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 takes part in Democracy Forum's discussion on Afghanistan
Barry was delighted to take part in a discussion with Democracy Forum regarding the on Impending US withdrawal and the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan.
The full and frank discussion can be viewed here
Barry’s contribution and summing up can be viewed below
Barry intervenes during 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;
“How long should a lightbulb last?” Barry grills the electronics industry on planned obsolescence.
Barry grilled representatives from the electronics industry today during the Environmental Audit Committee, namely those from Beko and Samsung regarding planned obsolescence including the decisions made by companies when looking at durability and profitability as well as products that don’t meet the lack of minimum eco design standards.
The full exchange can be viewed below;
“Double the money but only 12% more homes protected?”
During today’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Barry said that the Government was leaving itself open to the charge of gerrymandering flood defences to sparsely populated Conservative constituencies in rural areas.
He challenged witnesses from the Environment Agency on their staffing levels, particularly how many had been shed in the last decade, what was behind the Government’s seeming unwillingness to set standards of resilience with regards to flood defences and the need to ensure that due to promised increase in funding from the Government, the necessity to ensure that project were “shovel ready.”
The full exchange can be seen below;
At a Glacial Pace: Has the Wait for Global Leadership on Climate Change just gotten Longer?
Barry was thrilled to be asked to chair a panel discussion at the India Global Week 2020. The panel included 5 of the most influential voices on climate change to talk about Global Leadership in relation to Climate Change.
Barry discusses our Hydrogen Future with industry leaders
Barry discussed our Hydrogen Future with industry leaders during the Environmental Audit Committee.
Barry questioned the industry leaders about the Government support that has been offered, or indeed the lack of it so far and the effectiveness of it and how they are managing to move the industry forward.
Barry also focussed their minds on how we can be a leader and not a “lagger” in hydrogen technology
“So we messed up the Climate. Now who pays?” Barry chairs the think tank discussion on climate finance.
Barry chaired a cross party discussion with Policy Connect with regards to the upcoming COP26. The discussion started off by discussing the thoughts of the other elected representatives both Alex Sobel and Bim Afolami on whether The House of Commons should join the Transition Pathway Initiative as transparency is vital. The discussion then moved onto the much considered “elephant in the room” at COP which is loss and damage.
Loss and damage is everything that we cannot adapt to with regards to protecting the climate and in which developing countries are harmed by anthropogenic climate change and proved to be a very thought provoking discussion.
The intriguing discussion can be viewed in its entirety below;
“Are we really paying enough for our strawberries?” Barry explores the issue of agricultural migrant labour and why people in Britain do not want to work down on the farm!
Barry grilled Tom Bradshaw, Vice President of the National Union of Farmers and David Camp, Chief Executive of the Association of Labour Providers at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Barry gave both witnesses a tough time and didn’t let them off the hook when asking for solutions and only analysis was presented. The full exchange can be viewed 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.