Coming earlier than usual, this month's newsletter covers a shorter period - although there's been lots happening! As the omicron variant drives up covid infections, I backed new measures to limit transmission and spoke out against Boris Johnson's conduct which has undermined action to tackle the virus. I do hope you have a good break over Christmas and wish you well for the new year.
My Christmas Appeal for Afghan children
Thanks to everyone who has helped my appeal with Save the Children raise more than £3,000 so far. As Afghan children face starvation through a bitter winter, I'd be grateful for any help promoting it more widely (details here).
Covid-19
I met with the Chief Medical Officer and the local NHS as Omicron forced the adoption of 'plan B' (more here) and pressed the Chancellor on financial support (more here). I also had my booster and hope you will too - so we can help keep everyone safe.
I called on Ministers to open the promised scheme for Afghan refugees (read and watch here) and met with Student Action for Refugees on improving access to higher education for refugees.
Gambling with Lives
I hosted a Parliamentary event for Gambling with Lives, a locally-based charity tackling gambling addiction, and joined them in a meeting with the Director of Public Health on local action.
White Ribbon Day
I marked White Ribbon Day by stepping up my campaign against sexual harassment in the hospitality sector, seeking support for the "Zero Tolerance pledge" which I launched earlier this year (more here).
Young carers
I pressed Health Ministers on the need to identify and support young carers, an issue on which I've been working for some time (watch our exchange here).
Kashmir
I joined other members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir to plan action to press the Indian Government on the detention of the human rights activist Khurram Parvez (more here).
Nationality and Borders Bill
Lots of people contacted me about the Nationality and Borders Bill on which I wrote this article for The Times and spoke again in Parliament (watch here).
Bus lanes
I met with planners to talk about proposals for 'all day' bus lanes on Ecclesall Road and Abbeydale Road on which the first stage of consultation finishes tomorrow (submit your views here).
No plan for social care
Once again I highlighted the Prime Minister's broken promise to fix social care, in responding to the Government's latest proposals. Read more and watch my exchange with the Minister here.
Tackling Islamophobia
I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate to mark Islamophobia Awareness month (read my contribution here).
UK Trade and Business Commission
We held two meetings of the UK Trade and Business Commission, of which I'm a member, on the impact of Brexit on the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sector and on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Levelling down
I spoke out after reports that economic development funding to South Yorkshire would be cut when the Government set out its post-Brexit replacement for EU funding (more here).
Christmas closure
My office closes from 24th December to 3rd January, but emails will be checked throughout the break for urgent personal casework.
Community notices
Homeless and Rootless at Christmas (HARC): Find out more about how to help the work of this great Sheffield project here.
Support for victims of domestic abuse: 08088082241 is the Sheffield helpline (open Mondays to Fridays 8am-7pm & Saturdays 9am-5pm) and 08082000247 offers support nationally 24/7.
Nether Edge and Sharrow Foodbank: Supporting vulnerable people in the area, this recently established project is fundraising to continue their work providing food packs. Please donate here.
