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Political Priorities
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- Sharon backs domestic violence orders
Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson has backed calls for the Government to reinstate protection for those suffering at the hands of a violent partner.
Domestic Violence Protection Orders were enshrined in law in April, and due to be piloted over the summer before being rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales.
Under the ‘Go orders’, as they are known, senior police officers would have had the power to ban someone suspected of abusing a partner from their shared home for up to two weeks. They were designed to protect victims while enough evidence could be gathered to...
- Washington restaurant in line for top award
Popular local restaurant Divan Khanah has won a place in the regional final of the prestigious Tiffin Cup, after being nominated by Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson.
The competition, sponsored by top tea producer Newby Teas, is held each year to find the best South Asian restaurant in the country.
The Divan Khanah will be competing with two other restaurants for the chance to represent the North East region in the Grand Final, to be held in Parliament later in the year.
Sharon Hodgson said: “I am delighted that my nomination for Divan Khanah has been accepted. I...
- MP in LEAF warning
Sharon Hodgson MP has welcomed a guarantee from the coalition Government that the planned £5,000 subsidy for electric vehicles will go ahead, but has warned that it may face the axe before the first Leaf has rolled off Nissan’s Sunderland production line.
After pressure from the Washington and Sunderland West MP and others in the Commons, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed last week that the Plugged In Car Grant scheme, initiated by the Labour government, will begin as planned in January 2011.
However, he only guaranteed that the scheme will run for 15 months, and committed less than a fifth...
- MP joins holocaust survivor at St Robert of Newminster school 06.07.10
Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington & Sunderland West, visited St Robert of Newminster School in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to hear testimony from Holocaust Survivor, Zigi Shipper, as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET). The testimony was followed by a question and answer session to enable pupils to better understand the nature of the Holocaust, and to explore its lessons in more depth. Sharon Hodgson MP commented: “'I was struck by how selfless it is of Zigi an 80 year old man who goes right around the country giving these talks in order that our...
- Sharon Hodgson MP launches Target Ovarian Cancer campaign 06.07.10
 Women with ovarian cancer met their MPs at the largest event of its kind at an event hosted by Sharon Hodgson MP in the House of Commons to launch Target Ovarian Cancer’s ‘Six Simple Steps’ campaign to recruit parliamentary champions. MPs heard first-hand what it is like to have ovarian cancer in the UK, where just over 30 percent of women survive for five years after their diagnosis. The little-known disease claims 4,400 lives each year in the UK where 6,800 are diagnosed annually. Target Ovarian Cancer’s campaign aims to save up to 400 lives per year with the...
- Government wrong on healthy school meals 02.07.10
Two North East MPs have accused the Government of getting it wrong on school food after a week which saw Health Secretary Andrew Lansley launch a war of words with Jamie Oliver. The leading Tory dismissed Jamie Oliver’s campaign and claimed that the number of children eating healthy food had decreased in the last few years. Roberta Blackman-Woods MP and Sharon Hodgson MP used a Commons debate to hit out at plans to scrap an increase in the number of children receiving free school meals and have now turned their sights on what they claim is ‘claptrap’ from the coalition....
- MP commences bid to clampdown on ‘rip-off’ tickets 01.07.10
The resale of tickets for sporting and cultural events at sky high prices could be set to become a thing of the past thanks to a new Bill making its way through Parliament. Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson today announced she intends to promote the Sale of Tickets Bill under the Private Member’s Bill procedure. The rapid rise of online ticket sales for most major gigs and sporting events has lead to the creation of a huge market for secondary tickets with some specialist organisations offering front row seats for hundreds of pounds a time. The new Bill...
- From Milk Snatcher to Meal Snatchers – Sharon Hodgson MP slams coalition cuts to school food 30.06.10
 Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson today used a Parliamentary debate to launch a scathing attack on coalition plans to cutback spending on Free School Meals. The campaigning MP has led a Parliamentary crusade to raise awareness of the benefits of universal free school meals since a visit to Sweden in 2006 convinced her of their merits. Under cutbacks announced by the Conservative Education Secretary Michael Gove earlier this month it has been confirmed that the rollout of regional pilots of universal free school meals is now to be scrapped as well as the planned extension to the...
- Sharon Hodgson MP pledges support for young people with cancer 24.06.10
Washington and Sunderland West MP, Sharon Hodgson pledged her support for children and young people with cancer on Wednesday 23 June at CLIC Sargent’s parliamentary reception in the Members Room of the House of Commons. Sharon Hodgson MP committed to support CLIC Sargent’s vital work by signing a pledge along with other parliamentarians. She said: “It is vital that we support the work that CLIC Sargent does to support children and young people with cancer and their families across the UK.” Lorraine Clifton, CLIC Sargent’s Chief Executive said: "We are delighted that Sharon Hodgson was able to attend and pledge...
- Green cars set to spark local economy, says Sharon Hodgson MP 22.06.10
 Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, today gave a speech at a reception in Parliament about the importance of electric vehicles to the local economy. With the Nissan Leaf being produced in Washington Sharon has taken a keen interest in the industry, and was delighted to be able to speak to industry representatives at the Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group. In her speech, Sharon said “There can be no doubting the importance of Low Carbon vehicle engineering and its central role to the economy in Washington and Sunderland West. It is estimated to contribute over £500...
- Budget will have ‘big impact’ on those who can least afford it 22.06.10
Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, today strongly criticised the Tory-Lib Dem Budget which George Osborne delivered in the Commons. “Raising VAT to 20%, slashing housing benefit, reducing who can claim child tax credits, abolishing maternity benefit and child trust funds and freezing child benefit are going to make thousands of hard-working families in my constituency worse off. This is a Budget which will have a big impact on those who can least afford it in Washington and Sunderland West. “Although Osborne talked tough on the banks, the effect of the new levy will be lessened by other...
- Sharon Hodgson MP demonstrates her commitment to the UK hotel industry during a visit to Holiday Inn Washington 12.06.10
Sharon Hodgson MP for Washington and Sunderland West, yesterday paid a visit to the Holiday Inn Washington to tour the hotel and meet constituents. As part of a billion global programme of refurbishments, the Holiday Inn Washington has undergone some major changes to improve guests’ comfort and is now ready to show them off. As well as touring the hotel, Sharon Hodgson MP met Tim Hooton, general manager, Holiday Inn Washington to discuss the issues facing the hotel industry in the recession. Mrs Hodgson said: “I was pleased to be able to meet Tim and the staff who have...
- MP visits project to reconnect families 11.06.10
 Washington and Sunderland MP Sharon Hodgson today paid a visit to the Elite Community Family Intervention and Parenting Academy in Sunderland. The centre in Hylton Castle provides support to dozens of local families who face difficult pressures on their family life. Mrs Hodgson said: “It’s not easy bringing up children at the best of times and for some families here in Sunderland the pressure can get a bit too much to bear. That is why the work done by the Elite Parenting Academy can make all the difference. We need to reach out to those people who can find...
- Sharon Hodgson MP warns: Mental health services are failing children with autism 10.06.10
Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West has warned that thousands of children with autism in England are needlessly facing a future of mental health problems, because the NHS does not know how to help them. She is backing a new campaign by the National Autistic Society (NAS), You Need to Know, which aims to tackle an unfit mental health system that fails two thirds of children with autism and often makes their mental health worse. Sharon said; “We all need to know that by giving children with autism the understanding and support they need, we help promote their...
- MP calls for technical tweaks to enhance everyday experiences 07.06.10
Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson has called for the introduction of new technologies to help those with audio and visual impairments. The MP has signed two Parliamentary motions which highlight the daily difficulty for deaf and blind people who want to catch the bus or contact the emergency services. Speaking about her support for talking buses Mrs Hodgson said: “ I know from my contact with a number of charities that small changes can make a big difference to how easy it is for those with a sight or audio impairment to access our public services. In the...
- Sharon Hodgson backing Ed Balls 19.05.10
 Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson stood shoulder to shoulder with Ed Balls as he launched his leadership campaign in the marginal Nottinghamshire consituency of Gedling. Mrs Hodgson said: "I believe we need a leader to rejuvenate and revitalise the Labour Party and behind whom we can galvanise and be a strong and united opposition to the ConDem coalition - in order to defeat them at the next election whenever that might be. I have worked with Ed in parliament over the last 5 years and have been very impressed by not only his skills and abilities but...
- Local MP succeeds in fight against cruelty towards circus animals 01.04.10
Sharon Hodgson, Member of Parliament for Gateshead East and Washington West, today welcomed the Government’s announcement that wild animals will be banned from being part of travelling circuses. The announcement follows years of campaigning by Sharon and other MPs, who were concerned that wild animals in circuses touring the country were being kept in poor conditions in small cages. During the 2009 touring season there were 38 wild animals in circuses, animals which will now be free from such cruel conditions. Sharon Hodgson said: “I am thrilled that the Government has finally taken steps to ban animals being part of...
- Cash for Councils to Plug Potholes 26.03.10
Motorists received a welcome piece of news today as the Government announced an additional £100 million to help Local Authorities plug the gaps in our weather-beaten roads. The funding comes after a winter which saw the lowest temperatures in 30 years left its mark in the form of hundreds of potholes across the region. Local MP Sharon Hodgson hailed the announcement and joked that the funding came 'at the end of a bumpy ride' for road users. Sharon Hodgson said: ' The winter meant that for many of us the daily commute had turned into something of a bumpy ride...
- Sharon Hodgson MP backs ‘Real Policing Pledge’ 25.03.10
 Sharon Hodgson, MP for Gateshead East and Washington West, has thrown her suport behind the Policing Federation’s ‘Real Policing Pledge’. The pledge praises the important work that PCs do, and aims to ensure the Government keeps it promise to train all officers to the necessary standards. Sharon said: “Having seen first hand the dedication of police constables in my constituency I am committed to making sure that they are supported as well as they possibly can be. Our Bobbies are the bedrock of modern policing, and the fall in crime we’ve seen over the past decade is in large...
- Post Bank popular in the North East 25.03.10
Sharon Hodgson, MP for Gateshead East and Washington West has backed growing calls for a Post Bank at the Post Office. Following a wave of post office closures last year and failures in the banking system, the creation of a Post Bank would bring new business to post offices across the UK and provide trusted, state-backed banking in communities everywhere. Sharon said: “The Post Office is one of our most trusted and cherished institutions. It makes sense to introduce a Post Bank to capitalise on this trust at a time when people have been so badly let down by many...
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