4. Protecting the Vulnerable

Rebecca was drawn into public service with a mission to help the most vulnerable in society. Way back in 2003, she worked on Plymouth City Council's Homeless and Social Housing Unit and more recently she has chaired the Commission on Violence Against Women and Girls as a councillor.

In her first six months in office, Rebecca has worked with her constituency-based team to host surgeries and resolve almost 1,000 pieces of casework, helping countless vulnerable constituents with access to government resources.

In Parliament, Rebecca always has the vulnerable in the front of her mind and is not afraid to take difficult positions. On the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, she highlighted often overlooked safeguarding concerns, voting against the legislation.

The South West Devon MP has also been a vocal critic of the Government's decision to axe the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners. She has pointed out that 82% of pensioners that live below the poverty line are set to lose the £300 payment, calling on more support to help the elderly keep warm through the winter.

View recent articles on Rebecca's work to protect the vulnerable in South West Devon below.

News

Rebecca signs Holocaust Book of Commitment

Today marks 80 years since the liberation of the infamous former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, revealing one of the darkest stains in European history.On this Holocaust Memorial Day, I remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust.

Rebecca question Home Secretary on money for grooming gangs inquiry

The Home Secretary's half-baked local enquiries into grooming gangs do not meet the scale of the national scandal. Equally, labelling people with genuine concerns about these abhorrent crimes as "far-right" is a sloppy attempt to shut down the debate.

Rebecca questions Minister on Employers' NIC hike for local charities

I asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what help she can offer charities forced to cut key services to pay for the Government's Employers' NIC hike.Gables Dogs & Cats Home and Devon Mental Health Alliance have shared the negative impacts the ENIC rise will have on their serv

Rebecca raises supporting lodgings for care leavers in Parliament

In amongst the debate on school absences and the future of academies, I raised the value of supported lodgings for care experienced young people and also the need to ensure parents, not the state, hold the presumption of overall responsibility for the education of their children.Proposals within the

Government not budging on £50 water bill rebate axe

A Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Minister has glossed over Conservative Devon MPs joint letter which urges the department to reconsider axing the £50 water bill rebate for South West Water users.

Employers' NIC hike to cost Devon charity £90,000, Rebecca warns

When I met with Young Devon last month, they warned me that the Government Employers' NIC hike will cost the charity £90,000 just to stand still.Young Devon provides essential services for young people across Devon, including supported accommodation and mental health provision.

Rebecca's Speech on Assisted Suicide

I have always had a deep sense that I am in politics, in large part, to speak up for the marginalized and to be a voice for the voiceless. As a result, of all the reasons why I oppose the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which we debated on Friday 29th November, I focused on the impact