Working for all after huge vote for change
‘THE REAL HULL’: Emma Hardy at the HullBID Dino Day event in August
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Whether you call it a whirlwind or a rollercoaster, we’ve had three frantic months since the general election gave Labour a thumping 174-seat majority and an emphatic endorsement of the party’s campaign for change.
One key feature of that period between forming a government and breaking for the conference season has been the progress made.
Settling disputes with junior doctors and train drivers, which were causing misery for workers, the public and stalling productivity for business. Re-nationalising the railways, bringing in the Renter Reform Bill, which will see no fault evictions made illegal, and introducing GB Energy, a new, nationally owned energy company, to Parliament as a bill.
Other fixes will take longer because another key feature was the realisation of just how toxic a legacy the Tories left after their 14 years of being in office but, clearly, not in control.
As part of the new Labour government, Hull West and Haltemprice MP Emma Hardy was appointed as Minister for Water and Flooding in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It’s a familiar subject as Emma has campaigned for better flood protection and alleviation measures to be introduced since she was first elected in 2017.
Emma said: “Since becoming an MP I have campaigned for better flood protection and prevention for homes and businesses as I, like most people in Hull West and Haltemprice, remember the devastation flooding caused our community in 2007. I am pleased I am now in a position to make real and positive change to help protect those at risk from flooding here in East Yorkshire and across the whole UK.”
Here in East Yorkshire, Willerby, Kirk Ella and Anlaby have been added to Emma’s original constituency as part of the boundary change which resulted in the creation of Hull West and Haltemprice. Long before the election, Emma was getting to know residents of the wider area, assuring them of her commitment.
She said: “My priority is and always will be driven by the needs of the community I represent whether that be supporting someone on an individual basis or campaigning on issues affecting the wider community.”
A big issue in the new area of her constituency was the odour coming from the BioWise site in Willerby and Emma was quick off the mark liaising with all involved. She recently attended her first community liaison meeting where she was able to confirm that BioWise have put in improvement measures requested by the Environment Agency. Monitoring is taking place to see how effective improvements are and Emma is committed to working transparently with all stakeholders to ensure progress is maintained.
Emma’s work had already crossed the boundaries of the old constituency in supporting people affected by events at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. In the summer Emma met with the new minister, Alex Davies Jones, to discuss introducing regulations for the sector as, shockingly, this profession is currently completely unregulated.
PROJECT: Emma Hardy visiting the drop-in with Cash Access UK to update on plans for a new banking hub in Hessle. Also pictured are Jordan Reece, right, of Cash Access UK and banking hub operator Gary Mitchell
Other constituency activity includes an Endometriosis Charter and support for a new banking hub in Hessle.
Working with HEY Endo and Hull and District Trades Council, Emma’s team has created a charter to support people with endometriosis to stay in work. The project is in its final stages and will be launched and offered to employers to endorse by the end of the year.
Emma also co-organised the latest drop-in with Cash Access UK to update on plans for the new banking hub. It was revealed a temporary banking hub will be opening in Hessle Library while they finalise the lease on the permanent premises, which they expect to open early in 2025.
Both initiatives came from Emma’s Big Conversation, which she holds annually and sees her set out a programme of small meetings and wider gatherings to find out more about the biggest priorities of people living in Hull West and Haltemprice.
In addition to the campaigns, Emma’s team of two full-time and six part-time staff deal with a workload which includes cases involving constituents – nearly 27,000 of those since 2017 – with the biggest day-to-day issues being health and the NHS, followed by housing, education and anti-social behaviour.
Such work is imperative even when something urgent comes along.
The biggest overall workload her office has faced surrounded Coronavirus, which covered a whole range of issues from government policy, the changing lockdown rules, what support was available, and delays facing people and businesses trying to access it.
More recently there were the riots in Hull city centre, causing disruption which was short term but highlighting problems which require long term solutions. Emma’s response was low key, supporting the multicultural approach, meeting police, community leaders and businesses but not intruding into sensitive scenarios.
“The terror which swept through the city centre was very real and left families in fear and scared to go out,” Emma said.
“But the community response was as one, presenting a united front against the criminals. On my way to one community meeting I took a walk round the Dino Day which was organised by HullBID in the city centre. It was a fantastic event which attracted a huge crowd of families from across the region. Several people approached me and said this was the real Hull and these were the real Hull people. That’s why I am so proud to represent Hull West and Haltemprice.”
To find out more visit https://www.emmahardy.org.uk/