This week the Rwanda Bill did finally pass though all its parliamentary stages after a long night in Parliament.
It is not racist to be concerned about illegal immigration, border security is a serious challenge, and a legitimate concern. People see things differently, I understand that, and no-one wants to have difficult conversations, but we need to.
There are multiple strategies, partnerships, and investments already in play to stem the tide of illegal, dangerous boat crossings (and there has been some success) but processing claims and settling would-be asylum seekers in a third country, in this case Rwanda, is new ground.
It is designed to be a deterrent, to deal a hammer blow to the business model of the criminals who sell life in Britain.
The United Nations has placed refugees in Rwanda but even so, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs voted against it, over 100 times I understand. At the other end of the spectrum, I was shocked to hear a Reform party spokesperson this week question if we truly had any ‘reasonable’ responsibility to rescue people from the sea. I guess more drownings is a different manner of deterrent. It doesn’t address those who make it to our shore of course.
Another difficult conversation is around the limit for when an abortion can take place. I gave an interview about my own experiences in this very sensitive area this last week. I have put in an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill asking for the limit to be reduced from 24 weeks to 22 weeks. I do this because four in ten babies born at 22 weeks now survive. Medical advances have made this possible and we must, in my view, take that into consideration and very modestly change the law.
The same thing happened in 1990 when the limit was reduced from 28 weeks to 24 weeks again due to medical advances. The limit would still remain way above the EU average, and it does not change the provision already in law for abortion up to term if there is serious disability or a danger to the woman's life. It is a very modest change, supported by hundreds of medical professionals, but will, I am sure, inspire strong feelings on all sides when it comes to debate, possibly next month.
Also this week, I met the Secretary of State for Health, on current services and on tracking plans for the hospital and with the local government minister responsible for the rental market; building new affordable homes is absolutely key. That’s why I’ve been on the case for new housing at Bedfordwell Road and I’m homing in on the Debenhams site.
We have our challenges for sure but there are brilliant opportunities and good times ahead too. We’re interviewing for our new £20m Towns Fund Chair this week and looking forward to our tournament this summer, I wrote to Martina Navratilova this week!
