Dear Friend,

Many thanks for taking the time to look at my latest newsletter for October 2023.

I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.

As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Abena

—

Conflict in Israel, Gaza and the Middle East

Like you and so many across our community, I have been following the recent events in the Middle East and feeling intense distress and horror at what is unfolding.

It goes without saying that I condemn all acts of terrorism unequivocally. Anyone who commits war crimes such as these must be held to account. The murder of innocent Jews will never serve the just cause of Palestinian freedom and statehood.

However, we must also distinguish between the innocent people of Gaza and the terrorists of Hamas. In Gaza, as well as the thousands of innocent civilian casualties, we now see a community forced to live without power, food and water. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing their homes and countless families are living in terror.

I believe the international community has a responsibility to deliver the humanitarian response needed to safeguard innocent lives and to ensure that the civilians of Gaza have access to the food, water, medicines and power which are so desperately needed.

It is also very worrying to hear about the domestic concerns that have arisen as a result of this conflict. I’m sure you will be aware of the rise of Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents within our country in recent weeks. I hope you will agree that all forms of discrimination and racism are wrong and have no place in our society.

At this time, we must extend a hand of friendship to neighbours and across our faiths. Small gestures, even chatting to a neighbour from a different faith group, will make a big difference at this time, and is something we can all do.

This is a rapidly changing situation, and I can assure you I will continue to follow developments very closely.

Launch of The Voice Newspaper’s Black British Voices Report

At the end of September, I was so pleased to chair the launch of the landmark survey on Black British Voices by The Voice Newspaper in the Houses of Parliament.

This ground-breaking report and its findings are shocking but to many they will not be surprising. The report details the results of the largest ever survey of Black Britons – surveying over 10,000 people. It reveals the concerns felt by so many about racism across our country and within our core institutions.

Following this report, I’ve been pleased to share the findings with my colleagues in Parliament and with the Government. I hope that everyone can take on board this vital research and raise awareness of racial injustices wherever it is found.

You can read the full report here.

My Black History Month Debate in Parliament

Black History Month is an important moment of reflection each year when we celebrate the great achievements of Black Britons. Therefore, this year I was pleased to host a debate in Parliament – the first Black History Month debate in two years – see links below to see what was said.

As you may know, the theme of Black History Month 2023 has been “Saluting our sisters”. In my speech, I was delighted to highlight several Black Britons, and especially Black British women, who for too long have been under-recognised in our national conversation.

You are welcome to read my full speech on the UK Parliament’s website here.

You can also watch my speech here.

Finally, while this is an essential annual event in the UK and worldwide, I spoke about how we must commit to talking about Black history all year round. I thank everyone who celebrated this year and all those continuing to fight for positive change.

My Work in Parliament

This month, I’ve been working hard to share Labour’s message on the NHS and our Health Care system in Parliament. I’ve also been raising several issues that I know are important to those in our community.

Firstly, in my role as Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health, I started the month by challenging the Government over their lack of action to tackle rising Suicide rates across England and also their failure to reform the Mental Health Act (MHA). You can see my response here: https://twitter.com/abenaopp/status/1714308914697683406

Suicide rates have been shockingly high for too long and the Opposition has committed to reversing the rise in suicides in England and Wales within five years. I also have been tremendously saddened by the lack of action from this Government to reform the MHA, which even they have agreed is out of date and must change. If nothing does change, we will continue to let down all those suffering with severe Mental Health conditions.

I’ve also been pleased to speak about the important issues of birth trauma, IVF provision and baby loss. Pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent can be a special and rewarding time for many people. But there can sometimes be severe complications that impact the baby, the mother, and the parents. I sympathise with all those affected and in Parliament I challenged the government to do more where possible to provide support.

Furthermore, I was pleased to respond on behalf of the opposition regarding my colleague Carolyn Harris MP’s debate on the Menopause. Women’s health has for too long been a marginalised issue. And when it comes to women’s health, the issue of the menopause is critical. It affects every woman but there is still a lack of support for women experiencing the menopause. I shared how Labour would make important changes if we were elected, like making the workplace more suitable for women going through the menopause.

It was also lovely to meet a number of constituents and activists in Parliament this month. For example, I was pleased to meet Laura and Luciana from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance and it was fantastic that so many students from Woolwich Polytechnic School were able to visit Parliament too. 

As ever, if you are interested in a Tour of Parliament then I would be happy to arrange this for you. Please contact me at: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk.

Superloop SL3 Consultation Update

You may remember, in the July newsletter, I urged you to take part in the consultation about this new express stop bus service between Thamesmead and Bromley. The results of this consultation were published this month: showing a positive response and TFL have announced that they have decided to proceed with the proposals which will have a positive impact on transport links within the area.

Southeastern Ticket Office Consultation Update

I also wanted to share that the Government has now u-turned on their plans to close Southeastern ticket offices. Thanks to residents and councillors who responded to the campaign to submit consultation comments.

Further information can be found via this web link.

Defibrillator and CPR Training in Parliament

After my Parliamentary debate on increasing public access to Defibrillators in July, awareness is increasing, and more training is now becoming available.

It was great to have so many members of Parliament and staff learning about this lifesaving training and these devices. I hope that we can continue to spread the message of awareness around the whole country and save lives as a result.

This event comes after the good news in September about the new defibrillator at Lesnes Abbey Lodge. A big thank you to Lesnes Abbey Friends who worked so hard to make that happen and for inviting me to see the new device.

Thanks especially to the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle for hosting the event in Parliament and also to the London Ambulance Service for providing the training.

Let’s continue to push for progress.

Windrush School Visit

It was also great to join pupils from Year 6 at Windrush Primary School in Thamesmead last month. It was really nice to be grilled by them on what I’ve been doing as an MP and hear about why they love living in our local community.

A big thanks to the school for inviting me and I look forward to coming back again soon.  

Cambridge University’s Black History Month Dinner

I was delighted to attend the recent Black History Month Dinner at Cambridge University alongside Naomi Campbell and friends, old and new. 

The dinner was a great celebration of Black Britons and Black British History, and I was so pleased to meet so many inspiring people there.

I want to thank the hosts of this event – Simon Wooley, the Principal of Homerton College and also the President of the Cambridge University African Caribbean Society, Michael Lawson-Falomo for hosting such a fantastic evening.

World Mental Health Day 2023

On Tuesday 10 October we marked World Mental Health Day. On this important day, I shared my thoughts about how we need to do so much more to support those suffering with their mental health.

These are challenging times, after a once in a generation pandemic and a devastating cost of living crisis, and it is important to emphasise that everyone’s mental health matters. Reaching out and sharing experiences must not be a sign of weakness but a testament to our resilience. Together, we can break the stigma and ensure access to quality mental health care for everyone.

In my new role as the Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health, I also restated Labour’s commitment to transformational policies that will expand our mental health services and bring support directly into our schools and communities.

I hope that this World Mental Health Day, we were able to take another important step forward and encourage more to join the conversation to make sure no one suffers in silence.

My Update on Casework for October

Thank you to everyone who contacted me in the last month to raise the issues you are facing.

The last few months have been a busy period where I have been contacted by many constituents on many important issues.

As many of you will know, housing continues to be a huge issue in Erith and Thamesmead and is the main concern of many constituents contacting me. I will continue to challenge the Government on this issue as well as working with constituents on many of the personal issues they are facing.

I am also very concerned about the delays in the Home Office’s processing of immigration applications. Some people are waiting for 12 months or even longer for a decision to be made on their applications, during which time they are unable to travel, change jobs, and often struggle to provide for their families.

To reflect the changing cost of living crisis that we are currently facing, I have also recently updated my Cost-of-Living booklet for those who need extra support. If you would like a copy of the booklet or would like my office to share copies of my booklet with local businesses or groups, please email me at: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk.

As always, if you have any concerns or issues that you like to raise with me, please contact my office using the following channels:

• Email: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
• Telephone: 01322 342991 (Mon-Fri, 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm)

Furthermore:

• Women in Westminster Article – I was pleased to join the House Magazine team and share my story of how I ended up in politics and Parliament. We discussed what’s good and not so good about being an MP and how there is so much more to do on issues like equality and in my new role in the Shadow Health Team. You can read the article on the Politics Home website here.

• Rethink Mental Illness Meeting – Nice to meet the Rethink Mental Illness team in Parliament and meet some of those who have suffered as a result of the out-of-date Mental Health Act.

• Show Racism the Red Card Day – It was important to commemorate ‘Show Racism the Red Card Day’ to make sure we challenge racism, misconceptions, stereotypes and negative attitudes in football and across society.

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I urge all women to check themselves, support those in need and raise awareness about the important issue.
• New Statesman Article on ‘How would a Labour government fix the NHS? – I’m pleased to share the following article that was in the New Statesman last month. It shared the vision of each of the Opposition’s Health Ministers, including myself, about how we would make the NHS fit for the future. Read the article here.

Sign up to my Coffee Morning

If you are interested in coming along to a future Coffee Morning, I’ve just launched my webpage where you, your family and friends can sign up to register your interest in attending a meeting.

Sign up:  https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/upcoming-events/coffeemorning/

Stay updated on social media

For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).

You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch

 

Dear Friend,

Many thanks for taking the time to look at my latest newsletter for July 2023.

I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.

As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Abena

—

Summer School 2023

I’ve been delighted last month to hold my third annual Campaign Summer School.

At my jam-packed 3-day event, we had a fantastic group of enthusiastic and inspiring young people who were incredibly engaged in learning about how to make a successful campaign and gain the skills needed to make a real difference in our community.

On the first day, I was excited to share my journey to Parliament and what I do as the MP for Erith and Thamesmead. We were also privileged to be joined by Laura Coryton and Rima Amin, who shared their 5 steps for turning a petition into a successful campaign. Laura founded a campaign against the tampon tax in 2014 and Rima worked with Laura on the campaign when she worked at Change.org. We were also joined by Paul Richards who shared his expertise on writing press releases and Christine Quigley and Nick Smith who introduced the students to the world of finance and public affairs.

On day two, we were joined by Google, who shared how to navigate and make full use of the new digital age to build on campaign ideas, business ideas, and how to kickstart your career. It was also great to be joined by Kwajo Tweneboa who shared his first-hand experience of going from a concerned citizen to a veteran campaigner on housing issues across the country. We were also pleased to welcome Katie Perrior from iNHouse Communications and media experts from 853 and the Guardian, who shared their important knowledge on how to make a campaign successful.

We started the final day with a presentation about how Parliament works with a special briefing from an expert team at the UK Parliament. It was great to see the students ask so many questions about how our government works and how each of them can personally make a difference. I also want to thank Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of Greenwich Council, Martin Angus, from the Local Government Association (LGA), and Councillor Zainab Asumramu for sharing their important personal insights into the role of Local Government and how to get politically active in your local community.

Every year this is such a special week for me. I get to spend lots of time sharing what I know about campaigning and Politics and learning from local young activists across our community who care passionately about a number of critically important issues.

From national issues like Climate Change and the cost-of-living crisis to local issues like vaping in schools and tackling fly-tipping, it was fantastic to discuss their ideas about what they can do to campaign for change.

I want to send a big thank you to all the speakers who joined during the week, to London South East College team in Erith, who hosted us, and to my team who did a wonderful job making the Summer School work so well. Finally, I also want to send a big thank you to all the students who were so engaged and optimistic and I’m sure will go on to do great things in their careers.

You can follow what happened on my social media or by looking up the hashtag #AbenaSummerSchool2023.

This July I was pleased to welcome constituents to my first reception in parliament – something that I have been planning since I was first elected.

It was fantastic to see so many volunteers, stakeholders and Erith and Thamesmead residents in the House of Commons, many of them visiting for the first time. I am passionate about everybody feeling welcome and included in parliament and this was a great chance to show how accessible parliament is.

Everyone had the opportunity to visit both the House of Commons and House of Lords and find out more about the building where I work on your behalf. I would also like to thank the students of Bexley Music Centre for providing beautiful background music.

If you would like to visit for a Tour of Parliament, please get in touch if you live in Erith and Thamesmead via email at abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk.

My Westminster Hall Debate on Public Access to Defibrillators

We all know having access to life-saving defibrillators saves lives. The issue is not their design but their location and public awareness about what they are and how to use them.

In a Westminster Hall debate that I secured, I spoke about the lack of life-saving Defibrillators in Erith and Thamesmead and across the UK. This issue was brought to my attention by my constituent Bonnie McGhee. Bonnie sadly lost her dad to cardiac arrest and has since raised funds for a defibrillator in his memory.

Research from the Resuscitation Council UK shows that access to defibrillators, or AEDs, is not fairly distributed across England. Each year, there are 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK, with less than one in ten surviving. Whilst immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival, defibrillators are used in less than one in ten cases. If you have a cardiac arrest and have access to a defibrillator within a minute, have a 90% chance of survival.

In my Westminster Hall debate, I said that “knowing where a defibrillator is and how to use one, saves lives. Learning simple resuscitation skills can make all the difference in an emergency. Today, I’m calling on Ministers to listen and help save lives.”

I was pleased to hear some encouraging signs from the Minister for Health and Secondary Care, Will Quince MP, who responded to my speech. However, we all know that so much more needs to be done. I will be continuing to work hard on this vital issue.

After the debate, I wrote an article on my website. You can find the article here: https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/equal-access-to-defibrillators-can-save-lives-says-abena-oppong-asare-mp/.

My work in Parliament

This July in Parliament I have raised a number of issues I know are important to people in Erith and Thamesmead.

Firstly, in my role as Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, I spoke at the start of July on the e-petition debate on Mileage Rates. The Mileage rate is an essential resource for millions across the country, working hard for their families, businesses and communities, to make sure they are not out of pocket for the extra miles they do in their private vehicles. In my response to the Government, I challenged the Treasury to listen to the concerns of millions who are facing a cost-of-living crisis and a Government showing a lack of much needed leadership.

Furthermore, on behalf of the Opposition, I scrutinised the Government’s legislation amending the Consumer Rights Act and the Postal Packets Regulations.

On Thursday, 6^th July, I also spoke in Parliament during the Grenfell General Debate. We all know the tragic circumstances of that night and the appalling response in the aftermath to all affected. I spoke to mark six years since the tragedy and to remember all the lives lost that terrible night.

Finally, I also spoke during the Westminster Hall debate on the Metropolitan Police investigation in the murder of Stephen Lawrence, sponsored by Clive Efford MP. Those of us who were growing up in South East London at the time of Stephen’s murder know we have come a long way. However, we all know that we have so much further still to go. It is so important that the Metropolitan Police and the Government are held to account for what they are doing to introduce meaningful and lasting change. It was also great to speak to a number of important stakeholders in Parliament last month like the CEO of the UK Infrastructure Bank, John Flint.

Ticket Office Closures

As I’m sure many across the community are aware, it has recently been announced that there are plans to close rail ticket offices across the country including in our area of Erith and Thamesmead.

Last month, I wrote to both the Government and the CEO of Southeastern to express my concerns about the consequences of these closures, especially for the many elderly and disabled passengers who rely on these offices for travel. Currently, the plans would affect both Erith and Belvedere stations in our community.

I also raised this with the Minister for Transport in the House of Commons. The Minister must assure the public over these plans. I will continue to monitor these issues and the concerns that constituents have raised with me on this issue.

The consultation for these proposals closes on 1^st September 2023 and I urge all constituents to continue to express their views by contacting Southeastern on their website and by emailing London Travelwatch here: Southeastern.Consultation@Londontravelwatch.org.uk. Please also email me if you would like to share your thoughts on this important issue. Email me at abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk.

Pride on the Pier Erith

I was delighted to be a guest at the very first Bexley Pride event in July held on Erith Pier.

This event has been a long time coming and I would like to thank all the stakeholders who worked so hard to make this happen. It was lovely to meet so many locals, partners, and small businesses.

Thank you to Councillor Nicola Taylor and the volunteers that made this event happen.

Meeting with the Fire Borough Commander and Tour of Erith Fire Station

This July, I was also pleased to visit Erith Fire Station and meet with the Fire Borough Commander for Bexley, Jim Morford, to discuss all the great work the local team are doing to raise awareness of fire safety. It was also great to learn about their successful Fire Cadets scheme for young people.

We had interesting conversations about increasingly common causes for fire, one of which being the usage of unofficial e-bike and e-scooter chargers. It’s important we work together as a community to increase awareness and tackle the cost of living.

TFL Loop Consultation

Transport for London (TfL) is inviting people to have their say on proposals for the latest bus routes that would form part of the proposed Superloop bus network.

The new SL3 (Thamesmead to Bromley) should provide additional bus capacity in busy locations and encourage more sustainable journeys. Proposals for route SL3 mean that the service would increase frequency of buses between Thamesmead and Bexleyheath and Bexleyheath and Bromley.

The consultation is now open at https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/sl3-superloop until 4 September and I encourage everyone to share their views on these proposals.

My Update on Casework for July

Thank you to everyone who contacted me to raise the problems you are facing.

Housing continues to be a huge issue in Erith and Thamesmead, and I have serious concerns over the unprecedented housing crisis this Government is overseeing. The building of new social homes is at record lows, and more and more people are stuck in the private rented sector when they should either own their own home or have a council house to rent.

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s 2020 report, ‘Building more social housing’, called for around 90,000 additional social homes to be built a year. Last month, when I asked the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his department has a target for building new social homes, I was told that since 2010 they have delivered over 162,800 homes for social rent.

I am worried that if housing targets are not met soon, the housing crisis will continue to grow over the next few years. In the coming months, I will be continuing to raise awareness about the terrible housing issues of so many and calling on the Government to take action. I will post any updates in future newsletters and on my website.

You can also access my Cost-of-Living booklet if you need extra support. The link to the booklet is here: https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/cost-of-living/.

I held another surgery last month to discuss issues with constituents face to face. If you would like to attend my next surgery, please contact my office to be added to the waiting list.

• Email: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
• Telephone: 01322 342991 (Mon-Fri, 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm)

Furthermore:

• Age UK Summer Reception – Thank you to everyone from Erith and Thamesmead who contacted me about attending Age UK’s Summer Reception and the important issue of the state of healthcare for older people. I’m pleased to say that I attended their July event and I was able to speak to many members of the Age UK team, their policy experts and elderly people struggling with long waiting lists and a lack of support. You can see my post from the event here: https://twitter.com/abenaopp/status/1679159735918944256 

• Meeting with John Lewis, Executive Director at Peabody – It was good to catch up with John Lewis from Peabody to discuss issues regarding housing and infrastructure in Thamesmead and across the constituency.

• Mansion House Dinner – On Monday 10^th July, I attended the City of London Financial & Professional Services Dinner to listen to the Chancellor and the Bank of England on how they plan to manage the economic challenges we are currently facing. It was good to share our plans as the Opposition with stakeholders and businesses.

• Seniors in Touch Group visit to Parliament – I was pleased to work with the Seniors in Touch (SIT) Group to organise their Tour of Parliament in late July. I’m glad to hear that their tour was a success.

• Unison Windrush Reception – It was nice to attend Unison’s reception and to hear from those passionately against the discrimination that the Windrush generation faced, and that Black Workers continue to face today.

• 75^th Anniversary of the NHS – On the 75th anniversary of our NHS, I am immensely humbled by the unwavering dedication of all NHS staff across Britain. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the entire nation joins in expressing its pride and gratitude for our great NHS. Thank you and happy anniversary.

• Remembering Baroness Margaret McDonagh – I also wanted to remember my friend Margaret. Not only was she a lovely person but she was a brilliant activist and campaigner.

• Remembering Lord Bob Kerslake – Finally, I wanted to remember Lord Bob Kerslake, an activist who many in our community will have known. Bob was an instrumental figure in Local Government and in the Lords and it was a privilege to have known him.

Sign up to my Coffee Morning

If you are interested in coming along to a future Coffee Morning, I’ve just launched my webpage where you, your family and friends can sign up to register your interest in attending a meeting.

Sign up:  https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/upcoming-events/coffeemorning/

Stay updated on social media

For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).

You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch

 

Dear Friend,

Many thanks for taking the time to look at my latest newsletter for May 2023.

I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.

As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Abena

—

2023 Campaign Summer School

I am delighted to announce that applications for my Campaign Summer School for 2023 are now open!

At my jam-packed 3-day summer school, young people aged between 16 and 18 will have the opportunity to gain the skills needed to make a real difference in our community.

I know from my own experience that whether you’re dealing with environmental issues, crime, education and housing, effective campaigning is the key to influencing and challenging those in power. So, I am determined to do all I can to empower our young people to be the change they want to see in the world.

The school itself will be held in person in Erith and Thamesmead from Monday 24th July to Wednesday 26th July.

If you know anyone who might be interested, then please don’t hesitate to send them the application. To apply just fill in the sign-up form on my website. Applications are welcomed from anyone aged between 16 and 18, though priority will be given to those who live or go to school in the constituency of Erith and Thamesmead.

This month in Parliament I have raised a number of issues I know are important to people in Erith and Thamesmead.

In my role as Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, I spoke for Labour in the Finance Bill committee, where I raised Labour’s concerns with the new alcohol taxation scheme that is being introduced, and the importance of supporting our hospitality industry.

I also spoke about the role of further education (FE) colleges in training the workforce of the future and upskilling the existing workforce. FE colleges support our communities but are being let down by the Government.

I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate about regulation of the private rented sector, calling for a proper Ombudsman to deal with issues raised by tenants in the private rented sector. Lots of constituents have contacted me about soaring rents and poor-quality accommodation. I am very happy to support Labour’s pledge to introduce a Private Renters Charter to make renting fairer, more secure, and more affordable.

My Update on Casework for May

This month I have received hundreds of emails from constituents on a wide variety of issues.

At the moment, my office is receiving an extremely high number of enquiries on housing, and I am increasingly worried about the impact the housing crisis is having on residents in Erith and Thamesmead.

This month, I asked the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his department has a target for building new social housing and if he would make an estimate of the number of people who became homeless following a Section 21 notice.

Whilst I am pleased to see the Renter Reform Bill being introduced, I will continue to ask the government important questions on housing issues that are prominent in the constituency.

I will be holding another surgery soon and I look forward to meeting more constituents in person to discuss the difficulties they are facing. If you would like to be added to my surgery waiting list, please contact my office who will be able to assist.

For all those who are struggling, I continue to share my Cost-of-Living booklet to help them know where to access support when needed. The link to the booklet is here: https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/cost-of-living/ 

• Email: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
• Telephone: 01322 342991 (Mon-Fri, 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm)

Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

As the Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead, I send my congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla for their successful Coronation this month.

It was great to see so many people get involved from across the community, including with street parties and events to celebrate this historic occasion. I was grateful to join a reception for the King and Queen before their Coronation and meet with so many people doing important work across the United Kingdom.

I hope everyone in Erith and Thamesmead and across the country had a great Coronation weekend with family and friends.

Update on the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) Expansion

Thank you to all constituents who have taken the time to write to me about the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) London-wide expansion earlier this year.

I recently contacted the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to raise concerns about how the current proposals to extend the ULEZ will affect constituents of Erith and Thamesmead, many of whom do not have good links to public transport.

In particular, I raised concern that lower-income families and small businesses may not be able to upgrade to ULEZ-compliant vehicles. As you may know, Erith and Thamesmead has no underground station, no access to the DLR, no trams and no rapid bus services. Many of my constituents therefore have no option but to travel to work or essential appointments by car.

I welcomed the £110m for the new scrappage scheme to support Londoners on lower incomes, disabled Londoners, charities and micro-businesses as a welcome starting point. However, many of my constituents, including struggling families and businesses, are not covered by the scrappage scheme. I therefore strongly encouraged the Mayor to review the scrappage scheme to support small businesses and to undertake an assessment of what additional support can be provided to families.

I will continue to monitor the impact of ULEZ expansion in Erith and Thamesmead, and pass on my constituent’s views to the Mayor directly. Please find below my letter to the Mayor of London.

Join my DLR to Thamesmead Campaign

This month, I want to promote my webpage for my Next Stop Thamesmead Campaign. For too long people in Thamesmead have suffered from poor transport links – making it harder to access jobs and opportunities across London.

This is why I started the #NextStopThamesmead Campaign. I believe the residents of Erith and Thamesmead deserve the benefits of transport connectivity that many others across London already enjoy. Extending the DLR to Thamesmead would unlock significant new housing on both sides of the river and would open up access to work and educational opportunities for our constituency.

Furthermore, this month I wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport to speed up plans to extend the DLR to Thamesmead. I told the Secretary of State of my campaign over recent years to make this happen and how I have only ever heard warm words from an ever-growing cast list of transport ministers. I made clear that while we are told the DLR is always on the way, it somehow never arrives.

We have ambitious plans to put Thamesmead on the transport map, which are supported by local authorities, Transport for London (TfL), local businesses and community organisations, and local people. The opportunities for local economic growth are plain to see and the chance to ‘level up’ this part of London is real.

I urged the Secretary of State to expedite the process to deliver the DLR to Thamesmead. We have waited long enough. Now is the time for action.

Alongside the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, I was also briefed by TfL on their progress for Housing and Transport developments in Thamesmead.

I hope all can visit my webpage here to read further about my campaign and share your thoughts on the DLR extension with me and the community: https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/dlr-to-thamesmead/.

London Walkers Group Visit to Parliament

It was great to see the London Walkers Group this month after they completed a Tour of Parliament. It was nice to see such a good turnout and to talk about some important local issues.

As always, please get in touch if you live in Erith & Thamesmead and would like me to arrange a tour. You can contact me via email on abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk. 

Visit to Maximus Employability Centre

I was very pleased to be able to visit Maximus Employability Centre Advisor this month, who help constituents develop new skills, overcome barriers and find sustainable work. It was great to learn about the Restart scheme that provides people who have been out of work for 12 to 18 months with the tailored support they need to overcome their barriers and find work.

I had the opportunity to speak to some constituents who use the service about the barriers they are facing and was very interested to discover that there are particular challenges for single parents and those over 50 have in finding work.

Meeting with the Superintendent for Bexley

This month I was also able to have a meeting with the new Borough Superintendent for Bexley, Simon Corbin at Bexleyheath Police Station.

It was good to introductory meeting with him in his new role and to have the opportunity to raise the important concerns that many in our constituency have raised including knife crime, anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and response times for crime reports. It was also interesting to have a tour of Bexleyheath Police Station and find out more about their police work in Bexley.

Having spoken to constituents, I understand the frustration that many feel about the policing in London. I’m looking forward to building on this visit to address many of the pressing issues and concerns of local residents.

Furthermore:

• Neighbourhood Watch Parliamentary Event – It was very nice to meet the central Neighbourhood Watch team this month and to hear about the great work they’ve been doing including on their new Community Safety Charter. Delighted to hear Greenwich Council was the first to sign up to the charter.

• Happy Easter – Very pleased to hear from those celebrating Easter in Erith and Thamesmead. I hope everyone had good festivities with family and friends.

• Eid Mubarak – This month was Eid Mubarak and so I want to wish a happy Eid al-Fitr to all Muslims celebrating in Erith and Thamesmead. As we end the holy month of Ramadam, I hope those celebrating had an enjoyable and inspiring time with family and friends.

• Happy Tamil and Bengali New Years – Wishing all those from the Tamil and Sinhala community and Bengali community in Erith and Thamesmead, the UK and around the world a very happy New year.

• Happy Vaisakhi – This month, I’m pleased to wish Sikhs here and around the world a very happy Vaisakhi. Vaisakhi di lakh lakh vidai.

• Happy Passover – Chag Samech to all those who were observing Passover this month. I hope you had a happy and healthy holiday.

• St George’s Day – Last Sunday 23^rd April was St George’s Day and I want to send a Happy St George’s Day message to everyone across Erith and Thamesmead and England.  

Sign up to my Coffee Morning

If you are interested in coming along to a future Coffee Morning, I’ve just launched my webpage where you, your family and friends can sign up to register your interest in attending a meeting.

Sign up:  https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/upcoming-events/coffeemorning/

Stay updated on social media

For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).

You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch

 

Dear Friend,

Many thanks for taking the time to look at my latest newsletter for March 2023.

I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.

As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Abena

—

Saddened to hear about the deaths of a mother and her two sons in Erith and Thamesmead

First of all, I want to say I was very saddened this month to hear about the deaths of a mother and her two sons in our constituency. I want to send my thoughts on behalf of our community to the family and friends of Nadja de Jager and her two young sons, Alex and Max, aged 7 and 9.

The school that the boys attended has been working really hard with the community to provide support and I want to thank the teachers, who have gone over and beyond.

The Budget 2023

The Chancellor announced his Budget this month. This is an important opportunity each year for the Government to set out a positive agenda for our economy and to fully unlock the potential across Britain. Unfortunately, I believe that this Budget didn’t go far enough.

In my role as Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, I expressed my concerns about the lack of ambition in the Budget and I spoke about what Labour would do differently. Firstly, the Government still refuses to implement a proper windfall tax to make the oil and gas giants pay their fair share. This means they are leaving billions on the table that could be used to help families with the cost of living. Furthermore, in this Budget the Chancellor announced a tax cut to the richest 1% and their pension pots. I believe this was wrong and Labour would reverse this handout.

You can see a clip of my interview on Channel 4 News discussing the budget and how Labour would do things differently here. 

Labour plans to deliver on Britain’s call for change with a new way of governing that will build a fairer, greener, more dynamic Britain with power closer to people. We will provide vital public investment through our Green Prosperity Plan, updating our planning system to remove barriers to investment in new industries and meet our net zero targets. I believe the country needs stability and not the chaos we have recently seen from this Conservative Government. We have a serious plan for growth and want to see all our nations and regions benefit from and contribute to the jobs and growth of the future.

I have raised constituent’s concerns in Parliament this month, including by asking a number of business questions to the Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt MP. I raised the issue of alarmingly high energy bills that were accidentally charged to some housing association residents in Erith and Thamesmead, and the Leader of the House committed to writing to the Housing Secretary on my behalf.

At a Westminster Hall debate, I raised the challenges care workers in Erith and Thamesmead are faced with rising car parking charges and pressed the need for a care workers parking badge.

I was pleased to be present for the passing of the Trophy Hunting Bill, which bans the import of hunting trophies to the UK, and which many constituents had contacted me about.

Within my role as Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, I asked the Chancellor what the Conservatives are doing to decarbonise our economy and win the global race for good green jobs. I also represented Labour at the second reading of the Finance Bill – the mechanism through which announcements in the Budget are put into law. I questioned the Government on its awful economic record and presented Labour’s plans for economic growth and prosperity.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is an important moment each year when we celebrate the inspirational Women who have done so much, but when we also recognise how much more there is still to do.

In the House of Commons, I firstly paid tribute to trailblazing Betty Boothroyd, who sadly passed away this month. She was the first and only female Speaker of the House of Commons. She made a huge impact on the UK Parliament and paved a new way for women in politics.

I also highlighted the great impact of a few amazing and successful women from our constituency, Erith and Thamesmead:

“Deborah Frimpong, chair of Moorings Neighbourhood Forum and a formidable community activist; Councillor Averil Lekau, deputy leader of Greenwich Council, is doing great things at a local level to support women and champion their inclusion; Hend Kheiralla is the host of the Ladies of the Lake podcast, which amplifies the voices of women who have grown up, worked, and lived in Thamesmead; Debbie McFaul, is director of Crumbs Bakery, a business that truly brings in and supports the community; Karen Saunders from Greenwich Centre of Mission does a lot to support young people in our community, particularly bringing us together when two young boys, Kearne and Charlie, were murdered in my constituency; Claire Hallinan from Hawksmoor Youth Club has delivered fantastic services to young people and the wider community of Thamesmead, but has also faced considerable challenges with the state of its facilities; Finally, Catherine Molnar, founder of CC Events, hosts a market in Abbey Wood and Thamesmead and has won awards for the role they play in the community.”

Thank you also to all those running events to celebrate IWD and all the great women who I spoke to. Some of events I attended include the Lewisham West and Penge CLP, Women’s Lobby Reception, the Lloyds Bank Reception and the Women in Business reception.

I want to again wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day and I hope we can all agree that together we can make change for the better.

You can read my speech for the International Women’s Day Debate here and watch the speech here.

Ukrainians in Greenwich Celebration Event

I was very pleased to join the Ukrainian community and a number of constituents from Erith and Thamesmead at this celebration event this month.

Last month, we all paused to reflect on the one-year anniversary of the illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. While the illegal war started by Russia continues, I want all the Ukrainians who have settled in our area to know that our support for you and all of the Ukrainian people remains.

It was a great event with great music, dancing, performances and beautiful artwork on display from across the community.  

Hosting British Heart Foundation Event

We all know that Defibrillators and CPR save lives. I’m happy to support all the great work done to increase awareness and the number of Defibrillators and CPR Training in our communities.

This month, I hosted an event with the British Heart Foundation to discuss the work they are doing on this important issue and share our thoughts with other Members of Parliament.  You can see my post about this here: https://twitter.com/abenaopp/status/1638501687051558912

I want to send a special thank you to Bonnie McGhee, my local constituent who first contacted me about this issue regarding the lack of Defibrillators in our community. You can read about her story here. You can also learn more about BHF’s RevivR on their website here.

If you have any thoughts or would like to help, please get in touch with me at abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk.

My “Meet your MP” Coffee Morning in Erith

It was great to host another of my “Meet your MP” Coffee Mornings this month at the Bookstore Café at the Exchange Erith.

The conversation we had was very valuable to me and I want to thank all of you who came along. It’s so important to spend the time to engage about the many pressing issues we have and also the great opportunities available in Erith and Thamesmead.

A number of issues that was brought up including how we can provide more opportunities to play football to young people in Thamesmead and what we can do to tackle youth violence. We also discussed the Cost of Living crisis, that is hurting so many, and how we need to work as a community to make sure the most vulnerable are not left behind.

I was very impressed with how passionate everyone was and I’m looking forward to catching up again with everyone who turned up. I hope you can share the following link with friends and family, who may be interested to sign up to a future event. Sign up:  https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/upcoming-events/coffeemorning/

Update on Casework

My team of dedicated Caseworkers and I continue to assist constituents regarding a number of important issues. Many individuals and families are facing difficulties relating to housing insecurity, housing disrepair and Home Office delays among many other issues.

This continues to be a difficult time for many people, and I have put together a Cost of Living booklet to help constituents know where to access support when needed. The booklet is available on my website, and I will be providing the information directly to constituents who have recently been contacting me about their need for additional support. 

The link to the booklet is here: https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/cost-of-living/  

As always, if you need any assistance, please contact my office using the below channels. As we are currently receiving a high number of emails and calls, I and my team appreciate your patience whilst we try to get back to every constituent to offer the best support we can. 

• Email: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
• Telephone: 01322 342991 (Mon-Fri, 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm)

Furthermore:

• Richard Davidson’s visit to Parliament – This month I met Richard, a local resident, to discuss his great-great-uncle, Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Rumbold, was a hero who fought for our country in World War One, but who was court-martialled and dismissed because he was gay. Richard has applied to have Sidney’s medals restored, but has not received a response in about a year. I brought this up with the Leader of the House and hope to ensure the medals are restored.

• Talk of the Town Visa – I want to thank Visa for hosting this event in Parliament to celebrate towns and their contribution to our economy. I was pleased to speak about unlocking the full potential of our towns and regions.

• Ramadam Mubarak – I want to send my warmest wishes to everyone observing the holy month of Ramadam, both in Erith and Thamesmead and across the UK.

• World Water Day – As we marked World Water Day this month, it so critical that we can’t allow this current attack on our environment to continue., The Opposition has a plan to clean up this mess and build a better Britain.

• APPG for Ethnic Minority Businesses – At this month’s AGM, I spoke about the APPG’s activities over the past year and how we continue to work towards the recognition of the importance of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic entrepreneurs to the UK’s economy, and how they can be supported.

• Events at the Exchange Erith – I was pleased to join a couple of events at the  Exchange Erith this month including ‘A Sure beginning with Patti Sloley’ which celebrated Ghanaian food, culture and poetry. It was also great to be at their Spring Beer festival. Find out more about their events here.

• PRS for Music – It was good to meet the PRS for Music as we discuss how songwriters and composers are facing the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly digital market.

• Black Footballer’s Partnership Event – Black representation in football is an important topic and I’m pleased that we are hearing more about the efforts to modernise football from the black footballer’s viewpoint.

• Young Minds #End the Wait Event – We must do everything we can to get mental health support to children and young people who desperately need it. Thank you to Young Minds and to my constituents who are campaigning on this important issue. I’m pleased to support this work.

• The Football Black List Celebration Evening – It was great to celebrate the achievements of those making a difference in football.

• Women’s History Month Reception – I want to thank the Speaker for hosting an important event celebrating Women’s History Month. I spoke at the reception and you can see the video here.

Sign up to my Coffee Morning

If you are interested in coming along to a future Coffee Morning, I’ve just launched my webpage where you, your family and friends can sign up to register your interest in attending a meeting.

Sign up:  https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/upcoming-events/coffeemorning/

Stay updated on social media

For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).

You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch

 

Dear Friend,

Many thanks for taking the time to look at my latest newsletter for January 2023.

I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.

As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Abena

New Year’s Update

I want to wish everyone in Erith and Thamesmead a Happy New Year – I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas break and has had a good start to 2023.

This January has been a busy month in the constituency and in Parliament.

I continue to hear from constituents about the important and difficult issues they are facing. These include housing insecurity and disrepair, anti-social behaviour, Home Office delays and challenges caused by the rising cost of living. My team of dedicated Caseworkers and I continue to assist constituents on these issues and my office can be contacted using the following channels:

• Email: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
• Telephone: 01322 342991

Unfortunately, we are still facing a devastating cost of living crisis for families across the country. This winter, it has been especially difficult, and it is important that we all do as much as we can to help those who are most vulnerable.

As I announced last year, I have recently put together a cost of living booklet that will be able to assist constituents in these difficult times. I have gathered information about many of the agencies, organisations and charities that are out there and can provide help, information and support for managing your bills.

The booklet is available on my website and I will be providing the information directly to constituents who have recently been contacting me about their need for additional support. 

The link to the booklet is here: https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/cost-of-living/

I’ve also been looking closely at the impact of the Southeastern timetable changes – a change which I campaigned against last year. It is clear that these changes are causing significant problems, including overcrowding and the trains running late. I have heard from many in Erith and Thamesmead who are affected by the new timetable and it is important that we continue to press Southeastern and the Government on this issue.

For further information about this campaign, please visit this page on my website: https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/campaign-to-reverse-the-cuts-to-southeastern-trains/.

Abena in Parliament

It has been a busy start to the New Year in Parliament, with lots to hold the Government to account for. Over the last month, as Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, I led Labour’s scrutiny of the Government’s announcement to strip back energy support for businesses facing crippling energy bills and their announcement of a stamp duty freeze. I also spoke in the debate on the Retained EU Law Bill, arguing that we need to protect and promote worker, consumer, and environmental protections.

As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, I know businesses across Erith and Thamesmead will be concerned that the Government are winding down the business energy support scheme. For first-time buyers, renters, and those facing soaring mortgage costs, the stamp duty freeze announcement will do nothing to help their living costs. Labour pushed to amend this announcement so that the freeze does not benefit second home owners or landlords – the Government shut this down.

Lots of constituents wrote to me concerned about the watering down of worker, consumer, and environmental protections via the Retained EU Law Bill. I spoke in the debate to echo these concerns and remain disappointed that the Government hasn’t got a grip on properly scrutinising EU-era laws.

Moorings Neighbourhood Forum Visit to Parliament

I was pleased to be able to arrange a Tour of Parliament for the Moorings Neighbourhood Forum, who visited on Tuesday 10^th January.

It was great to meet them in Westminster Hall after their tour and discuss issues like the Southeastern cuts and the cost of living crisis.

If you live in Erith & Thamesmead and would like me to arrange a tour, email me at: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk.

 

Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day is an important moment each year when we remind ourselves of the horrors that occurred last century and honour the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were murdered during the Holocaust.

Racism shouldn’t be tolerated and we all have the responsibility to make sure rising hate is eradicated.

I was pleased to sign the Holocaust Education Trust Book of Commitment.

Furthermore:

• Launch of the Befriending Café in Thamesmead – Joined for the launch of Age UK’s Befriending Café in Thamesmead and was pleased to see so many having a good time and join for tea, bingo and other games.

• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – I met with the FSB this month and discussed the impact of the Government rolling back their business energy support scheme. We discussed our concerns about these changes and how this will negatively effect small businesses in Erith and Thamesmead and across the country.

• Scotch Whisky Association – I met with the Scotch Whisky Association to discuss the new alcohol tax system and how we can support British Whisky drinkers.

• Women’s Lobby Reception – It was great to join the Women’s Lobby Reception this month where we discussed the important role of women in journalism, and making progress in a traditionally male dominated industry.

• Mastercard Meeting – Was pleased to meet with Mastercard to discuss their Strive project and how to support ethnic minority business leaders.

• Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month – I would like to send best wishes to all those in Erith and Thamesmead celebrating Thai Pongal, and many thanks to all the Tamil people, who do so much across our community.

• Lunar New Year – Wishing everyone celebrating in Erith and Thamesmead and around the world a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year!

Sign up to my Coffee Morning

If you are interested in coming along to a future Coffee Morning, I’ve just launched my webpage where you, your family and friends can sign up to register your interest in attending a meeting.

Sign up:  https://www.abenaoppongasare.com/upcoming-events/coffeemorning/

Stay updated on social media

For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).

You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch