Every Monday morning I post my new ‘Start the Week’ blog which is a preview of my week ahead. I started posting my weekly updates in October 2011 because I wanted to keep informed about my work in Westminster and in Sheffield. Here are the older entries of Start The Week. 

Monday 19th December - We’ve a short week in Westminster, with Parliament adjourning for the Christmas recess after business on Tuesday, but there’s lots happening.  Today I’ve arranged to meet PCS officials, who represent DVLA staff, to discuss Government plans to shut the 39 regional DVLA offices – including the one in our constituency. I’ve already written to the 38 other MPs affected and am organising a meeting with Ministers early in the New Year. I’m particularly concerned that the Government have said they’re ‘consulting’ on their plans, which will cut 1200 staff nationwide, but have already made up their mind to close the offices.

I’ll be in the House this afternoon when George Osborne outlines the Government’s response to the independent Vickers Report on banking.  Sir John Vickers and his Commission have come up with some positive recommendations, not least to split ‘high street’ retail banking from ‘casino’ investment banking, but I’m concerned that Osborne seems set to delay implementation until 2019! Later today I plan to speak in the debate on apprenticeships, making the case for more concerted action to boost apprenticeships to tackle the rising levels of youth unemployment. I’ve taken on an apprentice Secretary in my Sheffield office, in partnership with Sheffield College, and want to encourage other small employers to do the same.

We're continuing work on our two reports, on the Hargreaves Review on Intellectual Property and on High Cost Credit and Debt Management Companies, in the Business Select Committee on Tuesday.  Then I’ll be going to Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions, where I hope to press Nick Clegg on his plans for individual voter registration, which the Electoral Commission fear could lead to 30% of people losing their right to vote. I’ve been lobbied on the issue by local students, who could be among those worst affected, and it’s not hard to see why Clegg might want them not to be able to vote in the next General Election!

I’ve meetings in the constituency for the rest of the week, until we close the office for Christmas, when I’m looking forward to the break!  I’m planning a quiet Christmas at home, catching up on TV and reading, and going to see “It’s A Wonderful Life” (a classic Christmas film, but with a very relevant message for today) at the Showroom and “Company” at the Crucible.  I’ll also be at Bramall Lane, hoping we can secure six points from our two home games – and move up the table to second place!

My Sheffield office re-opens on 3 January and we’re back at Westminster the following week, when I’ll post my next ‘start the week’ blog. So, until then, let me wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I’m writing this on the way to London, where David Cameron is preparing to account for his actions at Friday’s European summit in Parliament this afternoon.  And he has plenty to account for!  I’ll be seeking to express my concern in the questioning following his statement.  I’m appalled that his inability to challenge the Europhobic right-wing of his Party led him to isolate Britain in Europe, and undermine our partners’ attempts to stabilise the eurozone.

There was nothing significant on the negotiating table in Brussels that the Government couldn’t agree to; indeed they were the sort of measures for closer fiscal integration in the eurozone that Cameron had been calling for!  But, concerned to look tough to the Tory right, Cameron manufactured a crisis by demanding safeguards for British bankers. These ‘safeguards’ were superfluous, because Britain would have been able to veto the measures through the normal EU processes.  And it says everything about the Tories, who want to repatriate the right to remove rights for working people, that their ‘make or break’ issue is defending the bankers!

Today I’ll also be meeting the former Prime Minister of Kashmir, Sultan Mahmood, to discuss the situation in his country. I’m a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, which supports the right for self-determination for the country. Tomorrow, the Business Select Committee is continuing work on our inquiry into high cost credit and debt management companies, for which I gathered the views and experience of local debt advice agencies at a round table meeting I convened at my constituency office last Thursday.

On Wednesday, I’ve secured a Parliamentary debate on pedestrian access through railway stations (tune in on the Parliament Channel at 7pm) at which I’ll be making the case against barriers at Sheffield station.  I’m asking people , through my Facebook and Twitter, to share your views which I’ll use in the debate. If you’d like to add your view, drop me an email.  On Thursday, I’ll be supporting Remploy workers in a Westminster Hall debate; the threat to their jobs is another example of this Government’s disregard for the most vulnerable. Back in Sheffield on Friday, I’ll be speaking at the Archer Project’s Carol Service, an event for Shelter and Pitsmoor CAB’s annual meeting – and then finishing my Christmas cards!

This week in Parliament kicks off with questions to Eric Pickles and his Ministers at the Department for Communities and Local Government.  As PPS to Hilary Benn, in his role as Shadow Secretary of State, I’ll be working with our team to press the Government on the impact of its policies in this area. Under the spotlight will be the way in which cuts to local government have been distributed – with massive reductions in northern cities like Sheffield while wealthy Tory councils in the south have been given increases. We’ll also be challenging the Housing Minister Grant Shapps on the rise in homelessness and the reduction in building much-needed new homes, and tackling the Government on the impact of their cuts on voluntary and community groups.

Later in the day, I’ll be joining the debate on extradition arrangements and raising the way the current arrangements are unfairly impacting on a former constituent and Sheffield Hallam student who faces removal to the US.  At the Business Select Committee this week, we’ll be questioning Business Minister Ed Davey on the Government’s response to our recent inquiry on the big pub companies, which recommended action to give greater protection to the leaseholders who run local pubs.

On Wednesday, alongside Parliamentary business I’ll be joining students’ union officers from Sheffield Hallam University who’ll be receiving an award for the excellence of the service that they provide to their students. Later that day, I’ll be meeting with University Vice-Chancellors in my role as Secretary of the All-Party University Group.

After Business questions on Thursday, I’m travelling back to Sheffield for a meeting that I’ve convened a of local debt advice services to listen to their concerns over high cost credit and debt management companies, to inform a Select Committee inquiry on the issue. I’ll then be going to the University of Sheffield for a Q and A session with students.  On Friday and Saturday, I’m visiting the Emmaus project, which helps local homeless people back into homes and jobs, speaking at a BME Network Conference and meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and NHS Sheffield. I’ve also got a surgery, which provides a great opportunity to meet constituents on any issue – see here for details of future surgeries.

I’ll be spending most of Monday in an ‘awayday’ (although we’re not leaving Westminster!) of the Shadow Communities and Local Government team, looking at the challenges we’re facing from Government policies on issues including housing, planning and the enormous cuts facing local government and the voluntary sector - which are so unfairly hitting those areas that can least afford it,, like ours!  In the evening, I’m joining colleagues in the all-Party group on electoral reform, together with the Electoral Reform Society and Unlock Democracy, to discuss current issues on democratic and constitutional change. After that I’ll be going to the launch of the Lloyds Scholars Programme, which has been developed with the University of Sheffield to improve access to higher education for students from below-average income households.
 
Tuesday starts with the next hearing of our Business Select Committee inquiry into high cost credit and debt management companies.  Last week we talked to academics and experts from the advice sector; this week we’re quizzing the companies and others who offer help, like credit unions.  I’ll then be in the House for the Chancellor’s Autumn statement.  As the economy continues to ‘flatline’ without growth, unemployment rises and inflation squeezes living standards, all eyes will be on George Osborne. His policies are hurting, but not working, and, after months of saying ‘there’s no plan B’, he is starting to follow some of Labour’s ideas. But he’s not going far enough. That’s why I’m running a campaign in Sheffield Central for Jobs and Growth, and have worked with the British Chambers of Commerce to submit an Early Day Motion on Apprenticeships to help tackle youth unemployment.
 
On Wednesday, I’ll be trying to ‘catch the Speakers eye’ to press David Cameron on the Government’s dishonesty on public sector pensions, and will be going on to join a rally against Government plans. We must not only ensure decent pensions for public sector workers, but open a wider debate on providing them for the private sector too! Also this week, I’ll be supporting an event organised by the all-Party Group on Motor Neurone Disease (of which I’m Vice-Chair) which will be highlighting the work of a young artist with MND, joining Sheffield academics at the annual dinner of the Political Studies Association, and speaking against cuts to local radio in a Parliamentary debate on the BBC (an issue I’ve been raising at every opportunity).

Today the Government is finally announcing their strategy to deal with the housing crisis facing the country and, as PPS to Hilary Benn, I’ll be supporting the Shadow Communities and Local Government team in our response. New home building is now at the lowest level since World War II, there is a wholly inadequate availability of social housing and mortgage restrictions mean that the average age of a first-time buyer is now 43. While it’s welcome that they are finally accepting some policies that we’ve been pressing for, they are not going far enough.  We’ll be arguing for them to repeat Labour’s bank bonus tax, to raise £2billion to build 25,000 homes and create 100,000 new jobs.

Later today I’ll be going along to the All-Party Group on Manufacturing, of which I’m a founder member, to discuss with Government Trade Minister, Lord Green, how we can promote manufacturing in re-balancing the UK economy.  I also hope to get along to a consultation on High Speed Rail, which I think will play an important part in winning investment to Sheffield.

I’ll be chairing a national conference on higher education for the first part of Tuesday morning, before going on to the Business Select Committee, which is launching a new inquiry into consumer credit and debt management.  This is an enquiry that I’ve pressed for, as I’m deeply concerned with the way ruthless companies are exploiting the financial difficulties of some families; it’s an issue I spoke about on BBC Look North last week, following a report that 40,000 Sheffield families are trapped in poverty and being forced to borrow money from loan sharks.

Other meetings this week include ‘one-to-one’ sessions with the Chief Executive of Engineering UK, to discuss the promotion of engineering to young people, and the Chief Executive of Sheffield First Partnership, to talk about city strategy. I’ll also be joining colleagues for discussions with South Yorkshire’s Chief Fire Officer on the impact of cuts to the service and attending a meeting on self-determination for Kashmir. On Friday, I’m looking forward to one of my regular surgeries for constituents and my monthly meeting with local Labour members. 

Remembrance Sunday is always a time for reflection and as I stood at yesterday’s service in Barkers Pool, I thought about my father, who died earlier this year and who had been a pilot in the Second World War. And I thought of my grandfather who had been in the trenches of the First. I am the first generation in my family since the 19th century not to be drawn into a major European conflict, and for that I can thank those politicians who, after the last war, said ‘never again’. They recognised that if Europeans were to stop slaughtering each other, as we had for centuries, we had to develop economic and political interdependence that made war unthinkable. The result was the European Union and the longest period of peace that Europe has known.

This week the problems of the European economy will continue to dominate the headlines and politicians are making heavy weather of finding a solution. But at least they are talking; we should never forget that, in the 1930s, a comparable economic crisis led to the Second World War.

We’re only in Westminster this week for a few days, because the Government have called a mini-recess, cancelling Wednesday and Thursday’s business. But I’ll be making the most of it. On Monday we’re debating amendments made to the Education Bill by the House of Lords, and I’m hosting a meeting with the University and College Union on the Governments plans to encourage private companies to run universities for profit.  I’ve been particularly active on this issue, winning strong support for my Early Day Motion. Last week the Business Select Committee, of which I’m a member, published our report on ‘The Future of Higher Education’ on which I highlighted two specific issues.

On Tuesday the Select Committee will be continuing our inquiry into the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property, taking evidence on issues relating copyright and patents. Before that I’m going to a breakfast meeting with the Head of BBC Yorkshire, where I’ll continue to press my concerns about BBC proposals that threaten local radio.  In the evening I’ll be supporting the launch of South Yorkshire-based charity, Reflections Art in Health, at an event at the House of Commons.

Back in Sheffield for the second half of the week, I’ll be visiting Ashiana Sheffield, which gives advice, help and refuge to those affected by forced marriage, domestic abuse and violence in the black, asian and minority ethnic communities.  I’ll be dealing with constituents’ casework, and have meetings with the Chief Executive of Sheffield International Venues and with local Surestart providers. On Saturday, I’ll be joining Labour colleagues from all over Yorkshire, who are coming to Sheffield to meet with socialist politicians from France and Greece to discuss the challenges facing Europe.

This week David Cameron will report to Parliament on last week’s G20 summit. What a difference 3 years (and a Tory Government) make!  At the Washington G20 summit in November 2008, Gordon Brown led the debate on the way forward for the world economy.  Last week Cameron sniped from the sidelines and tried to push into the photographs with the world leaders who are now calling the shots. With our own economy showing no growth and rising unemployment, the Government has nothing to say except to use the eurozone crisis as a smokescreen for their own failing policies. 

On Monday, the Shadow Communities and Local Government team, within which I’m PPS, will be leading the opposition to the Government’s Localism Bill which returns to the House of Commons with the amendments made by the House of Lords – and there have been lots!  The Government was forced to drop many of its ill-considered plans on local democracy, but there are still deeply regressive proposals like plans to remove security of tenure for social housing, weakening the rights for homeless people, and rebalancing the planning system in favour of developers.

On Tuesday, at the Business Select Committee, we’ll discuss arrangements for an Inquiry into Consumer Credit and Debt Management –where unscrupulous operators are increasingly exploiting the financial difficulties of those in hardship. Then, on Wednesday, we’ll quiz Business Secretary Vince Cable on his Department’s Annual Report.  On Wednesday Parliament will debate Youth Unemployment, which has risen sharply in Sheffield Central, and Government plans for Individual Voter registration, which threatens to disenfranchise millions of people according to the Electoral Commission.

I’m also having individual meetings with the Chief Executive of Universities UK and the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, as well as joining colleagues at meetings on Council funding, Children’s Heart Surgery in Yorkshire and public sector pensions.  On Wednesday I’m welcoming 45 students from Sheffield University’s Politics society to Parliament, along with a team from the student newspaper Forge Press.

Back in Sheffield on Friday, my meetings include the Interim Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police and the President of the Chamber of Commerce.  On Saturday, I’m holding one of my regular coffee mornings to meet constituents informally and then looking forward to meeting local candidates for the UK Youth Parliament.  On Sunday, I’ll be joining hundreds of others in Barkers Pool for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

Today we’ve got the first Communities and Local Government Parliamentary questions since the appointment of the new shadow CLG team, led by Hilary Benn.  I’ll be there supporting the team, as Hilary’s PPS, and we’ll be making the case for proper funding of local government, more affordable housing and the problems with the Government’s planning proposals. The rest of the week in Parliament is largely taken up with consideration of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. Among the proposals we’ll be opposing is the £270million cut to civil legal aid. It means social welfare legal advice (e.g. debt, welfare etc) will no longer be covered and at least 750,000 fewer people will get support. It will leave the most vulnerable without any legal support when things go wrong.

In the Business Select Committee on Tuesday we’ll be continuing our inquiry into the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property, concentrating this week on issues around copyright law. Also in Parliament I’ve got meetings with the Chief Executive of Universities UK, the Head of Nat West Commercial Banking (to discuss support for local businesses), the Chairman and Director General of the BBC (where I’ll be making the case for local radio) and the mental health charity, Breakthrough. Back in Sheffield at the end of the week, I’ve meetings on early years education and with the Officers of the University of Sheffield Students’ Union.

Finally, a quick comment on last week’s EU referendum debate which was interesting to watch from the opposition benches as the Tories ripped themselves apart on Europe again. Sometimes laughable, it was more often worrying. Behind the growing Europhobia is the deeply right-wing agenda of many on the Government benches. Their arguments to ‘bring back powers to Britain’ is not just appealing to jingoism, it’s about ending the UK’s requirement to comply with the EU social legislation that gives protection to working people and their families. They want a race to the bottom in which Britain competes in world markets by offering cheap unprotected labour and low taxes to companies and top bosses.  And they claim to speak for the British people! In the debate, I pointed out that the EU is 22nd on most people’s priorities according to the latest MORI polls.  If they are really concerned about empowering the British people, let’s have a referendum on the NHS changes!

Parliament kicks off with a debate today on a referendum on EU membership, driven by the Tory right-wing and fuelled by the Daily Express. Ed Miliband has shown the strength and maturity of his leadership by refusing to exploit Cameron’s problems with his backbenchers for cheap Party advantage, but standing up for what’s right for the UK.  At a time when the European economy faces enormous challenges as a result of banking irresponsibility (and not of the Euro, as the Tory right pretend), this debate is worse than a distraction. The irony is that Cameron and Hague are sowing what they reaped over the years, playing to the Tory right and the tabloids, when they should have made the case for what they know to be true – that our future depends on being at the heart of Europe. I'll vote against the proposal and, if I get the opportunity, will highlight what the Tory right really objects to – the progressive social and employment legislation that is represented by the European social model. And would the Tories who say the British people should decide on the EU extend this principle to a vote on spending cuts, the NHS changes, or £9,000 tuition fees? I don’t think so.

At the Business Select Committee on Tuesday we’ll be discussing the arrangements for our enquiry into debt management companies, which I’ve pressed for, and on Thursday we’ll finalise our report on the Future of Higher Education. But I’ll be spending most of Tuesday at events I’ve helped to facilitate, promoting the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. With exhibitions, lectures and a Downing St reception, we’ll be marking the AMRC’s 10th anniversary by making the case for high value manufacturing – and colleagues of all parties on the Business Select Committee have signed an Early Day Motion that I’ve organised on the subject.

Back in Sheffield for Friday and the weekend, my range of meetings include the new Chief Executive of the Children’s Hospital and regional officials from the Federation of Small Businesses, as well as joining a Church Action on Poverty ‘pilgrimage’ through Manor Castle. On Saturday, I’ll also be at Bramall Lane, to see if the Blades can hold a lead!

Monday 17th October - My (and Parliament’s) first week back was certainly eventful.  As the week went on it was obvious to everyone that Liam Fox would have to go, but David Cameron showed his weakness. Lacking the confidence to take on the hard line Tory right, he waited until the unfolding revelations forced Fox to resign. But the main issue was the Government’s failure on the economy, underlined by the rise in unemployment - up 17% in Sheffield Central alone. Labour forced a debate on the economy on Wednesday, in which Ed Balls had George Osborne on the ropes, but despite mounting calls for a change of course there’s no sign the Government are listening.

Today I’ll be supporting calls for the full disclosure of the papers relating to the Hillsborough disaster in a debate this evening. Like most Sheffielders, I’ll never forget that awful day.  I’ve two meetings of the Business Select Committee this week – one taking evidence on the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property law, and the other considering our report on the Future of Higher Education.  Later today I’ll be joining other MPs at an event organised by Youth Association South Yorkshire and others to promote the importance of youth work, at a time when Government policies are disproportionately hitting young people.  Much of MPs time at Westminster is spent in meetings away from the Chamber and this week I’ve got meeting on trade and investment, higher education, and the problems created by station barriers.

On Thursday I’ll be joining the Sheffield Theatres team to celebrate the Crucible’s 40th birthday at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, before home to recognise local enterprise and innovation at an event at Hallam University.  Back in Sheffield on Friday, I’m starting the day by visiting Portland Works to promote the purchase of shares (and to buy some myself!) in their great project, then visiting a local small business to discuss the problems of bank lending.  After that, I’ve meetings to try to resolve a problem facing another local business, discuss public health and look at local transport issues.

Monday 10th October - It’s good to be back in Westminster today.  If ever there was a need for a strong opposition, it’s now and we’ve got one!  Ed’s reshuffle gives us a great team to take on this Tory-led Government. I’m pleased to be continuing as Hilary Benn’s Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), as he takes on the new role of Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Our Shadow team will be making the case that local government does make a real and positive difference to people’s lives. But to do that, we need strong councils working with their communities, not the phoney localism of this Government that tells Councils what to do while devolving responsibility for cuts.

On Tuesday, I’ve a meeting of the Business Select Committee where we’ll be discussing the Government’s response to our report on Rebalancing the Economy: Trade and Investment. In the afternoon, Nick Clegg will be under pressure on his proposals on electoral registration, which will significantly reduce the numbers registered to vote and particularly those with most to lose. The really key issue now is obviously the Government’s mismanagement of the economy, and we’ve called an full debate on the economy on Wednesday to urge them to change course and focus on creating growth and jobs. On Thursday morning I’ll be challenging the Government over their plans to install barriers and restrict access through Sheffield station, and in the afternoon I’m chairing a national conference on widening access to higher education.

Back in Sheffield on Friday, where I’ve got a series of meetings, but am looking forward to presenting prizes to local primary schools. On Saturday morning I’ll be attending the coffee morning at Victoria Methodist Church on Stafford Rd between 11-12, everyone is very welcome, and on Sunday I’ll be at Bramall Lane, where I’m expecting the Blades to pick up three points!

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