Rupa Huq to Universities Minister: Delayed return to campus is another hammer blow for students

The Government’s decision to delay the student return to campus until at least May is yet another hammer blow for young people. Students such as my constituent, Harry Wild, must not pay the price for the Government’s incompetent response to this pandemic. Today I asked the Universities Minister why students…

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Rupa Huq MP: One rule for Boris Johnson’s Dad, another rule for hardworking families!

One rule for the rich and another for hardworking families: the Government’s new #Covid travel rules will include a ‘Stanley Johnson clause’ for people to come and go if they have property abroad. Anyone else caught going on holiday faces a fine of up to £5,000. For families desperate to…

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Rupa Huq MP: Greensill affair exposes culture of cronyism at heart of Government

David Cameron is under investigation by the lobbying watchdog set up while he was prime minister, for possibly breaching laws in his interventions on behalf of #Greensill Capital. Alleged to have personally contacted the Treasury and Number 10 on behalf of Greensill, the ex-PM’s lobbying behind closed doors provides yet…

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Rupa Huq MP to Liz Truss: No more dither and delay, ban conversion therapy NOW!

Government ministers have prevaricated on banning conversion therapy for far too long, despite a clear promise to do so in 2018. The Government must get on and publish legislation NOW which will see a meaningful end to all types of this inhumane, archaic practice. I asked Liz Truss about this…

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Rupa Huq to Priti Patel: Women’s safety needs to be considered when designing housing and highways

“Designing out crime” principle replaced housing estates with layouts where criminals preyed on victims with community led schemes including openness to stop lurking Told Home Sec womens’ safety perceptions must be considered in planning applications and #LTN reviews. She agreed.

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Rupa Huq MP: Borough of Ealing needs its fair share of Covid vaccines!

It’s unacceptable that London is lagging behind on vaccines compared to other areas. In Parliament today, I made clear to the Government that every part of the Borough of Ealing (and indeed London) needs to receive its fair share of #Covid19 vaccines. I also pressed the Government to set up…

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Rupa Huq MP to Jacob Rees-Mogg: Urgent debate on planning is needed!

This morning I urged Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg MP to grant an urgent debate on planning. Local government cuts, housing targets and a deregulated planning regime have meant that a lot of councils have had no choice but to surrender municipal land for luxury flats. This can’t be…

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Rupa Huq MP to Jacob Rees-Mogg: Communities need to be consulted on rushed Covid measures

Communities need to be meaningfully consulted on rushed measures brought in during the #Covid19 pandemic. Yesterday I asked Jacob Rees-Mogg how I could bring forward legislation to mandate maximum transparency and engagement into dramatic proposals, such as the reconfiguration of our roads. The Government must do more to tackle a…

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Rupa Huq MP to International Trade Minister: Brexit red tape is holding back UK cultural exports

#Brexit red tape is holding back Britain’s entertainment industries: — The National Theatre has shelved plans to tour in mainland Europe due to visa concerns. — 76% of UK musicians have said Brexit travel restrictions will stop them performing in EU countries. And a constituent of mine has told me…

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Rupa Huq MP to Matt Hancock: End harassment outside abortion clinics

Women seeking access to the #abortion services they are legally entitled to continue to be harassed by anti-choicers, despite the #lockdown restrictions. Just now I asked the Health Secretary if he would work with ministers across government to ensure that nobody ever feels harassed or intimidated obtaining medical care that…

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Rupa Huq MP challenges the Prime Minister on vitamin D supply for 1.7m new shielders

At yesterday’s statement on the easing of lockdown, I asked Boris Johnson to provide Vitamin D supplements to the 1.7 million new people added to the shielding list, many of whom were not eligible for the Vitamin D scheme that expired recently. I also asked him to commit to a…

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Rupa Huq MP attacks Government’s pork barrel politics

The Government’s Towns Fund is a textbook example of pork barrel politics. Out of 61 areas picked by ministers for the Towns Fund, 60 were in Conservative-held seats or Tory targets with an average majority of just 3,000. In parts of our community, the streets are definitely not paved with…

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Rupa Huq MP: Vitamin D scheme needs to be advertised more widely

Many vulnerable people are not aware that they’re eligible to receive free Vitamin D supplements, with the deadline to apply coming up next week. Just now I asked Matt Hancock to commit to a national advertising campaign on Vitamin D – a move that could well save lives. Unfortunately, I…

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Rupa Huq MP intervenes in Environment Bill debate

Yesterday I spoke in the #EnvironmentBill debate. I voted for amendments to add protections to the Environment Bill, including: Legally binding air quality standards. Tackling biodiversity loss. Parliamentary scrutiny of Government plans to allow harmful pesticides. The Tories rejected them all. To make matters worse, the Bill has been postponed…

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Rupa Huq MP urges Schools Minister to provide better support for students, teachers and parents

The Government’s support to catch-up on lost learning is woefully inadequate to the amount of schooling pupils have missed. The National Tutoring Programme will only reach one in six pupils on free school meals, with funding being stretched thinly over two years. Without urgent action thousands of children will be…

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Rupa Huq MP to DEFRA Secretary: Frictionless trade not working for food companies

Food businesses in my constituency were promised frictionless trade with the EU after #Brexit. But in reality, they’re being battered by endless paperwork and red tape. This morning I hit the the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary with the reality behind the rhetoric. Shrugging this off isn’t good enough…

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Rupa Huq MP asks International Trade Sec about barriers to free trade with EU partners

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Rupa Huq MP: Hard Brexit and foreign aid reduction at odds with Government’s ‘Global Britain’ vision

The Tories claim they want to realise a vision of ‘Global Britain’ – yet they’ve gone ahead with a hard Brexit and slashed foreign aid, diminishing our influence on the world stage. As I made clear in the Commons last night, Britain cannot afford to retreat on the world stage,…

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Rupa Huq MP fights on behalf of hospitality sector during Westminster Hall debate

The hospitality sector is fighting for survival. Bold action is needed, now is the time. During a Westminster Hall debate just now, I called on the Government to provide additional financial support, extending furlough, business rate and VAT relief. Our hospitality businesses are viable – they don’t deserve to be…

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Rupa Huq MP’s full appearance at the Committee on the Future Relationship with the EU

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Rupa Huq MP fights for school staff in question to Gavin Williamson

Gavin Williamson vying with Chris “Failing” Grayling for position of worst cabinet minister ever After a content free statement to MPs yesterday I told him to stop attacking teachers’ professional integrity as the unionised enemy to dump last min u-turns on and work *with* them

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