Just a quick update in this confused period. I and my team have shifted to almost entirely home working and I’ve only been in my constituency office a couple of times this week, once to deliver goods for my foodbank as you can see below. All casework is being done by phone and email and foodbank items are being delivered not collected to minimise risks to everyone involved.

However, phone meetings have taken over! This week I have had calls with:

• the Borough Commander and learned of the dramatic drop in crime compared with last year with robberies down 70% for example and the police having more success tackling drug crime. Sadly domestic violence is up nationally and I’ve asked Commander Wingrove to do more proactively to support the people (mostly women) affected in Southwark.
• our council leader to hear of the range of additional work Southwark Council is running to support our community including the Hardship Fund for local charities, an innovative business support scheme, and additional help to manage mental health in this tough time.
• NHS professionals, funeral providers, pensions specialists, individual constituents (including those who have lost loved ones), local charities and businesses, foodbank organisers, and people tackling child food poverty in Southwark and beyond.

The work continues to try and help all those giving so much and trying so hard in this crisis. Parliament is back next week so it is also important to prepare to raise more issues with Ministers, in written questions and on the Work and Pensions Select Committee which meets ‘virtually’ for the first time ever on Thursday.

Stay safe, stay home, keep protecting the NHS and, above all, take care and look after each other please!