Campaign Reply: Renter's (Reform) Bill

I am confident that the Renters (Reform) Bill will help create a fairer rental market in England. The legislation will see tenants protected from revenge evictions and rogue landlords, and landlords given greater powers to evict anti-social tenants.

 

 I welcome the Government's intention to abolish Section 21 'no fault' evictions, which I recognise can deter tenants from challenging poor practice or unfair rent increases in fear they will be forced out of their home. I believe that moving to a fairer tenancy structure where all assured tenancies will become periodic will create more security for tenants, without compromising the flexibility which attracts many to the private rented sector.

 

I also support measures in the Bill to introduce more comprehensive possession grounds so landlords can still recover their property, including where they wish to sell their property or move in close family. I believe these are important steps in the absence of Section 21, to ensure landlords have the peace of mind that they can regain their property when their circumstances change or tenants do not fulfil their obligations. 

 

These changes come in addition to new powers to create a Private Rented Sector Ombudsman which will provide fair, impartial and binding resolutions to many issues in the sector. The Ombudsman will allow tenants to seek redress for free, where their landlord has failed to deal with a legitimate complaint about their tenancy. The Government will also set up a Private Rented Property Portal which will increase transparency and the information available to tenants before they decide to rent a property. 

 

I believe that these reforms will benefit both tenants and landlords, and I look forward to discussing this legislation in more detail as it continues its way through Parliament. 

Campaign Reply: Procedure Committee

On 24 October, the House of Commons agreed with the Committee’s recommendations to further improve the transparency of corrections, including the proposed expansion of the formal ministerial corrections process to all MPs. It is an important principle that all Members of the House – be they Ministers of the Crown, Members of the official Opposition, or backbench Members – adhere to high standards of accountability and openness. 

Ministers are obligated to ensure that the information they provide to Parliament is accurate, as set out in the Ministerial Code and the House of Commons’ 1997 resolution on ministerial accountability. While the current system for ministerial corrections is well established, the lack of a formal mechanism for Members of the official Opposition and backbench MPs means that there is no clear way of identifying a correction given and linking it to the original statement. The Government therefore welcomes the proposed expansion of the formal corrections process. 

The Government agrees with the Procedure Committee in its assessment that the existing procedural mechanisms for challenging the accuracy of contributions in the House are sufficient. On a lack of willingness to correct the record, the Government believes that further work and attention is required. 

Openness, transparency and honesty in politics are what our constituents expect, and it is incumbent on us all to make sure that we find mechanisms, where appropriate, to make that as easy as possible.

Campaign Reply: The Kept Animals Bill

The UK has long led the way on animal welfare. In 2021, the Government's Action Plan for Animal Welfare, set out reforms for this Parliament and beyond. Since then, the Government has passed the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, recognising the sentience of vertebrate animals and some invertebrate animals. In addition, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act introduced tougher sentences for cruelty, increasing maximum sentences. The Ivory Act came into force in 2022 and has recently been extended to cover five more endangered species. In April, the Government made cat microchipping compulsory.

The Kept Animals Bill, introduced in June 2021, was designed to implement several government ambitions for animal welfare, including banning the live exports of animals, seeking to prevent pet theft, and new measures to tackle livestock worrying. I am aware that the Bill’s multi-issue nature means that there has been considerable scope creep, and it risks going beyond the original commitments in the Conservative manifesto on which I was elected and those set out in the action plan. Therefore, the Government will now be taking forward measures in the Kept Animals Bill individually during the remainder of the Parliament.

I am assured that the Government remains fully committed to delivering its manifesto commitments on animal welfare. Having left the EU, the Government is able to and will ban live exports for fattening and slaughter. There have been no live exports from Great Britain since 2020, but legislation will ensure that this becomes permanent. Ministers remain committed to delivering it.

Regarding puppy smuggling, I know that the Government will ban the imports of young, heavily pregnant or mutilated dogs and it would be supportive of legislating to ban this through a single-issue Bill when parliamentary time allows. Regarding the keeping of primates as pets, the Government's consultation asked for views on proposals for a new specialist private primate keeper licensing regime in England. I will continue to follow this closely. 

My ministerial colleagues in Defra are committed to animal welfare and to delivering continued improvements, both in this Parliament and beyond.

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.