The government continues to ease the lockdown restrictions and set out its recovery plan.

Across Ilford, businesses and workers are rightly concerned at the challenges that lie ahead, with the furlough period set to end on October 31.

As a result, many were looking to the chancellor to unveil a robust rescue package in his Summer Statement to give them the security they needed.

Worryingly, they were instead presented with gimmicks to win a few headlines and little in the way of meaningful support and there are now real fears as to what the economic outlook will be in the coming months.

As we emerge from the first phase of this crisis I’ll continue to push the government to support businesses and workers to ensure that our local economy can reopen safely and sustainably.

Black Lives Matter has rightly been at the forefront of the political agenda in the past month, following the killing of George Floyd.

In recent weeks I was proud to stand with fellow MPs in solidarity with protesters in Parliament Square who took a knee and called for an end to racial injustice in Britain.

I also delivered a speech in parliament about the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities, and criticised the steps the government has taken to find answers for why this has happened and the lack of any concrete steps.

I was also delighted to have been invited to support the movement in Redbridge.

I’ll be joining protesters to take the knee outside Redbridge Town Hall later today.