It was a quiet week politically until George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election. He will cause Sir Keir Starmer no end of problems over Gaza I’m sure.
I expect Labour will win the seat back at the general election. The turnout, as in all the by-elections, was very low, and more people will vote when it really matters in a general election making George’s latest stay in parliament short.
Outside of parliament my week was dominated by the Arab women’s summit and meetings on Palestine and Yemen. On Monday, I went to two events, one for the Medical Aid for Palestinians where we heard from a doctor who had just returned from Gaza. The second with the ‘war doctor’ David Nott, who spends most of his holidays helping in war torn countries training doctors as well as operating and has also just returned from Gaza. His Desert Island Discs appearance some time ago is very moving and I am sure you can find it on BBC Sounds. You can find out more about their work Medical Aid for Palestinians (map.org.uk) and David Nott Foundation. Both amazing organisations. My daughter works in the same hospital with the doctor who set up MAP.
We have just launched an inquiry into children’s social care in the Education Select Committee and heard from experts about children taken into care. I was thrilled to hear that Hampshire is one of the best local authorities for looking after children in care. The other LA that was mentioned was Essex. One of the experts was Professor June Thoburn who I had worked with in 2006 on an inquiry into children’s social workers, No Blame Game, for which I was the clerk and author of the final report. Some of our recommendations on that report were taken on but there is still turnover in social workers which is very disruptive for children. We also heard that residential homes are often a good choice for some children. I have met with Hampshire foster carers and have been so impressed with their dedication looking after some very damaged children.
I had a meeting with the Department for Education to discuss my Bill on a Register for Not in School Children. We went through the legislation in preparation for the second reading on 15th March. There is a vocal lobby of home educators who do not like the idea of a register but local authorities, the Children’s Commission, charities and MPs from all parties do want this legislation as it will protect vulnerable children and support those families who are struggling with home education including with access to public exams, equipment and other educational material where needed. What it is not going to do is to tell families what to teach or how they must educate their children.
In the evening, I had Alex and Chow Mezger who run Jude’s Ice Cream and Rupert Boissier from the Flowerpots to Westminster and to meet the Secretary of State for DEFRA at No 10 Downing Street. We went around Parliament looking at where Jude’s Ice Cream is sold and to Stranger’s Bar to see where we can sell some of the beer from the Flowerpots. Later in the evening we voted on the Leaseholders Bill which I hope will be changed when it gets to the Lords as I had some concerns on this and was able to talk to Ministers about the issues. You are also welcome to write to me if you have any concerns about the legislation. I am getting some correspondence about Diana Johnson’s amendment on decriminalising abortion until term. I cannot vote for this but I have signed an amendment to bring the abortion limit down to 22 weeks as I have met many people that have been born at 24 weeks and survived. That is why I will not be voting for Diana’s amendment.
On Wednesday I met the Vice President of Yemen, Tariq Saleh, whose uncle had been President, to hear about the peace process in Yemen and about the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. I have just written an article on Yemen for House Magazine in Parliament. Immediately afterwards, I met with the Mayor of Masafah Yatta, a town in the West Bank (which I have visited) and heard about settler violence which has become much worse since October. I saw the Foreign Secretary this week and asked him about the forthcoming ceasefire which I hope will start on Sunday.
On Thursday morning, I was in Lancaster House chairing one of the Arab Women Summit Panels. One interesting fact I heard this week is that the UAE has 50% women in their Parliament. Every Arab woman that I have met over the past couple of days has been so impressive that it gives me great hope for the region.
I was disappointed to hear Lee Anderson’s remarks last week. He is a good MP colleague standing up for his community but as politicians we need to be careful of language and how it impacts on people.
I am out campaigning this weekend as usual. Have a good weekend.
