Busy day in Westminster
Today has been busy, but productive! For anyone who doesn't know, we have to apply by ballot to ask questions in the Chamber - it's a bit 'pot luck' at times but I managed to secure questions to the Prime Minister and to Mims Davies [Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression] in a Women and Equalities Question Session.
I took this opportunity to ask what the UK Government are doing to ensure that more of our older generation apply for, and receive Pension Credit. As many of you will know this is an issue I've campaigned on relentlessly, and I won't stop until the £7m that goes unclaimed in Glasgow North East by eligible pensioners is in their pockets! It was unsurprising to hear that the UK Government think they're doing a great job, and Mims rallied off several statistics - 217% this, 115% that - which would lead you to believe they're doing a sterling job. They're not! There are still eligible pensioners out there who are choosing between heating and eating, who are forced to live in poverty when they should be enjoying their later years - they've contributed all their lives and they deserve to be supported properly!
My PMQ wasn't to the actual PM but to his deputy Oliver Dowden. I was getting so bored of his routine answer to everything..... "I'll take no lectures from the parties opposite". Again he quoted stat after stat that just doesn't hold up under real scrutiny. Anyway - I wanted to ask him about the mortgage crisis that is hitting homeowners and private renters alike. This is a crisis that the UK Government created over two years ago and they KNEW it was coming.
A few years ago I was in the awful position of having to phone my bank to ask if I could reduce my mortgage payments by switching to interest-only. It was one of the worst phone calls I've ever had. I was told in no uncertain terms that unless I earned over £60k a year and had enough equity in my property or assets then I couldn't make the switch. I felt terrified and abandoned. To be told that you could lose your home is possibly one of the worst things that can happen to you. And like I have said, it's not just homeowners - I'm hearing about people who are being forced out of their private rentals because their landlords can't afford their increased mortgage payments.
The Deputy PM did actually answer me for a change, it wasn't a great answer and more needs to be done - their temporary measures of preventing evictions and protecting credit scores is barely helping anyone! And it's all on a voluntary basis for lenders - the UK Government have the power to regulate and legislate, they're more than happy to do this when it comes to criminalising asylum seekers but less happy when it means helping out households across these islands.
My final debate today was a very moving discussion on the botched and corrupt Metropolitan police investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Baroness Doreen Lawrence was sat in the public gallery and listened intently to some powerful speeches. I was at pains to point out that until the Met Police and the UK Government admit and accept that the Met is institutionally racist then they can't begin to address and fix the problems within. I read out several sections from the ex-Chief Constable of Police Scotland's statement on Police Scotland accepting it was institutionally racist and suggested that the UK Government and the Met learn from this move. I also highlighted the independent public inquiry set up to examine the events surrounding the death of Sheku Bayoh and the similarities with the Stephen Lawrence case.
So much more needs to be done - the Lawrence family deserve real justice and the people of London need a police force that offers the same level of protection for everyone.
Anyway, I'm now in my office reflecting on the day and responding to the days correspondence. Thanks for reading, and as always, I'm here for you - so if you want to get in touch or you need some help or advice, please email me on [email protected] or call 0141 465 8925.