If the government can legislate that Rwanda is safe they may as well legislate that sugar will no longer damage health

On April 15 2024 Barry intervened to ask his colleague Steven Kinnock if he shared his “marvel” at the government’s ability to simply rule that Rwanda is a safe country.

Will the government use its amazing power to legislate that “CO2 no longer causes global warming and that sugar, fat and alcohol will no longer damage human health”.

What will the UK do if Israel chooses to retaliate further to Iran?

On April 15 2024 Barry asked the Prime Minister:

“Iran sought to justify its unjustifiable attack on Israel on the basis that it was retaliating for Israel's attack on its consulate. I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has said that in his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu later today, he will be urging de-escalation. In that telephone conversation, will he set out the measures the UK will take if, in fact Israel seeks to retaliate further?”

Fighting to prevent Byron Court Academisation

After a poor Ofsted report, Byron Court primary is being forced into academisation that parents, staff and children don’t want.

See below my letter to Gillan Keegan, the Secretary of State for Education, calling for the acadamisation to be suspended so as to allow a suitable period of 6 months (2 of which would in any case be in school holidays) to enable the school governors and the Rapid Improvement Group to turn things around.

I have recently received a response not from Baroness Barran, the Minister for the School System and Student Finance, rejecting a meeting. Instead directing me to the Deputy Director of London Regions Group. I will be taking up this meeting as soon as possible to do all I can to save Byron Court Primary from impending academisation.

In their response, Baroness Barran states that it is “the right decision for Byron Court Primary School”. The community at Byron Court Primary disagree. I will do all I can to make sure this is clear to them.

See their response below:

Celebrating a local hero

Jean-Luc Julienne a bar team leader at JJ Moons, Wembley was awarded the National Pubwatch Bravery & Meritorious Award for his bravery and selfless commitment, without thought to his own safety, by saving the life of a customer who had been seriously injured in a knife attack.

Barry went to meet Jean-Luc at JJ Moons to congratulate him for his selfless bravery.

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.

You can listen to the podcast here.