Karen is co-sponsoring the following Early Day Motion, part of the Strangers into Citizens Campaign:

That this House recognises the government’s commitment to tighten UK borders and introduce new monitoring and assessment systems into the Immigrations Process; notes the Home Office assessment that up to 500,000 irregular migrants currently live and work in Britain; recognises that the overwhelming majority make a valuable economic contribution to despite living under the shadow of illegality; acknowledges the IPPR estimation that regularisation of certain groups of migrant workers could raise £1bn in taxes; congratulates the ‘Strangers into Citizens’ campaign for the one off regularisation of long term ‘irregular’ migrants through a pathway to citizenship; calls for a full cross-party debate to consider granting a two year work permit to migrants who have lived in the UK for more than four years, following which they may be granted Indefinite leave to remain subject to an English test and positive references from an employer or person of standing in the community.

Karen has secured an adjournment debate in Parliament next Tuesday (1st May) to discuss improving employment opportunities for lone parents.  The debate will be held in Westminster Hall from 1pm and can be viewed online on ParliamentLive.tv.  Let Karen have your views on the issue before the debate or post your comments online.

UPDATE: Read the full debate online

Following a recent meeting with local Bangladeshi residents and Leader of the Bangladeshi opposition, Sheik Husina, Karen has tabled the following Early Day Motion:

That this House expresses its concerns at recent decisions by the interim government of Bangladesh, including the postponement of forthcoming elections until late 2008 and the refusal to allow the former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Sheik Husina entry into Bangladesh; notes that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Sheik Husina; further notes Sheik Husina’s attempt on Sunday 23rd April to return to Bangladesh to fight the charges against her; and, in the light of these events, and, in the interest of upholding democracy and transparency, calls upon the Government to review its policy of support for the interim government.

Karen has recently signed Early Day Motions on a no-fly zone for the Darfur region and about Aid for the Palestinians:

Darfur No-Fly Zone

That this House believes that four years into the crisis in Darfur the time is now right to implement a United Nations backed no-fly zone to protect the civilian population from further aerial bombardment by the Sudanese airforce; notes that bombings of towns and villages in Darfur have often been co-ordinated with Janjaweed militia ground attacks; further notes that the bombings utilised in these attacks have been indiscriminate in their targeting of civilians and that thousands of villages have been destroyed in this manner; and urges the Government to back these proposals so that an effective and urgent case can be made to the international community.

Palestinian Aid

That this House notes the recent survey commissioned by Oxfam showing that the suspension of financial transfers to the Palestinian Authority following the victory of Hamas in parliamentary elections last year has had a devastating impact on the lives of ordinary Palestinians; recognises that half of the 677 Palestinian households interviewed in Oxfam’s survey reported the loss of more than 60 per cent. of their income and that 90 per cent. of the 67 senior managers reported cutting their health, education and water services because of this reduction in funding; furthermore supports the view that a viable two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be impossible to achieve if Palestinian institutions collapse; and calls upon the Government to consider the recommendations made in the report, particularly that the international community resume direct aid to the Palestinian Authority, that the Israeli government release the Palestinian tax and customs revenues it is withholding and that diplomatic efforts be intensified to ensure an ongoing ceasefire and political dialogue.

Karen co-sponsored an Early Day Motion in Parliament expressing abhorrence at comments recently made by Brian Ferry:

That this House expresses its complete abhorrence of the remarks and behaviour in admiration of the Nazis of Bryan Ferry, who amongst other comments has praised Nazi parades, banners, buildings and films, and named his studio `the Fuhrerbunker’; notes that his remarks add injury to insult in that they were published at the time of Yom Hashoah, when Jews commemorate their six million dead in the Holocaust; regards his conduct as deeply offensive to the Jewish community; condemns the decision of Marks and Spencer to continue Ferry’s contract as a male model; regards Ferry’s behaviour as a particular insult to the memory of Marks and Spencer’s founding fathers; believes that Marks and Spencer management are putting profit before principle; and therefore calls for a boycott of Marks and Spencer’s shops and Ferry’s recordings and performances in protest at their behaviour.

Britain’s diverse Muslim communities have been under an intense scrutiny in recent years. A few bigots tar all our Muslim (and, indeed, all migrants, or refugees, or minority) communities, often carelessly lumped together, with the terrorist brush. Others blame the whole community for the behaviour of the minority. Every action and every opinion is monitored, measured and held up for inspection. It is a heavy burden to bear.

Yes despite this, despite the reality of material deprivation and disadvantage facing a disproportionate proportion of Britain’s Muslims, despite the continuing incidence of racist and religious discrimination and despite deeply-felt anxieties about international affairs, from Iraq to Lebanon to Palestine, a very different, and more positive picture is emerging. Behind the media stereotyping are real people striving to achieve at school and at work; getting involved in their neighbourhoods and becoming active citizens. (more…)