The weeks following the result of the EU referendum have been a tumultuous time.
It is a horrible shame that, despite voting overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union, people in Southwark are already witnessing job losses and local companies are facing a less secure future.
We’ve also seen a spike in hate crimes with people being told to ‘go home’ despite many being born here or contributing locally. I attended the Citizens UK London Bridge demonstration to tackle racism and encourage people to report incidents. I also met with Southwark Secondary Headteachers and this issue was raised and I’d welcome hearing your experiences too.
The problem came up when I hosted twelve local clergy in Parliament recently where we also discussed housing concerns and other challenges facing local congregations. A ‘praise’ of vicars may not be the collective noun but seems appropriate – and I am very grateful for their advice and prayers.
The complexity of the Brexit fallout has contributed to an intra-parliamentary crisis, with a new Prime Minister and, I hope, a new, stronger, more unifying Labour leader soon. But in the midst of the chaos, I have been holding the Government to account on housing and other priorities. I raised the chaotic and damaging supported housing policy recently which has left the council, local housing associations and constituents in limbo and unable to plan for the future as a result of the Government’s failure to understand the issue. I’ve also pressed the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on plans to abolish Attendance Allowance for new claimants from 2017. This support helps older disabled people and almost 2,000 receive it in Bermondsey and Old Southwark alone.
If you wish to contact me about any other local or national issues or concerns, please email me at: Neil.Coyle.MP@parliament.uk or call me on: 020 7219 8733. Alternatively, please come along to an advice surgery.
On Friday 22nd July I’ll be at the Rockingham Community Centre in SE1 from 4-6pm and you can see where my other future surgeries will be by visiting www.boslabour.org.uk/surgeries – and if you’d like me to host one nearer your home please let me know.