KING'S SPEECH RESPONSE
On Monday, I spoke in the King's Speech Debate on the new government's plan for the economy in my capacity as Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury.
During my contribution to this debate with the first ever female Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, I spoke of the significance of this historic moment for gender equality, not only in parliament but more broadly in the banking and finance sector, and was delighted to welcome the new Chancellor to her role.
I welcomed the sense of seriousness in which the new government set out their plans and their commitment to growing the economy. However, while I was pleased to see that Labour were promising reform, I felt it important to highlight that changes cannot solely be handed down from Westminster. We need to see a bottom-up strategy that puts power back into the hands of local communities.
We also need to see the Government make a genuine commitment to solving the crisis in our health and social care systems and so, I urged the Chancellor to introduce an emergency Health and Social Care Budget as soon as possible to allow these services to begin improving.
TWO CHILD BENEFIT CAP
On Tuesday evening, I voted on an amendment to the King's Speech which called for the immediate scrapping of the two child limit to Universal Credit.
The Liberal Democrats support the removal of the two-child limit. We believe that axing this cap is the most cost-effective way of immediately lifting 500,000 children out of poverty, while helping to make household expenses more manageable for parents. As one of the wealthiest economies in the world, it should not be beyond the UK to ensure children do not grow up in poverty.
It is my hope that the Government will commit to lifting the cap and I will continue to advocate for a better life for children across the country over the coming Parliament.
AI AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT DROP-IN
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to meet with the new Ministers for the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport to highlight concerns I still hold about the impact of generative AI on the creative industries.
Last week, a dataset mined from over 48,000 YouTubers (including musicians, journalists, and entertainment shows) without their permission was found to have been used to train AIs created by tech giants including Apple, Nvidia, and Anthropic. While this should be considered a clear breach of the creators' copyrights, the Government's policy on generative AI remains extremely vague.
For that reason, I asked Sir Chris Bryant MP, the new Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Industries, if he would clarify the Government's position on copyright and commit to transparency obligations to ensure that creatives know when and how their work is being used.
Following our discussion, I wrote to the minister asking him to adopt three simple recommendations to ensure all creatives have control over their own work and protect the creative industries in the years to come.
SKY NEWS PMQ PANEL
On Wednesday, I joined Sky News' panel to discuss the first PMQs of this Parliament. While it was good to see Keir Starmer adopt a more collegiate attitude in his responses, it was apparent to all watching that the Prime Minister intended to highlight the scale of the challenges left by the Conservatives. While I believe there is a great deal to be done, I also argued that just because the next few years will be difficult, Labour must still do all they can to deliver the change they promised.
The Liberal Democrats role over the next five years will be to push Labour to work harder and with more urgency to fix the problems facing the country. We hope to be a constructive opposition that challenges the Government not just to be better than their predecessors, but to actually improve life for our communities.
DISTRICT LINE OUTAGES
As many people will know, the District Line running from Richmond to Turnham Green has failed repeatedly over the past few weeks. While this stretch of line has never been 100% reliable, the constant recent faults have become intolerable.
Alongside writing to the Mayor last week, I have also contacted Network Rail, which owns this stretch of track, asking both that their team meet with me and that their CEO take a personal interest in ensuring this line is fixed permanently. The letter was co-signed by Kew Gardens Director Richard Deverell CBE, who has seen first hand the huge reduction in visitors to the area caused by the constant line suspensions.
A member of our community has created a petition urging both TfL and Network Rail to resolve this problem once and for all. The petition has already reached over 1,100 signatures and I would urge you to add your name.
TEDDINGTON DRA
Earlier this week, Munira Wilson MP and I wrote to the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs to brief him on the Teddington DRA and request that he meet with us to discuss the project.
Alongside the environmental, construction, and social impacts of the scheme, a key issue that we have continued to highlight is Thames Water's inability to defend why they believe this proposal constitutes the "best value" option for our community. Without a full Environmental Impact Assessment, human health study, and comprehensive analysis of alternative options, it does not seem reasonable for their team to make the claim that this is the "best value" scheme.
The new Labour Government has promised to tackle water pollution and to create a more sustainable water industry. The best way for them to start is to review slapdash and ill-considered proposals like the DRA and to work with water companies to find a better way forward.
KINGSTON DRAGON BOAT RACE
Sunday saw the annual Kingston Dragon Boat Race take place in the Thames by Canbury Gardens. During the race, 47 teams of local people representing charities of their choice compete to take home the championship title. People of all skill levels take part, from keen athletes to teams dressed as Oompa Loompas.
I'd particularly like to thank Cllr. James Manthel, Maria from the Friends of Canbury Gardens, Sarah from The Boaters Inn and Chris from Dragon Boat Event for making the event possible. Overall the teams raised an estimated £100,000 - £150,000 for charity and it was lovely to see the festival atmosphere bringing the whole community together.
Although it is a little while away, if you'd like to receive updates about next year's festival email the Friends of Canbury Gardens here.
DONATE BLOOD TODAY
The NHS has put out an urgent call for O-negative blood donors amid a national shortage. After a serious cyber attack hit the NHS in June, blood checks could not be carried out as quickly as normal. This means that the demand for O-negative blood (which is a universal match for people of all blood types) has skyrocketed, as it has become the only option for many doctors treating urgent medical issues.
Giving blood is an easy way to help support our NHS and local community. You can find your local donation centre with the link here.
RICHMOND NEWS
LONDON WETLAND CENTRE: SUMMER WEDNESDAY WORKSHOPS
Every Wednesday over the Summer, the Wetlands Centre will be hosting family-friendly activities led by local authors, poets, and storytellers. From treasure hunts to creating natural inks, there's something for everyone.
Workshops take place between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm and are included in the price of centre admission. All workshops operate on a first-come, first-served basis. These are drop-in sessions with limited capacity, so make sure to arrive early to secure your spot.
For up-to-date information, please check the What's On board upon arrival. Unless otherwise stated, all workshops are suitable for ages 6+ and younger children are welcome. You can find more information and details of the upcoming workshops on the London Wetland Centre's website here.
KINGSTON NEWS
KINGSTON MUSEUM'S SAXON FAYRE 2024
Tomorrow, between 11 am and 5 pm, Kingston Museum will be holding an immersive experience at the Ancient Market Place to celebrate the borough's Saxon heritage in the lead up to the 1100th anniversary of King Athelstan's coronation in the town.
The event will showcase skills and trades including a mobile farm, a working Saxon inspired forge, leather work, flax spinning, beekeeping, a falcon display and even a place where you can dress up in period outfits. Throughout the day there will be music, performances, re-enactments and demonstrations.
You can find more information, including a full list of activities and events, on Kingston Heritage's website here.
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