Thank you to all who joined my zoom call to discuss the climate emergency and COP26. Special thanks to my constituent, Jack, who participated in parliament’s UK Climate Assembly, and Carly McLachlan from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research at Manchester University. Carly was speaking to us live from COP, and both speakers gave thought-provoking presentations. Some progress has been made at COP over the past 2 weeks, but we still have much more to do to tackle the threat of global warming.
Participants in the zoom all agreed that this is an issue of special importance to young people; after all, they’ll be living with the consequences of the actions we take now. So I was really pleased to visit Bishop Douglass School in north London on Monday, an eco school which has received a Green Flag award for its work. The whole school is organised to minimise its climate footprint, from what’s taught in class to the school garden which helps supply the kitchens. I know many schools in my constituency are also doing all they can to tackle the climate emergency, and it was a pleasure to visit St Antony’s in Urmston last week to receive letters from the students describing their work on this, and their demands of politicians. Thanks so much for a great Q&A session. I really enjoyed my visit.
Last week was Parliament Week, so it was also great to visit Seymour Park primary school in Old Trafford. I met the school parliament, and answered questions from pupils about my job. Thanks very much for inviting me to meet you!
Meanwhile Flixton Girls sixth form held a digital surgery with me on Tuesday, with more challenging questions for me to answer. Parliament Week is a good opportunity for MPs to get out and about to explain the work we do, and it is always a particular pleasure to visit schools and meet young people.
Many constituents have been in touch with me about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, sentenced on sham charges to a second prison term in Iran. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe has been on hunger strike outside the UK Foreign Office to demand action from the British and Iranian governments to bring Nazanin home. I went across to meet him on Wednesday, to pass on good wishes from constituents in Stretford and Urmston, and ask what more politicians could do to help. This is a desperate situation for a brave and dignified family, and I will do all I can to ensure they’re not forgotten by our government.