After such a long wait for the final, I would like to wish Hebburn the very best of luck for today’s big game. It is such an amazing opportunity for the team to play at Wembley Stadium and they have my full support! It is, however, such a shame fans aren’t allowed to travel down with the team to watch the biggest game in the club’s history.

It has been great to see the amount of support for Hebburn Town with the community coming together to decorate the local area with their black and yellow ribbons and flags to show their support. This is a proud moment for Hebburn.

I’ve got my virtual ticket and I’ll be watching the game later on; I’ve got a good feeling about it. Come on Hebburn!

Watch Kate’s contribution in the Westminster Hall Debate on online harassment of female MP’s.

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Read below Kate’s latest Column in the Shields Gazette.

Just two weeks ago, the Tory government’s new Race and Ethnic Disparities Report claimed that Britain is a model to the world of a successful multi-ethnic society.

Whilst I fully understand the need to discuss what we as a country could do to work together to promote anti-racism and equality, the report is wholly inadequate in addressing much of the “systemic” racism that has been identified by those who gave evidence to the commission.

Yet the reality paints a rather different picture.

It was only 18 months ago when the United Nations special rapporteur for racial equality Tendayi Achiume said that Britain’s levels of inequality are so bad that it amounted to a “threat to democracy“.

This mirrors with the Government’s own report on race in the workplace, led by Conservative peer Ruby McGregor-Smith, who came to similar findings. Baroness McGregor-Smith said that racism in employment was costing Britain £24bn a year.  

Research from the TUC has also found that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) unemployment rose twice as fast during the Covid-19 pandemic than it did for white workers.

Recently, the TUC released further analysis to show that BAME youth unemployment had rocketed by 50% over the same period.

The Government’s harmful and dangerous Race and Ethnic Disparities Report clearly undermines the experiences of racism, harassment, and discrimination within our BAME communities.

It is important to remember that the report was released during a time the Government were trying to rush through a Bill that intended to criminalise protest and protect memorials more so than its own citizens.

The Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill would, if passed, give police greater powers to shut down and arrest demonstrators like the Black Lives Matter protesters.

Whilst I fully understand the need to discuss what we as a country could do to work together to promote anti-racism and equality, the report is wholly inadequate in addressing much of the “systemic” racism identified by those who gave evidence to the commission.

The report identifies the inconsistent way data is collected, but concludes there was no evidence of systemic or institutional racism.

The findings are at odds with almost every single report on race. It is at odds with the Human Rights Committee’s study, which found that 75% of Black people did not believe their human rights were protected equally to white people.

Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, Marsha de Cordova called the report an “insult” and argued that Labour would listen to the voices of communities. Sir Keir Starmer reiterated Labour’s commitment to introduce a Race Equality Act. These are essential steps, and we will wait to hear more details. In the immediate future, some will say this report has halted all the momentum following the Black Lives Matter protests last year, but it need not do. We need to continue to build bridges that address structural racism and address class inequalities – because this Tory government is failing on both measures.

The Government must now go back to the drawing board and set out its strategy for tackling the very real institutional and systemic racism that is undeniably present in our country.

Although the report states that the UK has made progress when it comes to getting rid of racism, this progress does not negate the fact that it continues to plague our society.

This is not the time to pat ourselves on the back to celebrate a job well done.

This is the time to continue to knuckle down, to rid our society from racism, prejudice and discrimination and create a fair Britain for all.

See the article here: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/politics/kate-osborne-the-need-to-set-out-a-strategy-for-tackling-systemic-racism-3200801

The Women and Equality Committee’s Report on the issue of sexual violence in schools, published 5 years ago included guidance and advice on how to prevent sexual harassment and violence and protect its students. Sadly, this Government has so far been resistant to take the necessary steps to ensure there is a functional and effective safeguarding procedure in place, leading to a continuation of a culture of misogyny and sexual violence against women and girls in education. 

The website ‘Everyone’s Invited’ has gathered over 11,000 harrowing testimonials from young women and girls from all over the UK about their experiences of sexual harassment, violence, and abuse in school. These testimonies are a product of a rape culture that has been left unchecked within our society for far too long.

It is not only the responsibility of young girls and women to protect themselves from sexual violence and harassment. The Government and education providers need to take urgent action to incite change to make certain that schools, colleges, and universities are safe places for every single student. I want to lend my voice to the calls for an urgent inquiry to investigate and overhaul the safeguarding procedures, as they are evidently not fit for purpose.

As a society, it is important that we learn from past mistakes and make each day safer than the last. The allegations of sexual abuse in schools need urgent investigation, and support must be in place for the victims. Guidance for schools is available on the gov.uk website but the issue of peer-on-peer sexual harassment is a complex one, with over a third of female students (37%) and 6% of female students in mixed-sex schools having reported experiences of sexual harassment in school in 2018 alone.  There must be a national strategy put in place to ensure that every school has clear guidance on how to deal with sexism, harassment and violence against pupils.

The Government must act now to introduce an effective strategy to tackle sexism and sexual harassment in education settings. Education providers need clear guidance, policies and training to ensure staff are confident in maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to sexism and sexual violence.

The normalisation of every-day sexism is a major issue that leads to a lack of consequence for sexual harassment that is damaging for the victims, who are often told to brush off advances, as ‘boys will be boys’ or ‘banter’. The lasting and damaging effects of this are dangerous and need to stop.

The ‘Everyone’s Invited’ movement has brought more public awareness to the issue of sexual violence in schools, but it is unfortunately not a new issue. I hope that the Government will act swiftly and decisively to ensure that harassment in schools longer goes unchecked, that the victims of abuse have safe and secure ways to report violence and more importantly, access to counselling and further support. We must protect our children in their schools and eradicate sexism, misogyny and abuse.

Sexual violence in schools is an abhorrent and endemic issue that this Government must act on immediately. It is the responsibility of schools  the Government to work together to protect children from, especially young girls who are being told alter their behaviour to account for the actions of others. It is vital that young people are educated properly at a young age and shown repeatedly that sexist behaviour is not ok. A uniform approach up and down the UK is necessary in order to finally put a stop to misogyny and make sure that the education system is safe for every student.

Read below for Kate’s latest column in the Shields Gazette.

As we know only too well our brilliant NHS staff have been at the forefront of our response to Covid-19, spending long hours wearing PPE in overwhelming environments.

Frontline NHS staff have publicly stated that colleagues have broken down in tears on many occasions, and that the past year has had a severe psychological impact on them owing to stress associated with separation from their families, sleep deprivation and heavy workloads.

The whole of society is extremely thankful for their work in protecting us, looking after our loved ones and keeping the country going.

The country came together to clap for our carers, but claps don’t pay the bills and what is not in doubt is that our NHS workers deserve to be rewarded financially for their dedication during these tough times.

I can’t speak highly enough of NHS staff across the Jarrow constituency for all they have done and continue to do in our fight against Covid-19.

And I also can’t speak highly enough of all the South Tyneside District Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital workers who have delivered vital care to many of my constituents throughout the pandemic.

NHS staff up and down the country have worked tirelessly in extremely challenging circumstances for the past 12 months, which makes the proposed 1% pay rise a complete insult.

Last week in a Parliamentary debate on this issue, I said the proposed pitiful pay increase is a big kick in the teeth for more than a million hard-working NHS staff. I wholeheartedly agree with the 14 health unions representing the one million plus health workers who have called for a significant pay rise for NHS workers. It has been encouraging to see in my inbox, messages of overwhelming public support for them.

A fair and decent pay rise is supported by recent independent analysis by London Economics. It found that the net cost of a pay rise is only around one fifth of the Government’s stated cost once factors such as the additional tax gained and the economic impact of extra consumer spending are taken into account.

During the lockdown, I took part in the weekly clap for our carers, along with my family, because I genuinely wanted to show my appreciation. I know that, in some cases, nurses have had to rely on food banks as they struggle to make ends meet. But many low-paid workers are struggling through the pandemic on low pay with higher costs, and they are falling into poverty and debt.

A meagre 1% pay rise is not a meaningful pay rise; after inflation, it is essentially a pay cut, and an insult. It sends all the wrong signals to the NHS workers who have kept our country going during this dreadful pandemic. It is an utter betrayal by this Government not to give our NHS workers a bigger pay rise. The Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care, on a ward for patients who needed specialist attention. He said afterwards: “I can’t thank them enough. I owe them my life.”

Our caring, wonderfully committed NHS staff stood by the Prime Minister’s bedside, watching him during the night. The NHS protected him. It protected us. Now is the time for Boris Johnson and his government to give something back in return.

See the article here: KATE OSBORNE: Proposed ‘pitiful’ pay rise is a kick in the teeth for NHS staff | Shields Gazette

Last week the Conservative government set out its long-awaited road map for easing restrictions but for businesses and families alike there’s still no clear sense of direction following yesterday’s Budget.

With over 20 million people already vaccinated so far, there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel.

That in no small way is down to the extraordinary effort of our NHS and GP staff, scientists, lab technicians, nurses and volunteers.

But there is still some way to go, and I know it will still require a huge collective effort to make sure we emerge from this crisis as quickly as possible.

The million-dollar question is how we emerge from this latest lockdown, and what kind of economy we build in the future?

Yesterday’s Budget was the Chancellor’s last chance to put that right, and this government’s opportunity to make amends for their dreadful handling of the pandemic over the past year. They failed to do so.

The pandemic has delivered a hammer-blow to the economy, with so many businesses hit hard, resulting in more job losses and businesses ceasing to trade.

The government has rightfully committed to extending the furlough scheme until September, but what then? The huge question that still remains is what will happen to those jobs when the scheme ends?

Our NHS – already crippled by 10 years of Tory austerity and underfunding – has needed huge sums of money to cope with the mammoth demands placed upon it, not to mention the billions wasted on ‘crony contracts’ handed out to the Tories and their friends during the pandemic.

Conservative-driven austerity under David Cameron, George Osborne, and Theresa May has already laid the foundations for the destruction of our health service, its consequences already have our NHS regularly at breaking-point. Prior to the pandemic, there were 100 thousand vacant jobs within the NHS. How will this be resolved when the Chancellor had absolutely nothing in this Budget for Health and Social Care and the workers within it?

From the mass shortages of PPE that Health Secretary Matt Hancock now claims never existed, to the unacceptable staff shortages that forced hard-working doctors and nurses to work themselves into the ground for lots of Boris Johnson-led claps on the steps of Downing Street, we must never forget the failings of this government over the past 12 months and beyond.

Economically, we are in the direst of situations and the Chancellor has had little choice but to extend the furlough scheme and maintain the £20 uplift of Universal Credit for another six months – but still refuses to extend the uplift to legacy benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance. Where is the additional support for those living with a disability?

For many months, I have joined many MPs in Parliament calling for more help for the self-employed and although more are now eligible for grants, is a year too late – these valued workers should have been given help months ago.

Despite all of the Tory spin and press releases they have churned out in the run up to the Budget, one thing is certain – Rishi Sunak has played a huge part in this government’s shambolic handling of the crisis.

Sunak is seen as something of a media darling but he, along with Boris Johnson and the rest of the Conservative government, have presided over this country’s extended length of battling Covid and the UK having the biggest death toll in Europe. The Conservative government were too slow to act throughout the crisis and their failings have been laid bare for all to see.

The reality is that the Conservative government wants to continue with the same austerity programme and unequal country that’s been so cruelly exposed by the virus.

A Conservative government whose decisions have left us with the mess we find today with unemployment at 5% and debt at over £2tn.

No matter how Rishi Sunak tries to gloss over his terrible record with glitzy images on social media, the government has no plan to rebuild our shattered economy, much of it of their own making. We need and deserve so much more.

I fully understand how difficult and challenging the pandemic has been for businesses, traders, freelancers and self-employed workers who have not been eligible for government support over the past eleven months.

This has left millions of businesses and self-employed workers facing an extremely precarious financial situation. Many have been forced to rely on whatever savings they have, or the generosity of friends and family just to try and simply make ends meet.

During the pandemic people have worried about how they are going to feed their children, or keep the heating on, over what has been undoubtedly the most difficult of financial situations for decades.

Although people continue to receive financial assistance through the furlough scheme or the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, the Government continues to ignore a group of around three million people who have fallen through the gaps.

These people have not been eligible for support due to the strict eligibility criteria.

Some had started a new job and had not been on the payroll long enough, others, had taken the massive step to start up a new business and did not have sufficient trading history to quality for support.

Almost a year has passed and the ‘Excluded’ remain forgotten about by this government.

These are genuine, hard-working people who have built up businesses and paid taxes all their lives.

Those who have been excluded span many different categories of workers, including, but not limited to, employees who were denied furlough or were ineligible for it, which includes new starters; the self-employed, including those newly self-employed; those over the £50,000 threshold; those who earn less than 50% of their income from self-employment; directors of limited companies who are paid annually or via dividends, or directors of such companies that are not yet in profit; and PAYE freelancers.

They now find themselves facing hardship with little of the current support available to them.

They have done nothing wrong to warrant being cut out of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

What’s more, our communities are going to need as many of them as possible when the pandemic is over.

I have already raised this matter in Westminster and I will continue to do so.

It is appalling that the Chancellor has repeatedly refused to do anything to address these injustices.

Universal Credit is mentioned as the fall-back. However, let’s face it, Universal Credit is nowhere near adequate, otherwise, the Government would not have felt the need to create the furlough scheme or the self-employed income support scheme in the first place.

I also remain extremely concerned about the impacts on mental health on many of those excluded from support.

My plea to the government is to listen to how those that have been and continue to be ‘Excluded’ are feeling and to put adequate support in place.

The way they have been treated during this pandemic is disgraceful and will have consequences for our ability to recover in 2021 and beyond.

With the vaccine offering hope of a return to normality, the cost of extra support must be weighed against the damage caused if the ‘Excluded’ continue to be ignored.