Richmond Park News: 20 November 2020

Yesterday I spoke about my constituency in Parliament, raising a number of the issues that are concerning those who have been touch with me.

I spoke about Richmond Park's businesses in my speech, having had a Zoom meeting with RIchmond's Business Improvement District group and some of their small and medium enterprises yesterday. I have been impressed with the strong way they have responded to the Covid-19 pandemic, trying to keep their businesses afloat in the unstable business climate this year.

I then reminded the Government about the thousands of self-employed people in my constituency who have been left out of all of the Government's financial support schemes. I also raised this issue in a Public Accounts Committee meeting with HMRC on Monday, and I will keep reminding the Government that these hard-working, tax-paying citizens have been excluded from support until they do something about it. You can see me speaking about this in the chamber here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CX2boe3Hd0

I also spoke about the inspirational charity sector in my area, highlighting its vital work in responding to the pandemic. We are lucky to have a strong community support network for our vulnerable residents.

Lastly I spoke in the chamber about the children and young people in my constituency, having had the pleasure of speaking with quite a few of them this week. I am glad children are in school, and grateful to our local schools and teachers for the heroic work they have done to keep our children in the classroom as far as possible. I called on the Government in the chamber to provide more clarity for them on next year's exams. It is impossible for teachers and schools to prepare pupils without knowing what assessments will happen and when. I will continue to push this point with the Education Secretary. You can see me speaking about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggqmuAgWW7c

WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY TODAY

Today is Unicef's World Children's Day, a day for children themselves to highlight the changes they want to see in the world.

When I spoke by Zoom with the Sixth Formers at Ibstock Place School and the Year 6 pupils at the Vineyard Primary School earlier this week, they were very keen to talk about climate change and other important issues of the moment.

I enjoyed answering their questions and hearing their thoughts on the world they will inherit from us. As a member of Parliament I very much see myself as their voice and will continue to fight for their interests.

CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY BILL

Constituents who are particularly concerned about climate change might like to know that I met with the organisers of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill on Wednesday. I wanted to talk to them about how I can help push the bill forward and really ramp up our work on the environment and climate change. If you would like to know more about the bill have a look here: <