Government must reach out to diaspora groups in Ebola crisis

We have started seeing on the TV news disturbing reports of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.  So far, we have heard that nearly 1,300 people have died from the virus and that 2,200 people have been infected in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and Liberia.  The Presidents of Liberia and Nigeria have declared a national state of emergency in their countries and Guinea has closed its borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia.  The World Health Organisation – based at the UN – has declared Ebola a global public health emergency.   

Because Ebola is infectious and there is as yet no vaccine which can protect you from it or treatment that can cure you if you get it, senior government ministers here have been meeting to discuss it.  So far Cobra – the government’s emergency committee which brings together ministers from across government departments – has met twice and been chaired by the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond MP.  Of course it’s important that they are doing this.  The UK is a major participant in the World Health Organisation.  And it’s important that they consider what the impact of the Ebola outbreak might be on the UK and how we can protect ourselves from it. 

Everyone should be concerned to see people hit by a horrible disease and anyone planning to go to any of the affected countries will look to our government to get the best advice about what is safe.  Southwark is home to many people from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea.  These diaspora communities, who are well established here, retain strong ties with their countries of origin.  Many do business with their country back home.  Many still have family and friends there.  And many visit, for family reasons or for business. 

So it is disappointing that the Government has not engaged with our local diaspora communities in order to tell them the decisions our government is making about contingency plans and hear their hopes and concerns.  I’ve asked the Foreign Secretary to convene a meeting of the leaders of the diaspora communities.  So far he has not taken up that suggestion.  I've written to the Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening MP and asked her to ensure that our government does as much as possible to help these countries protect themselves from the spread of infection. 

The health care systems in West Africa do invaluable work but they are very thinly stretched even without the Ebola epidemic.  DFID supports numerous vital health care projects – many of which I've seen on my visits to West Africa.  But what more are DFID doing to help in West Africa at the time of risk from this disease?  As yet I have not heard back from the Secretary of State - which is disappointing.  The Government should be doing everything it can to protect us from this disease.  They should be doing everything they can to help those in the affected countries.  But they should also be talking to the diaspora communities here.  And so far they have failed to do that. 

During August the Shadow Cabinet has been setting out the choice between the Tory threat and the Labour future.

On 31st July I wrote to the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond MP, on the Ebola crsis in West Africa. 

With just six weeks to go before the Scottish Referendum, I joined Margaret Curran, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, campaigning for a “No” vote in Edinburgh West and Edinburgh Southern.  Scottish Labour are working hard right across Scotland knocking on doors, phoning and delivering leaflets.

I was delighted to attend the Opening Concert of the Edinburgh International Festival 2014, with pieces by Schoenberg, Scriabin, and Debussy performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, under composer and conductor Oliver Knussen. 

The First World War must never be forgotten.  On 4 August, I attended a Vigil, with Labour Leader Ed Miliband, marking with darkness, the last hour before the centenary of the moment Britain was drawn into this war.

Camberwell and Peckham has the largest West African diaspora community in the country.  My constituents will be very concerned about the recent outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.

As high profile celebrities – like Rolf Harris, Stuart Hall and Max Clifford – go to prison for sexually abusing children, there's been much talk of "historic" sex abuse.  But for the people who were sexually abused as children and who are now adults, it is usually anything but "historic".  The effects of child abuse can stay with the victim long into their adulthood.  Some say the torment of emotions they are left with give them feelings of inability to trust other people in relationships, despair they were not listened to or believed at the time.  Angry they had no-one to protect them, or to confide in.  Doubts and feelings of self-loathing about why they "let it happen" or "didn't stop it".

If you've suffered sexual abuse as a child, reported it and were not believed or told to keep quiet about it, it is often the case that the accusation of lying makes the suffering of the abuse even worse. 

So prosecuting abusers – even decades later – is vital. 

These trials send out an important message to other abusers, that you can’t get away with it just because the victim is vulnerable and it was long ago.  Even if it takes years, the law will catch up with you. 

And it is only when abuse is proved in a court that the institutions that have been used by the abuser face up to what's gone on and take action.  It took years for the Catholic Church to acknowledge the true scale of sex abuse by priests.  Now, after the Jimmy Savile revelations, the BBC and Hospitals are much more careful.  And it will be the case with other institutions

So, even though trials of offences which took place long ago are more difficult, and the offender is now elderly, it is still important to prosecute.

People often say it’s unfair to name the suspect while the victim remains anonymous.  But in our legal system justice must not only be done but “be seen to be done”.  It is dangerous to let the criminal justice system try a defendant in secret.  So, traumatic though it is for the defendant, especially if they are acquitted, it is important for the accused to be named.  You can’t have one rule for sex offences trials and another for other trials.  That would imply that, uniquely in sex cases, the victim is likely to be lying.  And when the defendant’s name is reported it often gives other victims the confidence to come forward thereby helping the prosecution and ensuring that that victim gets justice.

Some people say that this latest spate of sex abuse trials is a witchhunt.  My view is that it is justice for people who were abused as vulnerable children, will protect other children in the future, and is long overdue.

Southwark Pensioner's Centre celebrated its 100th anniversary with a 'Party in the Park' on Camberwell Green for its members, volunteers and supporters.

Supporting more people of all ages and all backgrounds was the theme of my keynote speech at the Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Park today, where I launched a Labour Party consultation document More Sport for All.

Friday saw the official launch of this years’ IF festival in Milton Keynes and launch of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Parnership’s Cultural Strategy with Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair of Arts Council England, Dr Ann Limb, Chair of South East Midlands Partnership, Councillor Peter Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes Council and Monica Ferguson, Festival Director.

You can read my report by clicking here

The Imperial War Museum’s re- opened today with a major exhibition on World War 1.  Congratulations are due to all those involved in this major redevelopment. 

On 18th September Scotland will have a referendum on Scottish Independence. The decision will have a lasting impact, not just on Scotland, but on the whole of the UK.

Today I met the Interim Principal of LeSoCo, Ioan Morgan, who talked to me about plans to improve further education services for students on the college's Camberwell site. The meeting was productive and we discussed how, working with Southwark Council, LeSoCo can move forward and ensure high quality further education is locally accessible.

This morning I joined local councillors Fiona Colley, Sunil Chopra and Sandra Rhule to meet parents and carers at the school gate at Hollydale Primary school in Nunhead. It was good to meet the Head Teacher, Reema Reid, and talk to some of the pupils at the Breakfast Club.

One Nation Fizz, a new book edited by Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, Diana Johnson MP and Barbara Keeley MP was launched yesterday.

This evening I joined Iain Dale on LBC for my monthly hour long phone in. We had a lively discussion and I took a series of wide ranging questions from callers across the country

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Women today launched a report and held a reception in the Speaker’s House which I attended. The report makes a number of good suggestions. It is important we now have action.

On Thursday evening I was out campaigning with local ward councillors Mark Williams and Radha Burgess and local Labour Party members in Sceaux Gardens in Camberwell. It was good to talk to residents and hear that things are going well on the estate.

This morning I joined residents of the Bonamy Estate for an advice surgery and walkabout with Pat Hickson and Kieri Pieri from the Tenant's Association, local councillors Richard Livingstone and Evelyn Akoto, and Ifeanyi Onabu, Robertson Egueye, Michael Mann and Sharron Smith from Southwark Council.