Weekly Update
We are now into week three of a Labour government, and we are wasting no time in taking action to deliver on our election promises. The Bills announced in the King’s Speech will fix the foundations of our public services, restore trust through service-focused Government, and begin a decade of national renewal.
We have hit the ground running.
The Chancellor has created a national wealth fund to invest in and grow our economy. The central mission of this government is to restore economic growth and ensure that this growth is felt here in Enfield North and across the whole country, so that people are better off everywhere, wherever they live.
Labour has also announced plans to appoint a commissioner tasked with recouping billions from Covid contract fraud, an initiative that will use every means possible to recoup money from fraudulent and underperforming suppliers. This money, today in the hands of fraudsters, belongs in our crumbling public services, and we want it back.
We have lifted the ban on onshore wind, which had effectively blocked onshore wind developments since 2015. Alongside this, we have consented to 1.3GW of solar power projects, which will power the equivalent of almost 400,000 homes. This will provide cheaper bills and more good quality green jobs for the future.
We’ve met NHS bosses to get the 40,000 extra NHS appointments we need each week, and begun work on getting 700,000 urgent dental appointments up and running as quickly as possible. I know many of you have contacted me since I was elected with your concerns regarding access to primary care and GP appointments – and particularly NHS dental care - so I am pleased that we are delivering these for all.
The Department for Education is kickstarting our promise to hire 6,500 new teachers, starting by resetting the relationship between the government and the education workforce. It is our priority to give children the best possible start in life.
We have also committed to abolishing Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. These have blighted the lives of residents in Enfield North, and around the country, for far too long. Better protections for renters will provide residents in Enfield with greater security and protect them from the risk of homelessness.
And, on day one of this Government, we scrapped the Rwanda gimmick and began setting up a new Border Security Command to smash the people-smuggling gangs for good.
We have made a good start to delivering our promises, but there is so much left to do. I will keep you all updated with further progress.
Child poverty
This week there was a motion in Parliament calling for an end to the two-child benefit cap. This issue was ignored by the Conservatives for far too long.
Tackling child poverty is central not just to this Labour government, but to every Labour government. The last Labour government took over half a million children out of poverty – and lifted millions of children out of absolute poverty overall. Our commitment to ending child poverty, and its many other achievements in office, are why so many of us joined this party and are proud to serve in a Labour government today.
We have committed to an ambitious child poverty strategy, overseen by a new Ministerial Taskforce to drive cross-government action on child poverty.
In addition, we have laid out a series of concrete and significant actions in our manifesto to support children and families. These include free breakfast clubs in every primary school, expanding government-funded childcare, cutting school uniform costs, placing Young Futures hubs in every community, renters reform to give families security, and delivering our Child Health Action Plan.
Labour is serious about tackling child poverty. We have done it before, and we will do it again.
Enfield North – Supporting you
For over four years I have taken on thousands of residents’ issues and won. I have led local campaigns to bring lasting change to our communities. Whether that’s on healthcare access, policing or banking. I will always be on your side.
If you need support with anything, my office is open Monday to Friday, and accessible by phone, email or in person. Details are 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