Work, Benefits & Pensions - Rachel Hopkins MP

Rachel Hopkins MP condemns the Conservatives’ real terms cut to pensions

12,000 pensioners in Luton South constituency could see any energy bill savings wiped out by Tories’ real-terms cut to the state pension Analysis from Labour shows that the basic state pension will be worth hundreds of pounds less in real terms over the next year, affecting 12,000 pensioners in Luton…

Rachel Hopkins MP Calls on the Government to Adopt Labour’s Proposals for Apprenticeships

The Government should adopt Labour’s proposals to create apprenticeships across the Eastern region, says Rachel Hopkins MP Rachel Hopkins MP is calling on the Government to adopt Labour’s plan to create 8,271 new apprenticeships for young people in the Eastern Region ahead of National Apprenticeship Week. National Apprenticeships Week recognises…

Rachel Hopkins MP Criticises Failure of Government’s Kickstart Scheme

East of England misses out on 9,898 jobs for young people under failed Tory job scheme Kickstart, the government’s flagship employment support scheme for young people, has failed to support as many job seekers in the East of England as was promised. The latest figures on the performance of the programme show that by December 2021, only 8,010 had…

Luton South Small Business Awards 2021 Winners

I was delighted to support Small Business Saturday through my first Luton South Small Business Awards. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we’re so lucky to have such a great range across Luton South who supported our community throughout the pandemic. Do shop local and support Luton…

Joining the London Transport Workers Demonstration

Proud to join transport workers and unions at the #SaveLondonTransport demonstration today. Government must stop the attack on transport workers and restore operating grants to TFL. The Labour Party will campaign against the huge government cuts.

Budget Debate 2021 – Public Sector Pay

The Tory’s announcement on public sector pay is a con. After 11 years of pay cuts and freezes, with workers facing rising debt and living costs, they will not commit to a pay increase above inflation. We need an alternative plan that backs our workers to drive our economic recovery.

Response to the Autumn 2021 Budget

I have taken some time out to read the detail in the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget and to reflect on the responses of trade unions, businesses, and other commentators. It is a Budget formulated by a government that is out of touch with the issues facing people in Luton South and…

Supporting the Bill to End Fire & Rehire

Stop Fire and Rehire Bill While fire and rehire is not new, it has gained prominence during the pandemic as a result of high-profile businesses, such as British Airways, Heathrow Airport and British Gas, using the pandemic as an excuse to force lower wages and longer hours on their workforce.…

Jobs at Risk at Vauxhall

Yesterday I wrote to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, about the jobs at risk at Luton’s Vauxhall plant due to supply chain issues. Job losses will exacerbate the economic impact of the pandemic. The Government must step up to support workers, not step…

Labour Party Conference ’21 – Stall Round-Up

Labour party conference always has a diverse array of stalls for delegates to drop by during the conference. Below is a short round-up of just some of the stalls I visited over the past week.

New Deal for Working People – Labour Party Conference 2021

It will be the driving mission of the next Labour government to end the poverty wages and insecure work that blights millions of lives and is holding back our economy. Labour will make Britain work for working people. Work should provide not just a proper wage that people can raise…

Cancel the Cut to Universal Credit

The Conservative Government’s £1,040 cut to #UniversalCredit is callous and economically illiterate. 16,000 households in Luton South will be forced into hardship and £16.5 million will be stripped from our local economy. People should not have to choose between heating and eating. #CancelTheCut

Joining the Unite Protest Against Fire and Rehire

I was pleased to join other MPs on Westminster Bridge to show our support for Barry Gardiner‘s Bill to end the abhorrent #FireAndRehire practice. Learn more about the campaign here: https://endfireandrehire.com/. #EndFireAndRehire Unite the union

Supporting Olivia Blake MP’s Bill To End The Abuse of Frontline Workers

No one should suffer abuse. Yet too many people are facing verbal and physical abuse at work, simply for doing their jobs. Earlier this year I backed USDAW’s campaign to introduce a new law against shopworker abuse. So, I was also pleased to back my colleague Olivia Blake MP’s Bill…

Prison Officer Retirement Age

Serious violence in prisons remains high, but unlike Firefighters and Police Officers who can retire at 60, Prison Officers can’t retire until they’re 68. To tackle the staffing crisis, Prison Officers need better workplace conditions to improve recruitment and retention.

Citizens Advice Luton

It was great to meet with Jane and Stephanie from Citizens Advice Luton this afternoon. We spoke about the work they do supporting local people and the impact the Government’s planned Universal Credit cut will have on Luton. I will keep pressing the Government to #CancelTheCut. For help with Universal…

Cancel the Universal Credit Cut

Luton South MP calls on the Government to cancel the planned Universal Credit cut. Rachel Hopkins MP, the Labour MP for Luton South, has called on the Government to cancel its planned cut to Universal Credit set to take place in September. The cut could see families lose £1000 a…

MP for Luton South backs USDAW’s campaign to protect shopworkers

MP for Luton South backs USDAW’s campaign to protect shopworkers I fully support USDAW’s campaign to introduce legislation that will make the abuse of shopworkers a specific offence. Shopworkers have been pivotal during the pandemic to keep our country moving, ensuring our shelves are stacked and safety measures are in place. More needs to be done to keep these essential workers…

Commit to Extending Universal Credit Uplift

Many constituents have contacted calling for the government to make the UC uplift permanent. I certainly agree that the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit should made permanent, and that legacy benefits should be uprated to match Universal Credit. I can confirm that I voted…