We need to stand up for workers
This week I lodged another Bill in Parliament aimed at securing real powers for Holyrood to improve workers’ right in the face of complete inaction from Westminster.
Over the course of the pandemic, I’ve raised time and time again the shocking behaviour of some businesses threatening staff with the sack if they don’t sign up for cuts to wages and conditions, known as Fire and Rehire.
I raised Fire and Rehire with umpteen ministers, including Boris Johnson himself.
They had warm words for workers – but haven’t lifted a finger to change the system they’re in charge of.
I also put forward two different Bills in Parliament, only to see them run out of time as part of the Commons’ archaic procedures – although the Government could’ve supported them at the stroke of a pen.
We’ve also seen the UK’s appalling sick pay system exposed by the pandemic – with statutory sick pay one of the lowest in Europe by far.
There should be no doubt these dismal measures have been a direct disincentive for people who should be self-isolating with suspected covid.
As ever, the poorest have been hit the hardest and expected to live on under £100 a week while self-isolating – at the same time as virtually every EU country makes sure their citizens are given the protection and support they need and deserve at times of stress.
Like so much else at the moment, it seems the Tory strategy is to isolate us from a Europe that is light years ahead of the UK when it comes to standing up for the rights of ordinary men and women against big business.
After my previous attempts hit the buffers, Labour MP Barry Gardiner has introduced a similar Bill to stop fire and rehire practices, and I’m delighted to back his proposals.
But the plain fact is the Tory government will vote down anything that improves workers’ rights – and they’ve made it crystal clear they want the UK to carry on being the sick man of Europe.
If the UK Government aren’t interested in improving workers’ rights and making sure employees are treated with dignity and respect, it’s time Holyrood got the powers to take that action under a Scottish Parliament and Government who are committed to act at the earliest opportunity.
The death last week of David Amess was shocking.
Virtually every MP, MSP or councillor holds open advice surgeries for anyone to drop by. We wouldn’t be human if we weren’t asking the question, “what if that had been me?”
But we can’t go down a road where meeting your local politicians to raise the issues that matter to you means having the police in attendance as a matter of course.
Elected politics in this country means being open and being entitled to meet our elected representatives without fear of violence or aggression.
Often forgotten are the staff members working for politicians.
As an employer I have a castiron duty of care to them and to ensure their safety at work, including supporting me at surgeries. Sadly, previous attacks aimed at MPs have resulted in the death or injury of staff.
The pandemic has meant my normal surgery timetable was suspended from the beginning of lockdown, and it’s only now I’m restarting surgeries on a phased basis.
But once the public health advice allows, I will be back doing what elected members should do – meeting constituents face to face and helping them as best I can.