Following the announcement by Southern Rail that they will be introducing a temporary timetable to services from Monday 11th July, I have today written to the CEO of Govia Thameslink who are responsible for the operation of Southern Rail.

Here's my letter:

Charles Horton

Chief Executive Officer

Govia Thameslink Railway Limited

Hertford House

1 Cranwood Street

London

EC1V 9QS

Friday 8^th July 2016

By email and post to: [email protected]

Dear Charles,

Re: Southern timetable changes

I write following Southern Rail’s announcement of a temporary timetable starting on Monday 11 July which will affect routes serving my constituency.

On Monday, constituents using East Dulwich, Peckham Rye and Queens Road Peckham stations, will only have 3 Southern rail services to London Bridge between 6am & 9am and only 3 services between 5pm & 7pm from London Bridge to Queens Road Peckham, Peckham Rye & East Dulwich.

This dramatic and sudden loss of service is simply unacceptable. 

Since the announcement I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are deeply worried about the disruption and the impact that these changes will have on: 

• Their working & family lives

• Their childcare provision & arrangements

• Their finances

• Safety & overcrowding fears

My constituents depend on these overland services. They cannot rely on other ways of travelling. The buses are slow because roads are heavily congested and there is no tube. They deserve a rail service they can rely on.

They already continue to suffer from Southern Rail’s ongoing disruptive, poor and unpredictable service and the introduction of this ‘temporary timetable’ on Monday is the final straw.

Because of Southern Rail’s continuing failure to provide a reliable service I will now be urging the Government to strip Govia Thameslink Railway of its franchises in advance of its renewal date, with an accelerated transfer of Greater London services to Transport for London.

Yours sincerely

Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP

So now, by a narrow margin, the UK has voted to leave the EU.  Those arguing for "Brexit" said our warnings of the problems if we left the EU were exaggerated and dubbed them "Project Fear". But now we see "Project Fear" is turning into "Project Fact".  Uncertainty is hanging over our economy and businesses are holding back investment decisions.  The pound has fallen in value pushing up the cost of holidays in the EU this summer.  As the economy falters, there's less public money available for our vital public services like support for the disabled and for the NHS. 

Now that the Prime Minister, David Cameron, has resigned, The Conservatives are plunged into a leadership election.  But that does not mean that everything should be "on hold" till the new leader is declared in September.  Immediate action is required and despite their inner turmoil and mutual recriminations the Conservatives are still, after all, the Government.  These are just some of the things they should be doing and what Labour, as the Official Opposition, should be pressing them to do:

•They should be starting now to talk to diplomats in non-EU countries to sound them out for future talks on making trade deals.  Official talks can't start till we are formally out of the EU but we should be starting the informal discussions now

•The same goes for the EU.  They are our biggest trading partner and we will need to be able to trade with them post-Brexit.

•We need to give guarantees for EU citizens who've been settled here, working here, bringing up their families here, that they will continue to have residence rights.  It is not right to hang insecurity over them by using them as a bargaining chip as we try and secure the position for our UK citizens who are settled in Spain, France and Italy. 

•The government should guarantee that we will keep in step with the EU when it comes to improvements in workers’ rights, like maternity leave and paid holidays.  As the EU continues to improve rights at work we must not fall behind and end up with our workers becoming the least protected and supported in Europe. The EU Directives and European Court Judgements won't bind us but we should adopt their rulings.

•The government should guarantee that we will also keep in step with the EU on environmental rights and climate change.  As the EU makes further progress in the battle against climate change and to protect our environment, we mustn't become the "dirty man of Europe".  We won't be bound by Directives such as the Bee Directive in future.  But we should implement them voluntarily.

•The government promised more money for the NHS if we left the EU.  They must be made to deliver on that.

•The government must tackle the xenophobia, racism and division that their referendum has engendered.

This is the agenda we should be taking forward as the Official Opposition. But Jeremy Corbyn, as our Labour leader is not doing so as he does not have leadership qualities and has lost the confidence of Labour MPs.

Southwark voted strongly to Remain in the EU but we lost.  But the government must pull its finger out to mitigate the worse effects of Brexit and Labour must change our leadership and get our act together to make them.  

Please find my monthly report for June here

It is with great regret that I call on Jeremy Corbyn to stand down as leader of the Labour Party.  Jeremy has many great qualities but he is not a leader. The party and the country needs a strong united Labour Opposition at this immensely challenging time.  Jeremy earned the right to take up the leadership of the party with a big majority.  But he has failed and he has no right or mandate to stay in office despite his failure and take the party down with him.  Leading the party is a privilege not a right. You earn the opportunity to lead by being elected, to lead the whole party, our voters, members, councillors and MPs. But winning the leadership election does not give you the right to continue in post if you fail.  If Jeremy goes now, he will earn the respect and admiration of the party. If he stays he will be responsible for damage to the party on the gravest scale.  No-one has the right to do that.  Being leader of the Opposition is an immensely difficult task.  Much harder than it looks.  The starting point should be to support the leader and help them succeed. And that is what I have done over the past 3 decades and with 6 leaders through thick and thin.  But I have no right to stand by and let our party collapse in disarray.  That is what has happened under Jeremy and that has to stop.  I urge Jeremy to stand down.

I never thought I would see the day when I wished a Tory Prime Minister would win a vote, but last Thursday I did, and I think the country will pay a bitter price for the fact that he lost this one. Leaving aside the constitutional turmoil, the damage to the economy and the uncertainty that hangs over Britain’s place in the world, the leaders of the Brexit campaign have engendered an atmosphere where some people believe it is open season for racism and xenophobia. Will the Prime Minister say very clearly that, when it comes to the difficulties of getting a job or problems with the NHS, housing or schools, those things are the responsibility of his Government to sort out and not the fault of migrants from the EU or indeed anywhere else?

The Prime Minister

May I first praise the right hon. and learned Lady for her decision to cross party lines and to appear with others on platforms to make the argument? She made it very persuasively, and I think it is right that she did. She is absolutely right that we must be very clear about our commitment to tolerance and diversity, and about our complete intolerance of racism and the hateful hate crimes that we have seen in recent days. I know that that is the view of hon. Members in this House, whatever side of the debate they were on, but that message needs to go out loud and clear.

The U.K. has voted to leave the EU and there will now be economic and political turbulence.   

I am deeply disappointed by the result of the referendum.

• I campaigned hard for us to remain in the EU. 

• The overwhelming majority of Labour supporters backed the UK remaining in the EU and

• 73% of Southwark residents backed remaining in the EU. 

But we have to acknowledge the result and strive for the best future for this country in the circumstances which now face us.

The leaders of the Leave campaign promised that:

• There would be no shock to the economy and that it would grow

• People will not be hit by price increases

• That pay will go up for low paid workers

• That they'd invest more in the health service

• That they'd have a fair immigration policy

• That they would not unravel the rights at work that the EU guarantees

They must be held to account to deliver on those promises.

We, in the Labour Party, must ensure that the burden of the economic problems which the country  now faces does not fall hardest on those who can least afford it.

We must not let the Tories allow the poorest regions to fall further behind.

And in London, all politicians, both MPs, GLA members and councillors, must work together to support London's economy and services.

And we must banish the intolerance and hatred which was engendered by the leadership of the Leave campaign and which must be no part of the politics of our democracy.

Jo’s death is an absolute tragedy. She was dynamic and fearless. Elected only a year ago she was a beacon among the new generation of young Labour women MPs. So full of promise for the future, so committed to progressive politics. Jo’s politics were always about bringing people together and never about creating divisions.

She put into practice her belief that politicians must be amongst the people they represent and she was, in every town, village and community in her constituency.

We were immensely proud of her and are devastated by her loss.

Her children will now have to grow up without their mother but we will make sure that they know what an amazing, progressive and principled politician their mother was and how much we admired her.

My deepest sympathy goes to Brendan and to Jo's family.

With one week to go until we head to the polls on June 23, to vote on whether to stay in or leave the European Union, it’s clear that many people still haven’t made up their minds.

I strongly believe that it is in Britain’s national interest that we remain at the heart of the European Union.   Labour is the party that hates inequality, unemployment and unfairness and loves the NHS and opportunities for all and Labour wants us to stay in the EU.

Because we’re in the EU, businesses in this country can attract investment which creates jobs – over half a million jobs in London depend on our membership of the European Union.

Because we’re in the EU, we can sell what we make, and our services, in every EU country – a marketplace of 500 million people.

Because we’re in the EU, people have better rights at work. The EU guarantees the right to paid holiday, paid maternity leave and rights for part-timers.  It’s the EU that made our governments pass those laws and so long as we remain a member no Tory government can try and take them away.  If we left the EU, there would be a risk to jobs and to rights at work. We need better rights at work, not to be fighting to keep those that we already have.

I’m not going to be put off by people calling it “Project Fear”.  I am fearful about jobs and rights.  Even the leaders of the Leave campaign say that they can’t guarantee that people wouldn’t lose their jobs if we left. We should not be putting jobs at risk.

The leaders of the Leave campaign have never fought for you.  They are the people that brought in the Bedroom Tax and have cut our NHS and council services. They want to scrap business regulations, get rid of the “social chapter”.  What they really mean is getting rid of your right to paid holiday, maternity leave and paternity pay.

Immigration is a big issue, but there’s more immigration from outside the EU than people coming from other EU countries.  If you’re worried about the NHS, or about housing – don’t blame immigrants. It’s the responsibility of Government to support the NHS and to build enough houses. Leaving the EU would make things worse by hitting the economy.

Labour wants us to stay in the EU for jobs, workers’ rights, to improve living standards and make sure we have enough public money to pay for vital services.  I hope you’ll join me in voting to remain in the EU on 23rd June.

---CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY---

Thanks Tim.  I strongly believe that it is in Britain's national interest that we remain at the heart of the European Union. I want the people who back Labour to know why Labour backs us being in the EU.

I've been a dyed in the wool member of the Labour Party since I was in my twenties - and, believe me, that was not recently.  I joined Labour because it's the party that hates inequality, and unemployment and unfairness and loves the NHS and wants opportunities not just for some, but for everyone.    It's not surprising that Labour supporters have struggled to catch a glimpse of why Labour backs the EU as the media has been dominated by the row in the Tory party.

But let me say why Labour is convinced The UK is better In.

Because we're in the EU, businesses here can attract investment which creates jobs.

Because we're in the EU, we can sell what we make, and our services, in every other EU country.

And that has meant our economy has grown and there have been more jobs.

Because we're in the EU, people have better rights at work.  The EU guarantees those rights.  It's the EU that made our governments pass laws to ensure employers give paid holiday, paid maternity leave, rights for part-timers.  So long as we're in the EU no Tory government can try and take those rights away.

And let me say what a risk it would be to jobs, and to rights at work, if we came out of the EU.  And I'm not going to be put off by people calling it "Project Fear".  I am fearful about jobs, and women's rights at work, and I make no bones about it.

The leaders of the campaign that wants us to leave the EU say that they can't guarantee that people wouldn't lose their jobs - but it's a risk worth taking.  But it's not their jobs at risk.  We need more jobs not fewer. Let's not make getting a job harder.

And I'm fearful about our rights at work if we left the EU and so are the Trade Unions - and with good reason. Look at the leaders of the leave campaign.  They never fought for your rights at work - they've fought against them.  They say they want to get rid of the "social chapter" and cut "red tape" and scrap regulation.  They're talking about your right to paid holiday, your maternity leave, your paternity pay.  We need better rights at work, not to have to start fighting to defend the rights that we already have.

So I challenge them today - you've said you want to "cut red tape" and scrap "£600m of regulation.  Don't speak in code.  Be honest about it.  Admit that means you would abolish the rights to maternity leave and paternity leave, scrap the laws that stop employers treating part-timers as second class citizens and which make employers pay for holiday leave.

Immigration is a big issue so I want to put out a fact.  There's more immigration from outside the EU than people coming from other EU countries. 

If you're worried about the NHS - don't blame immigrants.  The person from Ireland, or Spain or Portugal is more likely to be the nurse at your bedside than queuing in A and E.  So don't blame the EU for problems in the NHS - that's down to the government

If you're worried about housing, that's not the fault of migrants that's the responsibility of government. It's not the job of the EU to sort out housing - that's the job of government.

Labour wants us to stay in the EU for jobs, to protect rights at work and improve our living standards and now Natalie Bennet is going to say why she wants us to remain in the EU. 

END

This afternoon I Joined Chuka Umunna MP for Streatham, Seb Dance MEP for London Region & Florence Eshalomi AM for Lambeth & Southwark, for a campaigning session in Faraday ward as part of the Labour In campaign.

Labour says Britain is better off in Europe, here are the facts:

1. Over 3 million British jobs are linked to our trade with the EU.
2. Almost half of all British exports in goods and services go to countries in the European Union.
3. British Households would be worse off by around £4,300 a year if we left the EU.
4. British workers are guaranteed protections at work because of the EU.
5. Britain's influence as a world power is strongest as part of the European Union

We were also joined by Councillors Mark Williams (Brunswick Park), Barrie Hargrove (Peckham), Samantha Jury-Dada, Lorraine Lauder & Paul Fleming (Faraday) and a great team of Camberwell & Peckham Labour members.