News - Gill Furniss MP

Statement on South Yorkshire in Tier 3

Today it has been announced that Sheffield will return to tier 3 of restrictions once lockdown ends on December 2nd. This means that we will have to continue to live under similar restrictions to now, with all hospitality and entertainment remaining closed. I support restrictions to protect people’s health but…

Statement on Spending Review

Yesterday’s Spending Review laid bare the priorities of this Government and it is clear these are not the same as what matters here in Sheffield. Firefighters, police officers and teachers in this constituency will have their pay cut this year as a reward for keeping us safe and our children…

Speaking up: Further Education Funding

Yesterday, Wednesday 4 November 2020, I lead a Westminster Hall debate on further education funding, this follows a debate I took part in the week before that (find out more about that here). In the debate, I highlighted the devastating impact that a decade of cuts has had on the…

Help and Support during Lockdown

During the second lockdown people may need support and help, whether you are feeling lonely or worried, experiencing financial difficulty or concerned about the future, there is support for you. I have included links and contact details for a wide range of organisations that are here to help. Please note,…

Statement on Moving to Tier 3

“South Yorkshire entering Tier 3 restrictions is a worrying development, both for what it says about the progression of the virus locally and the effect the rules will have on local people and businesses. Whilst I am pleased that our local leaders have managed to secure a package of support…

Speaking up: Colleges

You may be aware that this week is College’s Week, in which we celebrate the contributions colleges make to our society and in more recent years highlight the difficulty that many colleges and the FE sector as a whole face as a result of a decade of austerity. Earlier today,…

Speaking up: Yemen

Earlier today I took part in Foreign, Commonwealth and Dominion Questions, calling on the Government to step up and play a larger part in holding Saudi Arabia to account for their actions in Yemen. I asked the Foreign Secretary, “Last month the remote village of Washah in Northern Yemen was…

COVID Restrictions Returns to Parliament

Since March, we have all had to make unprecedented personal sacrifices in order to curb the spread of coronavirus. For months we were unable to see our friends and loved ones, and even now we face restrictions on our day-to-day lives. This week the Coronavirus Act, which gives the government…

Welcome to my new website

Welcome, to my new website. I have recently relaunched my website so not all of my old news articles will appear here. Where possible some of these have been republished here so that constituents are still able to see some of the news over recent months.

Employment support must go so much further

Finally, we have seen the Chancellor announce a replacement for the furlough scheme. It has been clear for weeks that with the tragic mishandling of the response which means restrictions will be in place for months to come, we needed further protection to save jobs. This is what Labour has…

The Future of Ponds Forge

I am pleased that Sheffield City Council have agreed to open Ponds Forge for our cities aquatics clubs and ensure that they can continue to train in our world class swimming and diving facilities. Alongside other Sheffield MPs and local aquatics clubs, I have written to the Government to highlight…

Black British History on the Curriculum

Many people have written to me calling for Black British history to be taught in schools and included in the national curriculum. I have written to the Education Secretary asking him to take this step and ensure our schools teach a comprehensive history.

Calling for Action on COVID-19 Disparities

The Government review into disparities of COVID-19 was published this week. This report starkly highlighted the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on BAME communities, highlighting already stark health inequalities that exist in our country. As the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, I represented Labour on the front bench during an…

Article in The House Magazine: Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Women

I have written an article for The House Magazine detailing my concerns about the potential economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic could have on women if action is not taken by the Government in the coming weeks and months. There is a concern that like the financial crash in 2008,…

Statement: Wider Opening of Schools

I’ve joined the other Labour MPs in Sheffield, Clive Betts, Olivia Blake, Paul Blomfield and Louise Haigh along with Councillor Abtisam Mohamed to set out the measures that we believe should be in place before wider opening of schools should go ahead. Sheffield Labour Politicians Respond to Expert Advice on…

Reopening Libraries

Since entering Parliament I have spoken about my passion for libraries and the fantastic assets they are for communities across the country. They provide valuable services for all ages and in many cases are the heart and soul of the communities they serve. Many people will be looking forward to…

Call for Urgent Intervention for Free School Meal Vouchers

Yesterday (11 May 2020) I spoke in the General Debate on COVID-19. I highlighted the urgent need for Government intervention into the poor handling of the Free School Meal Vouchers Scheme. I was deeply concerned to hear about the speed at which applications were being processed. You can watch my…