Paul Blomfield Former MP for Sheffield Central
I’m heading down to Westminster ready to challenge Rishi Sunak on new legislation expected tomorrow criminalising asylum seekers crossing the channel, just months after the Nationality and Borders Act did just that – again exposing a government more interested in headlines than dealing with problems.
Before that I’ll be meeting a finalist in the STEM for Britain competition later today to discuss work between the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Liverpool and Sheffield’s School of Clinical Dentistry on oral drug delivery.
Tomorrow at the Health and Social Care Select Committee I’ll be exploring the current performance of NHS cancer services, the cancer back log and the challenges facing the cancer workforce. Then I’ll be chairing the second evidence session for the APPG for Students cost of living inquiry at which we’ll be talking with sector representatives having spoken last week with students.
Later in the day I’ll be meeting the Palestinian Ambassador, at a meeting organised by Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East to discuss the deteriorating situation since the election of the extreme right government in Israel. I’ll also be joining colleagues to meet with the new General Secretary of the TUC to hear their plans.
On Wednesday I’ll be attending a WASPI rally at Westminster, to confirm my continued support for womens’ pension rights, which I’ve raised with the Government in the past. I’ll also be meeting with NHS England’s Chief Strategy Officer Chris Hopson to discuss the NHS and crisis in healthcare.
I’m back in Sheffield on Thursday to attend an ISRAAC event to celebrate the Somali community’s contribution to Sheffield over the last 30 years. Then I’ll be joining Walkley Councillor Tom Hunt at Upperthorpe Post Office to discuss the impact of recent Royal Mail cyber-attacks on sub-postmasters, something I’ve raised with ministers, before meeting with the Chair and CEO of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
On Friday I’ll be speaking to Politics students at the University of Sheffield on Brexit and knocking on doors to meet constituents, which I’ll be doing over the weekend too – as well as getting to Bramall Lane hoping that United can recover their league form after last week’s defeat of Spurs!