Campaign Reply: Homelessness

I warmly welcome your passion for ending homelessness once and for all, and I want to assure you that this is something shared by myself and my ministerial colleagues. I read Crisis’s recent report with interest and I sincerely recognise the very real costs of homelessness highlighted in the research, both to individuals and to society. 

 

I completely and wholeheartedly agree that everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home. Through the Renters (Reform) Bill, the Government will abolish Section 21 evictions which will give tenants greater security without the threat of a ‘no fault’ eviction. There is also a firm commitment to delivering more social and genuinely affordable homes, underpinned by the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme (2021-26) which will deliver tens of thousands of new homes. I note that Crisis’s research draws on the particular importance of social rent, which is why you may be interested to know that the Government has proposed amending national planning guidance to make clear that local planning authorities should place greater importance on social rent.   

 

The Government is investing £2 billion between 2022 and 2025 to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, targeted to areas where it is needed most. This will work alongside the ‘Ending Rough Sleeping for Good’ strategy which puts prevention at the heart of the Government’s plans to end rough sleeping once and for all. I was encouraged to see the strategy set an ambition for no one to leave a public institution – whether that’s a prison, hospital or care – to the streets. I have been assured that the Government is committed to reducing the need for temporary accommodation by preventing homelessness before it occurs. I understand that, since 2018, over 640,000 households have been prevented from becoming homeless or supported into settled accommodation through the Homelessness Reduction Act. 

 

Rightly, Government funding for accommodation for people facing homelessness reflects the fact that there is no one size fits all approach. There is, for example, a £10 million Night Shelter Transformation Fund to increase the availability of quality single-room provision within the night shelter sector. Meanwhile, investment in longer-term housing solutions includes a new £200 million Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme which will deliver up to 2,400 homes and wrap-around support.   

 

One person without a roof over their head is one too many. While there is much more to do, I hope that this response has provided you with some assurance about the action already being taken and commitment across government to work towards a future without homelessness.  

Campaign reply: Israel and Gaza

The events we have seen unfolding in Israel are truly horrific. I join the UK Government in utterly condemning the barbaric terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas, and in standing with Israel as it seeks to defend itself in the face of such atrocities.

 
The UK recognises the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and supports a lasting solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike. However, Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their aspirations; it offers nothing for them other than more terror and more bloodshed. I therefore support Israel’s right to go after Hamas, take back the hostages, deter further incursions and strengthen its security for the long term.
 
The loss of every innocent life is a tragedy, and the above must be done in line with international humanitarian law, with every effort made to minimise the impact on ordinary Palestinians. While acknowledging that Hamas has enmeshed itself behind the civilian population of Gaza, the UK Prime Minister has called on and will continue to call on the Israeli Government to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.
 
The rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza is also extremely troubling.
 
The UK has long been a significant provider of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, and I welcome that on 16 October, the UK Government announced that it will increase aid by a third, with an additional £10 million of support. Furthermore, the UK has deployed significant military support to the region to help facilitate the humanitarian response and mitigate escalation of the conflict.
 
It is also vital that the international community works together to relieve the impact on civilians, a point the UK Prime Minister emphasised during his meeting with the Prime Minister of Sweden ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force Summit in Gotland on 13 October. I understand that he has also spoken with the Egyptian President to underscore the importance of opening the Rafah crossing to allow for humanitarian access and provide a route for British and other nationals to leave Gaza. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have also been closely engaged with UN efforts to secure humanitarian access and scale up the response.
 
I note calls for the UK to push for a ceasefire. The UK is working via all diplomatic channels—bilaterally and collectively in the region—to ensure that this conflict, which has cost so many lives already, can be brought to a halt.
 
However, the reality is that Hamas have no interest in a ceasefire. They have no interest in resolution, have never attempted to engage in a two-state solution and have made every attempt to collapse the Oslo process. I must reiterate that Israel has the right to take action to defend itself and to recover its hostages, and the UK, while respecting that, will always encourage it to adhere to international law and protect civilians.
 
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me and for raising your concerns about the ongoing situation between Israel and Gaza. I will continue to monitor the situation carefully.

Open Letter - Railway Ticket Offices Across Truro & Falmouth Saved

Dear

Thank you for contacting me in the past with your concerns about our ticket offices at railway stations in Cornwall. I am writing to reassure you that the Government has decided to follow the majority view expressed by residents up and down the country, and that ticket offices in our constituency at: Perranwell, Penryn, Penmere, Falmouth Town, Falmouth Docks, and Truro will be unaffected, and protected for the foreseeable future.

I wholeheartedly welcome this decision, and like many of you am relieved to know that we will be protecting those personal, individual points of contact at railway stations that the elderly, disabled, and most vulnerable in our communities rely on the most.

The Government launched a consultation on this issue, and I am proud to represent a community that saw so many local residents express their views through this process. I passed on the strength of feeling demonstrated by constituents like you to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon. Mark Harper MP, and made sure to raise my concerns privately with colleagues to help overhaul this proposal. Thank you again for reaching out to me with your views.

I would like to thank you all for expressing your opinions on this important issue. It really does make a difference!  If you have any further concerns impacting you or your neighbours in Truro & Falmouth, please do not hesitate to contact me again at cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk or by writing a letter to the above address.

 

Kindest regards,

Cherilyn Mackrory MP

                                        Member of Parliament for Truro & Falmouth 

Newspaper Column 06th November 2023 - Supporting the village pub

In Parliament this week we will see the first King’s Speech from King Charles III. However due to press deadlines I won’t be able to cover the various announcements that will come from this speech, which will set out the Government’s priorities over the coming months, so I will revisit that next week.

The other big event in Parliament this month will be the Autumn Statement, which will be delivered by the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on 22 November. The Chancellor will update MPs on the country's finances and the government's plans for tax and public spending.

In the run up to this, I will be making representations to the Chancellor asking that the Autumn Statement recognises the vital importance of the village pub.

In so many of our villages in Cornwall, the village pub is the heart of the community, providing so much more than a place to eat and drink, but a venue for social events, with some even hosting other amenities such as post-office services, community libraries and village shop facilities.

Pubs such as the Pheasant in St Newlyn East, The Plume of Feathers in Portscatho and Mitchell, The King’s Head in Ruan Lanihorne, The Barleysheaf in Gorran Churchtown which will be coming into our constituency following the next election, The Tywarnhayle Inn at Perranporth, and The New Inn in Veryan, The Kings Arms in Tregony along with so many more, all fulfil a key role in their community.  The Hawkins Arms in Probus even opened its doors to provide a community hub during Storm Ciaran last week!

These are difficult times though, and people and businesses everywhere are having to tighten their belts. This hits pubs on two fronts, and I hear from landlords who are struggling both due to increased operating costs, but also fewer people visiting due to the decrease in disposable income.

I believe we as a government should do all we can to support our hardworking pub landlords and their teams, I will be writing to the Chancellor asking for him to consider a range of measures to help pubs. For example, this could include a reduction of VAT and/or business rates, to build on reduced draught tax we already have.

I hope the Government will listen and act accordingly. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to use your local pub and support this vital part of our business community.

Finally, this weekend, our nation will stop to commemorate Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, a pause to reflect and look back on the heroic sacrifice of all who serve and particularly those who gave their lives during times of conflict so that we could remain free. I will be joining Civic Services in Truro and Falmouth to pay my respects and would like to take the opportunity to thank all who serve or who have served.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk, or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper Column 31st October 2023 - The last Parliamentary session

Parliament went into Prorogation last week ahead of the King’s Speech next week. Prorogation is the period between the end of a parliamentary session of Parliament and the beginning of a new session which begins with the State Opening of Parliament, which itself features the King’s Speech, which on this occasion will be the first that King Charles III has given in his reign. The King’s Speech will set out the Government’s priorities for the coming Parliament.

Looking back at the previous Parliamentary session, I thought it would be good to highlight some of the 39 Bills that received Royal Assent over the last eighteen months. This is of course, the core work that we deliver as your Members of Parliament, and the delivery of various Parliamentary Bills into law is how Governments deliver on their manifesto promises made before General Elections.

Over the past 18 months we have delivered:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, part of our efforts to stop the boats and putting fairness back at the heart of the immigration system.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 (𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹) 𝗔𝗰𝘁, ensuring the public can access essential public services in the face of political strike action.

 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁, bolstering energy security and delivering net zero in a fair and proportionate way.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, clamping down on seriously disruptive protests including Just Stop Oil’s militant techniques.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁, protecting children from harmful content online and holding social media companies to account.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁, cracking down on economic crime and dirty money in the UK.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮, reducing domestic energy prices and encouraging the efficient use and supply of energy.).

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗨 𝗟𝗮𝘄 (𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺) 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, repealing certain EU law and delivering legislation that works for Britain’s interests. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 (𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴) 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, unlocking key technologies to improve food security.

T𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵) 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, ensuring universities protect and promote freedom of speech on campus, fulfilling a manifesto promise to bolster academic freedom.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗨𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁, speeding up the planning system to build more homes and unleash levelling up.

T𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, bringing together vital new measures to protect the British public and address the evolving threat to our national security.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, protecting seafarers from being paid less than the National Minimum Wage.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯, strengthening powers to tackle failing social landlords and improving support for tenants living in unsafe homes.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 (𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝘀) 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮, helping us fund cost of living support for families and business.

This is a significant amount of legislative change delivered by the Government, but there is still much more to do. I will write in my column next week on the highlights from the King’s Speech, which will focus on the work we as a Government will be doing on your behalf over the coming months into 2024.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk, or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper Column 23rd October 2023 - The conflict in Israel and Gaza

My number one focus is to be the best representative for Truro & Falmouth that I can be. Sometimes, in Parliament, an opportunity is presented to also do something rather different. I have been a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), more recently to the Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon James Cleverly MP. 

My role is to act as the voice of MPs at the FCDO and help keep our fantastic Ministerial Team in tune with how events abroad are impacting MPs’ constituents on the ground here in the UK. I support the Secretary of State and other Ministers in debates and other events in the House of Commons.  On top of this, I ensure that MPs of all parties have regular briefings from the Ministerial team on current events and issues.

As you can imagine, over the last few weeks, the current situation in the Middle East has been of huge concern to constituents around the UK.  There are a number of Israeli and Palestinian families within the UK that have concerns for relatives in and around Gaza and I have had the privilege of championing those more difficult, emergency cases on behalf of my MP colleagues directly with our Team at the Foreign Office. Most of these cases involve desperately worried family members here in the UK, which I always find incredibly grounding as it demonstrates above all else that what happens across the world in the Middle East has a direct implication for local families and the security of all of us.

It is vital that a peaceful resolution is found to the conflict in the Middle East. I have been proud to stand by Israel in the face of Hamas’ terror attacks. Hamas is responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians on both sides of this conflict.

What has all this got to do with my work as your constituency MP? Earlier this year, you may remember that I also spent a lot of time with our Royal Navy and our Royal Marines as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. These two, largely unseen parts of my role inform the decisions I make on behalf of my constituents. They inform my debate and, God forbid, if we are called to vote on whether to send our armed forces into an overseas conflict, I will feel more able to make a more informed decision than I might have done a couple of years ago. 

These sorts of decisions affect all of us and I want to continue to do my very best.  When we think about what we want our Members of Parliament to do, all of us want somebody who cares about our communities. As a local mum in Cornwall who tries to get stuck in with everything in Truro & Falmouth, I hope I’ve already proven that! But we also need somebody who can think of the big picture and defend our British interests on the international stage, otherwise, we just end up with another representative doubling up on the work of our local councillors.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a COVID-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper Column 25th September - Net Zero

The big news last week was the Prime Minister’s announcements on a new path to Net Zero.

Reaching Net Zero and becoming more environmentally friendly and sustainable is a key goal for the Government, but since we started that journey, which we have been doing very well on, previously unforeseen circumstances have meant that the Government has had to consider how it can best deliver this result, while bearing the overall impact on the public to mind.

Things such as the COVID pandemic and the Russian war on Ukraine have caused massive increases in the cost of living, which in turn mean that currently some of the measures previously set out, such as around the rollout of electric vehicles and discontinuation of petrol vehicles, and modifications to properties to promote energy efficiency, were becoming increasingly difficult to deliver from an affordability perspective for the public, particularly given the tighter timescales we were following.

The debate about climate change is stuck between two extremes: those who want to deny climate change or abandon Net Zero altogether because the costs are too high, and those who want to go further and faster with no regard to the cost to people’s lives or how much our country has already achieved compared to others. We need to change this debate – and forge a credible path to reach Net Zero by 2050 that brings people with us and is properly transparent about the choices involved.

It is to the Prime Minister’s credit that he has recognised this, been pragmatic, and set about adopting a more sensible, proportionate, and realistic approach to meeting Net Zero that eases the burdens on working people.

This includes:

· Easing the transition to electric vehicles from 2030 to 2035, in line with other similar countries

· Giving families far more time to transition to heat pumps – and exempting altogether households where this simply doesn’t make sense, while significantly increasing grants to upgrade boilers

· Scrapping onerous energy efficiency requirements – and not forcing people to make alterations

· NO rules on carpooling, seven different bins, more expensive meat and NO new taxes on flying

· Supporting new oil and gas in the North Sea so we are less reliant on foreign imports

At the same time as this, the Government is also:

· Speeding up connections to an expanded national grid infrastructure.

· Providing £150million in new funding for green research and development.

· Continuing funding for Sizewell C and support for small modular nuclear reactors.

We can do this because over the last decade, we have over-delivered on our targets (the fastest reduction in emissions in the G7, down almost 50 per cent compared to 1990), technological advances which have reduced costs (such as offshore wind

costs down by 70 per cent more than we projected in 2016), and higher than forecast adoption of clean technologies like electric vehicles.

Part of my role in Parliament is as a member of the cross party Environmental Audit Select Committee. It is only right that major decisions such as this are given proper scrutiny, and we have already held a meeting, and as a result will be writing to the Prime Minister, welcoming some aspects of the announcement, but seeking further detailed clarification on his assertion that all targets can still be met, including how. We will also ask for a Minister to attend a session of our committee, to ensure scrutiny, which would normally have happened at the dispatch box.

The journey to Net Zero is an important one for us all, but I am pleased that the Prime Minister has recognised the importance of delivering this in a realistic and achievable way, and look forward to continuing to ensure the Government delivers on this commitment in the future.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.