Last week I was pleased to get my vaccine jab at one of our local pharmacies, of which there are over 400 nationwide now participating. I also called in to see the team at Cobblers Hall on Sunday, and they alone had delivered over 15,000 jabs by last weekend. It is fabulous that we have now vaccinated more than 23,000,000 people and that we are on target to offer vaccinations to all adults by the end of July. Indeed, I have heard that there is even optimistic forecasts that it might be achieved in June.
A key announcement in the recent budget was the Levelling Up Fund, which has three primary targets for funding. These are transport investments; regeneration and town centre investment and cultural investment. This funding is to be led by local authorities with the support of an MP and each authority can place as many bids as it has MP’s. My primary focus on this is going to be the town centre in Newton Aycliffe and I look forward to both working with Durham County Council and all other interested parties. This looks like a fantastic opportunity to re-shape what we have into something better and I will keep you informed of progress.
As usual, I had a number of interesting zoom calls this week including on offshore wind, the kickstart scheme, the levelling up fund and sustainable farming, as well as parish council meetings with Bishop Middleham and Fishburn.
The most significant Bill in the House this week was the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill which contains much that will lengthen jail time for serious sexual offenders by increasing the minimum term in prison to be served before parole for those under life sentences imposed for rape and the most serious assaults. It delivers tougher sentences for child murderers, killer drivers, and those attacking emergency workers. It also includes an important law, Kay’s Law, which is being introduced after a woman died at her ex partner’s hands while he was released under investigation. In addition it stops extreme protests like those performed by Extinction Rebellion who stopped trains and buses running and blocked roads, even for emergency vehicles. I would like to assure you that it does not stop reasonable peaceful protest. It will keep us safe while also safeguarding our rights to free speech and free protest, which are such a large part of our British freedoms.
The actual debate on this bill was impacted by the events at the vigil on Clapham Common. For the avoidance of doubt, I absolutely believe that women need to feel, and be, safe walking home but I don’t think this vigil was helpful. We need to remember that the rules around restricting the vigil were the temporary Covid restrictions. Where this bill looks at the rules around protests it is a more normal world perspective. The outcome of this vigil, while concerning, is not entirely relevant when looking ahead at situations when national health emergency measures will no longer be in place. The events as reported in the press did not look good for the Met, but I do not see how the people turning up can be absolved from some responsibility, unfortunately whenever well-meaning people take part in an event like this they attract the rent-a-crowd who are just looking to promote their own agenda. It is what can be referred to as the law of unintended consequences.
On another issue, I have talked with teachers about the use of schools as polling stations for the forthcoming elections, and I have made representations to Durham County Council that other options would be better, as it would be best to keep school disruption to a minimum once they are reopened.
Once again, I will sign off with the same message and I really look forward to the day when it is redundant.
Stay Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives.
Stay safe
Paul Howell
Member of Parliament for Sedgefield
