The Tories have scrapped the Mental Health Act - failing thousands of patients.

Labour must seize the opportunity to modernise mental health legislation, with the Joint Committee's recommendations in mind.

Read my piece in New Statesman here.

Tonight, I voted on an amendment to the King's Speech to support a ceasefire in Gaza. 

​Read my full statement here: 

Today, the Government have scrapped their pledge to reform the Mental Health Act.

More than six years of reports, campaigning and hard work has gone down the drain.

Last year, I sat on the Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill. 

There was overwhelming cross-party support for reforming the Act. 

To this day, the Government has failed to respond to the committee's recommendations.

Earlier this year, the Conservatives scrapped their own 10-year mental health plan. 

Dither, delay and failure is on form with the Tories' approach to tackling the crisis in mental health services.

Black people are five times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act. 

The Tories have scrapped a once in a generation opportunity to tackle this burning injustice.

Last month, I challenged the Health Minister to commit to reforming the Mental Health Act, her response was less than insightful.

It is disappointing that the Tories continue to bury their heads in the sand and neglect mental health services. They are out of ideas and it's costing patients their lives.

Only Labour can provide the transformation needed to improve services. 

Today in Parliament, I challenged the Foreign Secretary to call on his Israeli counterpart to demand an immediate ceasefire to the escalating crisis in Gaza. While rightly calling out Hamas’ horrific attacks, we also have a duty to speak on behalf of those innocent Palestinians who are being collectively punished, starved and bombed in their own homes by Israeli forces. See my question here:

Today, I was on BBC Politics Live ahead of Prime Minister Questions, to discuss the conflict in Israel and Gaza, free speech and the drinking culture in Westminster. 

​All too often, children are stuck on long waiting lists for mental health treatment and thousands of people are having their referrals closed before an appointment.

This Tory Government caused the crisis in mental health services - when will they fix it?

I've always been a proud supporter of Palestinian rights, which is why it was great to sit down and catch-up with the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zumot, in Parliament today.

​Today, I proudly led Labour's opposition debate on mental health and put forward our plan to transform mental health services across the country. It includes more staff, specialists in schools, hubs in communities, treatment within a month. 

Patients experiencing a mental health crisis often find themselves stuck in A&E. 

The Health Secretary should be ashamed.

Today, I asked the Health Secretary when will he finally get his act together and back Labour's plans to recruit thousands of additional staff to bring down waiting times?

See my question here