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Siân Berry releases first year of meetings – calls for MP transparency on lobbying 

“This is an important part of following the Nolan principles of public life and working without fear or favour to vested interests”  Siân Berry MP has released a full log of her first year of official meetings with campaigners, unions, community groups, businesses and other lobbyists, while calling for other MPs to follow suit, and for new rules on MP transparency as part of reform of the Lobbying Act.[1]   Currently, while substantial gifts and hospitality must be declared by all MPs, and Government ministers have to record and release details

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Reacting to the Government’s cruel benefits bill

Reacting the Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill presented in Parliament today, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion Siân Berry said:  “With this Bill the Government is making a cruel, unnecessary and callous political choice. Recklessly pushing this Bill through parliament shows that ministers are still not listening to the millions of Disabled people who will be catastrophically affected by these reforms about how their daily lives really work.  “Disabled people already disproportionately struggle to get by and, by ripping away essential PIP support, ministers are aware they are

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‘Ella’s Law’ to make clean air a human right will be re-introduced to Parliament 

A cross-party group of MPs will be reintroducing a Bill that makes breathing clean air a human right into Parliament at the start of July. ‘Ella’s Law’ is named in memory of Ella Adoo Kissi-Debrah whose death was the first in England to be officially attributed to air pollution.  Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, Siân Berry, so far backed by cross-party Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and Independent MPs, will present the new Bill to the House of Commons with a ten minute speech on Tuesday 1 July.  The proposals in

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Responding to Liz Kendall’s defence of disability cuts

“Disabled people will be infuriated listening to Liz Kendall talk about cutting their support as if it was in any way in line with Labour’s values. “Cutting £5 billion from their support betrays the principles of the welfare state, which needs more funding not deep cuts, and the Government has many other options for funding the social security net sustainably without plunging hundreds of thousands into poverty. “It is clear the Government isn’t listening to Disabled people at all. If it had, it would have heard loud and clear that

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Welcoming an apparent U-turn on winter fuel payments

Reacting to comments in the Commons today in which Keir Starmer said he wanted to ensure more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments, Sian Berry MP said: “The Prime Minister’s statement shows just how much pressure he is now under, from the public, Greens and others in opposition, and many Labour MPs, to demonstrate he has at least some understanding that his Government’s cuts are hurting people. “To truly right these many wrongs, the Chancellor must try harder, and use her upcoming fiscal decisions to tax extreme wealth fairly.

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Reacting to Labour’s Green Paper on welfare reform

Responding to the Government’s Green Paper on welfare reform, Green MP Siân Berry said:   “I’ve heard nothing today that reassures me the Government will stop scapegoating and stigmatising those in need, while impoverishing them to the tune of £5 billion. Young and disabled people should have the support and backing of the Government but instead they have been badly let down this month with the active trailing of terrifying plans.   “It’s clear that these plans were plotted without the input of those whose lives will be most impacted. Disabled people

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Writing to all Labour MPs urging them to vote against cruel welfare cuts 

Green MP Siân Berry has written to every Labour MP urging them to vote against the government’s planned cuts to welfare spending, highlighting the “catastrophic impact” the cuts would have on disabled people. [1] Figures from Scope this week suggested that the proposed changes will push an added 700,000 disabled households into poverty, as Starmer’s claim that “if you can work, you should work” prompting comparisons with the previous Conservative Government’s attitude to welfare.  In her letter, Siân Berry reminded Labour MPs that those in receipt of health-related benefits already

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Defending new Sentencing Council guidelines

Responding to the news that the Justice Secretary will reject recommendations by the Sentencing Council to strengthen the need for pre-sentence reports for judges, Siân Berry Green MP for Brighton Pavilion said:  “Failure to implement these changes would be a serious mistake, causing genuine harm to women, families and young people for whom these new recommendations will create much safer sentencing. “Contrary to reporting, nowhere does the guidance focus primarily on ethnicity. Instead, the guidance, based on strong evidence, helps improve sentencing of women, pregnant people, parents, and young adults,

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Labour should listen to the public on Gatwick expansion

Responding to the Transport Secretary’s decision to pursue a positive decision for Gatwick Airport to bring its northern terminal into constant use, (1) Siân Berry Green MP for Brighton Pavilion said: “The Labour government is trashing its climate credentials one absurd decision at a time. Only one day after receiving critical advice from its own climate advisors on the need to lower flying demand, ministers continue to support yet more unnecessary expansion for the benefit of wealthy investors. “Pushing through these damaging plans shows such poor economic judgement. Over 100,000

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Expanding Heathrow in the face of a climate emergency is the definition of irresponsible

Responding to the news that Rachel Reeves is backing the expansion of Heathrow Airport, Green Party MP, Sian Berry said, “The Chancellor talked about the ‘costs of irresponsibility’ but expanding Heathrow in the face of a climate emergency is the definition of irresponsible.” “Worst still, we’re also expecting formal planning decisions from ministers on Gatwick and Luton airport expansion, which the Chancellor pre-empted today. Giving these permissions in the month before vital new advice is expected from the Climate Change Committee, today’s speech is nothing short of reckless. “The carbon cost

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