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Richmond Park News: 31 January 2025

Writer's picture: Sarah Olney MPSarah Olney MP

HEATHROW THIRD RUNWAY:


As many of you will likely know, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, this week announced the Government’s support for the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport. While her speech was on growth, the economic advantages of expanding Heathrow remain contested, and the environmental and social consequences are unavoidable. Therefore it is clear that any proposals for a third runway should be opposed.


Earlier in the week, in anticipation of the Chancellor’s announcement, I asked an Urgent Question on airport expansion to the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, Mike Kane MP. I highlighted that the Department for Transport’s own Updated Appraisal Report estimates that the net present value of building a third runway ranges from just £3.3 billion to minus £2.2 billion, while Heathrow itself holds over £17 billion of debt and is highly leveraged. Unfortunately, the minister avoided responding to this question, and instead decided to attack the Liberal Democrats' opposition to expansion without providing any substance. You can watch my Urgent Question here.


Immediately after the Chancellor’s speech on Wednesday, I spoke in the Chamber to ask the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones MP, how the Chancellor could be confident that a third runway would lead to growth while a proposal from Heathrow is not even on the table yet. As mentioned, the economic argument for Heathrow’s third runway is weak at best, and I cited the Head of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s recent statement that airport expansion will not lead to significant economic growth as the UK is already heavily interconnected. You can watch a clip of my question here.


Throughout the week, I have been voicing my opposition to Heathrow expansion, as I spoke with the BBC, ITV and LBC. The media also widely covered mine and my colleagues’ protest outside of Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, and I am proud to stand with my fellow Liberal Democrat MP colleagues in opposition to Heathrow expansion. 


TERMINALLY ILL ADULTS (END OF LIFE) BILL COMMITTEE:


Throughout this week I have attended evidence sessions for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee.


During these sessions, I and other committee members have heard from a range of witnesses who have presented evidence related to the legislation. The witnesses primarily come from across the medical and care sector, and it is their job to lend their expertise and to respond to any concerns or proposed amendments that we may have regarding the bill. The Committee also heard from legal specialists who have made valuable contributions to this stage of the legislative process.  


To ensure that the reality of this complex and emotive issue was not forgotten about in the details of the evidence provided, the Committee also heard from families who have lived experiences of assisting with terminally-ill loved ones. I was glad that these families were given the opportunity to share their experiences and I am sure that my fellow committee members were also touched by the evidence they provided.


You can watch a clip of me discussing the evidence sessions in more detail with BBC Radio 4 by clicking on the following link.


BACKBENCH BUSINESS DEBATE ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION:


The recent UK General Election delivered the most disproportional result in the country’s history which has acted as a catalyst for renewing debate about our country’s Parliamentary voting system. As many of you will know, my Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill was the first time that the UK Parliament has voted in favour of a system of proportional representation to be used in UK General Elections. I am pleased that members from many different political parties spoke to advocate for proportional representation in yesterday's Backbench Business Debate. 


Recent polling shows that a majority of the British public are now in favour of scrapping First Past the Post, which has been shown to be an outdated and unrepresentative method of conducting national votes.  I welcome the establishment and work of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections which launched last year with the support of over 100 MPs. Their report ‘Free not Fair’ highlights many of the structural issues which have led to the decline of public trust in politics and engagement with elections, and highlighted that changing to a proportional voting system would encourage engagement in our elections.


I look forward to working with MPs from across the benches as I continue to push for a fairer electoral system and to ensure that my bill is granted Parliamentary time to allow it to progress through the legislative process. 


You can watch a clip of my speech by clicking on the following link.


WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATE ON YOUTH MOBILITY:


On Wednesday I led a debate in Westminster Hall on the advantages of a Youth Mobility Scheme between the EU and UK. 


A Youth Mobility Scheme would open up opportunities for young British residents to learn new skills, languages and cultures, allowing those aged 18 to 30 to live, work and study in the signatory countries for a set time period.


During my remarks, I also highlighted the broader advantages of this scheme. The UK is currently facing acute labour shortages, in sectors such as hospitality, the arts, entertainment and retail. These are exactly the kinds of jobs that are likely to appeal to young people visiting the UK, whether they are travelling to study, to immerse themselves in our culture or to develop their English language skills.


The EU has been very clear that they would welcome a Youth Mobility Scheme while indicating that further cooperation, including new partnerships on defence, will not be agreed unless the UK agrees to a Youth Mobility Scheme. 


This is a matter which I have been pushing for since my re-election in July, and I will continue to call on the Government to establish this important opportunity for a new generation of young people. 


You can watch a clip of my debate here, and my call for closer ties with Europe being highlighted on BBC Radio 4 following my interview with the channel here.


BBC POLITICS LONDON:


Last Sunday, I appeared on BBC Politics London to discuss a variety of issues. Monday 27 February marked Holocaust Memorial Day, and I welcomed an important discussion with the Labour MP on the panel, Dan Pinto-Duschinsky, about the difficulties that Jewish people and other minority groups continue to face in society. It is important that we do not forget the suffering and persecution that millions of people experienced, and on Sunday evening, I attended Richmond Synagogue to pay my respects in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the holocaust. I was especially touched to hear a personal account from a holocaust survivor, who spoke about their experiences and suffering during World War 2. 


On the program, I was also asked about the possibility of Hammersmith Bridge reopening ahead of the reconvening of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce. Stabilisation works are currently being undertaken to ensure that the bridge is not at imminent risk of collapsing, and these works are set to be completed in the next few months. To restore the bridge to a standard to which it would be safe for emergency vehicles and buses to cross again requires extensive strengthening works to be completed. 


During the discussion, I was asked to comment on concerns that it could take a decade for the bridge to be completely repaired even if the works begin now. While this is a pessimistic estimate, if the repairs had been started when the bridge was first closed, the works would be over halfway complete by now, and the financial cost would have been half of what it is today. I therefore reiterated the need for the funding for the repairs to be released as soon as possible.


You can watch my full interview here.


LBC CROSS QUESTION:


On Wednesday night, I appeared on LBC Cross Question, hosted by Iain Dale. Of course, the Chancellor’s speech on growth dominated the debate, with the key question being whether her proposals would actually result in providing economic security and prosperity.


Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in the US and the consequent instability of trading relations that may follow, it is now more important than ever that the UK seeks closer ties with the EU as our largest single trading partner. While I was pleased to hear that Rachel Reeves’ speech indicated the Government’s wishes to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with Europe, it remains unclear what direction this will take. It is evident that restoring mutually beneficial trading ties with the EU should be a priority of the Government’s to ensure growth, and I reiterated that re-joining the Customs Union is the route to accomplish this. 


The debate then moved towards Heathrow, and I used this as an opportunity to raise the clear conflict between the Government’s net-zero targets and the building of a new runway. While the Chancellor has referred to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as the answer to ensuring protections to our environment, I voiced my concerns about this wishful thinking, as currently only 2% of total UK jet fuel demand is made up from a form of SAF.


The panel also debated immigration controls and deterrents after President Trump signed an executive order to enable the deportation of migrants to Guantanamo Bay. 


Since the start of the migrant crisis, my office has received casework from individuals who have been living in the UK for years without a decision being made on their asylum application. I urged the Government to continue to speed up the assessment process to enable a fair and efficient system of immigration controls to prevail and to not follow the US’ lead by pursuing an inhumane system of deterrence - like the Rwanda proposal.


You can watch the full debate by clicking on the following link.


PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE:


In my role on the Public Accounts Select Committee, on Monday I attended a session regarding Prison Estate Capacity. 


This session scrutinised the significant cost increases associated with prison maintenance as well as specifically the cost associated with rapid deployment cells which is between 247% - 259% over the original estimates, while the roll-out has been far from 'rapid.' These units have been introduced as new modern prison cells that can be built and rolled-out at speed in order to boost jail capacity.


These expenses have been far higher than the projected costs of the plans, and I used this opportunity to raise my concerns about the costs exceeding their predictions. It seems evident that this project has either been poorly planned or poorly executed.


You can watch a clip of my question here.


APPOINTMENT AS TRADE ENVOY TO NORTH AFRICA:


I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed as a Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to North Africa - which includes Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya.


This role will involve identifying trade and investment opportunities for businesses and championing the UK as the destination of choice for investment. 


As a Trade Envoy, I will work with the Government and businesses in these national markets to drive growth, create more jobs for British people and bring higher living standards.


I look forward to working with the department of Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in this exciting new position.


You can read the full statement announcing my appointment here.


NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY DROP-IN:


To raise awareness about the multiple barriers and difficulties impacting autistic people, the National Autistic Society (NAS) hosted a drop-in event in Parliament. 


At the event, I spoke with representatives from the National Autistic Society about the reality of autistic people’s struggle with securing support in health and social care, education, employment and mental health. 


During my time as an MP, I have received multiple pieces of casework from my constituents which underline the struggles that autistic individuals have in receiving the support they require. This can range from support in schools to receiving emergency care in hospitals or care settings, and it is important that that additional support is provided to ensure that autistic people’s needs are being met.


COMMUNITY NEWS


BARNES MEN’S SHED:


The Barnes Men’s Shed provides a community hub for men to connect, converse and create. The BCA Barnes Men’s Shed is similar to a garden shed, as it is a place for groups of men (and women!) to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. 


Loneliness is an epidemic which is not discussed enough in our society, and the Men’s Shed attempts to combat this by giving groups of people an opportunity to socialise and connect.


The BCA have conducted a survey that identifies strong interest in a Men’s Shed in the community, and they are currently looking for a home. If you would like to volunteer for the BCA Men’s Shed project, you can register your interest here.


LIGHT UP KINGSTON:


This February, Light Up Kingston returns with a stunning series of light installations. Running from Friday 14th to Monday 23rd February, this year’s event promises to be bigger and brighter, with even more installations and interactive displays, as well as the provision of discounts from local businesses.


For anyone who wishes to brighten up their winter evenings, Light Up Kingston provides this outlet. The bright lights will run from 16:30 - 21:00 daily for the event duration, and you can find out more information here.


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