Category Archives: Rights Culture

Elmbridge Support for Refugees

Last week, I met with local community group Elmbridge CAN, who are helping refugees to find their feet in Elmbridge.

The group has supported the resettlement of five Syrian families in the borough, including nine children. I was impressed how people from across the community have come together to offer their support, helping with donations and by volunteering their time.

Elmbridge CAN is also providing English language support, which is helping the refugees to make good progress with their language skills. It was great to hear that some of the refugees and asylum seekers supported by Elmbridge CAN are now therefore volunteering as part of the organisation.

Elmbridge CAN is just one of hundreds of community groups across the country doing inspirational work in supporting refugees and vulnerable families fleeing persecution.

I look forward to continuing to support Elmbridge CAN’s work, and you can find more information about them here.

To find out more about the government run scheme for helping resettle refugees is working in Elmbridge, click here.

Foreign Policy and Moral Red Lines

Yesterday, I wrote a column for The Sunday Times making the case for my proposed Magnitsky Amendment to the Criminal Finances Bill. The proposal, backed in Parliament by MPs from eight different political parties, would target those involved in profiting from serious human rights abuses, so they can’t launder their blood money through British banks, properties or businesses.

You can access the article here.

Appointment to Government

I was delighted to be appointed by David Cameron to serve as a Justice Minister in the new government, working in a great team under Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

I have been allocated the human rights reform agenda, which is an area I have worked on in the past, and care deeply about. I am looking forward to getting stuck in!

Village Identity, Community Spirit


On Monday, I joined the Mayor of Elmbridge, local councillors, Sir Gerry Acher (of the Cobham Conservation and Heritage), John Stephens (of Downside and Hatchford Community Group) and local residents – including St Matthews infant school – to unveil a new village sign for Downside.
 
Designed by local artist, Kate Ellis, it was part of the local community effort to sustain and promote the unique identity of this wonderful village. The only hitch in proceedings – amidst the October mire – was the cover getting stuck on top of the new sign. I was duly dispatched up a ladder to release the sheet, so we could celebrate a fabulous new local landmark. My congratulations to all those involved.
 


Less Tick-Box Diversity, More Meritocracy Please

I have written a column for Conservative Home, here, on the Equality Regulations that require 40,000 councils, police forces, schools and other public bodies to account for the social make-up of their staff and promote diversity – and section 159 of the Equality Act which licences positive discrimination.

I am opposed to these measures, because they place unnecessary red-tape on hard-pressed public bodies and businesses, and they are unmeritocratic and socially divisive.

Strike Law Reform

I have been campaigning for reform to strike laws since 2011. In particular, I have been pressing a private bill to require union bosses to carry majority support from their members before striking.

Today, in advance of nationwide strikes tomorrow, I raised the issue again at Prime Minister’s Questions. The PM responded with a pledge to make my proposed reform a commitment in the 2015 Conservative manifesto. You can watch the exchange below.