Abingdon MP Layla Moran will chair a public meeting with Abingdon Flood Scheme Partnership.

Layla has called a meeting about the announcement that the Abingdon Flood Scheme is not feasible. The scheme was proposed following the floods in the 2000s, the most devastating being in 2007, when 400 homes and 20 businesses flooded.

The Rivers Ock, Thames, Stert and the Sandford Brook all contribute to flooding in the town. The Environment Agency has estimated that approximately 200 homes and businesses are still at risk of flooding.

It was initially estimated that the scheme may cost around £5m. However, after further investigation, the cost has been confirmed at £9.7m, with minimal flood reduction benefit to the community. The partnership made a unanimous decision that continuing with the scheme was not the best way to spend public money. The partnership is still looking for a solution that will reduce flood risk in Abingdon.

MP Layla Moran has today led the first Parliamentary debate in over two years on climate change in a cross-party effort with Caroline Lucas, supporting an uprising of action from students international on the issue.

In the debate Layla has pressed the Minister for action across the board on climate change, including asking what the Government is doing to ensure the 2020 COP Climate Summit bid is successful and if the Government is serious about its zero emissions target.

Layla slammed the Conservatives’ approach to climate change, saying that we are in a “climate emergency”. She argued the Government has dropped the ball when it comes to the environment, with the prime example being the scrapping of the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has today asked the Prime Minister to meet her and discuss the need to scrap the 1824 Vagrancy Act in light of new data showing that almost 600 homeless people died in 2017, with a further 1000 people dragged before the courts in the same year.

Layla has consistently been campaigning in Parliament to get the Vagrancy Act, a law that effectively criminalises rough sleeping, repealed, and recently brought a debate to the House of Commons that gained support from leading homeless charities and MPs from across the political spectrum. 

Layla Moran, Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon, has slammed the Government over shameful homeless deaths and homeless arrests, after it has been revealed that Oxford has the second highest rate of deaths in England per 100,000 people in 2017.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has given her support to all students that are protesting on Friday to highlight the risks of global warming, in Oxford and across the UK.

Layla has backed the strike action inspired by climate change activist Greta Thunberg and will be joining students at Carfax Tower in Oxford at midday on Friday. 

In Prime Minister’s Questions this week, Layla called on David Liddington standing in for the Prime Minister to guarantee local residents are offered a formal consultation on whether the multibillion-pound Expressway should go ahead in the first place. 

This intervention follows bringing the transport minister to view the A34 through Botley and a recent special debate called by Oxford West and Abingdon’s MP on the planned road where she stressed that homes, schools, communities and the environment in Abingdon, Botley and other parts of Oxfordshire are under threat and that the most harmful routes should be ruled out now. 

Liddington replied saying that there will only be a consultation on route options and the prefered route. This view was further clarified by Highways England in a meeting with Layla on the same day who said the consultation at the end of the year will include opportunities for residents to comment on their desire for the entire scheme, not just the routes. 

Layla Moran MP held a Parliamentary debate on the Vagrancy Act that originated from a campaign started by Oxford’s students.

The Vagrancy Act 1824 has come under fire from a large number of homeless charities including Crisis, Centrepoint and St Mungo’s. This combined with pressure from Layla Moran and an endorsement from the Labour Party has led to the campaign building momentum.

The Act criminalises people for sleeping rough, deeming them “rogues and vagabonds”. It has been used over 3000 times between 2014 and 2016, resulting in hundreds of homeless people being brought before the courts for being in violation of the Act.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran has secured a Parliamentary debate on Tuesday 29^th January about the use of the 1824 Vagrancy Act – the law used to criminalise rough sleepers.

Layla Moran has previously raised the campaign at Prime Minister’s questions, urging the Government to scrap the ‘outdated’ and ‘Dickensian’ law which dates from the times of King George IV and is still used thousands of times a year to arrest homeless people.

The issue was first raised with the MP as part of Oxford University Students Union’s On Your Doorstep campaign to help homeless people in the city.

Now Ms Moran has secured the support of homeless charities Crisis, St Mungos and Centrepoint who are campaigning alongside the Lib Dem MP to get the law changed so that rough sleepers get the support and help they need instead of being arrested just because they don’t have anywhere to spend the night. Layla will be using the debate to urge the Government to support her Private Members Bill, the Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill.

Responding to the Government’s decision to scrap the controversial £65 fee Layla Moran has slammed the pilot scheme.

This comes in light of multiple businesses and organisations including the NHS and university in Oxfordshire paying these fees to ensure their workers are not disrupted post-Brexit.

In light of the Government surviving a no confidence vote a People’s Vote is now looking like a more likely possibility according to an Oxfordshire MP.

Speaking after the no confidence vote in the House of Commons yesterday, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West & Abingdon Layla Moran said: