Sleaze and truth-telling 

In my last newsletter, I wrote about Tory sleaze, the lack of truth-telling by the Prime Minister and the failure to uphold the Ministerial Code which governs conduct in public office.  

Since then, the situation has got even worse. Text messages, cover-ups over the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat, and a deeply offensive comment about Covid deaths have all been revealed by the newspapers and broadcasters, denied by the Prime Minister, then confirmed by other journalists.  

Dear Mr Speaker

We write as leaders of our parties in the House of Commons to express our deep concern that the standing and reputation of the House is being endangered by the lack of truthfulness in statements by the Prime Minister.

As you will know, one of the Nolan principles is that holders of public office should be truthful.  It is also set out in the Ministerial code. We believe the Prime Minister consistently fails to meet this standard. 

Sleaze in government 

The lobbying scandal over Greensill Capital and the role of David Cameron has consumed most of the front pages for the past week.  The revelations have been shocking, revealing a culture of sleaze and cronyism which runs right through this Government.  It’s not just about the secrecy and exploitation of the “chumocracy” – it creates a dangerously corrosive effect on public trust, posing real risks for our democracy.   

The Policing Bill 

Last night I voted for amendments to the Fire Safety Bill, which would have stopped building owners passing on the cost of fixing problems to leaseholders and tenants, but they were defeated in a vote in the House of Commons when nearly all Tory MPs voted with the Government. 

Violence against women and girls

Like so many people across the country, I was shocked by the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard. The fact that a serving police officer has been charged makes it even more shocking.

I’m reminded too of the brutal murders of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in north London – which were equally shocking though got far less media attention.

Earlier this week, I was asked by the All Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism to add my support to a cross-party letter to the University of Bristol concerning the case of one of their academics – David Miller.

Four times in his Budget speech, the Chancellor said he was being honest with the British people. What would have been honest is if he had acknowledged the scale of the climate and nature crises, and had come up with a Budget which addressed them.    

High Court judgement on PPE procurement 

I have been part of a legal action against the Government over secretive PPE contracts and on February 19^th, I was delighted to learn that we had won our case.  The High Court ruled that the Secretary of State for Health had broken the law by failing to publish details of Covid-related contracts. The judgement was crystal clear: the public "were entitled to see who this money was going to, what it was being spent on and how the relevant contracts were awarded."

Like so many people in Brighton and Hove, I was shocked and saddened to hear that RISE, a hugely respected charity in the city who’ve provided vital support for survivors of domestic abuse for over 25 years, have lost contracts to operate outreach and refuge services.