There are now two private member’s bills in Parliament, seeking to “end the practice of conversion therapy”. When the idea of a ban was first raised, we were all led to believe it was about preventing disreputable pseudo-medical practices which some therapists
Forty years ago, in July 1983, a mass anti-Tamil pogrom broke out in Sri Lanka, during which an estimated 3000 Tamil people died and 150,000 were made homeless. The pogrom saw Tamil homes and businesses targeted, with buildings looted and burned. The
Loneliness kills. The effect of loneliness on mortality is on a par with obesity and smoking; loneliness carries an increased risk of depression, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress response; older people who are lonely are at greater risk of cognitive
I first met Paula McGowan OBE in 2019 when I was a Minister in the Health and Social Care Department. Her story was an incredibly sad one: her son Oliver, who had developed mild hemiplegia, focal partial epilepsy, and been diagnosed with
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a rare bit of good news has unveiled a “massive” investment deal in the UK’s Dogger Bank wind farm at COP28. Speaking at a press conference in Dubai, the PM confirmed UAE state-owned firm Masdar and
A Labour Government will provide much-needed global leadership in the drive to net zero, to cut bills for families at home, Keir Starmer has pledged, as he concluded a first day of meetings with world leaders at the COP28 conference in Dubai.
Labour will today pledge to stop the decline of the great British high street and bring much needed banking services back to communities. The party has announced the ambitious new policy alongside the release of its Plan for Small Businesses to ensure
The Former Chancellor, Alistair Darling has died following a short illness aged 70, his family his family has said. Mr Darling, who was an MP from 1987-2015 served as Gordon Brown’s Chancellor between 2007 – 2010. He was a popular figure in
On November 23rd, after being delayed by the prorogation of Parliament for the King’s Speech, Westminster finally debated the ever-increasing need for an energy social tariff. The debate provided the opportunity for the concerns of many disabled organisations who for months have
The Autumn Statements been and gone but there was no mention of the energy crisis afflicting so many. But the season’s turning and the weather’s changing. A cold snap has arrived but prolonged cold’s now here for many, along with the dark
In decades past, the UK has led the world in advancing human rights and equality for all LGBT+ people. But in recent years, progress has stalled and even gone backwards. This is seen all too clearly when it comes to the debate
International Men’s Day (last Sunday) has become increasing popular across the country and I am pleased it has. Before I became a MP in 2019, I had not heard of it, but this year it seems to have been everywhere. The organisers,
