Thank you to the thousands of people in Camberwell and Peckham who have taken the time to write to me on this important issue.

I’m totally pro-Remain. I wish we’d never had a Referendum and I wish we’d never lost it. I campaigned all around the country for Remain - even going on the Remain bus with David Cameron to make the case that Labour were for Remain.

I consistently voted against the Prime Minister’s deal because I was concerned it would not protect jobs, workplace rights or environmental standards, nor ensure frictionless trade for British businesses.

MPs voted on “indicative options” for the next steps in the Brexit process after the third defeat of the Prime Minister’s deal. I voted for a Customs Union, to Revoke Article 50 and for a people’s vote:

Unfortunately none of the proposals earned a majority in the second round of "indicative votes".

I don’t think there’s any deal which is better than the one we have now as an EU member. I have great fears for a No Deal Brexit which would cause a national emergency and devastation to those on low incomes, the vulnerable and those who lose their jobs.

A people’s vote would break the logjam but I would be concerned that it must not have No Deal on the ballot paper.  

I think 3 years on from the narrowest of referendum results revoking Article 50 would certainly be better for the country than No Deal.

Please be assured I will continue to work with MPs across the House to oppose No Deal being forced on the country.

As your elected representative in Parliament, I welcome your views and comments throughout this process.

Link to full report. 

Plastic pollution is one of today’s great environmental challenges and the urgency and seriousness of the situation has never been clearer.

A recent report has shown that 14 million items of plastic such as bags, bottles, disposable cups and food wrappers are dropped or blown into UK waterways every year. I believe we need to make it more convenient for people to go plastic-free, and where we use plastic, we must ensure it is not just claimed to be recyclable but is actually recycled.

The Government has committed to working towards a target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042 and has consulted on several issues relating to plastics, including a tax on plastic packaging and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers.

The Government has also announced a ban on plastic straws, drinks stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. I am disappointed this announcement falls short of EU proposals to ban the ten single-use plastic products most often found on European beaches.

I am frustrated that we continue in a cycle of consultations on issues that have support right across the country, such as introducing a DRS. We must take a root-and-branch, comprehensive approach to dealing with our waste which reduces the amount created, recycles the maximum amount of waste produced and protects our environment from pollution.

The Government published its draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill in December 2018, which proposes creating a new environmental watchdog – the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).

At the 2017 general election, I was elected on a manifesto that proposed establishing an Environmental Tribunal which could hold government fully to account, rather than the proposed OEP which would be accountable to the Government and not to Parliament.

While this is a step in the right direction, I am concerned the Bill’s proposals will require a clear commitment to a level of funding which the Government has previously refused to provide for our public services.

I assure you the broader Environment Bill will be carefully scrutinised when it is introduced to Parliament.

Read my recent Southwark News article demanding government action on climate change: https://www.harrietharman.org/demanding_the_government_declare_a_climate_emergency