Evennett helps to support Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal

© Pete Jones pete@pjproductions.co.uk

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. The charity provides essential frontline nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement. It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK. Last year, the charity provided direct support to more than 69,000 people – a 15% rise on the previous year – which is more than ever before.

The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s flagship annual fundraising appeal and is now in its 36^th year. The campaign is held every March but its public collections have been cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, fundraising events and collections are going ahead, and the charity is urging new and existing supporters to come forward to show their support.

Earlier this week, Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, attended a Parliamentary event to show his support for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal. Sir David joined Parliamentary colleagues and Paul Chuckle, TV comedian and entertainer best known for being one-half of comedy duo The Chuckle Brothers.

At the event, Sir David spoke with representatives from the charity about the appeal and the work they do to support people affected by terminal illness. He commented: “Marie Cure have always done such fantastic work to support people with terminal illness and their families. I am therefore pleased to be able to support the Great Daffodil Appeal yet again and to help highlight this campaign.”

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Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association Hold AGM

The Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association held their Annual General Meeting last Friday evening (4 March) at the Bexleyheath Conservative Club.

The Association’s President, Mark Brooks OBE, Chaired the well-attended meeting. Members received reports from the Association Officers on the work they have been doing over the past year, as well as Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE, Leader of Bexley Council, and Cllr Peter Fortune AM, Member of the London Assembly for Bexley and Bromley.

Sir David updated members on the work he has been doing over the past year. He also spoke about the current situation in the Ukraine, the Government’s efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and the Prime Minister’s agenda, including levelling up and building back better.

Evennett celebrates World Book Day

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, is helping to celebrate World Book Day 2022 on what is its 25^th Anniversary today (3 March). 

Each year, World Book Day creates bespoke £1 books for children and young adults across the UK and Ireland, to promote the power of imagination and the importance of reading. Through World Book Day, children are given a £1 book token, which they can take to a bookshop or supermarket to get their free World Book Day book. World Book Day reaches 15 million children and young people with tokens distributed to over 45,000 educational establishments in the UK and Ireland. 

Sir David attended a Parliamentary reception earlier this week to show his support for the campaign and to hear about the work World Book Day is doing to improve the lives of children through reading. He commented: “It is a pleasure to be able to support World Book Day again on its 25th anniversary. It is so vitally important that every child and young adult in has the opportunity to have a book of their own that they have chosen for themselves. Reading helps you to grow mentally, emotionally, and psychologically and provides the opportunity to escape, learn and explore new ideas.  

Fairtrade Fortnight campaign in Parliament

Fairtrade Fortnight 2022 is currently underway, running from 21^st February – 6^th March. During this time, the Fairtrade Foundation is running a campaign to highlight the growing challenges that climate change brings to farmers and agricultural workers overseas, who grow popular products such as tea, coffee, cocoa and bananas.

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, was among 55 MPs that attended a drop-in session in Parliament yesterday (1 March) to learn more about the campaign.

At the event, MPs participated in a photocall, sampled Fairtrade products, were offered Fairtrade facemasks created by sustainable clothing company Neutral and to learn more about the Fairtrade Foundation’s work and campaigns.

Evennett supports Bill to improve access to transport for disabled people

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, has given his support to a Private Members Bill that would improve access to transport for disabled people.

The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill was submitted to the House of Commons by Rt Hon Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam. It would oblige drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles to accept passengers with disabilities, to refrain from charging them extra and to provide them with appropriate assistance, unless there is good reason as to why they should not be subject to these duties.

The Bill went through Committee Stage yesterday (9 February). Sir David served on the Committee and expressed his strong support, and used the opportunity to commend London Black Cab Drivers as well. He commented:

This is a most welcome Bill. Many taxis in London already do the things he highlights—I am a big supporter of London taxis, because they do a fantastic job and offer a good service—but the new duties are needed to ensure that those with disabilities are treated as fairly and equally as everybody else. I welcome the Bill, and I put on the record that London taxis are great.

Sir David Evennett signs Holocaust Educational Trust Book of Commitment

Today, Rt Hon Sir David Evennett signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.

This year we are marking 77 years since the liberation of the concentration camps of Europe and the end of the Second World War. On the 27^th January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, people across the globe will remember.

In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘One Day’.

Sir David commented, “Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for people from Bexleyheath and Crayford to reflect on the darkest times of European history. We must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and always remember the six million Jewish victims. It is also imperative to pay tribute to the survivors.”

Karen Pollock, CEO of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added “As the Holocaust fades from living memory, it falls on all of us to ensure that their stories and the stories of the 6 Jewish million men, women and children brutally murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, are never forgotten. We all have a duty to remember the Holocaust and to stand up against antisemitism and hate, now more than ever.”

Evennett backs measures to recognise animals as sentient beings

© Parliamentary Recording Unit

Yesterday (18 January), the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Commons. The Bill will ensure that animals are recognised sentient beings that are capable of feeling pain and joy. It will also see the creation of a new Animal Sentience Committee made up of experts in the animal field appointed by the Secretary of State, who will be tasked with reporting on whether central Government policy decisions have considered the effect on animal welfare.

During the debate, Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, expressed his strong support for the measures contained within the Bill and congratulated the Government on implementing this manifesto commitment from the 2019 General Election. He also commented:

Many of my constituents across Bexleyheath and Crayford are pet owners and are passionate about animals and animal welfare. Pressure from public opinion has resulted in this measure coming forward and being in the 2019 Conservative party manifesto, and I welcome those things. Britain has a proud history of animal welfare, and has always been a global leader, and I very much hope that, being outside the EU, we can go much, much further… I am sure the Government will continue to improve the lives and welfare of animals. They launched the action plan for animal welfare to ensure that we go further, and I welcome that passionately.

I have read the enlightening debates on the Bill in the other place. I have great interest in the Bill’s many issues, and very much hope to participate further in Committee and as the Bill makes its passage through the House. Sir David’s full speech, as well as the entire debate, can be read at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-01-18/debates/33984457-F036-4329-B701-FC4F71A26E62/AnimalWelfare(Sentience)Bill(Lords)

Statement on Labour Mayor of London’s plans to decriminalise drug use in Bexley

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett MP and Cllr Peter Fortune AM

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett MP (Bexleyheath and Crayford), Louie French MP (Old Bexley and Sidcup), Cllr Peter Fortune AM (GLA representative for Bexley and Bromley) and Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE (Leader of Bexley Council) have issued a joint statement following reports that the Labour Mayor of London intends to weaken drugs laws in Bexley:

“We are appalled to learn today through the media that the Labour Mayor of London plans to impose on Bexley a policy of decriminalising drugs, without any discussion with the Council Leader, Assembly Member, Members of Parliament, or indeed any resident.

We strongly opposed the Mayor of London’s decision to axe Bexley’s Borough police force and merge it with Lewisham and Greenwich, which has meant that our residents lose out as valuable resources are concentrated in areas with higher levels of crime, and yet again the Mayor is showing he doesn’t care about our residents or what they want.

We now stand together in saying that we do not support any weakening of drugs laws and we do not want our borough to be a guinea pig for this policy – and nor do Bexley residents.”

Evennett guests at Belvedere Tory Club

Pictured with Chairwoman of the Club, Pat Alliston

Yesterday evening (18 November), Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford and Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, was the guest speaker at the Priory Conservative Club in Upper Belvedere. It was not a political event, and was instead a light hearted view of politics and Sir David’s experience as a politician.

Sir David spoke about his life, career before politics and told anecdotes about his time in Parliament. In particular, he reminisced about his time during the Thatcher years and working under David Cameron. Following his speech, Sir David took questions from guests.

The Club will be making a donation to Sir David’s chosen charity, the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.