The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill enters into committee stage

The 16th of January 2023 sees the first session of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill in its committee stage. Barry being on this committee questioned several panels. The first with Sebastian O'Kelly, CEO, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership and Liam Spender, Senior Associate, Velitor Law. The aim of these panels is to gather evidence for the impact of leasehold on verious different stakeholders.

The second featuring the three co-founders of the National Leasehold Campaign, namely Katie Kendrick, Jo Derbyshire and Cath Williams.

The next panel consisted of Professor Nicholas Hopkins, Law Commissioner for property, family and trust law, Law Commission.

Food banks deserve our praise and thanks, it's the job of the government to make them redundant

On the 14th of December 2023 Barry asked the Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt, to join him in thanking food banks for all the work they do. In particular mentioning the amazing support that the London Community Kitchen and the Sufra Food Bank provides the Brent community.

Barry called on Penny Mordaunt to host a debate in the new year, not just to praise food banks but to make them “redundant”.

"The game's up" - Barry grills Thames Water bosses

Is it right that at a time when Thames Water is failing to provide “key environmental and performance targets” that it still pay out dividends to it’s shareholders, such as Kemble Water Holdings?

This is the question that Barry posed to Thames Water bosses on the 12th of December 2023. This panel featured Alastair Cochran, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Cathryn Ross, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Sir Adrian Montague, Chair.

If Kembell Water faces some financial difficulty, “it would be Thames Water and the bill payers that ended up paying for whatever trouble the holding company go itself into”, in exactly the same way that Macquarie (a former shareholder) did and exactly in the way that Sir Montague claimed was “ancient history” earlier this year.

This session was covered extensively across the media in the BBC, the Telegraph, CityAM, the FT and more. You can read the write up inthe BBC here.

Barry schools former Tory Minister on leasehold history

Barry intervened on a speech by former Housing Minister Rachel Maclean to correct her on the history of leasehold legislation in the UK.

Maclean claimed that Labour had failed to introduce leasehold legislation as they “bowed to pressure from the freeholder”, claiming that “we will never know why”.

Barry corrected her, pointing out that it was in fact the House of Lords at the time in the early 2000s, the filled with a majority of Conservatives, that blocked Labour’s leasehold reform. Barry also points out that at this time, 66% of Lords listed on the register of interests that they earned the “majority of their income from the management of land”.

Israel Gaza War: Barry will vote for a ceasefire today

On the 15th of November 2023 Barry went on the Today Programme to explain why, if a vote is held, he will be voting for a ceasefire today in parliament.

Barry responded to Sir Keir Starmer’s position that a ceasefire would only freeze the situation. On the contrary Barry points out that any ceasefire depends on what is negotiated and will only happen through pressure by the international community.

Israel-Gaza War: Barry's response to concerned constituents

Dear Constituent,
 

I share your concern for the tragedy that is unfolding in Gaza and was one of the first MPs to publicly call for a ceasefire in the media. If you visit my website you will find links to my appearances on ITV News, BBC Politics Live, and an extended interview on Politics Joe. In all these interviews I make it clear that a ceasefire is the only way to move the situation forward.
 
You can find these by clicking on the link here:
https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-on-the-box/we-must-take-moral-leadership-and-negotiate-a-ceasefire
 
https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-on-the-box/barry-tells-itv-news-that-a-ceasefire-can-bring-hope
 
https://www.barrygardiner.com/barry-on-the-box/working-hard-to-make-people-in-brent-feel-confident-in-their-own-safety
 
You may know that I was also one of the first signatories of the Early Day Motion 1685, which since the New parliament after the Kings Speech has become EDM1.
This too is on my website at: https://www.barrygardiner.com/policy-responses/protecting-civilians-in-gaza-and-israel-edm-1685
 
It is likely that there will be a vote in parliament to support a ceasefire this week. If so, I will be voting in favour of the ceasefire.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Barry Gardiner
Member of Parliament for Brent North

This Government offers "no hope" to battle pensioner poverty

Winter is coming, the government must get help to those who need it, to our most struggling fuel poor citizens.

On the 9th of November 2023 Barry made a spoke up for those suffering from fuel poverty in the King’s Speech debate on Energy Security.

If we levelled tax on oil and gas at the global average we would have “an extra £14 billion into the public purse” - how can the Government explain this to the 4706 families who lost families to excess deaths during winter? It’s simple, she can’t.

The Government's crime policies are nothing but "window dressing"

On the 7th of November 2023 Barry went on LBC Cross Questions with Iain Dale in reaction the King’s Speech. The panel answered questions on criminal sentencing laws, pro-palestine protests, if Suella Braverman is a “decent” Home Secretary and the Covid Inquiry.

Barry argued that, whilst he welcomes tougher sentences for violent crimes, they are nothing but “window dressing” without increasing court and prison capacity.