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Minister challenged to name handover date for Southeastern

Erith and Thamesmead MP Abena Oppong-Asare challenged Transport Ministers to name a handover date for Southeastern services to TfL.

Abena put the question to Ministers at Transport Question time in Parliament following delays which have angered local passengers eager to see the service improved.

Abena said “We all know that there are huge transport issues in our constituency, not least regarding the Southeastern Rail service. I asked the Minister for Transport when we could expect a date for the transfer of Southeastern services to TfL. Unfortunately no date was set. I will continue to fight for this simple improvement to take place, as well as fighting for our constituency on other issues, such as the over-run of Crossrail.”

Abena talks about BAME representation in Parliament

Erith and Thamesmead MP opens up about being a BAME MP and the importance of representation in Parliament.

You can read more here: https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/we-had-to-fight-tooth-and-nail-bame-parliamentarians-talk-representation-and-tackling-racism

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MP joins Parliamentary protest over cladding scandal

Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, joined Mayor Sadiq Khan and other MPs and campaigners at a protest outside Parliament this week in protest at Government inaction over cladding.

The protest was organised by residents living in high rise accommodation who continue to suffer from the lack of Government support and action since the fire at Grenfell Tower.

More than two years since the Grenfell tragedy, hundreds of residential buildings continue to face significant fire safety deficiencies. Leaseholders in privately owned buildings are liable for funding the work to replace the cladding, meaning many face substantial bills they cannot afford.

Speaking after the protest, Abena said “Residents living in affected buildings are left in limbo while the Government fails to act. This ongoing crisis is ruining lives. Ministers need to take action in the coming Budget, with a package of financial and mental health support offered to all those affected.”

Housing a key priority for new local MP

Abena Oppong-Asare MP has pledged that housing will be one of her top priorities as your MP over the course of this Parliament.

Housing is an issue raised often by local people with Abena and she knows that people care passionately about improving housing, tackling homelessness and addressing safety issues like cladding in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy.

Abena met with John Lewis, Executive Director of Peabody, earlier this month to discuss working together to address issues raised by local people with housing.

She also attended Peabody’s community event to hear the results of their survey of 1,000 Thamesmead residents and commit her efforts to bringing the DLR to Thamesmead.

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MP visits local schools

New Erith and Thamesmead MP Abena Oppong-Asare has been introducing herself to local school children in a series of visits to local schools.

During her first months as our MP, Abena has visited a number of local schools, including Discovery, Alexander McCleod, St Fidelis and Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls. She toured the schools, met with teachers and other school staff and held Q&A events with children.

Abena said “I have had the pleasure of visiting several schools over the last month. Children in each had a chance to ask me questions and to debate important policy issues such as homelessness. It is great to see the next generation taking an active interest in society and politics.”

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MP weighs in on major changes to law

Local MP Abena Oppong-Asare has been working hard in Parliament to improve two major pieces of legislation which will impact the UK for years to come.

Abena sits on the Bill Committee for the Agriculture Bill, which will determine Britain’s food and farming policy post-Brexit. She’s part of a small number of MPs who are scrutinising the Government’s Bill line by line and proposing amendments to support British farmers, protect food safety standards and animal welfare regulations.

Abena has also been working as a member of Labour’s Shadow Defra team on the Second Reading of the Environment Bill, which will determine our environmental policies. Abena and Labour colleagues are putting pressure on the Government to improve the Bill to introduce tougher commitments to improving air quality and tackling plastic waste. These are issues of great concern to many people in Erith and Thamesmead.

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MP fights Government deportations

Abena Oppong-Asare, Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, has used her platform in Parliament to oppose the Government’s deportation policy.

Abena challenged Home Office Ministers at Parliamentary Question time about the shameful deportations to Jamaica, spoke at a rally outside Parliament and also raised awareness of the issue in an interview with the BBC.

Abena said “I continue to liaise with Movement for Justice who keep me appraised of developments and I will be monitoring the situation closely in order to hold the Government to account over this disgraceful policy.”