Houghton and Sunderland South MP, Bridget Phillipson with fellow Labour MP’s Tom Watson and Dave Anderson have helped launch a new media resource for local school children in partnership with Tyneside Cinema.

‘The News That Defined Us’, a free cross-curricular resource created by Tyneside Cinema in partnership with BBC Newcastle and Whickham School, Tyne and Wear, is now available to all UK schools following its official launch at the Houses of Parliament.

‘The News That Defined Us’, aims to teach young people the importance of media literacy, encourage them to explore issues more deeply and help navigate truth and bias within the news.

“The students of Whickham School and Tyneside Cinema have achieved something unique. They have provided a platform for debating the value of the news and have empowered young people in the process.

“With current inquires into media ethics by the independent Levenson inquiry and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee this project will help students across the North East better understand the how our media works.”

Houghton and Sunderland South MP, Bridget Phillipson has pledged her support to the ‘Send my Sister to School’ campaign.

The campaign organised by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) aims to deliver access to free quality public education for every girl, boy, woman and man in the world in accordance with agreement made at the World Education forums and the Millennium Development Goals.

Globally, 67 million children are out of school, this has a direct effect on the ability of developing countries to grow and increase opportunities.

Previously, Bridget presented a letter from the Prime Minister to children at Hetton School as part of their campaign.

Commenting on the ‘Send my Sister to School’ campaign, Bridget said:

“Thanks to the Global Campaign for Education over 40 million more children have been able to access school. 

“This means over 40 million children have the opportunity to develop their potential to the full but one in five people around the world still cannot read and there are an estimated 1 billion illiterate people worldwide.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to have a good quality, free, public education and that is why I am happy to support this campaign.”

Related articles:
Bridget praises Hetton schools ‘Send my Sister to School’ campaign

Houghton and Sunderland South MP, Bridget Phillipson has today called on the Tory-led Government to do more to increase apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

The latest unemployment statistics show that across the country more than 1 million young people aged between 16 and 24 are now out of work. In Houghton and Sunderland South there are 335 unemployed young people.

Under Labour the number of apprenticeship starts increased dramatically from 65,000 in 1996/97 to just under 280,000 in 2009/10.

This week City of Sunderland College is hosting an open week at The Teleport, Doxford Park, to give employers the facts and information about apprenticeships and help overcome some of the barriers that they face. If you’re an employer and would like more information, click here.

Calling on the government to take action, Bridget said:

“Apprenticeships are a real and viable option for young people today, a clear legacy of Labour’s commitment to the programme during our time in office.

“But with over 1 million young people out of work, it is clear the Government needs to do more to help firms create the apprenticeship opportunities young people desperately need. That’s why we’re calling on them to back our proposals to help smaller businesses to take on an apprentice and to deliver more apprenticeship places through the billions of pounds which government spends on procurement.

“Building up our skills base can play a crucial role in boosting growth across the regions – but the Tory-led Government has completely failed to recognise this link, preferring instead to micromanage both growth funding and apprenticeship policy from Whitehall . Ministers need to take action urgently to ensure that businesses, especially smaller firms, feel able to create the apprenticeship opportunities young people are crying out for across our regions.”

New official figures show the true extent of the cuts to the region’s police forces under the Conservative-led government.

The Home Office statistics show that the number of police officers serving in the North East has shrunk by 451 since the General Election in 2010, with over 200 posts lost in the six months between March and September 2011. Meanwhile, Cumbria Constabulary has reduced its force by 83 police officers since the election.

Figures also show that 1,010 police support staff have also been axed in the North East since September 2010.

Commenting on these figures, Bridget said:

“By taking hundreds of police officers off the beat in the region, the Tory-led government is taking a huge risk in the fight against crime. The scale of the cuts since the General Election, with Northumbria alone losing 175 officers, is deeply worrying. Taken together with the loss of over a thousand police support staff, these reductions are placing a huge strain on our local police forces. The government is cutting too fast and cutting too deeply.”

Bridget Phillipson MP, is supporting calls by Age UK Sunderland for the Government to reform the care system for older and disabled people so that everyone receives the care they need to “live with respect and dignity”.

Latest research shows that a place in a care home can typically cost more than £20,000 a year, well above the average pensioner’s income, and anyone with assets of more than £23,250 faces footing the bills themselves. If their savings run out, they can be forced to put their property on the market.

Age UK aim to collect 100,000 signatures by March 1, when they will deliver the petition to the Government ahead of the planned White Paper on the future of long-term care.

To sign up to Age UK’s petition click here.

Commenting in support of Age UK, Bridget said:

“There is an ever pressing need for reform, especially as care charges continue to rise.

“Everyone deserves dignity and respect in old age.

“It’s vital that we make sure our older residents get all the support they need, without the worry of financial hardship.”

This week Houghton and Sunderland South MP, Bridget Phillipson signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging her commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust.

Today, Friday 27th January, will mark the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history – and in the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during their Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

In signing the Book of Commitment Bridget paid tribute to the extraordinary men and women who having survived the Holocaust, work to educate young people about what they endured, through the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Outreach programme.

In the weeks around Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. This year, people will also be encouraged to take a stand against racism and prejudice today – and to speak out against hatred wherever they encounter it.

After signing the Book of Commitment, Bridget said:

“Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau – and is an important opportunity to both remember the victims of genocide. I encourage all constituents to mark the day and to commit to ‘speaking up and speaking out’ against prejudice today.”

Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:
“We are proud that Bridget is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day this year. It is vitally important that we both remember and learn from the appalling events of the Holocaust – as well as ensuring that we continue to challenge all forms of bigotry.”

Commenting on the latest unemployment statistics, Bridget Phillipson MP said:

“These figures will only confirm what families in Houghton and Sunderland South, already know – we are facing an unemployment emergency.

“2,772 local people are chasing every job and long term youth unemployment is up 139.3% since the start of the year. While unemployment is currently a universal problem, it is disproportionately affecting young people, which will cause irreparable damage to their future career prospects. The over 50s are suffering too with 60 more people out of work for over six months (up 52%) since January 2011.

“Complacent and out of touch Ministers need to wake up to the jobs crisis they’re responsible for and take urgent action now.”

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne said:

“Unemployment has now soared to highest level for a generation and long term youth unemployment has more than doubled since January last year. In America, Germany and Japan unemployment is either flat or falling. This is new proof that the Government must change course.

“The Government’s welfare to work programmes are now clearly failing and the welfare bill is going through the roof.

“Tax rises and spending cuts that go too far and too fast have choked off the recovery and backfired. The Government is now set to borrow £158 billion more than planned – more than £6,500 for every household in the country. This isn’t borrowing to support the economy through difficult times, but a huge new bill for failure.

“The Government must change course and adopt Labour’s five point plan for jobs, including a tax on bankers’ bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs for young people and a temporary VAT cut to help people struggling with rising prices and kick-start the economy.”

Last week peers in the House of Lords succeeded where MPs have failed in challenging some of the most punitive aspects of the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill.

They won three key victories with amendments protecting 15,000 young disabled people from cuts to the Employment Support Allowance, removed the time limit on contributory ESA payments for cancer sufferers and extended the time limit from one to two years on ESA claims.

It is right that where people can work they are supported to do so, but equally that people who are ill and can’t work receive the help they need.

In the 18 months I’ve served as an MP, I’ve seen too many cases of constituents being declared fit for work when it is patently clear that they aren’t, from people with chronic health problems such as Multiple Sclerosis and severe rheumatoid arthritis, to those suffering the side effects of cancer treatment.

It is hard to believe that the Government seriously thinks it is reasonable for cancer sufferers to only receive sickness benefits for a year.

They are people who have worked hard, never imagined they would be forced to claim benefits and would like nothing better than to get back to work.

Let’s not also forget the people in our community who may never be able to work. The mark of a civilised society is surely one that doesn’t condemn people to a life of poverty because they are born with health problems or a disability.
That’s why it was so important that a clear message was sent to the Government.

The previous Labour government introduced the Work Capability Assessment to make sure that people didn’t remain on sickness benefit for years without any help or support to get back into the workplace.

In part, this was to address the problem of the many thousands of people in the North East who were pushed onto sickness benefits in the 1980s and 1990s to bring down the unemployment figures.

However, in practice the assessment process has proved to be flawed and needs an overhaul.

Meanwhile, Atos, the company which carries out the assessments, continues to profit even though 40 per cent of its decisions are overturned at tribunal.

The taxpayer foots the bill for these costly appeals and the huge backlog means that it can take as long as nine months to even to get a date for the hearing.

No one wants to see people claiming long-term sickness benefit when they could be capable of some work with the right support, but in an increasingly competitive jobs market employers can take their pick of applicants.

Locally there are four people chasing every job vacancy.

What we need is a government committed to supporting growth and creating jobs, not one that penalises cancer sufferers.

Click here to view the original article published by the Sunderland Echo on Wednesday 18 January 2012.

Many of us are looking forward to some time off work over Christmas and New Year, but let’s remember those who will have to work through the holiday period.

There are local servicemen and women risking their lives on active service in Afghanistan.

But let’s not also forget the shop workers, restaurant staff and petrol station attendants who will be working unsocial hours often on the minimum wage.

We couldn’t enjoy the Christmas we take for granted without their contribution.

This will be my first Christmas as a mam.

I am sure you can imagine how much I’m looking forward to it, even though Orla is too young to appreciate it.

I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received in the last year when fighting Sunderland’s corner at Westminster. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Houghton and Sunderland South MP, Bridget Phillipson has said deregulation has failed to deliver the level of service local people deserve, after a report from the Competition Commission slams bus companies for the lack of “head-to-head” competition.

The report from the Competition Commission (CC) published today sets out comprehensive measures to ensure that passengers benefit from greater competition, echoing the concerns Wearsiders expressed in the ‘Big Bus Survey’.

During the summer, over 1000 local people took part in Bridget’s ‘Big Bus Survey’. The final report clearly shows how frustrated Wearsiders are with the level and quality of bus services. Many residents have made it clear that the current system of service provision does not fulfil their reasonable expectations of frequent service, stable and easy to understand fares, and direct routes to local services such as hospitals. A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee has also heard from residents through a special edition of the ‘Big Bus Survey’. A copy can be downloaded here.

Commenting on the report by the Competition Commission, Bridget said:

“Deregulation has failed to deliver the level of service people across Wearside deserve. Twenty five years after bus services in the UK were deregulated the Competition Commission has had to step in and recommend to the government changes to further open up the market.

“The Competition Commission clearly sees the status quo cannot continue. While they are in favour of introducing new rules, I believe the existing legislation and mechanisms should be enforced.

“Nexus should continue with their proposals to force bus companies to provide a better level of service across Wearside – if it’s good enough for London – it’s good enough for us.”

Related articles:

http://www.bridgetphillipson.com/blog/bridget-says-go-north-east-is-out-of-touch-with-the-concerns-of-local-people/
http://www.bridgetphillipson.com/blog/local-people-make-their-voice-heard/
http://www.bridgetphillipson.com/blog/better-transport-links-will-help-our-region-grow-says-local-mp-bridget-phillipson/