Stephen Morgan MP has written to the Home Secretary seeking urgent clarification of the impact of the reported loss of 400,000 police records has had on Portsmouth.
The letter sets out a number of key questions for the Conservative Home Secretary, including, how many people have been affected in Portsmouth what work is being done with police to identify gaps in the system and what the impact will be on vital safeguarding issues, such as domestic abuse and stalking.
The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, said:
“This fiasco is incredibly serious and the Conservative Government’s incompetence is putting the safety of people at risk in Portsmouth.
“Unfortunately, it seems inevitable that as a result of this mess criminals will escape punishment, victims will miss out on justice and our community will be less safe.
“I’ve raised this as an urgent matter with the Home Secretary demanding information of the full impact on Portsmouthand vitally how we can fix this very serious problem.”
Mr Morgan will be submitting a series of parliamentary questions to understand the local impact of the data loss.
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/police.jpg7441240Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-19 19:39:112021-01-19 19:39:11City MP calls on Home Secretary to give assurances after 400,000 criminal records ‘lost’
Stephen Morgan MP has criticised the government tonight after it refused to support Labour’s proposal to scrap plans to strip £20 a week from 20,764 people in Portsmouth, after the Official Opposition forced a vote in the House of Commons demanding that the government scraps its planned cut to Universal Credit.
This will hit 16,434 families in Portsmouth with a cut equivalent to the cost of the average family’s annual electricity, gas and internet bills combined.
This follows the Prime Minister’s remarks at the Liaison Committee last week that he intends to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week, or £1040 a year, for 6 million families in April.
The official opposition has repeatedly called for the Prime Minister to change course and provide certainty to millions of struggling families who face a triple blow of council tax hikes, frozen pay and a cut to Universal Credit.
Child Poverty Action Group has stated the £20 uplift is essential to ensure “low-income families with children receive the support they need”. While the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has warned that the cut could see another 200,000 children pushed into poverty.
City MP Stephen Morgan has taken a range of actions to lobby Government to think again about the proposed cut to universal credit.
This includes writing to the Chancellor in November to urge him to reconsider the policy decision, submitting parliamentary questions to Ministers, and arranging for a motion at Portsmouth City Council to lobby Government to cancel the cut, but was not supported by local Tories.
Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“It is unthinkable that Conservative MPs want to push families in Portsmouth into further hardship in the midst of an economic crisis.
“What’s just as worryingly is when we discussed these Government plans at the city council, local Tory councillors stayed silent, then voted against plans to stop the Chancellor cutting this lifeline for so many local families.
“The Government’s handling of the current crisis has caused Britain to suffer the worst recession of any major economy. Now Ministers are trying to make low income families pay as a result of their incompetence.
“Families in Portsmouth deserve support during this crisis, not cuts.”
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/UC.jpg549976Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-18 19:32:192021-01-18 19:32:19Portsmouth MP criticises government for refusing to back Labour plans to scrap cut to Universal Credit
Stephen Morgan MP pushed the Education Ministerial team in the House of Commons today to take action on funding for early years and childcare providers across the country.
It comes as many early years providers in the UK face financial uncertainty at the moment due to national Covid-19 restrictions, with the local MP writing last week to over 40 early years and childcare providers across his constituency.
The parliamentary representative wrote to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson MP at the beginning of the month outlining his priorities for local education in Portsmouth, including his concerns about the financial pressures nurseries are currently facing.
According to a recent report from Coram, 58 per cent of local authorities think that local childcare providers may close for good, leading to calls for immediate investment and clarity about future funding arrangements.
Stephen Morgan, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, commented,
“Nurseries are not just crucial for families; they are a vital part of our economy.
“The government urgently needs to set out its strategy for early years providers, as well as provide certainty on future funding.
“Without this, Government risks losing essential childcare places in less well-off communities as a result of the pandemic and damages the prospects of our economic recovery.
“Last week I wrote to over 40 local nurseries, early years and childcare providers to hear their views and ideas. This week I am putting my words into action by raising their concerns in Parliament. I will continue to push the government to act on this important sector for our community.”
Mr Morgan has submitted a range of parliamentary questions and lobbied Government on this issue. He is committed to continuing to liaise with the range of local childcare providers to understand and speak up for the sector.
Today, Stephen Morgan MP, has demanded the government give families the support they need while schools and colleges are closed to most pupils.
This follows news that the government will not be providing Free School Meals funding during February half-term, leaving 6,580 children in Portsmouth at risk of going hungry.
Labour is calling on the government to guarantee that all eligible children receive the full value of free school meals during this school year, including during all holidays.
To enable this, the government should set-up cash payments so parents can choose the spend the £15 free school meal funding on the food and supplies that are right for their children.
Children’s education is being further put at risk by the government’s failure to provide the laptops and digital access needed for remote learning. Two weeks into lockdown, 97,800 of the government’s promised laptops still have not been delivered to children across the south east.
Labour will call a vote in Parliament on Monday to ask the government to guarantee that all eligible children are getting the full value of free school meals support, including during school holidays, and have the digital access they need to learn remotely.
Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“The government has had no plan to support children’s education, wellbeing or futures during this pandemic.
“Cutting free school meals support and leaving children without the equipment to learn remotely in our city is simply unacceptable.
“I will not stand by and let families be the victims of the government’s incompetence. Boris Johnson and his MPs must now do the right thing and vote to support Labour’s proposals on Monday.”
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/photo-1588072432733-2b6a4873b187.jpg7001052Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-16 19:37:422021-01-16 20:43:45Stephen Morgan MP calls on the Government to support families during lockdown
Shadow Armed Forces Minister Stephen Morgan has called on the government to set out how and when armed forces personnel will receive the Coronavirus vaccine.
It comes as the number of troops deployed to support the Covid-19 response hit 5,000 and new analysis of Ministry of Defence Statistics revealed that the average weekly number of Coronavirus tests administered to defence staff per week is just 1,901.
The Opposition has called for a ‘clear and credible plan’ to protect troops on the ground, who are providing practical support to roll out the vaccine and community testing.
Government figures suggest that the number of confirmed cases in defence personnel jumped to an all-time high of 3,291 in December, up by more than 1,000 on the previous month.
Earlier this week, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace raised hopes when he appeared to suggest that troops helping with Coronavirus response would be prioritised in some way.
But no further clarity has been forthcoming, prompting concerns over the welfare of troops on the ground.
Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP and Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces, said:
“The armed forces are doing vital work to support frontline staff at this critical juncture in our work to vaccinate Britain. Our world-renowned troops should be utilised as much as possible to speed up vaccinations.
“In the immediacy, government must rapidly ramp up testing for our armed forces, who are putting themselves at greater risk of contracting the virus.
“The Defence Secretary must also set out a clear and credible plan to vaccinate our troops, particularly for those who are to be deployed for longer periods of time.
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/photo-1608243499644-c55bd9f2b837.jpg764872Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-16 18:39:462021-01-16 18:40:13Shadow Minister demands ‘clear and credible’ plan to protect and vaccinate armed forces
Stephen Morgan MP has today renewed his call for the Government’s plans to cut Universal Credit (UC) by £20 per week to be scrapped and called on others to get Ministers to ‘Cancel the Cut’
The latest intervention comes after hearing from Portsmouth Citizens Advice on the importance of the campaign and ahead of a debate on Monday in Parliament where the official opposition will force a vote by Government to justify its decision.
Contacting the city MP this week, Portsmouth Citizens Advice said:
“Every day our advisers speak to people whose lives have been turned upside down by the pandemic. Our local office is proud to have support 1207 people with Universal Credit during the crisis.
However, the new national lockdown will further impact local people’s lives, and many will struggle if the uplift expires.
The uplift has been a vital lifeline for local people, safeguarding quality of life and helping to prevent permanent economic scarring. Citizens Advice and organisations across the country will be working together to encourage the Chancellor to keep the lifeline, as well as extend the uplift to legacy benefits”.
The total Universal Credit caseload in Portsmouth South, Morgan’s constituency, has risen to 11693 – a 108% increase since March. The changes to Universal Credit could take around £10,900,000 out of the local economy, or more if the caseload increases.
The Portsmouth South MP has taken a range of actions in recent months to urge the Government to cancel the cut to universal credit including writing to the Chancellor in November to urge him to reconsider the policy decision, submitting parliamentary questions to Ministers, and arranging for a motion at Portsmouth City Council to lobby Government to cancel the cut, but was not supported by local Tories.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“Universal Credit is a lifeline to many people in Portsmouth and across the country. Right now people are relying on it more than ever.
“Cuts to Universal Credit, especially during this time of crisis, is not only morally bankrupt, but would cause serious economic damage to our economy and its and our city’s ability to recover from this crisis.
“That’s why I am calling on the government to cancel the cut and will continue to push Ministers to make sure claimants get the support they so desperately need”.
Mr Morgan has called on the Chancellor last week to set out his wider strategy on economic support for Portsmouth as he prepares to announce his budget in March.
On Monday, during an opposition day debate, Labour will force a vote on the proposed cut to universal credit to urge the Government to think again over their plans.
On this, the city MP added:
“The Government must do the right thing on Monday, and stop the planned £20 a week, or £1000 a year, cut to Universal Credit due for April 2021, which will hit Britain’s poorest households.
“I’ll be doing the decent thing on Monday when MPs come to vote. I hope the Government do too”.
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/photo-1586508320697-2ed07b62e98b.jpg7001050Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-15 17:53:102021-01-15 17:54:21Government must do the decent thing and ‘Cancel the Cut’ says City MP after hearing from local Citizens Advice
Stephen Morgan MP has welcomed the campaign by The News calling on the government to utilise pharmacies as part of its Covid-19 vaccine rollout programme, and has today taken action by calling on the Minister to make it happen
Lobbying the Minister for the COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi MP, the Portsmouth South MP has highlighted that approximately 90% of the population are within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, whilst nearly 70% of people have been to a community pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“We will beat this virus by getting our city and Britain vaccinated as quickly possible. That requires us to use every resource we have, including pharmacies. We need to ensure that it is possible to get vaccinated round the clock, and round the corner.
“By Government adding community pharmacies to the programme it would add thousands of new settings across the country in which vaccinations can be safely administered, dramatically cut the time it takes to vaccinate everyone who needs it and allow the lifting of the national lockdown faster.
“I’ll continue to do all I can to urge the Government to deliver on this not only for the people of Portsmouth, but for our country.
“The first step in that process was to write to the Minister responsible today calling on him to make it happen”.
Leader of the Opposition and party leader, Keir Starmer added:
“Every high street has a pharmacy and I want to see every possible pharmacy deployed to help.
“Across those communities, pharmacists stand ready to play their part too. Let’s use them, and let’s vaccinate Britain.”
Earlier this week, Stephen Morgan MP used the opportunity during Health questions to ask Government when the new vaccination centre at St James’ hospital will receive the doses and equipment to hit the ground running on the vaccine roll-out. The city MP awaits a reply from Government.
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/photo-1592323818279-0ff7babdcb75.jpg7001049Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-14 19:56:272021-01-14 19:57:34Portsmouth MP backs The News’ campaign to vaccinate city’s communities with support of pharmacies
Stephen Morgan MP stood up for Portsmouth people struggling to access NHS dentistry or get the care they need in a debate in Parliament today on the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on dental services
Speaking in a debate in order for the relevant Government Minister to respond and take action, the Portsmouth South MP underlined he is ‘particularly concerned about the recently imposed NHS activity targets’ and the impact this is having on local dental services.
The latest intervention in the House of Commons follows Mr Morgan’s long-running efforts on concerns from constituents and came after hosting a summit earlier this week with representatives from Healthwatch Portsmouth, the British Dental Association (BDA), and the local dental committee.
New targets set by Government could lead to some practices facing steep financial penalties if they fail to hit 45% of their pre-pandemic NHS activity during the current quarter.
According to figures from the BDA, only 43% of adults in Portsmouth have seen an NHS dentist in the 2 years up to June 2020, compared to 48% across England.
During his speech, the Portsmouth South representative spoke of one of his constituents that attempted a DIY tooth extraction, using pliers to relieve their pain, joining the 7.6% of English households who have done similar.
Stephen Morgan MP, commented:
“Dental services in our city were already under huge pressure even before the impacts of Covid-19, but the government is exacerbating the situation.
The recently imposed NHS activity targets are particularly illogical. The targets effectively force practices to prioritise volume over need – leaving them with little choice but to conduct routine check-ups instead of clearing the backlog of more time-consuming treatments.
This creates the unsustainable situation where patients in our city are unable to access the treatment they need, while practitioners are in a race against time to maintain their financial viability”.
Mr Morgan has previously raised concerns on the impacts the pandemic has had on dentistry and called on Government to act. The MP is now calling on Ministers to intervene to reach agreement with the profession and alleviate concerns being raised.
The Portsmouth South MP added:
“Though Ministers have committed to reforming the system we have seen no action and little appetite to do so.
It is essential we fundamentally reform the way NHS dentistry is commissioned and incentivised.
Without urgent change, NHS dentistry in Portsmouth and across the country could be decimated, permanently damaging patient care for decades to come”.
In support of the call to action, Ian Mills, Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK, added:
“Many patients have been unable to access dental care for over a year, with their dental problems getting steadily worse, and oral health inequalities exacerbated by coronavirus restrictions. The dental profession is acutely aware of the present backlog of unmet dental need, which requires treatment as soon as possible.
However, the recent imposition of UDA (Units of Dental Activity)-based targets in England to remedy this, just as the pandemic becomes worse than it has ever been, is at odds with the Government’s message to ‘stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives’.
The dental profession has worked assiduously to create a safe environment for dental treatment to be delivered, but there are justifiable concerns that significant increases in patient throughput, in order to meet UDA targets, could potentially compromise staff and patient safety.
The UDA was an ineffective measure of activity before the COVID pandemic, and we consider it even less appropriate now. Circumstances will vary by practice and by patient, but the priority should be on safety, the treatment of those with acute needs, and essential maintenance of oral health.”
Labour today reveals that the Government’s own guidance on what should be in food parcels is strikingly similar to images circulating on social media in recent days – with less than a 50p daily difference.
It comes as Stephen Morgan MP has stepped up pressure for the Government to ensure families are getting the full value of Free School Meals support here in Portsmouth.
Ministers have described images circulating in recent days as “completely unacceptable.” The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, told the Education Select Committee that “it will not be tolerated we will not live with that.” But research from Labour suggests that the packages aren’t as far removed from Government guidance as ministers are suggesting.
Guidance written by the Department for Education and pointed to from gov.uk suggests “general principles for putting together” parcels. And the similarities between them and the images circulating are striking.
The key items missing are two ‘tins of meat’, a litre of milk and a tin of sweetcorn. A leading UK supermarket prices this at about 47p of food a day. This doesn’t include items that are not in the guidance but in the picture, such as Soreen and pasta.
Widely shared image on social media
Government guidance
1 x loaf of bread
1 x loaf of bread
2 x potatoes
2 x potatoes
1 x tomato
3 x tomatoes
5 x portions of fruit
5 x portions of fruit
? x cheese portions
3 x cheese portions
1 x tin of baked beans
1 x tin of baked beans
3 x yoghurts
3 x individual serving yoghurt pots
1 x bag of pasta
1 x cucumber
2 x packets Soreen
1 x tin sweetcorn
2 x carrots
1 x bottle milk
2 x tin of meat
Stephen Morgan MP, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, said:
“The images that have been circulating on social media are shameful and have shocked many constituents.
“But these revelations about the Government’s own guidance as we have learnt today means that ministers’ newfound concern rings hollow. A couple of tins and a bottle of milk isn’t the difference between acceptable or unacceptable.
“I will continue to put pressure on Government to act. Many in our city were already struggling to make ends meet before this pandemic. This crisis has made life for them even harder. Portsmouth families deserve better from Ministers”.
Tulip Siddiq MP, Labour’s Shadow Children and Early Years Minister, added:
“The Government’s response has yet again been far too slow, with national food vouchers only becoming available from next week – two weeks after schools moved to remote learning.
“Children are going hungry now – this cannot wait.”
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/photo-1523446619710-112ccba40f35.jpg500750Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-13 17:15:352021-01-13 17:30:28Revealed: The striking similarities between shameful meal parcels and Government guidance
Stephen Morgan MP questioned the Health Secretary this morning on when the local vaccination centre in Portsmouth will get the equipment it needs from central government to become fully operational.
The parliamentary representative for the city demanded further clarity from Matt Hancock MP in the House of Commons today, following the recent announcement that St James’ Hospital has been selected as a vaccination centre for the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine.
This comes following a significant local uptake in applications for voluntary roles to support the vaccine rollout programme, with Mr Morgan also signing up to volunteer with local organisation HIVE Portsmouth.
The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, said,
“We all want to see the St James’ hospital vaccination centre in our city open as soon as possible.
“It’s frustrating that the Health Secretary wasn’t able to provide the clarity hard-working staff and volunteers on the ground need at this crucial juncture in our efforts to vaccinate Britain.
“I will continue to hold the Secretary of State to his promise to write to me to provide this information as soon as possible.
“Our local NHS is ready. The government must now deliver”.
The Portsmouth South MP last week underlined the importance of the government scaling up its Covid-19 Vaccination Programme as fast as possible.
https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Health.jpg6951146Stephen Morganhttps://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SM-Logo-680.pngStephen Morgan2021-01-12 15:35:582021-01-12 15:36:28City MP demands answers from Health Secretary on local vaccination centre
