Urging global action at COP26

The UK hosts COP26 between 31^st October and 13^th November. The summit is seen as a significant moment as the world comes together to address the imminent threat of climate change.

Since being elected in 2010, I have been a vocal campaigner in tackling climate change both nationally and locally. my campaign opposing Whittonstall and Halton Lea Gate open cast coal mines in my constituency. I was also strongly opposed to the plans of a new open cast mine at Dewley Hill, describing the plans at the time as a complete climate change disaster waiting to happen. 

L-R: Jos Forester-Melville, Eileen Killen, and my constituent Helen Crowe at Dewley Hill in 2019

Nationally, as the UK’s Pensions Minister, I guided the landmark Pension Schemes Act through Parliament in October 2020, ensuring that UK pension schemes take due account of climate change in their investment practices.

A video explaining the Pension Schemes Act

Conservative-run Northumberland County Council were one of the first local authorities to announce a ‘climate emergency’ and have an ambitious target of hitting carbon neutrality by 2030.

In the biggest step forward in protecting the world’s forests in a generation, more than 100 leaders have committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 at an event convened by the Prime Minister at COP26 this week. The pledge is backed by almost £14 billion ($19.2 billion) in public and private funding

As the first major economy to commit in law to net zero by 2050 and hosts of the historic UN COP26 climate summit, the UK is leading international efforts and setting the bar for countries around the world to follow.

In the biggest step forward in protecting the world’s forests in a generation, more than 100 leaders have committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 at an event convened by the Prime Minister at COP26 this week. The pledge is backed by almost £14 billion ($19.2 billion) in public and private funding.

Through our 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, the UK is taking firm action to reduce our carbon emissions. However, globally, more must be done. I hope leaders from around the world will come to COP26 ready to agree a clear plan to reduce carbon emissions and protect our planet for future generations to come.

First pill to treat Covid gets approval in UK

I was delighted to hear the news today that the first pill designed to treat symptomatic Covid has been approved by the UK medicines regulator.

The tablet - molnupiravir - will be given twice a day to vulnerable patients recently diagnosed with the disease.

In clinical trials the pill, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by about half.

Molnupiravir, developed by the US drug company Merck (known as MSD in the UK), is the first dedicated oral antiviral medication for Covid.

The pill is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus, preventing it from spreading in the body.

It works by targeting an enzyme the virus uses to make copies of itself.

Merck have said that should make it equally effective against new variants of the virus as it evolves in the future.

In clinical trials on 775 patients in the study found:

• 7.3% of those given molnupiravir were hospitalised.
• that compares with 14.1% of patients who were given a placebo or dummy pill.
• there were no deaths in the molnupiravir group, but eight patients who were given a placebo in the trial later died of Covid.

Trial results suggest molnupiravir needs to be taken early after symptoms develop to have an effect.

Merck is the first company to report trial results of a pill to treat Covid, but other companies are working on similar treatments. 

UPDATE: Pfizer have announced their anti-viral treatment cuts hospitalisation rates by 89% in clinical trials.

Hundreds turn out for the annual Tynedale Jobs Fair

I recently hosted the Tynedale Jobs Fair after a years absence because of the pandemic. It was attended by over 75 employers from across the North East and attended by hundreds of people from across the region.

Hundreds of jobs were on offer from local and national employers, such as Britishvolt, Nissan, Network Rail, Aldi and McDonalds.  For the first time ever, this year’s event featured a Kickstart zone, promoting the Government’s Kickstart Scheme which helps to pay the wages for 16–24-year-olds currently on Universal Credit. Under the terms of the scheme, the Government helps employers by paying minimum wage for 25 hours a week to Kickstart candidates, as well as paying other costs such as National Insurance and pension contributions.  Placements last for six months and applicants must be aged between 16 and 24 and receiving Universal Credit when they apply. 

A big thank you must go to my own team, Chris Howard and the staff at Hexham Jobcentre Plus, our sponsors Essity, and more than 70 local employers who showcased the hundreds of jobs on offer.

As we build back better from the pandemic, jobs must be our focus, and the event showcased the huge range of opportunities available.