Jane Kennedy, MP

Jane backs better treatment for people with asbestos related lung cancer
LIVERPOOL Wavertree MP, Jane Kennedy joined the British Lung Foundation at the House of Commons on Wednesday to raise awareness of the asbestos-related lung cancer mesothelioma. Jane called for better standards of care and treatment for people affected by the disease to mark the fourth Action Mesothelioma Day. Jane is backing an Early Day Motion which appeals for...

Jane presses city council to save historic meat and fish market
MP Jane Kennedy has called on the city council to act now to save Liverpool's historic Meat and Fish market. At risk are 17 separate small businesses and a total of 60 jobs at the market on Prescot Road, Old Swan. Traders want the city council, which owns the building, to step in and revoke the lease, after the current...

Jane welcomes victory for 'Save Our Lollipops' campaign
JANE Kennedy has welcomed the Lib Dem 'u-turn' on sacking 26 lollipop men and women to save £200,000. She praised local parents and teachers in her Wavertree constituency for their campaign against the Lib Dem cuts which would have put children's lives at risk. And she has warned...

A real local hero from 'Kenny' gets the chance to meet the PM
ONE of Kensington's unsung local heroes was honoured by the Prime Minister at a recent reception at 10 Downing Street. Alan Tapp, manager of the Kensington Community Learning Centre, was nominated by Jane Kennedy, MP, for his work with the local community. KCLC has already won two national awards - one as an Outstanding Centre ahead of 6,000 others and...

Dancers help children recover at Alder Hey
TWO dancers are helping sick children on the road to recovery at Liverpool's world-famous Alder Hey hospital. Labour MP Jane Kennedy has praised Lisa Dowler and Cath Hawkins from the Small Things dance group for their pioneering work with the children on the wards. During a visit earlier this month to Alder Hey, Jane witnessed the impact that dance...

Jane welcomes free phone help to keep warm this winter
JANE Kennedy has welcomed the opening of a free phone-line to help people keep warm this winter. The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) provides vulnerable customers, including older people, families with young children, and people with disabilities or long term health conditions, with a direct link to a specialist team within their energy supplier. As well...

MP Jane Kennedy's Christmas wishes
WISHING a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year for 2009 to all the people of my Wavertree constituency in these difficult economic times for everyone. Jane Kennedy, MP...

Helping those who need it most in the economic downturn
TREASURY Minister Yvette Cooper met local businesses with me on Friday at the St Thomas Hotel, in Victoria Street. I have known Yvette for years, since I was a Treasury Minister myself, and I know how dedicated and hard-working she is. She is Labour MP for a seat in Yorkshire - Pontefract and Castleford - which, like Liverpool, has its...

A Message from Gordon Brown to the people of Wavertree
Unlike the Tories who want to see the recession “run its course” our Government has announced new measures which will allow households who experience a significant and temporary drop in income to stay in their homes rather than be repossessed. I recognise that repossession, and the threat of repossession, has a major affect on people's relationships, health, well being...

A modern new market for 'Kenny'?
MY duties as a local MP and Environment Minister combined this week. I have always been really keen to see a modern new market in the centre of Kensington. The ideal spot would, of course, be the site of the old Kensington market which has been left as derelict buildings now. I think there is much more that Liverpool...

Teaming up with Amy Winehouse, Katherine Tate and the only gay in the village....for Children in Need
IT's not often that I get to spend some time with Amy Winehouse, Katherine Tate and The Only Gay in the Village. But that's the star-studded cast that joined me at the Barclays Bank Contact Centre at Wavertree Technology Park, on Friday 14th November. It was Children in Need day and I was asked to help by cutting the hair...

Making Alder Hey fit for the 21st century
I have been working with Alder Hey since my election in May 1992. It is one of Liverpool’s best loved and most famous hospitals - we all know the fantastic work it does with sick children. Many families have cause to be grateful to Alder Hey and its magnificent staff. The hospital building, though brightly decorated and sparklingly clean,...

Making a difference
During the week, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra came to Parliament with children from Sacred Heart and Kensington primary schools. I met the kids at Lime Street where we all travelled down to London for the reception. The...

Three cheers for our silver surfers
A HUGE round of applause this week for Mr Lesley Nicholls, of Old Swan, who was named as one of the UK’s Silver Surfers of the Year at a Parliamentary reception. I was delighted to meet him and hear how his skills on the internet have helped him to keep in touch with his family - one niece is...

Tribute to Joseph
I can’t write this column without taking time to remember Joseph Lappin, who at just 16 years of age was stabbed to death, a victim of senseless and cruel gang violence. Joseph was, as you will have read, an excellent student and fine young man. He was completely unconnected with the gangs whose violence took his life. His...

Patients protest over hospital smoking ban at purpose-built courtyards 20/10/08
SERVICE users at Rathbone Hospital are deeply upset about the decision of the Mersey Care Health Trust to ban smoking, not just indoors as the law requires, but across all of their sites. For people living in Rathbone’s newly built units, designed to accommodate those with mental illness, it is extremely difficult. They are not allowed to smoke...

Why we deserved to become Capital of Culture...
ON Sunday 28th September I visited the Frontline Church with Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, who works as a Minister with faith communities. We met “Captain” Dave Sharples, who for fifteen years has been organising the Sunday afternoon Frontline Kidsclub. Over those years Dave and his team have mentored more than 100,000 children from Toxteth, Picton, Wavertree and Kensington. We...

What A Week That Was!
WHAT a week its been - not just on the financial markets, but for me personally too. I was asked by the Prime Minister to move from being Financial Secretary to the Treasury to Minister of State for Farming and the Environment, with responsibility for policy on food, animal welfare, water and many other subjects! By sheer coincidence,...