Weekly Update
This week marks 100 Commons sitting days under this Labour Government.
100 days of change.
100 days of fixing public services.
100 days of putting government back into service of people.
Labour is fixing the state, so it works for working people. We’re reshaping the state so that we can deliver our Plan for Change. The Prime Minister’s announcement that we will bring the NHS back into the heart of government shows how serious we are about delivering security and renewal for working people.
Every pound spent, every regulation, every decision, must deliver for working people and improve life for our Enfield North constituents. That’s the future we’re delivering through our Plan for Change.
Crime and Policing Bill
On Monday 10 March 2025, the House of Commons debated the Crime and Policing Bill in its Second Reading.
The Government’s flagship Crime and Policing Bill represents the biggest package of measures on crime and policing for decades, with 50 new laws to cut crime and make our streets safer.
Labour’s comprehensive set of new measures will tackle antisocial behaviour, shop theft and street crime head on, giving the police and our communities new powers to take back town centres from thugs and thieves.
The Bill also includes measures to address some of the issues that have blighted the lives of too many of our Enfield North constituents such as knife crime, violence against women and girls as well as other serious violence and highest-harm offences, such as cybercrime, child sexual abuse, and terrorism.
This Labour Government will take back our streets and town centres, restore respect for law and order, and give the police and local communities the support and tools they need to tackle local crime. I know from talking to small businesses across Enfield north how welcome this news would be.
Employment Rights Bill
We also saw the Employment Rights Bill back in Parliament this week for its Report Stage and Third Reading.
The bill will update the UK’s outdated employment laws and turn the page on an economy blighted by insecurity, poor productivity and low pay.
This includes ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices, establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers, and strengthening statutory sick pay.
These measures will also be beneficial for employers, helping to keep people in work, reduce recruitment costs for employers by increasing staff retention and levelling the playing field on enforcement
With this Bill, the Government is calling a time on the Tories’ scorched earth approach to industrial relations that led to the worst strikes chaos in decades. A new partnership of cooperation between trade unions, employers and government will ensure we benefit from more cooperation and less disruption. We are raising the floor on workplace rights to deliver a stronger, fairer and brighter future for the world of work in the UK.
Bureaucratic burden lifted to speed up building in the growth agenda
This week the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced to Parliament and had its Frist Reading this week.
This will help us deliver on our commitment to accelerate housebuilding, create thousands of new jobs and grow our economy. It will support the delivery of the much-needed homes here in Enfield.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will unleash seismic reforms to help builders get shovels in the ground quicker to build more homes, and the vital infrastructure we need to improve transport links and make Britain a clean energy superpower to protect billpayers.
International Women’s Day Event
This week I hosted one of my favourite events of the year- my annual reception for Enfield North women to celebrate International Women’s Day.
It was a great to host the many amazing women from across Enfield North to celebrate this special day. Their energy and passion inspire us to keep pushing for change.
Alewite killings in Syria
I am aware of the ongoing situation in Syria. Please be assured that I am taking action where I can.
I have written to the Minister and spoken with the Minister on the UK Government’s response.
I also met with the local community group who came to Parliament to deliver a petition.
Visit with Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy and Enfield Leaders to Forty Hall Farm
It was great to welcome the Deputy Mayor of London for Environment this week to Enfield. I was delighted to join the Leader of the council and the Deputy mayor on a visit to Forty Hall farm and the Beaver enclosure to see rewilding projects that have received funding from the Mayor’s Rewild London Fund. I look forward to working with the council and the mayor of London on how we can better connect all our residents to the green spaces.
Creating, restoring, and connecting wildlife-rich habitats helps reduce pressures on species and allows them to thrive. It was great to see the work that we are doing first hand in Enfield on this.
Labour Together Breakfast
On Wednesday I was delighted to join the Labour Together Business Network for a roundtable in my capacity as the Minister for AI and Digital Government. It is always great to hear from the industry and discuss the Government’s plans to be a global pioneer in AI.
Holi
Happy Holi to everyone celebrating in Enfield, the UK and around the world! May it be a time of renewal, unity and light.
