Labour MP for Nottingham East • Nottingham born and bred • she/her 🌹🏹🏳️🌈
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The world’s top genocide scholars have confirmed what has long been clear: Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide. This is yet another call our government cannot ignore. End the UK’s complicity now: sanction Israel, end arms sales, recognise Palestine.
Family reunion is a vital lifeline for many refugees. Taking it away is inhumane. I'm appalled by the announcement that applications will be suspended until new rules come into force next spring. I have written to the Home Secretary this morning.
A year after people of colour, Muslims and migrants were terrorised on our streets by the far-right, there is now yet another surge of racist violence. We need to see our Prime Minister condemn the hate and proudly lead an anti-racist government, not pave the way for Reform.
You only have until next Thursday 11th September at 5pm to submit our draft Conference motion at your CLP 👇 Let’s get trans rights onto Conference floor 🏳️⚧️ docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Violence against women is a serious and pervasive issue. Its weaponisation - whether by the far right or transphobes - to spread fear and hate towards marginalised groups is disgusting and won't make any of us safer. Our government must reject these divide-and-rule politics.
Forthcoming statutory guidance could have a profound impact on trans people's lives. I've written to the Women and Equalities Minister to urge her to reject anything that undermines trans people's rights, inclusion, privacy or safety, and for Parliament to have proper oversight.
For my @leftlion.bsky.social column this month, I wrote about what it is that MPs actually do and how you can - and should - lobby us.
Reform councillors in Nottinghamshire won't engage with local journalists because they can’t stand being held to account. This is what a Reform government would be like. They're a far-right, authoritarian party that seeks to undermine our democracy. www.nottinghampost.com/news/news-op...
“Mass deportations" is a dehumanising, far-right fantasy. It won't solve rising bills, growing inequality, gutted services and a rigged economy. Farage is letting the real culprits off the hook because they bankroll him. Our government must never legitimise this cruelty.
Israel bombed a hospital, then struck the same area again as rescuers and journalists arrived, killing at least 20 people. "Double-tap” attacks like this show Israel's emboldenment to kill those saving lives and documenting war crimes. This is where political inaction has led.
UN-backed experts have declared a famine in Gaza. This isn't some natural disaster but a deliberate tool of genocide by the Israeli government. Our government needs to get its head out of the sand. History will judge those who were complicit through their actions or inaction.
It's important that counter demonstrations are well-attended. More details here: standuptoracism.org.uk/stop-the-far...
People seeking sanctuary are having to brace for another weekend of violent mobs outside their accommodation. Many have already faced horrific trauma before they arrived. Now they are fearing for their safety again. This is where the demonisation of migrants and refugees leads.
To everyone in Nottingham and across the country receiving their results today, congratulations! Whatever your grades, you have so much you can be proud of. Today doesn't define the rest of your life. Wishing you the best of luck for whatever path you take next.
You can read more about our conversation here: www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/04/n...
It was a real privilege to meet Memory, a lesbian refugee from Uganda who is part of @4refugeewomen.bsky.social. Her story was a powerful reminder of why we must reform our asylum and immigration system to better protect LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution.
@place2becharity.bsky.social has advice for managing your mental health: www.place2be.org.uk/our-services...
There's support if you need it. Info from the Department for Education: educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/08/resu... You can speak to the National Careers Service: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/exam-results And Futures Advice in Notts: www.futuresadvice.org/news-and-eve...
Well done to students in Nottingham East and across the country collecting their results today! And a huge thanks to all those who have supported them along the way. If you're disappointed, please know that your grades do not define your intelligence or your worth as a person.
Gaza's journalists have courageously documented Israel's genocide. The IDF has killed their colleagues in higher numbers than any other modern conflict, yet they've continued to report. Their work must not be in vain. End arms sales, stop military support and sanction Israel.
Last month, I warned that proscribing Palestine Action would result in the mass criminalisation of people who are not even members of the group. Now more than 500 people have been arrested. I voted against the proscription. We shouldn't be conflating protest with terrorism.
I visited Radford Care Group, a day centre that provides support for people with dementia throughout the week, along with training for family carers. We discussed the pressing need for increased social care funding and the vital link between social care and health outcomes.
Residents of three buildings on Mansfield Road are being evicted en masse, including those with complex health needs. I have written to the properties' owners and managers urging them to rescind the notices. Section 21 evictions must be outlawed without delay.
I recently spoke about the misuse of rap and drill music in criminal trials at an event in Parliament. I joined members of the music and miscarriage of justice APPGs, alongside leading experts, such as @artnotevidence.bsky.social and APPEAL, to discuss how we can address this issue.
I have once again urged the government to do all it can to halt the genocide Israel is committing in Gaza as well as the escalating violence in the West Bank. We must end all arms sales to Israel, cease military co-operation and implement severe sanctions.
I recently met with Equation, a Nottingham-based charity that works with the whole community to reduce the impact of domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender inequality. They're providing vital services that help tackle gendered violence in our city.
I welcome the government’s move to recognise Palestinian statehood, but it must be unconditional and immediate. In Gaza, Israel is killing one person every 12 minutes, and famine is continuing to mount. We need sanctions, an arms embargo, and recognition now.
To feed into the project, you can fill out this survey: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
I'm thrilled that streets around Hockley are becoming Nottingham's new 'Rainbow Quarter'. The idea is to create a dedicated safe space for our LGBTQ+ community, support businesses and honour the queer history that has shaped our city.
Notts Pride on Saturday knocked it out of the park with an even bigger, bolder rally than last year. It showed the best of Nottingham and the power of marching with our trans siblings in resistance and for our shared liberation.
As the world bears witness to Israel's deliberate starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, the Knesset yesterday voted overwhelmingly to annex the West Bank. It is a moral imperative for our government to immediately recognise the State of Palestine. History will not forgive us.
I recently met with my constituents in Parliament to discuss the crisis in Sudan. We spoke about sexual violence, arms sales to the UAE and the urgent need for peace. I’ve been raising this issue with the government and will keep pushing for action.
On 30 July at 4pm there will be a free online talk on 'Building an LGBTQIA+ Friendly Nottingham', hosted by City Arts Nottingham. If you'd like to attend, you can make a booking here: city-arts.org.uk/event/22963/...
Over 1000 Palestinians have now been killed while seeking food at Gaza aid centres. Countless are dying from famine caused by Israel’s aid blockade since March. How many more atrocities must Israel commit before our government stops arms sales and imposes sanctions?
We must bring water into public ownership, to fix this broken system, cut bills and adapt to the climate crisis. (2/2)
After the driest spring in 132 years, parts of the UK are now in drought, and we're urged to save water. Yet private water companies let three billion litres leak from ageing pipes daily, and sold off dozens of reservoirs over the past decade - all in the name of shareholder profits. (1/2)
I was honoured to be asked by @danieljharding.bsky.social to contribute to his book with a letter to my younger queer self! I was apprehensive initially because I hadn’t written anything so personal before, but it was healing and fun 🫶🏽 A privilege to be amongst fantastic contributors.
On the 30th anniversary of Srebrenica, we remember the over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys murdered in a brutal genocide. Today, and every day, we must confront hatred, defend everyone’s human rights, and do all we can to stop the forces that pave the way to such massacres.
Workers at Rock City have raised serious concerns with me about their working conditions. I've written to their management calling on them to engage with @uniteeastmids.bsky.social.
St Ann’s Food Bank in Nottingham is running dangerously low on supplies. The centre is desperate for donations. Please give what you can. Drop-off info: Robinhood Chase, St Ann's, NG3 4EZ.
Solidarity with NUH Health Care Assistants striking for fair back pay after years of working above their grade, including during the pandemic. I would urge NUH leaders to return to the table and settle this dispute with staff who are predominantly low-paid, part-time women.
The Tories keep banging on about "disability benefit fraud" like 2000s TV presenters. The fraud rate for PIP is non-existent: 0.2%.
After tonight’s vote, MPs met disabled people protesting outside Parliament. Thank you for winning changes to the Bill. I’m sorry it wasn’t defeated. This isn’t the end. Together, we will ensure every concession is delivered and we will keep pushing for a decent welfare system.
Full letter available here: tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/...
🚨The UN has written to the government about disability cuts in the UC and PIP Bill 🚨 It says it "has received credible information" indicating that the Bill will "deepen the signs of regression" on disabled people's rights in the UK. The Bill must not proceed.
Thank you for the endorsement @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social, you're an LGBT+ superstar and we're so happy to have your support 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ If you're an LGBT+ Labour member, register now for the AGM on Saturday 19th July.
🚨Please ask your MP to sign the amendment!
I have tabled amendment NC10 to the Universal Credit and PIP Bill, which would require the government to undertake a human rights analysis of the Bill before it's enacted. The government must meet its legal obligations and prevent the further regression of disability rights.
Israel kills Palestinians seeking food, bombs hospitals, blocks aid, and executes medics. Why should anyone believe its “humanitarian city” will bring safety? Our leaders must intervene now - before even more unconscionable atrocities are committed.
The Israeli military plans to force 600,000 Palestinians into a “humanitarian city” built on the rubble of Rafah. They would not be allowed to leave. This is a blueprint for more crimes against humanity, dressed up as relief.
10. Many of us have also called for a 2% tax on assets worth more than £10m (could raise £24bn a year) Former Labour leader, Lord Kinnock, yesterday endorsed a similar policy: a 2% tax on assets over £6m or £7m to raise £10bn or £11bn a year.
8. Close the carried interest loophole to private equity bosses so they pay their fair share (could raise £0.5bn) 9. 4% tax on share buybacks (raise between £0.1-2bn a year) - @cliveefford.bsky.social
6. End and redirect fossil fuel subsidies for oil and gas companies (raise £2.2bn a year) 7. Tax private jets (raise £1.2bn a year) - @cliveefford.bsky.social
4. Stop rich multinational corporations evading tax and mandate that they declare their profits wherever they operate (raise £15bn) 5. Apply national insurance to investment income (raise up to £10.2bn) - @cliveefford.bsky.social
1. Equalise capital gains tax with income tax rates (could raise £12bn a year) - @rachaelmaskell.bsky.social 2. End stealth subsidies for banks (could raise £50bn a year) - @rebeccalongbailey.com 3. Tax gambling (could raise £3.4bn) - @rebeccalongbailey.com
The problem is an exploitative, extractive economic system rigged against most people and our planet. The solution is not further cuts - we need to tax extreme wealth instead. 10 alternative proposals to disability benefit cuts from Labour MPs last week, totalling up to £120bn:
The government will hold an independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services, co-produced with bereaved families. Families that have been failed appallingly, in Nottingham and elsewhere, deserve accountability. This announcement is testament to their campaigning.
Yesterday I voted against proscribing Palestine Action. Civil disobedience protest groups do not belong alongside the likes of al-Qaida, the Islamic State and National Action. This is a draconian overreach that sets a dangerous precedent of treating protesters as terrorists.
We must also reject the narrative that because we're no longer making such big cuts to disability benefits, we cannot fund other anti-poverty measures. E.g. we must continue to push for the two child limit to be lifted and make the case for taxes on extreme wealth. 7/7 taxes on extreme wealth. 7/7
It's important that people continue to make their views known to MPs, particularly on the cuts to Universal Credit which remain and which have received less attention so far. You can find and contact your MP here: members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP 6/7
What happens next: All the remaining stages of the Bill will take place on Wednesday. This is MPs' opportunity to hold the government to account on its commitments, amend the Bill further, and vote on it again. 5/7
But the concessions don’t go far enough. Problems remaining: 1. £2 billion cut to UC health element hitting 750,000 new claimants 2. Questions about how meaningful "co-production" of the PIP review will be 3. Unclear if MPs will be able to amend and vote on the PIP review 4/7
Last night’s second reading vote was on the unamended Bill (i.e. without the above concessions), but the government has promised to make these amendments at committee stage next week. 3/7
Thanks to months of protesting by disabled people, the government offered concessions, including: 1. Cuts to PIP to be removed from the Bill entirely 2. "Co-production" of the PIP review w/ disabled people 3. Existing Universal Credit claimants' incomes will be protected 2/7
What happened yesterday with the disability benefit cuts in the Universal Credit and PIP Bill was hard to follow. Here's a thread of where we're at now and what comes next 🧵 1/7
@disrightsuk.bsky.social @dis-ppl-protest.bsky.social @crips-against-cuts.bsky.social
I want to pay tribute to disabled people's organisations. That the government made so many concessions is testament to the pressure they put on MPs. I still oppose this Bill but the original was far worse. Many disabled people's incomes have been saved thanks to their efforts.
I voted against the Universal Credit and PIP Bill. Even with the concessions, it still contains billions of pounds of cuts for new claimants of the Universal Credit health element. The process has also been a rushed shambles, without proper scrutiny, evidence or information.
This is a complete mess. The government is promising new changes, new concessions, 90 minutes before MPs vote. None of this is written down. The Bill we are voting on tonight is unamended. This is an unacceptable way of making laws. Just pull the Bill.
The government says that disabled people will “co-produce” the PIP review, but deciding to make cuts and then asking disabled people which cuts they would prefer is at best a rubber stamping exercise. No disabled people’s organisations support this Bill. We must vote against it.
I’m voting against disability benefit cuts because I oppose them, but the process by which this Bill is being rushed through without necessary information or adequate scrutiny, is reason enough for MPs to vote against it on Tuesday. This is not how we should make laws.
Disability benefits cuts affect us all. Anyone can become disabled at any point. The government’s concessions will leave those who become disabled in the future with even less support than today. A third of disabled people are already in poverty. We cannot allow this to grow.
Why the new disability benefits concessions don’t make sense, and why the Bill must still be opposed, explained in under 90 seconds:
Thanks to everyone who came to the mass lobby organised by @transsolidarity.bsky.social, calling on MPs to oppose the EHRC’s harmful draft guidance. If you missed it, don’t worry, you can still speak with your MP about trans rights - just send them an email requesting a meeting.
2. The government hasn’t published a full impact assessment or its own analysis of how many disabled people it expects to move into work as a result of the Bill.
1. The government has said it will rush the Bill through its remaining stages in a day. This usually takes weeks, with expert and lived-experience evidence. Instead, there will be very little scrutiny.
Setting aside the many reasons to oppose disability benefit cuts, the government is leaving MPs *no option but to block the Bill* on Tuesday for these reasons alone:
Whatever "concessions" the government offers, it won't be enough if benefit cuts remain. Too many disabled people already miss out on support. Too many live in poverty. Conservative cuts cost lives. Ours will too.
No amount of “concessions” on disability benefit cuts will make them more “palatable” to those who will still suffer as a result. Balancing the books on the backs of disabled people is always inhumane and unjust. It costs lives. MPs can't be expected to sit by and allow this to happen.
The government insists votes on disability benefit cuts will proceed next week, but with 120+ Labour MPs backing an amendment to block them, that’s not a tenable position. None of us want to vote against the government, but we will. This can all be avoided by pulling the bill.
Congratulations to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on winning the NYC mayoral primary! He stood against billionaire-backed opposition marred by shameful allegations, and proved that a bold platform of hope, economic justice and transformative change can and does win the votes.
870,000 children live in families who receive PIP. 290,000 of these children are already in poverty. What will happen to them if the government forces through disability benefit cuts? Over 100 Labour MPs have made it clear that these cuts are reckless. Let's drop them.
I am one of over 100 Labour MPs who are backing an amendment to stop disability benefit cuts. It’s clear that MPs across the broad church of our party see these cuts as the wrong direction, especially after 14 years of Tory austerity. The government must now drop this Bill.
We must condemn Trump's reckless bombing of Iran and refuse to follow him and Netanyahu into this war. You can't bomb another country for "democracy" or "peace". Iranians have long resisted their repressive government and these deadly attacks certainly won't help them.
We should all be concerned about plans to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group. Targeting non-violent protesters in this way is a misuse of terrorism-related powers. It sets a dangerous precedent, which governments in future could further use against their critics.
The disability benefits cuts introduced by the government today are not positive reforms to welfare, but a dangerous step backwards. Hundreds of thousands will be plunged into poverty. There is no financial case, nor moral case for these cuts. The government must drop this Bill.
It was an honour to be invited to the Sri Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib Ji Gurdwara, following the successful efforts of my constituency team to help reopen the bus stop outside the building.
No one should ever face prosecution for ending their own pregnancy, but that is exactly what is happening in this country. I'm therefore pleased that an amendment to stop this has passed in Parliament. This is a vital step forward for women’s rights and reproductive justice.
Today Israeli forces killed 51 and wounded over 200 people seeking food in Khan Younis. This massacre alone should provoke outrage and action from world leaders, but they are happening almost daily with little reaction. We mustn't allow unconscionable cruelty to be normalised.
For this month's @leftlion.bsky.social column, I set out my position in response to a question that constituents frequently ask: “Why are you still in the Labour Party?”
As well as committing genocide, Israel has bombed Iran in a grave escalation. Israel is no ally, but a rogue and unstable state with a government vying for power at all costs. Our government must no longer allow Israel to act with impunity: stop arms sales, impose sanctions.
Also in our hearts are those who were injured and continue to endure life-altering trauma. Every victim that day had a right to walk the streets safely. The inquiry must bring them some semblance of justice and accountability.
On the second anniversary of the Nottingham attacks, my love and thoughts are with the families of Ian Coates, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Barnaby Webber, whose lives were tragically taken in senseless acts of violence in our city.
Desperately tragic news from Ahmedabad where a plane has crashed en route to London Gatwick, carrying 242 people. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. If you require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family, please call 020 7008 5000.
It's right that we sanction Israeli politicians Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, but they are far from the only ones responsible for this genocide. We need a full arms embargo with Israel, trade sanctions, and sanctions targeting all those committing human rights abuses.
I’m relieved that the government has reversed the most harmful winter fuel payment cuts. I wish it hadn’t taken 10 months and a battering at the ballot box to get here. So I’m once again urging the government not to make the same mistake by cutting disability benefits.
Today, I wrote a letter urging the Foreign Secretary to take action regarding the Madleen aid flotilla, which has been seized by Israel in a violation of international law. I also joined the huge Freedom Flotilla Coalition emergency protest outside the Foreign Office.
I welcome the government's decision to restore the winter fuel payment to 7.5 million pensioners, although it shouldn't have been taken away in the first place. We must learn lessons from this fiasco and halt plans to cut disability benefits before we make another huge mistake.
Solidarity with the Madleen's brave crew. Israel has seized the vessel in a clear breach of international law. Our government must do everything it can for Israel to release the Madleen and its crew, stop using aid as a weapon and end its genocide of the Palestinian people.
Out knocking doors in Sherwood this weekend with local members and Cllr Adele Williams, listening to residents’ concerns and picking up casework. If you’re a constituent and have an issue you’d like my assistance with, please drop me an email at nadia.whittome.mp@parliament.uk.
