Stockport Express Column - March 2022

We have witnessed incredibly distressing scenes in Ukraine in recent weeks, and the aggression from Russia is completely unjustifiable.

Solidarity to all Ukrainians as they stand for democracy, sovereignty and international law.

The focus must now be on military de-escalation and diplomacy, and Britain must do all it can to stand by the people of Ukraine in their hour of need.

Inflation and rising living costs continue to be at the forefront of many people’s minds, and families across the country are currently faced with a calamitous drop in their standards of living.

Research I carried out with the help of the House of Commons Library has revealed that the average gross weekly pay for full-time employees in my Stockport constituency was £554 in April 2021, below the average of £578 in the North West and more than 10% less than UK earnings of £611. With inflation now north of 5% and many wages either stagnant or rising below inflation, this is stretching people further still.

Following Storm Eunice, which led to rainwater flooding Stockport station, I wrote to Avanti Trains to urge them to tackle the issue of waterlogged platforms which pose a significant risk to passengers and staff alike.

As we rely increasingly on public transport, our railway infrastructure must be accessible and safe for all.

“Fairtrade Fortnight” continues until the 6th March, and this year focuses on raising standards in supply chains and production. Please check out Stockport Fairtrade Group’s website to find out more about local events taking place until this Sunday.

From the sheer cost of treatment to the lack of availability of appointments, there is a crisis in NHS dentistry. Most people cannot find a dental practice that will accept new NHS patients, which is compounded by the fact that dentists are leaving the sector in droves. I’ve called on the Government repeatedly in Parliament to address this issue. If you live in Stockport constituency, please fill in the short survey on my website about your experience of booking a dental appointment: https://www.navendumishra.co.uk/dentistry-survey.

As always, if you live or work in Stockport constituency and require support with any issue, please do not hesitate to email me at navendu.mishra.mp@parliament.uk.