Welcome to this week’s newsletter.
History was made this week when Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed the House of Commons live from inside the house, the first time a foreign leader has ever done so. It was very moving to hear from him directly the grave struggles that his country is facing. We are doing all we can to put pressure on Russia; we are soon going to supply them with even more advanced anti aircraft weaponry.
In terms of helping refugees, I know some people have concerns about how many people we have taken in so far. It is important to remember this conflict only started just over 2 weeks ago. Other countries, such as Poland, are much closer geographically to Ukraine and the European Union already allowed Ukrainians to enter visa-free. The biggest immediate need are the hundreds of thousands on border countries which are receiving millions in aid from us. I am confident that in the next few days and weeks we will see the numbers we help increase. I appreciate people want immediate action. I also appreciate all the offers of help-I will update you when the formal process for allowing refugees to stay in your home is launched.
This week we celebrated International Women’s Day. I would like to draw attention to Motherwell, a fantastic local charity that does huge amounts of work helping women and girls-find out more about them below!
There was positive news that there are now 27,000 more nurses in the NHS since 2019, well on our way to our target of 50,000 more. While this is great, I do still understand that there are challenges in the NHS that still need to be addressed.
I have also attended an export showcase this week. We could still get more businesses to export their goods and services overseas and the Government has launched an Export Support Service to provide them guidance https://www.gov.uk/ask-export-support-team. The Export Minister will also be coming to Crewe in June for a roundtable with businesses. Do get in touch if you want to take part. Exporting is patriotic! Its a net gain to our economy! Whey not try it!
The Government have launched a consultation on misleading online advertising and scams. Have your say about this important issue here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/online-advertising-programme-consultation.
I had the opportunity to go and see a rehearsal for the Crewe Gang Show, a traditional show by local scouts going back over 80 years. I’d encourage everyone to book a ticket and go along! They are performing in May at Crewe Lyceum Theatre, go here to book tickets: https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/tickets-crewe-gang-show-2022
Finally, I am keen to promote local events and fundraisers in my newsletter. Do let me know if there is anything you would like me to advertise.
Have a great weekend.
Ukraine
International Women's Day
Crewe Gang Show
Export Support Scheme
27,000 More Nurses
Scam Ad Consultation
Wottalotta Sweetz
Clean Air Grant
Kelloggs Accessible Packaging
Traffic Report
Ukraine
Once again, the main focus of the Government has, sadly, been on the continuing situation in Ukraine.
History was made on Tuesday when Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed the House of Commons live. This is the first time a foreign leader has ever addressed MPs directly in the Commons. We were all moved by his determination in the face of the danger his country is facing.
The UK is leading the way in international sanctions against Russia for its aggression. You have seen misleading headlines about the numbers sanctioned that don't reflect the value of what we have sanctioned. We are very far ahead of Europe on the value of bank and defence company sanctions for example.re
A Refugees Minister has been appointed to help coordinate and accelerate the support we are providing to Ukrainian refugees. Extra Home Office staff have also been deployed to Poland, Hungary and Moldova to assist people wishing to come to the UK. British Nationals and people settled in the UK can bring immediate residents to the UK. For those with no family ties, a sponsorship scheme is also open, allowing individuals, charities, businesses and community groups to support displaced Ukrainians.
While I understand many have criticised the number of refugees, we have helped compared with other European countries, it is important to remember that this has only been going on for just over two weeks and the other countries, which are closer to Ukraine geographically, already allowed Ukrainians to enter without a visa. There is visa free travel across Europe for Ukrainians. The hundreds of thousands of people in camps will very often not want to leave and we are doing a huge amount to support those people. For us, where a visa is required, it will of course take a little longer. Whilst we can pare down checks we shouldn't get rid of them completely.
I am confident that in the coming days and weeks the number of people we have helped will increase. I know that some people locally will be offering to take in a Ukrainian family. Once a scheme to offer a home has been launched, I will share the details here in the newsletter.
International Women's Day
This week was International Women's Day. I'd ask you to check out Motherwell who do a huge amount to support women, girls and their families locally and they are full of ambition for each and every woman and girl they work with! Check them out and see if you could volunteer for them or help them in other ways.
It was great to be at their conference at the weekend and also speak to organisations like My Cheshire Without Abuse https://www.mycwa.org.uk, Cheshire East Fostering, Crewe YMCA and others.
Fantastic entertainment from local groups including the amazing Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity Nightingales Staff Choir-with the star of the show undoubtedly their youngest member Jed! Fantastic picture from his Grandma Yvonne!
Crewe Gang Show
It was amazing to go and watch rehearsals for South West Cheshire Scout's Crewe Gang Show which will be at the Crewe Lyceum. It has been 84 years since the first-ever Crewe Gang Show performance.
It was exciting to see so many young people getting an amazing experience, building their confidence and self-esteem.
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who made this possible and thanks to Crewe Engineering & Design UTC for hosting rehearsals!
I'd encourage you to go and see it! The performances are over 4 days between 4th May and 7th May. Get your tickets here:
https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/tickets-crewe-gang-show-2022
Export Support Scheme
Many small and medium-sized businesses want to expand into new markets, selling their goods overseas. The Government’s Export Support Service for Businesses can help, providing guidance on a range of issues. For more information visit here: https://www.gov.uk/ask-export-support-team
In addition, the Exports Minister, Mike Freer, will be visiting Crewe and Nantwich in June for a roundtable with local businesses. Do contact me if you would like to be involved.
27,000 More Nurses
It is positive news that, since 2019, over 27,000 more nurses have started to work in the NHS. This means we are well on our way to our target of 50,000 more nurses by 2024.
While I understand that the NHS still faces challenges that must be addressed, these extra nurses are very welcome and will help improve patient outcomes.
Tackling Scam Ads
The Government’s Online Safety Bill is already set to ensure the internet is as safe as possible for all users – protecting people from harmful content.
They have announced they are going a step further, with measures to tacking online scams and fake advertising. A consultation has opened which will review laws to tackle a lack of transparency and accountability, as well as give regulators powers to tackle online advertising scams.
Read more, and have your say, here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/online-advertising-programme-consultation
Wattalotta Sweetz
I recently spoke to Tom, who runs Wattalotta Sweetz, a sweet shop that has a store in Crewe Market Hall. He started the business in May 2020 during the lockdown. It is always great to talk to local entrepreneurs who start their businesses from scratch.
Never forget that small and medium-sized businesses make up most of our economy!
Find out more here: https://wattalottasweetz.co.uk/
Clean Air Grant
Cheshire East Council has received almost £55,000 from the Governments ‘Clean Air Grants' scheme to fund clean air projects across the borough. This comes from a total of more than £11 million that is being provided nationally – double the funding from 2021. The scheme has handed out over £42 million since 2010 and supported over 500 projects.
Cleaning up the air we breathe helps us live healthier lives, as well as cutting harmful emissions.
Kelloggs Accessible Packaging
In Parliament this week, I attended a reception by Kellogs and the Royal National Institute of Blind People, that was promoting their new visually impaired accessible packaging.
Using Navilens technology, the world's first packaging of its kind allows blind and partially sighted people to access all product information via their smartphones. The packaging includes an easy to detect, on-pack code which provides information directly to the phone.
This is a great innovation that will help those with visual impairment and is being rolled out by Kellogs this year.
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.n
Newtons Lane, Winterley (Between Clay Lane and Newtons Crescent) - 17th until 18th March
Kent’s Green Lane, Winterley – 17th until 18th March
Gainsborough Raid, Crewe (Between Ruskin Road and Denver Avenue) 14th until 18th March
Dig Lane, Shavington – until 11th April