Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Feb-Mar 2021 number 137

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Feb-Mar 2021 number 137

You can read Sharon's Sunderland Echo column below or on the Sunderland Echo website

Last week’s schools chaos shows that the Government’s priorities do not lie with families.

Parents finding out at 8pm on a Monday night that their children wouldn't be going to school the next day, after being reassured the opposite, indicates a wider problem; the Government’s incompetence is leaving families behind.

Seeing children out of school is disappointing, but is now necessary. Schools are open to vulnerable children and those with essential worker parents, but this limited safe capacity has quickly been filled leaving schools under serious pressure.

Meanwhile, parents who cannot work from home are being told to remain at work, creating a childcare issue and leaving parents with the difficult decision of working and keeping their job or looking after their family.

On Wednesday, after pressure from Labour, the Chancellor updated the guidance to make these parents aware that they would be eligible for furlough. But this is at the discretion of employers. It also means a 20% pay-cut.

That’s just not good enough. Once again, working parents are left to juggle childcare and work. It isn’t fair on parents, school staff or children.

As we face the deepest recession of any major economy, we must protect family incomes.

Labour is calling on the Government to create an immediate right for parents to request paid flexible furlough.

Child poverty levels were striking pre-pandemic, with 35% of children in the North East living in poverty. This has now worsened, regional inequality has intensified, and Councils have been starved of income.

Despite this, Boris and Rishi want to cut Universal Credit, which will mean millions of families lose £1,000 a year and another 200,000 children put into poverty. They also plan a raise in council tax, landing every family an extra £90 on their bill.

This harsh austerity won’t help our region build back its economy. It won’t help parents and children build back our communities. It certainly won’t level us up.

Not only are the Tories proving their incompetence, but they are proving that families are not their priority.

Sunderland Echo website >

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Dec 2020-Jan 2021 number 135

New analysis by Labour reveals that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will hit every key worker earning over £18,000 in England with a real-terms pay cut next year.

This includes 52,267 key workers in the North East region – the teachers, police officers and Armed Forces personnel on the front line of the battle against Covid-19.

At the Spending Review on 25 November, the Chancellor announced a ‘pay freeze’ for all public sector workers earning above £24,000 in 2021-22.
NHS workers weren’t included, while those earning less than £24,000 were promised “a fixed increase of £250”.
Taking into account inflation over the next fiscal year, that means every non-NHS public sector worker earning over £18,000 will actually get a real-terms pay cut.

In the North East this includes:
• 5,691 police officers
• 23,471 teachers
• 22,035 civil servants, including tax inspectors, prison officers and probation officers
• 1,070 members of the Armed Forces

That’s a pay cut for every police officer in England, all 501,000 teachers in English state-funded schools and over 90% of the Armed Forces personnel based in England.

On top of the pay freeze, the Spending Review also contained a one-billion-pound council tax bombshell hidden in the small print and a cut to Universal Credit that will hit those who can least afford it.

Labour has condemned this triple hammer blow to people’s pockets as totally irresponsible when the economy is so fragile.

Making people worried about making ends meet will pull spending out of local high streets and small businesses, damaging consumer confidence at the very moment the Government should be building it up.

Sharon Hodgson MP said:
“The Chancellor was happy to clap for our key workers on his front step on Downing Street, but now that push has come to shove he has failed to show them the respect they deserve. Clapping doesn’t pay the bills.

“I believe those who serve our country deserve fair reward; by cutting their real-terms pay, the Government are punishing those who serve our country every day.

“The country needs a plan to recover jobs and rebuild businesses to fight the wave of unemployment. The Chancellor must think again.”

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds said:
“Key workers kept our country going this year, but the Chancellor has rewarded over a million of them with a real-terms pay cut.

“It’s totally irresponsible to hit workers in their pockets when the economy is so weak, but the least the Chancellor can do is be upfront about it.

“Instead, he’s trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the police officers, teachers and Armed Forces personnel who’ve kept the country going during this pandemic.

“They shouldn’t have to carry the can for this Government’s mistakes.”
ENDS

You can read Sharon's latest Sunderland Echo column below or on the Sunderland Echo website

When Penshaw monument comes into view on the A1 or A19, you know you’re almost home.

The announcement of a coronavirus vaccine feels like that too.

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Nov-Dec 2020 number 134

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Nov-Dec 2020 number 134

Sharon challenges Government to include conditions on securing UK jobs as part of financial support for Aerospace Industry

Sharon Hodgson, the Member of Parliament for Washington and Sunderland West, and Shadow Minister for Veterans, has challenged the Government to include conditions on securing UK jobs as part of any financial support for Aerospace Industry.

During Transport Questions on Thursday 3^rd December 2020, Sharon urged the Government to ensure that financial support for aerospace businesses includes conditions to retain high-skilled jobs in the UK.

This comes as Rolls-Royce were accused by Unite the Union of 'choking' the company’s future and 'selling family silver’ in a sell-off and plant rundown announcement.

Sharon said:

‘’Today’s announcement from Rolls-Royce will add further worry to hundreds of workers ahead of what is already going to be a difficult Winter.

‘’It highlights the need for further Government support for the aerospace sector, and that such support should be conditional on retaining and increasing highly-skilled jobs here in the UK.

‘’Manufacturing will be key to our recovery from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government and businesses should be investing in our future, rather than letting more jobs fall by the wayside.’’

Ends  

• Sharon’s question can be viewed in full here: https://twitter.com/SharonHodgsonMP/status/1334475347082010626?s=20
• The announcement from Rolls-Royce can be found here: https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2020/03-12-2020-rr-to-create-global-aerospace-leader-as-part-of-review-of-civil-aerospace-footprint.aspx
• Reaction to that announcement from Unite the Union can be found here: https://unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/december/rolls-royce-accused-of-choking-company-s-future-and-selling-family-silver-in-sell-off-and-plant-rundown-announcement/

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Oct-Nov 2020 number 133

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Oct-Nov 2020 number 133

Sharon pictured with local Poppy Appeal organiser and volunteer, Malcolm Pickering

Sharon Hodgson, Member of Parliament for Washington and Sunderland West and Shadow Minister for Veterans today (26th October 2020) supported the Washington Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) on their Poppy Appeal stall in ASDA at the Galleries in Washington.

Sharon, who is also Honorary President of the Washington Branch of the RBL, supports the local Poppy Appeal each year however due to Coronavirus restrictions the Appeal is very different this year with some people unable to volunteer or fundraise as they usually would.

Sharon said:

“I’m proud to support this year’s Poppy Appeal at the Galleries in Washington.

“Whilst the Appeal is slightly different this year, I’m encouraged to see the way local volunteers and the RBL have adapted to the challenges Coronavirus have posed us all.

“Constituents can still support the Poppy Appeal by donating a poppy through the post to neighbours, displaying a poppy in your window, donating online or undertaking a virtual Poppy run.

“I hope that my constituents will continue to show their support for the Royal British Legion and our service personnel, past and present.”

Malcolm Pickering, Local Poppy Appeal organiser and volunteer, said:

“I am delighted that Sharon was able to join and support us at this year’s local Poppy Appeal stall.

“Like most things this year, the Appeal and Remembrance Day events are very different to how we would normally commemorate those who have served, but it is no less important, so I urge everyone to commemorate in a way that is safe for everyone.”

You can find out more about this year’s Poppy Appeal on the Royal British Legion website here >

ENDS