Week In Westminster: w/c 11th May
- May 15
- 2 min read
I wanted to start this week's newsletter by acknowledging the change our local elections have brought across our area, with new administrations taking control of both Wakefield and Kirklees Councils.
The results were tough for the Labour Party nationally, and here in West Yorkshire. We've lost dedicated councillors who have worked tirelessly for their communities.
On the doorsteps over the campaign, I heard the same thing - that our community feels ignored, forgotten, overlooked, and they don’t have trust in politics. It's clear that change is not coming quickly enough. As a Party, we will reflect and act on this fact.
In the meantime, I look forward to working constructively with both councils on the issues that matter most to residents across Ossett and Denby Dale - that will always be my focus.
On Wednesday, Parliament returned for the State Opening and the King's Speech set out the Government's agenda for this new session, and it was a real privilege to be in the House of Lords gallery to watch His Majesty deliver his speech in person.
Across the speech, there was a clear focus on economic security, energy independence and rebuilding public services.
I will cover the full programme in more detail in the weeks ahead as the 35 different Bills begin their passage through Parliament, but worth a special mention now are:
The Energy Independence Bill will cut bills for families and lift 400,000 households out of fuel poverty by 2030.
The Clean Water Bill will establish a new Water Ombudsman and strengthen drinking water protections.
The Police Reform Bill will put more officers into local neighbourhoods, tackling antisocial behaviour.
I also wanted to highlight a theme I was delighted to see in the speech - widening opportunity for young people.
Since becoming your MP, I've seen a welfare system that writes people off, and hinders, rather than helps them into work - and young people feel that most acutely.
Nearly a million 16-24 year olds were not in employment, education or training when I took office. That’s roughly one in eight of all young people.
That is why I am pleased to see £2.5 billion being invested to support almost one million young people into work, with up to 500,000 new opportunities to earn and learn. It means reforming Universal Credit so that work always pays and introducing a Youth Guarantee so no young person is left without an offer of a job, training or work placement.
The Milburn and Timms Reviews will also report this year, and I will be watching their findings very closely.
Every young person across our area deserves the chance to go as far as their talent and effort will take them. I am determined to make that a reality. |
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