We must invest in our children
LAST week the lockdown was extended for a further four weeks and I am deeply concerned by the inadequate support for businesses.
The Conservative government has failed to protect our borders from new strains of the virus which will prolong the damage to our economy.
Furthermore, the scandalous lack of sick pay for workers who are forced to self-isolate, feel unwell or take time off to look after loved ones who are ill is also putting our community’s health at risk, with many left with no alternative but to continue to work while potentially infectious due to the lack of available support and I have raised this in Parliament.
I also spoke recently in a debate about investing in children and young people. I am proud to have three maintained nursery schools in my Stockport constituency.
Hollywood Park, Lark Hill and Freshfield do a brilliant job of serving our children and parents.
Greater Manchester faces one of the highest rates in the country for ‘persistently disadvantaged’ children and, in Stockport, this means that the gap between advantaged and non-disadvantaged children ranges from six months at early years level, to 10 months by the time they’re at primary school and almost two years by the time they reach secondary school.
That is completely unacceptable and I have called on the Government to provide much greater support.
Recently we celebrated Carers’ Week to mark the role of unpaid carers, who continue to perform tirelessly for our loved ones for which we are all grateful. 80 per cent of carers have reported that they feel exhausted as a result of caring during this pandemic, and that’s why I’m backing the campaign to increase funding for carers’ breaks.
Anti-social behaviour is on the rise and recently I spoke in the House of Commons to call for more funding for Greater Manchester Police, with cuts to the force since 2010 amounting to £215m, which has had a direct correlation with the rise in crime on our streets.
Finally, I continue to be incredibly grateful for our NHS, transport, education, council and all key workers.
I will continue to fight for a fair pay settlement rather than the shameful 1pc that the Government offered after a year of working on the front line of this pandemic.
As always, if you have any issue you need help with, please don’t hesitate to contact me on navendu.mishra.mp@ parliament.uk.
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