Heidi Alexander MP
@Heidi_Labour
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Swindon Girl | Labour MP for Swindon South | Secretary of State for Transport | Fair weather cyclist
Joined October 2011
Still can’t quite believe this happened! Incredible to see @Keir_Starmer walking into No10 today and to know that @LabSouthSwindon played our part in securing that victory. The hard work starts today.
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To the train operators, bus drivers, maintenance crews, tube cleaners & station staff, who are enabling other essential workers to get around today - thank you. You’re London’s unsung heroes.
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Devastating news. Nobody should feel unsafe at work. Jorge Ortega dedicated more than 20 years to helping passengers and was shamefully attacked while doing just that. My thoughts are with his friends, family and colleagues at this tragic time.
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Really very sad. 1000 great jobs, located in the heart of a great city, doing great work to advance medicine. Our loss is Amsterdam’s gain. What crazy times we live in.
Today, EMA staff lowered the 28 EU flags and symbolically said goodbye to their London offices. Guido Rasi expressed his thanks to the UK for its contribution to the work of the Agency and for having been a gracious host of EMA since 1995.
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New PA announcements running at all tube stations: “All TfL services are now solely focussed on ensuring critical workers can move around as needed. You should not be using public transport or travelling for anything other than essential journeys.” #StaySafeStayHome
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So, I know I’m biased but my goodness, what a world of difference between the passion and insights of @Ed_Miliband and the lacklustre verbiage of @OliverDowden - it becomes clearer by the day that @UKLabour is a Government in waiting #BBCLauraK.
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Excited to be putting myself forward to be the next @UKLabour parliamentary candidate in South Swindon. I’m a Swindon girl - born and bred. It’s time for a change here and I have the experience, skills and determination to make it happen.
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Oh dear. Desperate stuff. Don’t judge us on higher mortgages, longer NHS waiting lists or rising crime, say Swindon Tories. No, judge us on the empty shops in the town centre, closed leisure facilities and chaos on the roads. Out of touch and out of time.
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It’s an incredible honour to have been asked to take on this role. @LouHaigh was formidable. I will do all I can to ensure we have a transport system that drives economic growth, connects our communities and protects the environment. A mammoth task ahead.
Heidi Alexander MP @Heidi_Labour has been appointed Secretary of State for Transport @TransportGovUK.
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There was something about the cold human reality of a 7am corridor of sleeping bags at Charing Cross station today that made me want to weep. Some people think this city’s streets are paved with gold - they are not.
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LABOUR GAIN: SWINDON!!!. People were rightly fed up of the hundreds of pounds added to their mortgage by Liz Truss, NHS chaos under Sunak and the lies of Boris Johnson. They were fed up of a stale, incompetent council and we offered a fresh alternative. #BuildABetterSwindon
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A little thread on cycling in London. The experience of a 45 year old, overweight woman - ie me (inspiration provided by @peterwalker99 in his article this morning) .
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I remember referring to this possibility when I voted against triggering Article 50 back in 2017. How others couldn’t see this coming was (and still is) beyond me - makes me so, so angry.
BREAKING: Japanese car maker Honda is drawing up plans to close its manufacturing plant in Swindon. Full story here:
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God, I love @SebDance.
The Brexiters blame Remainers. They blame the civil service. They blame the EU27. They blame so-called "elites". They blame everyone but themselves: the very people who cooked up Brexit, sold it as all things to all people, and now cry betrayal when reality intervenes.
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It is with a heavy heart that I have this morning resigned from the Shadow Cabinet.
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Some big news from me: I have today agreed to become the Deputy Mayor (Transport) for @sadiqkhan. This is a huge job with a massive impact on the life, health and economy of London. I will be leaving Parliament after 8 incredible years.
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So, @tfl widened a pavement and then this lovely thing happened. “Less cars, more space for us” - well said that person.
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Two proud Labour MPs from our proud railway town making our first Swindon to Westminster journey on the train this morning! @WStone4SN
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“Park Lane but not as you know it” - pop up safe cycling space in heart of London. This one’s for @willnorman (the brains behind @SadiqKhan #StreetspaceLDN plan - along with @W_Bradley and the brilliant @TfL planners of course!).
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Owen is totally right to speak his mind on this. He deserves our respect & unequivocal support. Jeremy knew his views on this when he asked him to join the shadow cabinet.
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Call me old fashioned but if you’re elected as an MP, you should be 100% focussed on your work in the constituency/in Parliament. You’re paid to serve the public, not service clients. #SwindonDeservesBetter
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Labour should back the Single Market & Customs Union membership. My piece on why:
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Being selected as Labour’s Candidate for South Swindon means the world to me - thank you @LabSouthSwindon. Am determined to build a winning team here and to make a real difference to my home town. Sign up to be part of our campaign:
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.@SarahVine yes, I should lay off the hobnobs but am doing 5k on Saturday at 9am @hillyfdsparkrun. Want to come? http://t.co/gp6MxG4ELc.
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Cycled the Monopoly Board today - although we didn’t go to a jail, the waterworks or an electric company .
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We've signed an agreement with @SwissGov to pave the way for direct rail links between our countries. This will boost tourism, support jobs and businesses, and strengthen cross-border trade. Pleased to seal the deal with Federal Councillor Albert Rösti @StPancrasInt
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A very lovely tree at Darlington station tonight.
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Swindon - don’t believe the snake oil salesmen that try to claim you are better off thanks to a Conservative Government. They expect you to be pleased that for every £10 more you are now paying in tax, they will give you £2 back in a National Insurance cut. It’s a con.
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Brilliant. I can safely say I don't give a monkeys about the bell. Brexit on the other hand keeps me up at night.
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Welcome announcement by @keir_starmer but we must make the case for Single Market & Customs Union membership full stop. @laboursinglemkt
As Labour becomes party of soft Brexit, hard battles lie ahead
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Seeing kids on London’s new segregated cycle ways makes me smile. I know change isn’t easy - and some people will always disagree - but enabling people, and families, to cycle safely is an inherently good thing.
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It’s a huge honour - and a massive responsibility - to have been asked to serve by @Keir_Starmer as a member of his new Government. I look forward to getting straight to work with @ShabanaMahmood and @JamesTCobbler.
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Wider pavement went in overnight in Brixton to help people maintain appropriate social distancing in busy locations - all part of our @MayorofLondon #StreetSpaceLDN plan
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Good grief - now that’s a brass neck. We’re not interested in your silly little jokes. Thousands of people in places like Swindon are paying out more on their mortgages and rents because of your reckless ideological experiment with the British economy.
"I'm having a rather more relaxing September than I did last year". Former PM Liz Truss gives speech on UK economy, saying she's "certainly not" keen on a return to Downing Street.
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Humbled to serve as Shadow Health Secretary. The NHS is facing immense challenges & I will do all I can to hold this Government to account.
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Stopped by nice man at Lewisham station tonight. Real anger about what Mrs May is doing to our country. I'm up for the fight. Who's in?.
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And we’re off! After 14 years of a Conservative Government, it’s time for change in Swindon South. Time to elect me as your Labour MP. Sign up to support my campaign here:
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Why I will vote against the Prime Minister's version of Brexit next week - my piece for @HuffPostUK
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So much nonsense being spewed in some quarters about @tfl finances at the moment. Here are some facts . Before @sadiqkhan became Mayor, operating costs in @tfl increased every year. He put a stop to that. (1/7).
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That’s 900 jobs gone & all the associated economic activity the presence of the EMA in London brings.
European Medicines Agency relocates from London to Amsterdam in first Brexit shift
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God, this is awful. John, I resigned because the whole operation was f*#$ing useless not because of a plot.
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Bit of a personal achievement for me today. Did one of my favourite Sunday morning cycle routes and didn’t have to get off to push once. You’d have thought I’d just completed the Tour de France by the way I punched the air at the top of the one steep(ish) hill .
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The #juniordoctors issue is beyond party politics. A joint proposal from me, @drdanpoulter @Dr_PhilippaW @normanlamb
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Bit rich of Jeremy Hunt to lecture junior doctors about a 7 day NHS when he won't turn up to the Commons on a Friday
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It's all a bloody dreadful mess - and Euratom is just one part of it. Will never regret voting against Article 50.
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I am a signatory to this letter co-ordinated by @DavidLammy. David has shown incredible leadership on this issue. He and the #WindrushGeneration have my full support.
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Feel very privileged to be re-elected as the MP for Lewisham East. I promise I will fight hard for the change my community wants to see.
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Tomorrow in Manchester, I will set out how we'll begin to build Great British Railways that work for everyone. With performance data published at stations, pay as you go and a best price guarantee on fares, we will focus relentlessly on passengers.🚆🇬🇧 .
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Not sure the guys next to me on the DLR this morning expected to get a teach-in on TfL finances when they started discussing the TfL funding settlement . they chose the wrong seats!!!
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Thank you so much to everyone who voted Labour in #Swindon yesterday. Change starts here. To those who voted for other parties, I am here for you. I will serve everyone - irrespective of party politics - with dedication and humility. I won’t let you down.
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Very pleased to be reappointed by @SadiqKhan as London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport. Look forward to working with all my brilliant @TfL and City Hall colleagues. Challenges ahead no doubt, but an incredible opportunity to make positive change in a city I love.
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The problem now is if we don’t wake up to the very real possibility of financial services leaving, lots of people in lots of sectors will lose their jobs. It’s all the real economy. We need to stay in the single market.
The problem with Labour through the Blair years was that it was obsessed with the City rather than the real economy.
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Potholes have plagued our roads for far too long. Today we're investing a record £1.6bn to fill seven million more potholes next year. People driving home for Christmas today can be safe in the knowledge that their journeys will be easier next year.
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The more I learn about the NHS, the more I am in total awe of the men & women who work in it #hospital.
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It’s all very well to apologise now Mrs May but you’re the one who sat in the Home Office for 6 years and created the culture and legislation which enabled this appalling situation to arise #WindrushGeneration
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Conservative MPs who put Liz Truss into No10 should be ashamed. Mortgages up. Interest rates up. The pound crashed. Our global reputation trashed. It’s totally shambolic.
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9 interviews with TV and radio before 9am on potholes, trains, pensions and much more. Now for breakfast on the train on my way home to Swindon. @GWRHelp hitting the spot today.
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One of the world’s largest car free zones will be created in central London as part of our response to Covid-19. Proud to work with @cityoflondon on #StreetspaceLDN. Congestion charge & ULEZ to come back in on Monday with expanded reimbursement scheme for NHS & care home staff.
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On a normal day over 2M individual cards are used to tap in on the tube. Yesterday it was 162,000. We’re doing everything we can to provide a good service for critical workers despite high levels of staff absence. Thank you London for staying at home.
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And we’ve won the council! And @bushellemma is re-elected in Walcot and Park North. #LabourGain #BuildABetterSwindon
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We’re ready - very ready! New campaign centre will be open from Monday. #Swindon #VoteLabour
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Lewisham: the doctors, nurses, porters and cleaners at Lewisham Hospital need your help #StaySafeStayHome #coronavirus @LG_NHS @SaveLewishamAE
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This is the right decision - one that is critical for public safety and confidence. Pleased that @TfL are leading the way on this.
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How has it come to this? No guarantee for EU citizens living here & no guarantee of a say for Parliament at the end of negotiations. Awful.
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Why does Nigel Farage want a second referendum? To strike quickly before the reality properly starts to bite - my piece with @Alison_McGovern
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Just spoke at @UKLabour conference. After 12 years of a Conservative Government and 20 years of a Conservative Council, what does Swindon have to show for it? Empty shops, Honda gone, the Oasis shut, a FOR SALE sign outside our Museum - it’s time for a change.
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Unashamed personal achievement klaxon: 4 months ago I could get out of breathe walking to the station. Today I just jogged for 35 minutes and have walked over 1 million steps since 1 Jan. Result!!!!! #thisgirlcan
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Special moment in the Commons Chamber today. Unveiling of plaque to remember Jo - brilliantly & expertly done by her adorable kids.
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Life is going to be pretty different for a while. We are going to need to change how we move around the city. I’d love this horrible period to lead to hundreds of thousands of women (and men!) in London taking to their bikes - being healthier and happier as a consequence.
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Thank you to the nice man in the queue at the BP garage on Lee High Road who just said “Keep sticking it to the Tories & thanks for being my MP”.
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And this is the man we are clamouring to do a trade deal with if we leave the EU. The world is going mad.
.@Theresa_May, don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!.
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I also know the funding model is broken. Look at how the transport systems of other major, comparable cities are funded and you can see the reliance on fare income is the problem that Covid exposed in London, not financial profligacy. (7/7)
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Some personal news: after 3.5 years on the City Hall and @TfL rollercoaster, new adventures start for me next month. Not quite sure what yet, but it will involve more time on my bike and less time on Teams. Happy days.
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Today is Royal British Legion London Poppy Day 2018. Official volunteers travel free on all buses, tube, trams, DLR, Overground and rail services. Quite right @TfL.
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#coronavirus: It is critical that public transport in London is only used for absolutely essential journeys. Please don’t travel for any other reason. Information on reduced @tfl services and station closures here - please share:
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Today’s Brexit thoughts . 1. If we want to avoid border infrastructure in Northern Ireland, a customs union with the EU is necessary but not sufficient.
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Wes is right.
If Labour backed single market and customs union membership it would be a game-changing moment. Time to do the right thing.
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As we start to emerge from the grim realities of the last few months, we can’t afford a car-based recovery - replacing one public health crisis with another. So proud to be working with @SadiqKhan @willnorman @TfL on #StreetspaceLDN.
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Really hope we get a vote on this tonight. Theresa May is totally wrong to conflate the Single Market with the EU. Parliament should have an explicit vote on whether we leave the EEA.
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Gareth Southgate Tube Station for 48 hours only. He may not have got to lift the World Cup but he has got a @piccadillyline station named after him - love it!
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The reality of Brexit for the NHS is not an extra £350m a week, it's a worsening shortage of nurses and midwives
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Amazing day yesterday. Great to have @Keir_Starmer @RachelReevesMP @AngelaRayner in Swindon to launch our local election campaign. After 20 years of a Conservative council, it’s time for a change and time to #BuildABetterSwindon. Join our campaign here:
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People are bored of seeing politicians aimlessly pointing at potholes with no real plan to fix them. That ends now. After years of neglect, @UKLabour is tackling the pothole plague. We're building vital roads and ensuring every penny is spent properly.
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Introducing “Chris Gritty” - the latest addition to the @tfl cycleway gritter fleet. @CMO_England is now not only protecting the health of the nation but also protecting London’s cyclists!
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Passengers have had to put up with broken railways for too long. We're kicking off the next steps to fundamentally rewire our railways and put passengers first.🇬🇧🚂
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Well, you can hardly say “no” when the leader of the opposition wants a selfie with you! Lovely to welcome @Keir_Starmer and @RachelReevesMP to talk to female entrepreneurs and small business owners at @FoundrySwindon.
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Asking for a friend: would it be appropriate for a 43 year old woman to run through these fountains?
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“All you politicians are the same!!!”. Are we??? . When I was previously an MP I gave every penny of the 2015 pay rise to local charities and did so for all the years I remained an MP. Politics is about public service, not serving your own self interest. #Swindon #votelabour
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Having spent hours of my life talking and reading about Crossrail in the last 3 years, to actually see 4 or 5 trains pull into Woolwich station this morning was a pretty incredible moment. Good to share it with @RachelReevesMP and @MarshadeCordova.
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So I’ve set myself a challenge - in 5 weeks, I want to get up to cycling to work 5 days a week. It’s like couch to 5k but on a bike. Currently on week 3 .
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