2021

On Wednesday 9 June 2021, I intervened during a debate on investing in children and young people to highlight the lack of funding for schools in my constituency. You can read my speech and the Minister’s response below: 

The second Opposition Day Debate was on protecting the public and ensuring justice for victims. The backlog in the Crown Court is at record levels of more than 57,000 cases – and sat at 39,000 even before the pandemic began. The backlog has been exacerbated by the pandemic but it was initiated by the Government closing half of all courts in England and Wales between 2010-19 and allowing 27,000 fewer sitting days than in 2016. HM Opposition have called for a package of emergency measures during the pandemic, including mass-testing in courts, the extension of Nightingale Courts, reduced juries until restrictions were lifted – all of which the government ignored. We will now need a guaranteed 33,000 extra sitting days and more Nightingale Courts to clear the backlog. 

On Wednesday 9 June 2021, HM Opposition held the first of two Opposition Day Debates on investing in children and young people.