Like many, I am horrified by instances of violence and abuse against emergency service workers – those paramedics, nurses, police, firefighters and more, who work hard to protect us all. We have seen this right here in Parliament, where PC Keith Palmer was tragically murdered earlier this year. We also witnessed two other cases of similar nature – whereby a British Transport police officer was stabbed when he faced the London Bridge Attackers, followed by a Met Officer, stabbed when he came to defend the public that same day, despite being off duty.

There have been far too many cases as such and it is incomprehensible that any of our emergency service workers should be subjected to any form of abuse.

Due to constituency commitments I was unable to attend the debate on Chris Bryant MP’s Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill on Friday 20^th October, though plenty of my Labour colleagues were present. The bill was first introduce to Parliament last year by our colleague Holly Lynch, but sadly it did not progress due to time constraints. I have been very supportive of the bill form the beginning and am delighted that this time it passed its second reading and will now proceed to the committee stage.

At the debate, Chris Bryant rightfully stated that an attack on an emergency worker “is an attack on us all. And when we are all attacked, we all stand firm together.” I would like to reassure constituents that my Labour colleagues and I will continue to push for greater protections for our brave national heroes.