Weekly Update
This week the Government announced its plans to overhaul planning policy to get our country building again. I speak to residents week in and week out about the current housing crisis this country is facing, especially our borough of Enfield, which has been blighted by Section 21 evictions.
That’s why I was pleased to see the package of proposals announced to Parliament by the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.
The proposals will fix the housing crisis overseen by the previous Conservative government. Specifically, Labour will reverse the damaging set of changes made last December when the outgoing government scrapped mandatory housing targets and torpedoed housebuilding rates.
Construction to build new homes was down nearly 40% in the first three months of this year, compared with the year before. We want a more strategic approach to housebuilding, prioritising poor-quality grey-belt land for building and introducing “golden rules” to ensure development works for local people and nature.
Locally, I am aware of concerns raised over the use of green-belt land, but I want to reassure you that Labour’s policy is grey-belt first. The Government’s policy strengthens the safeguards around the release of greenbelt. Just to be clear, under the last Conservative government, the number of new homes approved on green field green belt land increased tenfold, while the proportion on brownfield halved.
We will do things differently in government.
Labour was elected on a commitment to get Britain building. That’s how we’ll grow our economy, fix and fund our public services, and deliver on the priorities for people here in Enfield North.
Fixing Britain’s railways
Under the Conservatives, our railways have been run into the ground. Cancellations have soared to record high levels, fares have risen almost twice as fast as wages since 2010, and strikes are costing taxpayers £25m for every day they go ahead, whilst taxpayers fork out huge subsidies to pay for overcrowded trains, many of which are delayed or cancelled last minute.
Privatisation of our rail network has failed.
That’s why Labour announced its plans to Parliament to fix our railways once and for all by bringing them back into public ownership, and unified under Great British Railways.
I am excited to see what this means for the numerous lines going through Enfield North, not currently run by Transport for London.
The Bill brought before Parliament means that the railways will finally be run for the public by the public. But next, we must fix the crumbling foundations. That means fundamental reform, no ifs and no buts. Running the network, both track and train, as one integrated system will finally put an end to the fragmentation and waste that make our railways among the least efficient, because of their spiralling costs and falling revenues, competing interests and industry inertia. This needs to change.
Unpicking the Conservatives’ disastrous rail privatisation is yet more proof this Labour Government is serious about delivering the change people voted for on July 4th.
Winter fuel payments update
This week the Government had to make the difficult decision to apply means testing to the winter fuel payments for pensioners.
This was not an easy decision, but it was necessary because the previous government made a series of unfunded spending commitments and left a £22bn black hole in the country’s finances – threatening our economic stability.
As I discussed with many of you on the doorstep during the General Election, economic stability is the number one priority of this Labour government. Ensuring we have economic stability means some difficult decisions will need to be taken. This is one of them.
This is not a decision that the Labour government wanted or expected to make. I am very angry that the previous Conservative government knowingly overspent on departmental budgets, covered it up, called an election and ran away from the problem.
I also want to be clear that Winter Fuel Payments will continue for anyone in receipt of Pension Credit, and I am keen to ensure that everyone eligible for pension credit is claiming it. I would encourage you, your friends, family and neighbours to check if you are eligible by visiting the following link: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line at 0800 99 1234.
If you have any questions regarding Pension Credit, please feel free to contact my office at feryal.clark.mp@parliament.uk
Celebrating the brilliant local talent in Enfield
Today it was so inspiring to meet Esse Loewenthal from Enfield North.
Last year, Esse staked his claim to become the ‘world’s youngest author’ with his book ‘Baby Fox’.
I was very fortunate to meet Esse and discuss his plans for more books in the future, and his very own publishing company British Isles Publishing.
It’s always great to meet talented young people here in Enfield!
Recess and how my office can support you
Parliament is now in recess and will not sit again until September 2nd. In the meantime, I will be out and about in Enfield North, visiting groups and businesses and supporting residents.
If you’d like me to visit your community group or business, please get in touch with my office via the details below!
feryal.clark.mp@parliament.uk
Enfield North
542 Hertford Road, Enfield, EN3 5ST
020 8804 4543
Westminster
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
020 7219 6607