Alan Smith
@BishopStAlbans
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Bishop of St Albans, keen skiier, passionate gardener, and Convenor of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords @churchofengland Blog:
St Albans
Joined February 2009
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Disheartened by the Government's continued abandonment of leaseholders.
It's an obvious injustice, and I will continue to support efforts in Parliament to help leaseholders.
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Saddened by the Government's dismissive attitude towards the plight of leaseholders.
If the Government believes the amendment is well-intentioned but defective, surely it is time they put forward their own solution
Doing nothing is the worst thing
#EndOurCladdingScandal
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A huge thank you to those who spoke in favour of my amendment to the Fire Safety Bill, as well as to those who have helped behind the scenes to make it possible.
I hope the Government will now show real leadership to
#EndOurCladdingScandal
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To all leaseholders and tenants caught up in this terrible scandal I say 'The Fire Safety Bill may have passed but all that signals is the next stage of the battle to protect the innocent is about to begin'.
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Despite the best efforts of the Lords, the Government have passed the Fire Safety Bill unamended.
The debates have made clear that the consequences will catch up with the Government.
Leaseholders - you have friends in both Houses who will continue to be your advocates
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The efforts of the UK Government and the UN to investigate the alleged use of white phosphorous against civilians in Tigray is most welcome.
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What was done in our name for the bankers during the financial crisis should certainly be done for leaseholders.
The case for a common good intervention to end the
#claddingscandal
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A huge thank you to all the Lords, MPs and campaigners who helped to support the passage of today's amendment to the Fire Safety Bill
Leaseholders are innocent and are suffering a great injustice. Hopefully, the government will now listen
#EndOurCladdingScandal
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Thoughts and prayers go out to all those caught up in today's fire in East London.
Thank you as well to the
@LondonFire
Caught between bankruptcy and the constant threat of fire is a position no one deserves to be in.
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Thank you, Stephen
@SMcPartland
for all you have already done. It's a privilege to pick this up in the House of Lords
@UKHouseofLords
@Royston_Smith
#EndOurCladdingScandal
@EOCS_Official
Huge thanks to
@BishopStAlbans
for tabling the McPartlandSmith amendment to the Fire Safety Bill in the House of Lords to protect leaseholders from the cost of historic fire safety defects. The campaign continues with
@Royston_Smith
@ukcag
@EOCS_Official
#EndOurCladdingScandal
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The unaffordable bills being passed on to leaseholders are creating a long line of mini tragedies
These are just a few stories from the
#claddingscandal
but thousands of others no doubt share their anxieties
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This is deeply worrying for all of us - the government needs to offer additional help
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The Government says that those responsible should pay to
#EndOurCladdingScandal
When I asked whether the Government would apportion liability to developers if they failed to meet regulations at the time of construction, there were no such assurances...
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As the 'duty bishop' this week I will be leading prayers in the House of Lords at 3pm today. Please join with me in praying for God's guidance for parliament during these difficult times.
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With such parliamentary weight of opinion in favour of helping leaseholders, surely now is the time for the Government to offer substantial assistance to those affected by the
#claddingscandal
Three-quarters of MPs want government to fund building safety costs in full, NHF poll finds
#ukhousing
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Turns out
@mhclg
has made no assessment of the number of leaseholders unable to sell their flats
Government merely backs RICS EWS1 guidance and states that 80% of lenders agree to it, without bothering to assess whether it is working - worrying
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The Government consistently said that those responsible (the developers) should pay – a sentiment I agree with
It is time they put that into action to protect leaseholders
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Recent reports from Tigray of 'makeshift concentration camps' signal a worrying surge in inter ethnic violence in Ethiopia.
Without a resolution soon, the fear is that the conflict could take an even more tragic turn.
Ethiopia requires our attention
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Pleased that the Government is introducing the Building Safety Bill today
I plan to diligently review it to see if it lives up to previous Government assurances to protect leaseholders
I stand ready to work with others if this is not the case
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Tragic scenes in East London this morning. Praying that everyone has got out safely
The Government must now step in and make people's homes safe again.
To see this four years on from Grenfell is shocking
🚨 20 fire engines on the scene of a fire at New Providence Wharf in East London this morning.
The building’s still covered in ACM cladding - the same type as was on Grenfell. Awaiting updates.
@LBC
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Very disappointing news!
During the Fire Safety Bill, Lords were told, and I quote (link below)
"In contrast, the draft building safety Bill is the appropriate legislative mechanism for addressing the issue of who pays for mediation"
Minister says Building Safety Bill ‘cannot resolve’ leaseholder costs issue despite previous government promises
#ukhousing
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My eccentric father used to embarrass me by raising a flag for any occasion. After he died the flag was given to me. I fear I am finally turning into my father. Here's the front of my house today....
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The moral argument to help leaseholders remains stronger than the political case.
Unpersuaded by the former hopefully the Government will be persuaded by the latter
What matters is finding a route out of this financial headache for leaseholders
Lifelong Tory voters abandoning party over cladding crisis
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80 days until the Winter Olympics in China
Horrendous human rights violations against the Uyghurs continue...
If governments are true to the Olympic Charter and the 'preservation of human dignity' then a full diplomatic boycott needs consideration
@ipacglobal
#NoRightsNoShow
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It was an honour to lead a special valedictory service of Evensong to mark the end of the Very Revd Dr Jeffrey John's tenure as Dean of St Albans. Thank you for Jeffrey for everything you have done in the nearly17 years you have been Dean.
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Please pray for Revd Heidi Huntley and the people of St John the Baptist,
#Royston
after a serious fire damaged the church in the early hours of this morning.
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The Government have dismissed solutions to the
#CladdingScandal
without proposing their own
I hope MPs see this bill before today's vote.
Brings into focus the real injustice being done to leaseholders
#EndOurCladdingScandal
The McPartland/Smith amendment to the
#FireSafetyBill
will return to the Commons on Monday. Before MPs vote I simply ask them this. Please imagine how you would feel if this bill dropped through your letter box.
#EndOurCladdingScandal
@EOCS_Official
@ukcag
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My chaplain thinks it highly likely that of all the diocesan bishops I am the one who lives closest to a Nandos - about 0.2miles. Anyone else nearer?
Clergyman creates map showing cathedral distance from Nando's via
@MailOnline
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If you are a leaseholder in a development affected by the
#CladdingScandal
, please consider completing the
@claddingscanda1
survey.
It's vital we get a comprehensive picture of the situation
We're conducting a survey to create a pool of contacts that have evidence of building regulation breaches at the TIME OF CONSTRUCTION.
Our survey does not ask for documents now - see survey for full info.
SURVEY:
#EndOurCladdingScandal
#EnoughIsEnough
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Today I introduced my Bill to the House of Lords for its first reading.
The Coroners (Determination of Suicide) Bill 2020 will allow coroners to collect data on those who die by suicide and who are affected by gambling-related harm.
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This is fantastic news for those who have suffered due to these machines. Thanks to all those who have been part of the campaign.
BBC News - Betting machine stakes cut to £2
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I have long been envious (Lord forgive me) of the
#BishopofLlandaff
who has a beautiful dahlia named after him. Today I am pleased to show you the
#BishopofStAlbans
dahlia
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I planted these snowdrops in the garden when I moved her. This is the best display ever
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Great turnout and atmosphere at yesterday's cladding rally.
Thank you to
@EOCS_Official
,
@LKPleasehold
and others for organising the event, and all who attended.
I stand with you all to
#EndOurCladdingScandal
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The Government is right to prioritise humanitarian access and a cessation of hostilities in Tigray.
Attention does need to be given as well to cultural sites and to support the role of
@UNESCO
in preserving and restoring desecrated sites
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Today I welcome the decision made by the Government to reverse the delay on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).
The
@churchofengland
has long fought for this alongside many Parliamentarians and dedicated campaigners.
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My contribution to the Queen's speech debate on communities, welfare & the environment.
Pleased that the Government is ending ground rents for new developments, but more needed to protect existing leaseholders from the
#CladdingScandal
Part (1/3)
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My thoughts on why the Building Safety Bill fails to deliver on the government's promise to protect leaseholders and solve our
#BuildingSafetyCrisis
Many parliamentarians, including myself, stand ready to engage in this Bill to hold the government to account
"The gulf between the government’s rhetoric that developers must pay, and actions to ensure they do pay, remains too wide".
@BishopStAlbans
urges parliamentarians to work together to ensure leaseholders are protected in the Building Safety Bill
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Four 'Golden Rules' about Coronavirus we haven't heard from the Government.Not official advice: read and heed that, but this is my food-for-thought about our attitudes.
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There is an urgency to this issue, people need to be made safe in their homes and not be bankrupted doing so.
Perhaps the Government could look at excluding from public contracts those developers who refuse to remediate their own developments?
Part (2/3)
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My comment on the
#FOBTs
decision this morning. Many congratulations to everyone involved in the campaign.
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Huge progress from the government on cladding and pleased that
@team_greenhalgh
was able to give a positive announcement
Leaseholder groups have campaigned tirelessly and I pay tribute to their tenacity
Work still to be done to ensure the implementation makes the polluter pay
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I too encourage everyone to write to their MP about this sad announcement
The cut in the aid budget - made worse by no set date for restoration - is shameful and wrong. It’s contrary to numerous Government promises and its manifesto.
I join others in urging MPs to reject it for the good of the poorest, and the UK’s own reputation and interest.
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Yesterday, I spoke in the House of Lords for Leaseholders who have been adversely affected by a Government error, which meant that they were liable for the costs of fixing building safety defects.
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It's a pity you couldn't discuss your views with Georges Lemaître (1894 - 1966) the Belgian priest, astronomer and professor of physics at the Catholic University of Louvain who first posited the Big Bang theory
I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.
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I was glad to spend a couple of hours with the Revd Heidi Huntley and the people of St John's Royston this morning, following this terrible fire. They are shocked but determined to keep worship going and to rebuild the church. Please pray for them!
So sad - Royston’s church is on fire and it’s looking bad. 6 fire engines attempting to get it under control.
#royston
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I am delighted to share the news that The Venerable Jo Kelly-Moore, Archdeacon of Canterbury has been named as the next Dean of St Albans. Welcome, Jo!
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Very crucial day for leaseholders as we engage in Report stage of the
#BuildingSafetyBilll
I will be supporting amendments aimed at protecting leaseholders from unfair costs as well as those widening the government's waterfall scheme to capture as many leaseholders as possible
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As Richard Ratcliffe enters the 10th day of his hunger strike, my hope is that the government will heed the call of a husband desperate for his wife's safe return and do everything they can to free Nazanin and the other British nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran
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News of murdered priest and desecrated religious sites in Tigray are deeply saddening and raise serious concerns about the future of religious freedom in the region.
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Last month, I spoke in the House of Lords about the Imprisonment for Public Protection Action Plan. These indefinite sentences lead to hopelessness among those sentenced, and desperately need reform.
@UNGRIPP
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Today I will be introducing my Coroners (Determination of Suicide) Bill in the House of Lords.
Gambling related suicides too often go unreported, and my bill would require coroners to record gambling as a factor
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Sad for us, good for Paris! Jeffrey has been outstanding in his leadership of the Cathedral community. He has been much more than a skilled and gifted priest and preacher. He has been a diplomat, fund-raiser, enabler and visionary.
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Following The Very Rev'd Dr Jeffrey John's last day with the
@StAlbansCath
on Sunday, yesterday morning I was pleased to commission Rev'd Canon Abigail Thompson (Sub Dean) as Acting Dean for the duration of the vacancy.
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To those caught up in the
#claddingscandal
please consider attending the below event - vitally important that leaseholders understand what steps you can take to hold developers to account
Reminder that our workshop about direct action re. fire safety remediation costs is TONIGHT at 6:30 PM 🤝‼️All Welcome - Event link below!
@MarconiCladding
@city_m3
@City_Gate_Mcr
@OptivoRaq
@raqresidents
@ne_cag
@Sedgwick_Optivo
@HouseIlford
#BuildingSafetyCrisis
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Last Thursday, I opened a debate about human rights abuses in China.
These were laid bare for me most recently at President Xi’s recent speech at the 20th National Congress of the CCP, where he explicitly endorsed measures against individuals and faith groups.
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Our letter in today's Times on fixed odds betting terminals. Please support our campaign.
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A lot of concerns about the definition of a 'qualifying lease' and severe consequences it would have on small private landlords
Very reassuring answer from the Minister, hopefully there will be some positive news tomorrow
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Please join me in prayer for our General Synod as it meets over the next few days.
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Glad to have been instrumental in persuading the House of Lords to hold this Select Committee and to have been a member. Let's see if the government will listen to the evidence and act
We have today published the
#LordsGamblingReport
- Gambling Harm - Time for Action. Read it here and let us know what you think:
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This is very worrying...we need to hold the government to account on the promises they've made.
Appalling and deeply distressing that the government is threatening to scrap the right of refugee children to be reunited with their families here.
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The Gyspy, Traveller, and Roma community rarely feature in discussions encouraging vaccine uptake among minorities.
It is important that they are not forgotten during this public health crisis.
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Tomorrow at St Albans Cathedral we shall give thanks for and celebrate the long and fruitful ministry of Archdeacon Jonathan Smith, who is retiring. Please pray for Jonathan as he moves to a new phase of life and ministry, and do join us if you can at 4pm!
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Thank you to
@premnsikka
and
@natalieben
for sponsoring my amendment to the Financial Services Bill on tax transparency in
#Gibraltar
If the government is serious about creating an inclusive economy then it needs to support
#Taxjustice
initiatives
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Great victories secured in yesterday's BSB - £0 cost for non-cladding remedial work and its application to buildings of all heights
Qualifying lease definition remains deeply concerning, how can an individual with £2.99 million in property qualify but one with £300K be excluded?
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My letter in today's Times in response to criticisms of the Archbishops - click on the picture to read it in full
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'Four Golden Rules about Coronavirus we haven't heard from the Government'. Not official advice, but my food for thought about our attitudes.
Please tweet your suggestions of other Golden Rules to help us during this time?
#coronagoldenrules
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The snowdrop gardens of Abbey Gate House, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans, AL3 4HD will be open on Saturday 18th February from 14.00 - 16.00 for charity (entrance £4 donation)
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We give thanks for the life of Richard Inwood, Bishop of Bedford from 2003 - 2012, who died yesterday, and we pray for his wife Liz and their family.
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My call for a 'Fish and Chips Tsar' to encourage domestic fish consumption
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A message for Passiontide for all the people of the Diocese of st Albans
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Delighted to be part of
#TheBigStep
#WalkingForChange
@the_bigstep
. Here I am at Vicarage Road (very appropriate!) Watford today
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Very sorry to hear of Tracey Crouch's resignation - a courageous politician. I stand with her in seeking a review of the FOBT stake reduction date.
BBC News - Sports Minister Tracey Crouch resigns over 'delay' to betting crackdown
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Please give thanks to God with me today as I mark eight years of my inauguration as Bishop of St Albans.
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For a working public health approach to gambling, it is vital the Government conducts a comprehensive survey of the social and treasury costs of gambling.
Let's debunk the myth that gambling is just a huge net contributor to the public purse.
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Numerous studies from across the world have poured doubt on the idea that gambling is a net contributor to society.
The UK government ought to assess the cost of problem gambling and stop quoting the £3bn in contributions from the industry as it represents an incomplete picture
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Please join me in prayer today for the Bishop's Staff Meeting, particularly because this will be Archdeacon Jonathan's last one before retirement. He has served with unstinting commitment and we wish him well as he moves on to a new phase in his life and ministry!
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Letter in yesterday's Times from myself and other individuals of faith concerned about the damage and ruin caused by poorly regulated gambling
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And just to show that God can touch our lives at any time, here is Joyce who took the step to be confirmed at Stevenage this week at the age of 93!
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This 2 acre garden will be open every Sunday from 18 June - 6 August, 2pm - 4pm, at Abbey Gate House, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans. £4 per person, proceeds to charity. Home of the Bishops of St Albans since 1951.
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The Omicron variant reminds us again that this is a global pandemic that requires a truly global vaccination effort
I pay tribute to the fantastic work of the
@churchofengland
and
@AnglicanWorld
for the work that is being done to overcome vaccine hesitancy in developing world
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We gather tomorrow in Bedford to bid farewell to the Venerable Paul Hughes as he retires after 15 years as the Archdeacon of Bedford. We owe Paul a huge debt of gratitude for his faithful service and we wish him and Liz well as they move to a new phase in their lives.
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This morning it was wonderful to be able to license Revd Kate Lomax as Church Growth Officer as part of the Flourishing Churches Team across Hertfordshire.
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Bizarre - Government considering banning online junk food adverts because it harms health, and yet no mention of gambling adverts in the same vein, as if they are somehow innocuous when gambling harm is very well documented
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Having just tweeted about spending the day gardening, I've received an unsolicited invitation to join in
#WorldNakedGardeningDay2020
! I'd not heard of this before now. On reflection I have decided to take pity on my neighbours, so have declined.....
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Encouraged the Minister today to bring forward legislation to deal with the issue of hare coursing
Peers, police forces and organisations like the
@NFUtweets
and
@CLAtweets
support the proposed changes to the PCSC Bill to properly tackle hare coursing and the damage it causes
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Very pleased to have our letter published in The Times urging the Ministry of Defence to research gambling related harm in the military
The MOD already includes alcohol misuse in their annual mental health research and it's time gambling harm is put on an equal footing
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Excellent news - the first female sub dean of our St Albans Cathedral
@StAlbansAbbey
!
The Dean & Chapter
@StAlbansAbbey
are pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Abigail Thompson as Sub Dean
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After the Licensing of Fr Stuart Owen this afternoon at St Peter's Berkhamsted. Welcome!
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Speech from yesterday's Building Safety Bill 3rd Reading
Government deserve credit for listening to colleagues and leaseholders
Will it be enough? Questionable...however at a minimum changes made by the Lords on zero non-cladding costs for buildings of all heights must remain!
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Last Thursday, I secured a debate in parliament on Public Health England's excellent Gambling-related harms: evidence review
It was a strong reminder that gambling harms affect a significant minority and cause a diverse range of social ills
(1/5)
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I think I've finally made it - topping today's Spectator's list for the 'six best moments of the virtual
#HouseofLords
yesterday' - and looking very self-conscious! Well you can't win them all....
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As it will not be possible to have open gardens here at Abbey Gate House for the time being, I am sharing photos online. This is the Lavender Walk in the early sunlight
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It's tragic that lives are being lost in places like Luton because of knife crime - what a brave woman.
BBC News - 24 Hours in Police Custody: Mum of Azaan Kaleem on knife crime
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Today I asked in the Lords about a mandatory levy needed to pay for legacies of gambling.
Gambling GGY has risen since deregulation yet now 55,000 children are classified as problem gamblers.
Is the Government considering getting the industry to pay a mandatory levy?
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