On the 17th of December 2024 Barry went on Politics Live to discuss the threat that China poses to the UK, how we can build and NHS fit for the future and the importance of a progressive tax system.
Why I voted against the Assisted Dying Bill
On Friday the 29th of November 2024, Barry voted against Kim Leadbitter’s Bill on Assisted Dying. The next day, he went BBC News to explain why.
The importance of the right tree, in the right place at the right time
On the 27th of November 2024 Barry sat on a session of Environmental Audit Committee to ask the question: Can the UK reduce emissions by 81% without behaviour change?
This panel quizzed 2 representatives from the Climate Change Committee. In addition to exploring what is needed to meet the UK’s NDC, the Committee also discussed the CCC’s annual report to Parliament made in June 2024, seeking the CCC’s views on the prospects of meeting the Sixth Carbon Budget, looking forward to the CCC’s advice on the Seventh Carbon Budget, and discussing the CCC’s assessment of climate-related announcements in the recent Autumn Budget.
Getting people back to work: The focus isno longer on benefits and sanctions and compliance
On the 26th of November 2024 Barry appeared on BBC Newsnight to discuss possible private school advantages in exams, electric car manufacturing and the Government’s plan to get people back to work.
This discussion came just a week after Barry visited a jobcentre in Wembley. Where he saw firsthand how “The focus was no longer on benefits and sanctions and compliance - the focus was now 'what’s stopping you get there'“.
The Government are right to increase inheritance tax on Farmers
On the 19th of Novbember Barry outline why the Government are right to introduce inheritance tax on farmers.
He pointed out that someone who owns a flat in Wembley, with total assets of £450,000 would pay the same in inheritance tax that a farmer with £3 million in assets would pay.
Robert Jenrick targeting people on benefits is "sick"
On the 16 October Barry went on Politics Live where he made clear that, Cosnervative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick made him feel “sick”, from his targetting disabeld people, people with mental health problems and the unemployed.
We cannot just rely on Thames Water to get itself out of this mess
Both Thames Water and Ofwat tell us that Thames can get itself out of the mess it is in. But a lot of what we have been told by the company has been wrong: they told us that their shareholders would inject more capital, and at the Select Committee in 2023 they didn’t know the quantum of their own debt, or its terms – staggering for a company in financial trouble.
Thames Water has £17bn of debt, and needs a major equity injection (thought to be between £3-5bn) or it will run out of cash at some point next year. It is politically untenable to allow the water and sewage system for a large part of the country to fail, so in the end the company knows that government has to bear the risk of stepping in. Given the ratings downgrade of Thames Water in July, this could be months earlier than the May 2025 date the company has publicly stated. If a guarantee is to be avoided, Thames, Ofwat and Defra need to change the way they are doing things.
Read the full piece published in The House on the 6th of August 2024 here.
A King’s Speech that will actually make a difference — in a good way — at last
On 17 of July 2024 Barry appeared on Sky News to discuss the King’s Speech, in Barry’s words a speech that “will actually make a difference… at last.”
Barry particularly celebrated the announcement of the end of fire and rehire and the introduction of a draft bill to end leasehold.
Labour are about to revolutionise workers’ rights
Barry has been fighting against the "fire and rehire" process for years.
On Wednesday, this will become a reality. It will put an end to companies like P&O ferries, who unceremoniously sacked all of their workers, replacing them with staff on less than £5 an hour.
Labour will commit in our King's speech to banning the practice, within their first 100 days in office.
The government's housing targets simply aren't enough to fight the rental crisis
On the 15th of May 2024 Barry appeared on BBC Politics Live to discuss the government’s plans to release prisoners early, the UK’s spiralling rental crisis as well as sex education in schools.
In the first clip below, Barry spoke about the mental health crisis in our criminal justice system. He spoke about how the man who threatened to murder him was in prison for 18 months before the trial. Once the trial commenced it was quickly determined that he had serious mental health problems and should not be confined in prison.
Later on Barry laid out how Brent has exceeded its house building target, whilst the government’s is simply not cutting it.
Watch the full show here:
Barry gets Tory MP to admit that if a Rafah Offensive goes ahead, the UK must stop arms sales to Israel
On 5 May 2024 Barry was on the Times Radio MPs panel with Carole Walker to discuss the local election results and impending Rafah ground offensive.
Barry was on the panel with Richard Graham, Conservative MP for Gloucester, Sarah Olney, Lib Dem MP Richmond Park and Sienna Rodgers, Senior Writer, The House Magazine
When discussing arms sales to Israel, when pressured by Barry, Tory MP Richard Graham admitted that the UK may have to change its approach in the wake of the Rafah offensive, as humanitarian concerns worsen.
Watch here:
The full 45 minute panel can be watched here:
Sadiq Khan's free school meals will make a huge difference for families in Brent
Labour’s plans to fund our NHS and give children in London free school meals are going to change lives.
After bragging about being voted as the most boring MP in parliament by his colleagues, Barry went on to explain the policies that build Labour’s vision and will make a real difference to people’s lives.
Thames Water is collapsing – there’s only one way to save it
If the Tory government won't nationalise Thames Water, then it is going to have to be radical to avert a disaster - Barry Gardiner
On the 3rd of April 2024 Barry Gardiner published an article in the House Magazine outlining how Thames Water go to where it is today - on the verge of collapse. He then exaplins the “radical” solution.
Read the full piece here.
Leasehold, Loan Charges and English Language Tests - the UK's Brewing Scandals
On Thursday the 14th of March 2024 Barry appeared on The Rundown, a PoliticsHome podcast to dsicuss 3 scandals that aren’t getting enough attention.
Barry joins host Alain Tolhurst alongside fellow guests Nazek Ramadan, director of Migrant Voice, Alice Hardy, a lawyer for Bindmans, who work on behalf of the TOEIC overseas students, falsely accused of cheating on their English language tests, as well as Blanche Zaph from the Loan Charge Action Group, which campaigns on behalf of those pursued by HMRC over a tax arrangement.
Labour’s answer to the leasehold nightmare
On the 13th of March 2024 Barry spoke to journalist Hannah Fearn on the Bunker podcast abotu Labour’s plans to end leasehold.
Problems with leaseholds have ruined lives across the UK. Labour has vowed to end the system, but how? Barry has been campaigning against leasehold for decades and recently fronted a documentary exploring its major issues.
LEASEHOLD: "If you're cheating somebody, the law should not be there to protect you"
On the 5th of March 2024 Barry went on the New Statesman Podcast hosted by Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe - both current or former leaseholders themselves - to discuss what the government must do on leasehold.
"Crook" landlords are cheating the UK housing system to scam leasehold homeowners out of extortionate rent and service charges, says Barry.
We cannot let parliament chaos distract us from the need for a ceasefire
After a chaotic end to a day in parliament which intended to be about discussing the path to a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, Barry felt “soiled by the whole thing”. Barry went on LBC Cross questions hosted by Iain Dale. The panel discussed a ceasefire, the chaos around the speaker, defence spending, police numbers and female genital mutiliation (FGM).
The panel featured Matthew Warman - Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness, and former Minister of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Sir Trevor Phillips – writer, broadcaster and former Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Nimco Ali – Chief Executive of The Five Foundation.
Why Barry will vote for a ceasefire today
Today, on Wednesday the 21st of February 2024 Barry will vote to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
He went on LBC News, hosted by Simon Conway, to explain why.
I will be voting for an immediate ceasefire because it is the right thing to do
On the 20th of February 2024 Barry appeared on BBC Newsnight opposite Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, Stephen Flynn, to explain why he will be voting for an immediate ceasefire.
All the aid aegencies in Gaza say “they have never seen anything like this in 25 years”.
It is “morally wrong” what is happening in Gaza and it must end.
Today, Wednesday the 21st of February 2024, Barry will vote for an immediate ceasefire.
Labour must not abandon its £28bn climate pledge
On the 8th of February 2023 Labour announced that it would water down its flagship £28bn spending pledge on green policies.
“Economically Illiterate. Environmentally Irresponsible. Politically Naïve. This is the sad truth about the £28bn U-turn The USA has shown a Green Prosperity Plan is the way to grow the economy, reduce the share of debt to GDP. And get people excited about a cleaner safer future” - Barry Gardiner