As we open a window on our Advent calendar or light the Advent candle, I am reminded that Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the nativity of Jesus.

On United Nations’ Human Rights Day we should not only celebrate our freedoms but also speak out against the injustices and abuses suffered by many around the world. In the House of Commons I raised Human Rights Day and we remembered our actions that freed Albert Woodfox, who was held in the USA for over 43 years in solitary confinement, Phyoe Phyoe Aung in Burma, and Yecenia Armenta Graciano, who was detained and tortured in Mexico. They all said on their release that that was a result of the role played by Amnesty International.

During Business Questions I called for an Urgent Debate on the state of poverty in the UK. Figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s “UK Poverty 2017” report state that nearly one in three disabled people are living in poverty, while 30% of children and 16% of pensioners live in relative poverty; that figure has risen by 3% in recent years."

On Monday 4 December 2017 the fourth day of the Committee of the Whole House for the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill took place. A Committee of the Whole House takes place in the House of Commons Chamber and is presided over by the chairman of the Ways and Means committee.

On Tuesday 5 December 2017 I supported Unicef UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative on Breastfeeding. Unicef UK is calling on government to tackle the UK’s low breastfeeding rates and improve the health of children by leading action to remove the barriers – social, cultural, economic, physical and practical – that make it difficult for women to breastfeed in the UK. Powerful new evidence provides a compelling case to alter UK attitudes and practices, both locally and nationally, in order to support women to breastfeed for as long as they wish.