Brought to my attention is the plight of refugee women and illegal immigrants who are victims of domestic violence but who are trapped in abusive situations because benefits rules prevent them running away – a classic and tragic case of bureaucratic rules gone wrong.

The situation is that these women who are vulnerable but whose immigration status does not ‘allow’ them the access that settled status does. They can’t get access to emergency refuges or welfare and so are left with having no choice really other than to suffer abuse – or become totally destitute on the streets.

Amnesty International and Southall Black Sisters have just issued a report which says – and I agree – that the Government should make exceptions to the rules for these women so that they can be properly helped. It’s a difficult climate – and we all want proper rules properly and fairly applied on asylum and immigration – but for goodness sakes we cannot stand by as a civilised country and simply let women be beaten up and abused.

The spotlight this report shines on the desperate situation of abused women trapped in immigration limbo with literally nowhere to turn is welcome. With no real or secure support from the Government, these women face a bleak choice between destitution or continued dependence on their abuser.

They have already suffered at the hands of their abusers – they shouldn’t have to suffer at the hands of the state too. It’s just not acceptable.

Tabled EDM (a form of Parliamentary petition) earlier this week:

That this House commends the invaluable work of Rape Crisis in bringing much needed support to people affected by sexual violence, often years after the offences have taken place; recognises the vital nature of this organisation; but notes with sadness that in 1984 there were 68 affiliated members of Rape Crisis (England and Wales) but in 2008 there are just 38; believes this is a failure of successive governments; and endorses the New Statesman’s campaign to secure proper funding from the Government so existing Rape Crisis centres can continue their work and new centres can open’

Three cheers for the New Statesman for running this issue. There is a petition you can sign on the Downing Street website.

Peter Black has also blogged about this and explains well the importance of the issue:

The New Statesman has launched a campiagn to help secure proper funding for Rape Crisis. In their article they reveal that the number of Rape Crisis-affiliated centres in England and Wales has nearly halved from 68 to 38 since 1984.

They write that the British Crime Survey suggests there are more than 300,000 rapes and serious sexual assaults each year. Most are not reported. One in four women have experience rape or attempted rape. One in seven women have been coerced into sex. Yet conviction rates have plummeted from 33% in the 1970s to around 5% now. Rape Crisis have provided help for countless victims of sexual violence many of whom only come forward years after being attacked.

Well – hurrah! The UK’s first political internet television channel based at Westminster and run by young people for young people is up and running. For the first time (and not before time) there is a provision for media representation for young people at Westminster. So I want to help this innovative new media initiative to reach young people.

As youth spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats I am very keen on using all ways possible to engage young people. Politics and politicians are not necessarily a young person’s first interest in life – and yet young people are passionate about their lives and world issues. Perhaps catch21 will open a new pathway for interaction and give voice to that passion. The website can be reached at www.catch21.co.uk.

Wishing catch21 every success!

I’ve written more than a few times before about my views on the behaviour of MPs at set-piece events like Prime Minister’s Questions (in short: abysmal!). Well – it looks as if Ed Balls at least may have got his comeuppance – being accused all over the media of shouting “so what?” when Cameron was speaking in the budget debate about the high levels of taxes under Labour. Not exactly a clever thing!

I understand his defence is that he actually said “so weak” – but in the end if you live by the sword, you die by the sword – and if you engage in the sort of boorish behaviour that wouldn’t be tolerated in a normal place of work, well it’s your own fault if it goes wrong.