Barry's intervention in the Health Statement on Covid-19

Barry asked the Health Secretary “How will his Government now try to ensure they recognise that a person’s spiritual needs are critical for their mental health and that this is just as important for people’s physical health?” Barry also referred to the fact that priests have been unable to administer the sacrament to those dying in care homes and rabbis have been unable to secure a minyan in order to say the Kaddish.

In response the Secretary of State said “Ministers are working with faith leaders on how we can come to an arrangement, as soon as possible, to allow both communal prayer…, and all other aspects of nurturing worship.”

You can watch the full exchange below.

Barry gives passionate speech in the debate on Free School Meals

Barry has given a passionate speech in the chamber during the opposition day debate on free school meals.

The motion being debated is “That this House calls on the Government to continue directly funding provision of free school meals over the school holidays until Easter 2021 to prevent over a million children going hungry during this crisis.”

Barry spoke of the shame of the 5th richest country in the world having over 4 million children in poverty. He talked of how footballer Marcus Rashford shamed the government into providing free school meals over the summer holidays.

Barry also quoted the the words of head teachers of Brent North schools who have emailed Barry with their experiences. The overriding message from these head teachers is- Government paying for free school meals is an absolute minimum.

You can watch Barry’s speech below.

Barry makes two interventions in the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

In the recent Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill, Barry made two interventions.

Firstly, Barry rose to clarify that he thought without the excellent Labour amendments, this Bill cannot be supported, and if the Government chooses not to relent and accept the amendments then members should vote against the Bill.

In his second intervention, Barry spoke of the concern around clause V. Barry pointed out that the Minister rightly stressed the importance of clarity, however, there was very little clarity about the word 'disorder’ and about what constitutes the economic wellbeing of UK.

When it went to vote, the Government defeated the Labour amendments, so as promised during his first intervention, Barry voted against the Bill.

You can watch both of Barry’s interventions below.

Barry asks question on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict during FCO orals

During FCO orals, Barry asked a question on ‘What proposals the Government has put forward to the UN Security Council on a resolution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh’

You can see his question and the Minister’s reply below:

Barry speaks in Westminster Hall debate on 'No Recourse to Public Funds'

Barry has given an impassioned speech in the recent Westminster Hall debate, where he spoke of the desperate situation of two separate constituents that have contacted him in recent months.

One constituent told Barry of the pain for her and her children watching her previously healthy 45 year old husband die from COVID. Barry’s office urgently contacted the Home Office and appealed to them to provide her with Recourse to Public Funds. Thankfully, it was granted, however, it took the Home Office five weeks to respond and grant her this. A five week wait for a grieving family with a child in destitution is quite frankly unacceptable. The worry is- this was one of the good outcomes.

Barry then spoke of a second constituent who had contacted him in January. He is a single father with a 7 year old daughter and No Recourse to Public Funds. He has been trying to establish his right to remain in the UK. Barry admits that without help of Brent Council, he doesn’t know what would’ve happened to that constituent and his daughter.

Barry challenged the Secretary of State to answer these questions:

• How he expects a single parent during this pandemic to pay rent and look after a child with No Recourse to Public Funds.

• How the unemployed are going to survive for the 5 weeks wait from the Home Office for a change in condition.

Barry finished his speech by pressing the Secretary of State to commit to determining any application for a change of condition within 48 hours of receiving it. Those at risk of destitution simply cannot wait any longer.

You can see his speech in full below.

Barry intervenes on the Fire Safety Bill

Barry intervened during the Fire Safety Bill to explain the mental stress of some constituents affected by cladding on their buildings, particularly those who have separated and are unable to sell their homes leading to people feeling trapped.

Barry challenges the Minister for Crime and Policing on Extinction Rebellion

Barry responded to the Home Office statement given by Minister for Policing, Crime and the Fire Service, Kit Malthouse with regards to Extinction Rebellion in particular.

Barry told the House that he did disagree with Extinction Rebellion’s strategy of targeting the press but reminded the Government of its own irony of avoiding scrutiny from the press whilst now acting as the last bastion of a free press despite the protests being peaceful.

Barry challenges The Health Secretary on pancreatic cancer

Barry challenged the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock on pancreatic cancer and the need for early diagnosis for sufferers.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers yet only receives 2% of funding. 28 people a day die from it and a diagnosis is normally found following emergency admissions to hospital.

The Secretary of State agreed with Barry and advised that there has to be an increase in testing and diagnosis of all diseases and not just for Covid.

The full exchange is available below.

Barry speaks about the devestating effect evictions will have on communities

Today, Barry raised the issue of how devastating the restart of evictions will be to communities like that of Brent North, particularly for those who have been made redundant during the pandemic.

You can watch his contribution below;

Barry intervenes in Trade Bill debate

Barry was in the Commons for the Trade Bill debate and partook in some bobbing from the backbenches to raise concerns and expose the authoritarian abuse of power the government is driving through in the Bill.

You can watch the best bits below;

Barry challenges the Chancellor

Barry was in the chamber today and challenged the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak on the lack of financial support for the hospitality sector. Barry pointed out to the Chancellor that in his May announcement gave delight to 9000 businesses in the borough of Brent for grants up to £25,000. But the detail was all too different. The money released to businesses in Brent from the Treasury was the equivalent of £366 per business.

Watch: Barry seeks assurances from The Home Secretary

Barry was in Parliament today to ask for assurances from The Home Secretary Priti Patel regarding his constituent and the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

The Home Secretary advised that if presented with the case she would be happy to help. Barry will hold her at her word and demanded action as they have waited far too long already for a British passport, compensation for how he has been treated as well as loss of earnings.

Barry questions the Secretary of State for Scotland

Barry questioned the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack regarding the proposals to house thirty thousand delegates at the now postponed COP26 in Glasgow. Firstly on the element of how much it would cost and secondly and more ironically, on the environmental impact it would have from the sheer amount of diesel being pumped out.

Suffice to say The Secretary of State offered warm words with no real assurances.

Barry speaks during Trade Bill debate

Barry was in the chamber today to speak in the Second reading of the Trade Bill and gave a detailed and passionate account of why the Bill is one of the most undemocratic and dangerous pieces of legislation that Parliament will face over the next 4 years.

Barry outlined how the Bill wasn’t at all about “taking back control” as well as the threat to the NHS that the Bill proposes despite some of the vague and unsubstantiated promises made by the Conservatives during the December General Election.

Barry challenges the Health Secretary on Care Home record

Barry asked a question during an Urgent Question today, where he praised the work of Brent Council and challenged Matt Hancock on his record in regards to Care Home policy.

Barry speaks in the Fire Safety Bill

Barry contributed to todays Second Reading on the Fire Safety Bill with a powerful speech.

He focussed on the failures in the previous legislation and the futility of the regulations on fire safety when the monitoring and enforcement regime is flawed from the beginning and how this must be tightened and looked at going forward with this present legislation.

Barry challenges The First Secretary of State at Prime Minister’s Questions

Barry took part in the first ever virtual Prime Minister’s Questions today. It was the first of its kind in the 700 year history of the House of Commons due to the current pandemic of Covid-19.

As the First Secretary of State, Dominic Raab deputised for Boris Johnson, who is still recovering from the virus. Barry asked Mr Raab why the Government were so slow to implement a lockdown originally when scientific advisors had suggested it three and a half weeks before.

Barry speaks in Urgent Question on Assisting British Citizens Abroad to Return Home

Today, Barry spoke in the House to ask the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab about the hundreds of thousands of British Citizens stranded abroad. Many of these British nationals abroad are in urgent need of help from our government.

The Government must be committed to helping these citizens. Amongst other things, Barry asked the Foreign Secretary:

• To ensure embassy telephone lines are kept open.

• To find flights home no matter how long it takes and guarantee accommodation for them in the meantime

• To make a plan for the safe care and medical assessment of British cruiseline passengers

• To negotiate with countries to ensure the safety of British citizens abroad during quarantine

• To tell us how he is keeping in touch with worried citizens abroad and their families in the UK

Barry challenges the Government during Trade orals

Barry challenged the Government this week during Trade Orals.

Barry asked questions relating to trading agreements between the United Kingdom and Morocco which don’t protect the Sahrawi people as well as intersecting Customs Unions.

Barry challenges the Government on green energy during BEIS orals

Barry represented the Labour Party today during BEIS orals and challenged Minister Kwasi Kwarteng on whether the Government should be moving towards a Global Green Grid Alliance.