Letter from Parliament - Debbie Abrahams MP

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth

A 'no change' Budget

The Budget is turning out to be a bitter disappointment for most people. As the analysis continues, it’s emerging that those on the lowest incomes will be worse off by £900 a year in 2020 as the promised increase in the National Living Wage will not go ahead. On top of that, the Institute of Fiscal Studies is warning that British workers are to face another decade of stagnating wages.

The Budget changes to Universal Credit (UC) aren’t nearly enough and won’t even come into place until next year. This ‘no change’ Budget will only put a pound back into the programme for every ten that were cut from it by the Chancellor's predecessor. Anyone who has tried to claim UC since Tuesday 14th November, will not now receive their support until after Christmas day. This will mean 59,000 families going without over the festive period.

And there was also no change on our pensions system. The Chancellor did not build on the success of Labour’s auto-enrolment. He ignored the mounting problems in our occupational pensions system and said nothing about the 7 million people who have lost £10,000 in pension entitlements thanks to his pushing back of the state pension age. Labour’s cost neutral option to support women born in the 1950s to retire up to two years early or our pension credit proposal to provide women on the lowest incomes with some extra vital help weren’t even considered.

Finally, even after the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s recent report calculated that since 2010, Government’s policies had cut £2,500 a year in income to disabled adults and £5,500 to families with a disabled adult and a disabled child, there was not a word in the Budget about disabled people.

In our manifesto, Labour set out a transformative plan to boost our economy, raise the minimum wage and invest across the country. We also set aside billions to take the necessary steps to ensure our social security system provides dignity and security for all, including fixing Universal Credit. I have offered to work with the Government to deliver a bolder vision for a prosperous Britain, failing that they should stand aside and let Labour get on with the job.

Greenfield rail commuters to face longer waits between peak services

I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, demanding he intervene to overturn planned changes to train timetables that will create up to a 44 minute gap on the Huddersfield to Manchester line at the busiest times of the day.

I also raised the issue of the lack of direct travel to Ashton-Under-Lyne, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central and beyond in these proposals, pointing out this will add considerable time on to the journeys that people have to make to work. I have previously written to the Department for Transport about the lack of step free access for those travelling from Manchester towards Huddersfield. It’s simply not good enough for my constituents including parents with prams, those using wheelchairs and those with mobility issues to be unable to access platform 2 at Greenfield Station. I have therefore also asked Mr Grayling to let me know what plans he has to ensure that Greenfield is a fully accessible station. Read more here.

Constituency Update

Alongside my regular constituency surgeries, it's been a busy time in the constituency.

As part of Parliament week, I met with pupils from St Agnes and Mayfield primary school at Gallery Oldham. Thanks to the pupils for their tough questions! I was also the guest speaker at the Crompton House School annual speech night. We are very lucky to have some very special young people in our constituency.

I attended the Remembrance Sunday service in Lees to remember everyone affected by war and conflict and wreaths were also laid on my behalf across the Borough.

This weekend I was joined by local volunteers for Labour's national campaign day. The campaign day focused on living standards - under the Tories working families are set to be on average £1,400 a year worse off. Labour will invest in people and our economy by introducing a £10 an hour real living wage by 2020. We held a street stall on Market Street in Shaw and followed up with door knocking. Later on, I joined Labour members in Brighouse, Calderdale.

My team and I met with the Greater Manchester Law Centre to discuss the services they provide and how they can help constituents. We look forward to working closely together in the coming months.

Shadow Work and Pensions update

I have had a busy few weeks in Parliament.

At Work and Pensions Questions this month, I questioned the Government on Universal Credit (UC), asking them what the Government's estimates were of how many children will be lifted out of poverty due to UC. As usual no straight answer was given. I will continue to pressure the Government on these matters.

I raised a Point of Order to the Speaker on the Government's plans to cut the Universal Credit waiting time, which was announced in the media. It's an affront to the Commons, to both sides and to people who we represent that policy decisions are being announced to the media and not to the Commons. Watch my Point of Order here.

I responded for Labour to a Back Bench Business debate on the six week wait for UC which took place ahead of the Budget. Please see part of my speech here.

Parliamentary business

In addition to my work as Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, I was delighted to meet with Katie and Jean from Refugee Tales who are doing such sterling work to support refugees. The Government must end indefinite detention now, as Labour promised in our manifesto.

I was proud to support Jim McMahon MPs' Private Members Bill on Votes at 16 in the House of Commons. It was very disappointing that the Tories 'talked out' the Bill. It's clear that they don’t think giving young people a voice is important.

'By retweeting Britain First (a far-right group), Donald Trump offended a decency he cannot understand'. Those were the words of Brendan Cox, the husband of the late Labour MP, Jo Cox. The President's actions were absolutely inexcusable and a formal public apology is required. We must not let hate divide us. As Jo Cox said, 'we have far more in common than that which divides us'. Those are the words which I would ask we focus on.