Search Results

Rosie Duffield MP recently visited the Canterbury branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau to thank them personally for the continued support they offer within the community of Canterbury and the surrounding villages. The Citizens Advice Bureau in Canterbury are a dedicated and talented team of volunteers who have an incredible breadth of knowledge, helping people navigate the cut in the winter fuel allowance, challenges with Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the complexity around claiming benefits digitally their caseload is increasing.

The University of Kent is the largest employer in Canterbury. They are having to make yet more redundancies due to the enormous debt they owe to international banks; with significant impacts on constituents. Today, Rosie Duffield MP asked the Secretary of State for Education to hold crisis meetings with Kent's universities and their creditors to secure a more sustainable future given the financial emergency they are currently facing. You can listen to Bridget Phillipson's response here :

At Prime Ministers Questions today, Rosie Duffield MP asked the Prime Minister Keir Starmer whether he is comfortable that his Labour Government is funding national security through cuts that impact the very poorest in the UK and abroad. Sadly, his short answer seemed to suggest that he thought it perfectly acceptable to continue to hit those worse off including the country's almost 6 million poorest children and families. You can watch Rosie's Question and the Prime Minister's answer here :

Rosie Duffield MP joined over 200 Members of Parliament signing a letter calling for the England Cricket Team to boycott their Champions' Trophy match against the Afghanistan Team. The letter, organised by Tonia Antoniazzi MP, was written in light of the appalling oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan and the removal of their rights that continues unabated. Signing the letter, Rosie said: It's important we stand united against bullying and oppression of women in Afghanistan who are not permitted to participate in sport, or any aspect of public life under Taliban rule. You can see the letter and full list of signatories here . Letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board

Patients in East Kent continue to face unacceptable A and E waits. Last month, Kent Online compared the conditions in East Kent Hospital Trust’s Hospitals to a war zone. In 2024, an average of 40 very unwell patients a day faced more than 12 hour waits in dehumanising and degrading conditions. Rosie Duffield MP today raised the unacceptable A and E delays facing patients in East Kent Hospitals in the House of Commons. I have frequently raised this crisis in East Kent Hospitals Trust with the Government; 7 different Health Secretaries have promised much and delivered nothing at all. I look forward to meeting with Wes Streeting to ensure we start to see real positive change in 2025.

I was delighted to visit our friends at the Canterbury Umbrella Centre against recently and meet with the Trustees. Canterbury Umbrella has been supporting people with mental health and learning difficulties since 1989 and has evolved into an integral community hub where people can come and relax, eat healthy and delicious meals together, learn new skills, meet friends and receive support from staff, volunteers and other members. As a charity, Canterbury Umbrella rely on donations to deliver their vital work. You can find out more about how to support the centre here .

28th September 2024 Letter to Sir Keir Starmer - Page 1 Letter to Sir Keir Starmer - Page 2 Letter to Sir Keir Starmer - Page 3

Rosie Duffield MP attended a Parliamentary Drop in event today to show her support for the WASPI campaign. Speaking after the event, Rosie said: There are thousands of women locally affected by changes to their state pension age, and there is clear cross-party support in Parliament to deliver fair and fast compensation to those who have been affected. I am committed to working constructively with campaigners to find a financial redress solution that works for both the WASPI women and the taxpayer.

Today, along with a number of parliamentary colleagues, Rosie Duffield MP met with representatives from OFWAT to discuss their Price Review 24 consultation, and the proposed rises for water bills between 2025 and 2030. Rosie raised local concerns from billpayers, who see their water bills increasing year-on-year alongside poor results from both Southern Water and South East Water, with repeated long-lasting water leaks and sewage discharges. People want to see the improvements they have been promised, and OFWAT needs to ensure that these private companies are delivering their services efficiently instead of paying out huge dividends to shareholders. If you’d like to take part in the OFWAT consultation, which closes on 28th August, you can find out more and respond here: https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consu.../pr24-draft-determinations/

Last week, parents from across East Kent staged a protest outside the offices of Kent County Council. Desperate parents, carers and SEND professionals demanded changes and an increased focus on SEND provision in our schools and communities. SEND Reform England is a newly formed organisation which evolved from a support group to highlight the lack of teaching assistants and teachers with specific SEND training. Over the years, I have dealt with far too many cases where parents cannot get the specialist provision and help their children desperately need. Many young people have been neglected, fallen outside of the system, and consequently are not receiving the education, encouragement and support that they require. The Government must work with parents, carers, children and councils to help them fund and deliver the provision they have long been calling for. All children have the right to access proper suitable education. I also want to see joined up services and improved data usage, to identify children’s needs earlier so that intervention supports child development from a young age. These parents have had enough and I will continue to join them in demanding better for their children.