creates an unbreakable bond between us that will bolster Ukraine’s defence against Putin’s illegal invasion and unwavering fight for peace.
We also heard from the Health Secretary who exposed the Conservatives’ broken promise to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, informing MPs that there were never 40 new schemes – some were not hospitals and others were simply extensions or refurbishments. It beggars belief that the Tories made this empty pledge time and again, even after the National Audit Office confirmed that they would fail to make good on it.
It was reassuring to hear Wes Streeting explain how this will be put right with an honest, funded and deliverable timetable for the New Hospital Programme. This plan forms part of the Government’s commitment to unlock the biggest capital investment in the NHS since 2010. We are going beyond bricks and mortar and will deliver new surgical hubs, community diagnostic and mental health centres, GP estate upgrades, alongside embracing cutting edge technology to make life easier for patients and NHS staff. History shows that it always falls to Labour to fix the NHS and we are shaping a 10-year plan to make it fit for the future.
On Tuesday, local government minister, Alex Norris, answered an Urgent Question on community engagement and extremism. This followed the Prime Minister’s statement on a public inquiry into the devastating events in Southport, which made clear that we face a new threat of violence from people who are driven by extreme material online and a twisted desire for notoriety. I welcome that a rapid review of this threat is being launched to underpin our counter-extremism strategy.
We then heard from the Home Secretary on the Southport attack. It was devastating to learn that Axel Rudakubana – who has been jailed for at least 52 years – was known to multiple agencies but action that could have prevented this tragedy was not taken. The families of the three young girls, survivors, and country, deserve answers on how the system failed so catastrophically. A public inquiry will now be undertaken to get to the bottom of what happened and how we can tackle the grave threats of extremism, youth violence and dark corners of the internet so incidents like this never happen again.
The House of Commons also passed the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill this week. In an increasingly volatile world, it has never been more important to support our service men and women. This community has been failed for too long and so I am delighted that an independent commissioner is being established to provide a direct point of contact and advocate for service personnel and their families and help improve welfare across the board.
On Wednesday, the Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill was introduced, and I will be the lead minister for taking this through Parliament. Cracking down on benefit fraud is critical – in the 2022/23 financial year, benefit fraud and error reached £8.3 billion, rising to almost £10 billion lost from the public purse last year. The Bill will allow us to pursue fraudsters stealing from the taxpayer with robust safeguards in place to protect vulnerable people, and we have been working with policy experts, charities and stakeholders to ensure that this is baked in to the Bill.
On Thursday, there was a general debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The horrors of the Holocaust must never be forgotten. To mark the anniversary, I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment pledging to remember those who were murdered, including Jewish, Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay men and political opponents to the Nazis. I am in awe of the extraordinary survivors who work tirelessly to educate people about the Holocaust atrocities and help us build a better future for all.
After an incredibly busy week in Parliament, it was great to get back to the constituency on Thursday evening, which I kicked off with my first of two constituency listening events on addressing the SEND crisis. I was pleased that the online event was so well attended, with parents, carers and education professionals joining to share passionate and insightful views on how we can improve service provision and deliver better outcomes for children and young people with SEND. I will also be holding an in-person event in the coming weeks and the feedback gathered across the two sessions will support my work in Westminster.
On Friday morning, I dropped into Seymour Park Primary’s School Street first birthday celebration breakfast. School Streets is a fantastic scheme where roads near a school are closed as children arrive and leave school, encouraging families to walk to school without having to negotiate lots of traffic. They also improve air quality and get everyone moving! Volunteers are key to a successful School Street, and the breakfast was a thank you to the Old Trafford volunteers who keep it running. There are several schemes running across the constituency and I am pleased that more are planned.
It is right that I finish the blog by again paying tribute to one of my predecessors, Sir Tony Lloyd, who sadly passed away last year. I had the privilege of attending a memorial service to celebrate his life and work on Friday. Tony was born and raised in the local area and devoted his life to public service and helping the communities he represented – something I know that many of my constituents remember and value despite him being the MP more than 25 years ago. It is no fluke that he earned the nickname ‘Mr Manchester’, and I will remember fondly him as a man of principle, courtesy and hard work.
Andrew Western MP