Canterbury Stands with Ukraine
Since the start of Putin’s brutal campaign, along with the wider Labour Party, my support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people remains unwavering.
Last weekend (24-25 Feb), marked two years since Russia’s illegal invasion. I was proud to join Canterbury for Ukraine as we walked together to unite the community in solidarity with our Ukrainian friends who have made a home for now in our city.
Gaza
As you may know, last week Parliament passed Labour’s amendment calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and for a pathway to long-term peace. The violence must stop now, and all parties must bring this conflict to an end.
The past few months have seen an appalling terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel and the taking of hostages, followed by intolerable loss of Palestinian life and a dire humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. We’ve all been shocked and appalled by the heart-breaking loss of life we’ve seen in the Middle East. I share the pain and anger we all feel at the level of suffering this conflict has brought about.
The prospect of Israel launching a military offensive in Rafah must be a turning point in the conflict. Around 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering there with nowhere safe to go, having previously been told to flee there by the Israeli military. Any military offensive in Rafah risks catastrophic consequences for the civilian population and fatal disruption to the humanitarian operation. As Labour Leader Keir Starmer said on Sunday, the offensive in Rafah must not go ahead and the fighting must stop now.
That is why we are supporting the calls of our allies in Australia, Canada and New Zealand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
As your MP, I voted for the Labour amendment which made clear that:
- We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The fighting must stop now. Our amendment calls on the UK Government to convene an urgent session of the UN Security Council to press this demand.
- All sides must comply with a ceasefire. One sided demands that do not recognise the need to ensure that an attack like October 7th cannot happen again or do not condemn Hamas terrorism will not succeed.
- The Rafah offensive must not take place and aid must reach those in need. An offensive in Rafah would have catastrophic humanitarian consequences for Palestinian civilians and must be averted. Civilians in Gaza need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief.
- Hamas must release and return all hostages. The families of the remaining hostages are frozen in uncertainty and anguish and their continued detention is prolonging this war. They should be released and returned immediately.
- Israel must comply with the ICJ ruling. As Labour has made clear, the binding provisional measures issued by the court must be implemented in full.
- Settlement expansion and settler violence must end. Settlements are illegal under international law and a serious barrier to peace that threaten the viability of a two-state solution. Settler violence has reached dangerous new levels since October 7th.
- We need a political process towards a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state. This is the only path to a just and lasting peace. A ceasefire with no political horizon will not be sustainable.
- We support the recognition of Palestine. A Labour government would work with international partners to recognise Palestine as a contribution to rather than the outcome of a two state solution. Statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour.
In the coming days and weeks, I will continue to use my voice to call, unequivocally, for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to end the bloodshed and suffering and to allow a sustained effort to salvage the hope of a two-state solution.
Whitstable Harbour Exhibition
It was great to spend Friday evening celebrating the unveiling of the new model of Whitstable Harbour, as it appeared in 1923.
Congratulations to Canterbury Commemoration Society for all their hard work in delivering this project, and to my good friend Christopher Palmer who designed the exhibition.
Located in the South Quay Shed, I would encourage all residents to visit and see how the harbour has changed in the last century.
Too Little from Government to Help Tackle Anti Social Behaviour
It was reported earlier in the month that the Government had found extra money for policing across the country, including £1.5m for Kent. Given the scale of the cuts to policing over the last 14 years, this is little more than a sticking plaster. Over 90% of crimes are going unsolved meaning that criminals are less than half as likely to be caught now compared to 2010. More criminals are being let off, and far more victims are being let down.
Shoplifting has reached record levels, driven by organised criminal gangs, with a 15% surge over the past twelve months in Kent alone. Offences under £200 are now rarely punished, and the detection rate has fallen to a record low. Town centre police patrols have been cut as there are still 10,000 fewer neighbourhood police than in 2015.
Labour will make it easier to take action against repeat offenders and will create a new specific offence of assault against retail workers. We’ll also introduce tough new powers to ban repeat anti-social behaviour offenders from town centres, and stamp out public drinking and drug use. We will reverse the collapse in the proportion of crimes charged, rebuild public confidence in policing and the criminal justice system, and restore the rule of law.
