Latest news with #Creasy
The National
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Nigel Farage takes aim at 'ludicrous' UK abortion policies
Legally in Scotland, England and Wales, women can have an abortion up to week 24 of a pregnancy, with the agreement of two doctors. The Reform UK leader took the stance at a press conference in London which was aired live by national broadcasters. Farage said: "I am pro-choice, but I think it's ludicrous, utterly ludicrous that we can allow abortion up to 24 weeks. READ MORE: Nigel Farage sees route to power in squeezing Labour from the left "And yet, if a child is born prematurely at 22 weeks, your local hospital will move heaven and earth and probably succeed in that child surviving and going on and living a normal life. So I believe there is an inconsistency in the law. I believe it is totally out of date." He said he would leave it up to people to "agree with that or disagree with that", adding: "I think our current situation on this is irrational." Labour MP Stella Creasy shared the clip of Farage on Twitter/X, writing: "We have been warning you about this man and his links to American anti-abortion campaigners. Now the mask is slipping about what he would do the only way to protect abortion access is to make it a human right. "Ask your MP to co-sign NC17 to the policing bill now." Creasy was referencing an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill she has lodged to not only decriminalise abortion but to 'lock in' the right of someone to have one and protect those who help them. Creasy said the law must be changed so that 'the right to choose is a human right', ensuring no repeat of 'such awful cases and victimisation of vulnerable women again'. Another amendment on decriminalisation is said to have the support of more than 60 cross-party MPs and backers hope for a vote on it as early as next month. The amendment would not cover Scotland, where a group is currently undertaking work to review the law as it stands here. READ MORE: John Curtice gives his verdict as Hamilton by-election looms Last month, Scotland's women's health minister, Jenni Minto, said she was 'disappointed' that some still have to travel to England for late-term abortions, amid concerns that women in Scotland can only have a termination after 20 weeks in cases where there is either a foetal abnormality or the woman's life is at risk. Louise McCudden, from provider MSI Reproductive Choices, said: 'No-one should face criminal prosecution for ending their own pregnancy. Our Victorian abortion laws are not only outdated, but inconsistent, with abortion now decriminalised in Northern Ireland but not in England, Wales, or Scotland. 'As one of the world's largest abortion providers, we're deeply concerned to see so many women face prosecution, even jail, in Britain.'
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Pressure mounts as senior Labour MP demands major benefit policy be scrapped
Labour's Stella Creasy, who has been an MP for 15 years, called on the PM to scrap the two-child benefit policy as it would take '350,000 children out of poverty overnight' A senior Labour MP has called for the two-child benefit limit to be scrapped as she told Keir Starmer tackling poverty is in Labour's "DNA". Stella Creasy, who has been an MP for 15 years, said removing the policy would take "350,000 children out of poverty overnight". She said struggling families needed a "triple lock", a policy which sees state pension rates go up each year by the rate of inflation, average earnings or 2.5% – whichever is highest. She is the latest Labour MP to mount pressure over the two-child limit, a policy introduced by by ex-Chancellor George Osborne in 2017 which restricts parents from claiming Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits for any children beyond their first two. It was reported over the weekend that the PM has told cabinet ministers that he wants to scrap the benefits limit and has asked the Treasury to find ways to fund the plan. It comes after Mr Starmer announced a U-turn on cuts to winter fuel payments. The PM said he wants more pensioners to be eligible for the policy. READ MORE: Angela Rayner refuses to guarantee more pensioners will receive fuel payments this winter Ms Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow, told BBC Radio 4 she "absolutely" thought the two-child limit should be removed. She said: "My focus is poverty, because I think it is in our DNA as the Labour movement to try to end that because of the benefits to everybody when we do. I'm really focused on what we can actually do to help those families. "I think we need a triple lock for families too. It's worth remembering we've spent 1% of our social security budget on children, we spent 60% of it on pensioners. That is not to distract from the fact that there are pensioners who are living in poverty, and we absolutely need to tackle that. The point is, when we invest in those families, I think it pays off." Ms Creasy, who was not among the seven Labour MPs to rebel and vote for the policy to be ditched just after the election, said it was "worth reflecting" that 60% of kids who could be pulled out of poverty if the policy was scrapped are in households where somebody is in work. She said the child poverty strategy, which has been delayed until the autumn, must find "a way of helping every family make ends meet". "I am painfully aware of how many people in my local community still have too much month at the end of their money," she added. The MP also pointed to recent analysis that found every pound invested in Sure Start centres returned £2 in savings. The early years services were championed by the last Labour government but were dismantled by the Tories when they came to power in 2010. She added: "It's the child poverty strategy that is the real prize here, because poverty is really bad for growth, especially when you don't have the money in your pocket on some of the lowest incomes. So actually, everything we can do to tackle poverty pays for itself in the long run. "I do think what we really need to focus on is how do we tackle that endemic poverty that we've seen, particularly with wages, particularly with housing costs. When I talk about people in my community with too much month at the end of their money, it is housing, it is child care that is really draining their finances. So I don't see this as a trade off. "I see this about how we invest to save, and the numbers are there to do it. Because actually, over the longer term, if you tackle that poverty, if we lift those families out of the destitution that they're currently facing, it will pay off for all of us." Elsewhere Mr Starmer has been facing mounting pressure over the Government's benefits cuts. It emerged this morning that disability benefit claimants could get more time to seek support before Labour's cuts are implemented. The PM is said to be considering "tweaks" to welfare cuts planned by his Government. Benefit claimants could be given longer "transitional periods" to seek out other benefits if they lose out as a result of the reforms, according to the Times. More than 100 backbench MPs are said to be thinking about rebelling over the planned benefits cuts, which would tighten eligibility for the personal independence payment (PIP). DWP Secretary Liz Kendall announced the changes as part of plans to cut the welfare bill by £5billion and get more working age people currently on benefits into employment.
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
India Pakistan war fears: MP Stella Creasy expresses her concern with five-word plea amid conflict
Stella Creasy, a Labour and Co-operative politician for Walthamstow, northeast London, tweeted in the wake of India's attack on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir An MP has expressed her concern following India's attack on Pakistan - insisting the " world cannot stand by" as the conflict rages. Stella Creasy, who represents the Labour and Co-operative in Walthamstow, northeast London, called on "restraint by all concerned" amid the hostlities. The politician, formerly shadow minister for business, innovation and skills, tweeted: "Deeply concerning to see military air strikes in Jammu Kashmir tonight by the Indian Government - the world cannot stand by as this conflict escalates and so too the risk of harm to innocent civilians in the region. Restraint by all concerned must be sought and secured." Her message came amid fears of an "all out war" between India and Pakistan after India launched several missiles striking nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistani-Kashmir on Tuesday night. Loud explosions were heard in and around Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, with a blackout in the city after the explosions. At least eight people, including one young child, have been killed. Two more people are still missing following the devastating strikes, while 35 others have been left injured, some seriously. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its travel advice for the region, warning against all travel within 10 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border, 10 miles of the Line of Control and the Balochistan province of Pakistan. A statement said: "On the night of 6 May (UK Time), the Indian Ministry of Defence stated it had struck nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. "In response, there are reports of Pakistani artillery fire across the Line of Control. "On the night of 6 May (UK Time) Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority indicated that it was closing Pakistan airspace for at least 48 hours. There are reports of flights being diverted. British nationals should contact their airline for up-to-date information. "We are continuing to monitor the situation closely. British nationals should stay up to date with our travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities." Like Ms Creasy, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has also expressed worry by the escalation in violence between the two nations. Mr Swinney said: "I am deeply concerned by the events in Kashmir tonight and urge calm and dialogue to avoid further conflict." Tensions have mounted between the nuclear-armed neighbours over last month's militant attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, which Islamabad has denied. The missiles early on Wednesday struck locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country's eastern Punjab province, according to officials. Pakistan's military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif said India launched attacks on six different locations, killing eight people and injuring 38 others. A mosque was hit in the city of Bahawalpur, where a child was killed and a woman and a man were injured, an official said.
The Independent
17-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
MP slams ‘incongruous' fire brigade decision to ban book swaps on London Underground
Labour MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy, has said that it 'seems incongruous' to remove community bookcases from London Underground stations due to the fire risk when newsagents selling paper products remain. In an email to constituents this week, she said that Transport for London (TfL) had removed the community bookcase from Blackhorse Road station as the fire brigade 'judge them a fire risk'. Ms Creasy told The Standard: 'If the presence of paper books in itself is a fire hazard, so too I presume by the same logic newspapers will be banned from trains and magazines confiscated at the ticket gates.' Blackhorse Road station in Walthamstow was one of several London stations with a little library for commuters to swap second-hand books. The east London Tube and Overground station is among those to have had ticket hall 'book swaps' banned after they were judged a fire risk. All London Underground stations, including Highbury & Islington, Clapham North and Oval, had their bookshelves removed from ticket halls after the fire brigade intervention in March. Signs at stations read: 'Due to fire safety regulations from the London Fire Brigade, we have been forced to close all book exchange libraries. '[This] is on all London Underground stations with immediate effect. We are all sad to see this go. Thank you for all your support over the years.' A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade told The Independent: 'It is Transport for London's (TfL) responsibility to ensure its premises are compliant with statutory fire safety regulations. However, we will continue to work closely with TfL on this issue.' The fire brigade cited section 7 of the Fire Precaution Regulations from 2009 that states 'all parts of station premises must be kept clear of any accumulation of combustible refuse or other combustible matter'. London's first recorded TfL station book swap was set up in 2005 in Raynes Park, after a nearby library was being refurbished and wanted to offload some stock. In 2011, the Books for London campaign was officially launched and spread across the London Underground ahead of the 2012 London Olympics. A spokesperson for TfL said: 'We work very closely with all the emergency services to ensure our services run safely and following guidance from the London Fire Service, we have advised our staff to remove book swaps from stations. 'We'd like to apologise to any of our customers that this impacts and we are reviewing our processes for these internally and will work with the Fire Service to see if book swaps can be re-introduced at some stations across the network in the future. We will also work with local communities to redistribute books to alternative local locations in the meantime.' In an FOI request answered by TfL on 9 April, the transport body said that the community books removed from ticket halls were being kept in secure storage following 'discussions with the London Fire Brigade'. The request questioned the 'disgusting' removal of the community book swap at Northfields station. In response to a separate FOI last Friday (11 April), it said: 'We are not aware of any fires that have been caused or aggravated by the presence of book exchanges on the TfL system over the past 30 years. 'The book exchanges have been withdrawn, following discussions with the London Fire Brigade, while we review their compliance with fire safety regulations and to ensure that we provide a safe travelling and working environment for our customers and colleagues.' Sir Sadiq Khan pledged last month to reinstate book exchanges at Tube stations amid the fire safety row. The mayor of London said in a statement to The Standard: 'I'm hoping there'll be a very swift announcement that this decision has been U-turned.'
The Independent
12-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Immigration changes would ‘deny' Paddington Bear a passport, Labour MP warns
A Labour MP has warned that changes to immigration rules would 'deny' Paddington Bear from obtaining a British passport. The Home Office's good character guidance now states that an applicant will 'normally' be refused citizenship if they entered the UK illegally – no matter how long they have lived in the UK. It makes particular reference to those who arrived 'having made a dangerous journey', including those 'travelling by small boat or concealed in a vehicle'. Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said the change was 'counterproductive to the message that we want to send about being proud of our country and the role that it has played in supporting those fleeing persecution'. Ms Creasy told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday: 'This is not about whether we offer these people refuge, these people are people who can stay here already. 'This is about people who are here, who are part of our communities. 'I was incredibly proud over the last couple of months to work with one of my neighbours, who is a young man who fled Syria, who is now making a life here, has just got his degree, is contributing to our society, and has now got British citizenship. This process would deny that. 'Essentially it would deny, well, frankly, Paddington. Paddington did the same thing. He came by an irregular route, but we gave him sanctuary but wouldn't give him a passport.' In response to criticism of her comments, Ms Creasy subsequently posted on the X, formerly Twitter, social media site, writing: 'We did indeed give Paddington a passport. I was incredibly proud over the last couple of months to work with one of my neighbours, who is a young man who fled Syria, who is now making a life here, has just got his degree, is contributing to our society, and has now got British citizenship. This process would deny that Stella Creasy MP 'We also gave Sir Mo Farah a knighthood and cheered him at the olympics.' It was reported in October by the Radio Times that Paddington Bear had been granted a specimen passport by the Home Office to be used as a prop in the Paddington in Peru film. The Home Office's good character guidance, updated on Monday, states: 'A person who applies for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who has previously arrived without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation, having made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship. 'A dangerous journey includes, but is not limited to, travelling by small boat or concealed in a vehicle or other conveyance.' It comes as Labour's new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which scraps the Conservatives' Rwanda plan, passed its first hurdle in the Commons on Monday. It will also introduce new criminal offences and hand counter terror-style powers to police and enforcement agencies to crack down on people smuggling gangs bringing migrants across the English Channel. Ms Creasy said she voted for the legislation because it was 'important that we repeal the Rwanda legislation, the madness and the money that we spent on that scheme'. She added that the change to Home Office guidance was 'not part of that process'. Great Yarmouth Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe posted on X in response to the comments: 'If Stella thinks it's all so brilliant, she can take one of these unchecked foreign males into her own home.' The Refugee Council estimated that 70,608 people already in the UK 'will now potentially be denied British citizenship', as well as further arrivals and people who arrived through other dangerous journeys. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the change 'flies in the face of reason'. Mr Solomon added: 'The British public want refugees who have been given safety in our country to integrate into and contribute to their new communities, so it makes no sense for the Government to erect more barriers. This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused Home Office 'Becoming a British citizen has helped them give back to their communities and this should be celebrated, not prevented. We urge ministers to urgently reconsider.' Kolbassia Haoussou, from refugee charity Freedom From Torture, also urged the Government to reconsider what he said was a 'deeply damaging' decision on the moral and cultural fabric of the country. He added: 'Make no mistake, this is a dark moment in British history. If the Government really follows through with blocking refugees from getting citizenship, the UK will be taking a huge step backwards. 'Everyone deserves the chance to settle and fully integrate into society. I'm a survivor of torture, a British citizen, and I've even received an MBE from the late Queen. 'I know many people who also want to contribute to Britain, but blocking their ability to become citizens prevents refugees from fully integrating and flourishing in their new communities.' Citizenship applications are decided on a case-by-case basis and policies are kept under review. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'There are already rules that can prevent those arriving illegally from gaining citizenship. 'This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused.'
