It is no secret that the Labour Party had a very good set of local election results. Not only was Sadiq Khan re-elected as Mayor of London, but Labour held and even gained multiple Metro Mayors throughout the country as well as several Councils. Labour also easily re-took Blackpool South in a by-election after the Tory incumbent was involved in a gambling scandal. These results demonstrates that people across the country are demanding change. Only the Labour Party will deliver that. It’s time for a general election now.

The losses the Conservatives are seeing is catastrophic for Rishi Sunak. He is at the head of a divided and tired party who have simply given up governing. Instead, the Government has spent most of its time passing their unworkable Rwanda Scheme into law. In fact, they were so desperate to get any flight off to Rwanda before the local elections that they paid someone to go. British taxpayers are paying £3,000 for a volunteer to board a plane as well as free board and lodgings for the next five years. This extortionate gimmick, which I voted against, and it is likely to be costing on average £2 million per person.

Therefore, I have spent a lot of my time campaigning to get this failing Government out of office. After fourteen years of Conservative mismanagement, people can no longer trust that the NHS will be there for us when we need it. On the economy they are doing little to help people during a cost-of-living crisis. They have also been incapable in combatting knife crime, the court backlog or the prisons crisis. Britain cannot afford to have the Tories in power much longer.

Meanwhile, after the power-sharing agreement between the SNP and the Green collapsed, people in Scotland are now stuck with two failing Governments. With John Swinney succeeding Humza Yousaf as the First Minister of Scotland it is important to highlight how he has been at the heart of this incompetent SNP Government for the past seventeen years.

Despite shadow frontbench MP’s participating in numerous canvassing sessions, like me they have also been working hard in their constituencies. You can read more about my work below. As ever if you would like to raise an issue to my attention, please email me via janet.daby.mp@parliament.uk

Shadow Minister for Youth Justice

Last month I had the pleasure of visiting SHiFT alongside Feryal Clark, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Crime Reduction. SHiFT is an organisation that aims to break the destructive cycle of children and young people caught up in or at risk of crime. Their goal is to transform how young people are seen and supported with anti-racism a central plank to their mission and practice.

Prevention is better than a cure. As a result, organisations like SHiFT that engages in diversion practices are vital in ensuring that children and young people do not commit crimes and end up in the criminal justice system.

If Labour wins the next general election it will look to implement policies that overcomes the challenges that faces the youth justice system. This also includes reducing the number of children and young people entering the system.

International Instability

Last month’s unprecedented missile and drone attacks between Iran and Israel were deeply concerning. Whilst tensions between Iran and Israel have been always run high, this was the first time Iran and Israel had ever directly attacked each other. Therefore, restraint and de-escalation are needed as a wider regional conflict would benefit no one. I highlighted this in the House of Commons chamber where I asked the Prime Minister how he was working with international allies to stop a full-scale conflict. You can watch me do this by clicking here.

Whilst a regional war has so far been averted, the suffering continues in Gaza and Israeli hostages have yet to be released. It is now over six months since the appalling October 7th terrorist attack which has sparked so much misery on so many people.

Furthermore, the scenes we are seeing in Rafah highlights how we need an immediate ceasefire and how Hamas must immediately release the hostages. Unimpeded aid to Gaza is of paramount importance to prevent more loss of life. The Government and must be working flat out to create the conditions needed for an immediate ceasefire that is observed by both sides. I know many are concerned about the sale of arms to Israel. If there is a clear risk that UK arms might be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law, the sale of those arms must be suspended.

With regards to Ukraine, I was pleased to see that the United States approved a $61bn aid package for Ukraine. This will help enormously in our efforts to see that Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine does not succeed and that war in Europe is stopped. The UK has also recently announced news on increased defence spending and aid to Ukraine. Labour will fully examine the details of this. A Labour Government will also conduct a strategic defence and security review in its first year to fully identify the international challenges threats we face in an increasingly dangerous world.

I am also incredibly alarmed about the situation in Sudan. Since war broke out last year lives have been lost and millions have been displaced in the country. There has been evidence of sexual violence and mass atrocities in Darfur and elsewhere. This cannot continue. Yet the situation gets worse. Recent Government sanctions on those perpetuating this war is welcome but the Government must do more to help and support survivors and help prevent further use of rape as a weapon of war.

Safety in the Community

Like every other local resident, I have been shocked at recent serious violent events that have occurred across our community. As a result, I have been in regular contact with the police. Unfortunately, throughout the UK a feeling of safety has declined after 14 wasted years under the Conservatives. High levels of violent crime and victims going without justice is not acceptable.

As Member of Parliament for Lewisham East, I will continue to campaign for safer streets. I will also continue to state that the more we come together as a community the safer people feel!

Support for single-parent families

In Parliament, I was delighted to attend Gingerbread’s launch of their manifesto for single-parent families. One in four families in the UK is headed by a single parent. Yet too often their needs seem to be invisible or ignored. More needs to be done to support single parents and their children to help them overcome the inequalities they encounter. You can read their manifesto here.

Hatch Festival

Catford Broadway Theatre is known for the wide range of fantastic performances and shows held there. As a result, I was excited to attend the Hatch Festival last month to celebrate the talent, creativity and innovation of young people from across Lewisham. It was an enjoyable evening. A particular thank you to Lewisham Youth Theatre for their performances as well as Lewisham Council and the Arts Council England for making this happen.

Our young people are talented, and they need to be reminded of this so they can continue to have the confidence to achieve their dreams in later life.

Thank you for reading this newsletter.

Janet