UK/US Free Trade Agreement

Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill

The last Government did not set up safe, legal routes and therefore actually encouraged the small boats. They encouraged people to come by routes that were not safe. The Green Party supports this Bill. It is time to remove the barriers so that desperate children can be reunited with their families in safety Continue reading “Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill”

Police Officers: Recruitment

I was on the police authority when Boris Johnson took an axe to police numbers. I remember it very clearly and it damaged the Met because it took out a swathe of officers, and then other officers had to go and do backroom jobs. I remember it clearly, so I think it is a bit hypocritical of this side of the Chamber to start complaining to the Government. My question is: will all those new officers have really good training in dealing with domestic assault against, mainly, women, and in understanding that it can lead to much worse crimes? Continue reading “Police Officers: Recruitment”

National Bargee Traveller Association

Last week Jenny sponsored an event in Parliament for the National Bargee Traveller Association.

The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) is a volunteer organisation that campaigns and provides advice for itinerant boat dwellers – “Bargee Travellers” – on Britain’s inland and coastal waterways. This includes anyone whose home is a boat and who does not have a permanent mooring for their boat with planning permission for residential use. Continue reading “National Bargee Traveller Association”

Football Governance Bill Committee Stage

We know the climate is changing; we know that the weather is changing; we know there are more floods and more droughts; so it is very short-sighted not to include environmental sustainability when you are worried about the future of clubs and their financial sustainability Continue reading “Football Governance Bill Committee Stage”

Imprisonment for Public Protection Bill

We cannot say that we have a justice system if we have an innate injustice such as this. The sentencing and continued imprisonment of IPP prisoners has just been cruel. We Greens are well aware that prison is overused as a tool of justice. Far too many people are imprisoned, when there are much more effective ways of rehabilitation or stopping reoffending. Continue reading “Imprisonment for Public Protection Bill”

Football Governance Bill

I do not like net zero. We are way past the time for net zero; we have to think about real zero. I know that this Labour Government have a real problem with understanding climate change. I am very happy to help them out at any time, with tutorials from scientists or meteorologists. In the meantime, this Bill fails to prepare football for one of the biggest challenges that it will face in the future. Giving the new regulator of the professional game a specific remit to consider climate change is a reasonable thing to do. It would send a signal to the Football Association that grass-roots football is also going to need resources to adapt to what is now happening to our climate Continue reading “Football Governance Bill”