Barry was in the Chamber for the Urgent Question on the treatment by the Metropolitan Police of Child Q. He also raised the issue of institutional racism in the Met including cases in his own constituency.
Full exchange can be viewed below
What is the issue with rural mental health?
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee session today was specifically on rural mental health and why suicide rates are above the national average for those that work in agriculture.
Barry was frustrated with the information that was being given but a lack of a real in depth explanation as to why these issues arise. He made the comparisons that as an MP in an urban area when talk of exhaustion is spoken of, that can always be said for an Amazon worker in Brent North, working long shifts with little break and walking 10 miles per shift.
It could also be said when talking of insecurity many farmers may well own the land the farm is on whereas a worker in the gig economy in Brent North would face greater stress and insecurity over their role.
There was further evidence provided in the briefing of the negative impact that can be from the farming community, whereas someone in Brent North living in what can be an isolating and faceless city and not knowing anyone can always face pressures with no community at all.
Sadly the panel was unable to offer the depth of answer that Barry wanted to dig into rather than more of a broad overview.
Barry then spoke of what effect and research there has been into the love lives of farmers, many farmers when seeking a partner will have to find someone who would marry into the farm and how difficult that may be. The panel confirmed that certain case studies have shown younger farmers have struggled from loneliness and struggled to hold relationships. The following exchanges can be viewed below
Barry attends Brent local manifesto launch
Barry was in attendance for Brent Labour’s local manifesto launch at the weekend. The manifesto was launched at the Lexi Cinema and featured speeches from Barry, Tulip Siddiq, David Lammy and a virtual appearance from Brent Central’s very own Dawn Butler.
The local elections are on 5th May 2022 and you can read Brent Labour’s manifesto in full here
When is necessary spending considered a fiscal risk?
Barry grilled experts at the Environmental Audit Committee on aligning U.K economic goals with environmental sustainability and had quite the time of it.
The OBR had submitted evidence which said that economic GDP growth led to a cleaner environment to which Barry rubbished this as a fallacy of the base line. Quite rightly the only way many countries end up as great polluters in the first place is through getting rich. A second part is a geographical fallacy as the U.K now exports its emissions.
The other concerning point Barry raised is that the OBR identified the costs associated with climate change are a long term ongoing risk of fiscal concern. However, they also described necessary spending to move to net zero is described as a major risk of fiscal concern.
Barry then made the point that any other type of “necessary spending” wouldn’t be considered a fiscal risk due to its proposed necessity. The witness from the OBR’s answer made for particularly interesting viewing.
The full exchanges can be viewed below
Barry raises constituent's case in violence against women and girls debate
Barry intervened during Labour’s Opposition Day debate today to powerfully raise an incredibly concerning case of a constituent he met over the weekend.
The young woman had gone to the police to report violence from her partner, against her. She was concerned that the officer hadn’t taken the issue seriously and raised a complaint against the officer.
She was then subsequently charged with stalking the person that had committed violence against her.
During his contribution Barry said; “This is the way in which our police I am afraid in London have got things entirely wrong”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that she would like to meet with Barry discuss with him further to discuss the individual case.
Import check unreadiness at EFRA Select Committee
Barry was at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee who were focussing on import check readiness post Brexit and the effect it has had on supply chains across the sector.
Barry started his grilling by asking industry experts why one third of traders responding to HMRC said it was very easy to find information on gov.uk on changes to the process of moving goods from the UK to the EU in which it was admitted there had been problems.
In the second half the Secretary of State, George Eustice was present to be questioned and Barry asked if he agreed with the Chief Executive of the British Ports Association that the issue in delays were this side of the channel and that we were not ready. Mr Eustice disagreed much to the Committees displeasure.
The exchanges can be viewed below
Barry challenges Liz Truss on humanitarian efforts for Ukrainians
Barry spoke up today on behalf of constituents who have relatives who have fled to Ukraine to Poland and asked Liz Truss what conversations she has had with her Polish counterparts with regards to swift flights being arranged to bring them here.
Barry also asked what conversations had been undertaken with the Home Secretary with regards to the matter. The full exchange can be viewed below
Barry speaks out against fire and rehire
Barry spoke to teachers demonstrating at Parliament Square who were protesting at proposed changes to their contracts. This was part of the National Education Union’s campaign against the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) proposal to pull out of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).
This was the first day of strike action in the Trust's 149-year history. The trust said that calling these changes fire and rehire is “misleading” but there is nothing misleading about having your contract unilaterally changed and being placed on worse terms and conditions.
Barry shows support to the Coventry Bin Strikers
Barry attended a demonstration outside Coventry Town Hall in solidarity with bin lorry drivers who were on strike due to unsatisfactory pay and conditions despite continuing to work throughout the pandemic.
Speaking at the demonstration Barry said;
“I feel ashamed that the Coventry bin strikers are having to fight a Labour council to get the proper rate for their job. This is not the spirit of the Labour movement that was founded over 100 years ago. We should never forget that we were created by the union movement to fight in Parliament for the rights of working people.”
Barry raises concerns over Australian Trade Deal
Barry raised several concerns at today’s EFRA Select Committee which was focused on the Australian Free Trade agreement.
Barry posed questions to the panel of experts over the lack of consultation on how Government conducts trade deals and evidence of people being told what to do with little to no direction.
Barry outlined that when negotiating trade deals there should be a period of consultation and a publicly agreed mandate.
Barry also asked the panel whether the way we are currently structuring how we go about trade negotiations adequate and the answer was a resounding no!