Barry takes part in Westminster Hall debate on Kashmir

Barry has spoken in a recent Westminster Hall debate on the topic of Kashmir.

Barry begins by giving his view on the unique constitutional entity of Jammu and Kashmir- “As a constitutional entity, the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which is better known to the world as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is not just strange but unique. It has been given the trappings of a country, with a President, Prime Minister and even a legislative assembly, but it is neither a country with its own sovereignty nor a province with its own clearly defined devolved authority from the national Government.”

He then sums up by saying “the Simla agreement was signed in 1972, when both countries committed to resolving all differences bilaterally and peacefully. That is what they should do, and it is what UK policy is and should be: to let them resolve their differences without political interference from either side.

I deplore the way in which some have always tried to import the conflicts of the subcontinent into our domestic politics. In my borough of Brent, our council leader is a fine and devout Muslim whose family is from Pakistan; our chief whip is a wonderfully authoritative Bangladeshi woman; and our Greater London Authority representative is an enormously respected Hindu.

We all work together for all of the people we serve. My view is parliament should do the same”

You can watch Barry’s speech in full below.

Barry accounts the experiences of dentists in Brent in House of Commons debate

Barry was pleased to co-sponsor a backbench business debate in the House of Commons on Covid-19’s impact on dental services.

In his speech, which was cut short by the Speaker due to time constraints, Barry spoke of how the govenment failed had failed the dental profession even before Covid.

Barry then quoted letters from the Brent & Harrow Local Dental Committee and other dental professionals he had received.

You can watch Barry’s speech below.

Barry speaks in Westminster Hall debate on persecution of religious minorities in India

In this recent Westminster Hall debate on the persecution of religious minorities in India, Barry questioned whether this is a debate that should be taking place in British Parliament-

“Imagine when the Windrush scandal broke in the UK if there had been a debate in the Indian Parliament about the persecution of black people in Britain. Or, in 2011, when the London riots broke out after the police shooting of Mark Duggan, that there had been questions asked in the Indian Parliament about the impartiality of the Metropolitan police, and how it was that they stood by and did not use force to stop the rioters for four days before those riots were brought under control. Imagine that there had been debates in the Indian Parliament all through the troubles in Northern Ireland, accusing the British Government of persecuting the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland.

I say this, not to minimise the subject that hon. Members have brought for debate in this Chamber today—injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere—but to give ourselves a sense of humility and a little perspective about how we might feel, as parliamentarians, if legislators in India were to pronounce on our institutions from afar, putting us under the microscope in the same way that colleagues are doing for their Indian counterparts today.”

Barry concluded his speech by highlighting the shortcomings of our own government-

“India is a sovereign country with an established democracy, and I respect its right to enact legislation whether or not I think it clumsy or ill-framed.

As people criticise India for legislation that is giving citizenship to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, perhaps we should recall that just in December, a British Home Office Minister complained to the Home Affairs Committee that we had been unable to get the French to agree to a policy of turning back migrant boats in the channel. As India enacts the principle of non-refoulement, we are busy trying to do the opposite. Sometimes, as a Christian, I think we would do better to cast out the beam from our own eye, and then we might see clearly to cast out the mote from our neighbour’s.”

You can watch Barry’s speech in full below.

"Do we really need another report? Yes, we do!" Barry explains why we need the Climate Assembly report

Barry spoke in the debate relating to the final report from the Climate Assembly UK on the path to net zero. He spoke of the need for this report as, unlike previous reports, it is the public telling politicians what needs to be done and not the other way round.

You can watch Barry’s speech and short intervention during the Minister’s closing remarks below.

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 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 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 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.