Author Archives: Omar Salem

Open Labour has made a huge contribution to Labour and I want to help us do even more. Open Labour should lead the argument that the Covid-19 response should put people’s wellbeing first before business. Covid-19 is disproportionately impacting BAME people and, as Open Labour London BAME Officer, I have been leading work on thisContinue reading “My statement for the Open Labour elections”

Durham Constabulary issued a statement on Thursday that they would not be taking any enforcement action regarding Dominic Cummings trip to Durham on 27 March or his trio to Barnard Castle on 12 April. There has been no similar statement from the Metropolitan Police, despite the fact that Cummings breached the locakdown rules by returningContinue reading “Is there a Metropolitan Police investigation into Dominic Cummings?”

Coronavirus has extracted a heavy toll. Instead of the Tory approach to dealing with it, we need to put people first. People’s health, the vulnerable, the elderly and school children should come before business and the economy. Economic considerations should be taken into account to the extent that they impact wellbeing, but they should notContinue reading “Putting people first and building back better”

When the reports first emerged of Dominic Cummings’ trip to Durham, my initial reaction was, despite my dislike for Cummings’ politics, to be sympathetic to him. He was after all a father trying to do the best thing for his family, with an ill wife and huge pressure from dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. IContinue reading “Why it is now clear that Dominic Cummings should resign”

The recent statements by Boris Johnson and No.10 regarding Dominic Cummings’ trip to Durham have raised more questions than they’ve answered. There needs to be a proper independent investigation to get answers to these questions, rather than a trial by media. The lack of an independent investigation should not stop us from getting answers toContinue reading “10 Questions that Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings must answer”

Dominic Cummings is never far from controversy. Revelations that he and his wife made the 264-mile journey from London to Durham with their son in late March have led to calls for his resignation for breaching government guidelines and legislation on the lockdown. It is easy to call for resignations but it is important thatContinue reading “Updated: How do you solve a problem like Dominic Cummings?”

It can be hard after 10 years of Tory rule but we need to keep dreaming that we can do better. We need to keep dreaming big and work to make our dreams a reality. I am standing for the Open Labour National Committee because I want to contribute to that work. Over the lastContinue reading “Open Labour National Committee elections – Why I am standing and what I stand for”

Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government’s chief Scientific Officer, has confirmed that the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) should be making recommendations on Tuesday about the wearing of face coverings in public. More and more countries around the world are requiring or recommending that everyone wears face coverings in public. More details about this andContinue reading “SAGE to make recommendations on face covering in public on Tuesday”

Around the world, wearing a face mask in public has been made compulsory for everyone. This includes Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania states in the US, municipalities in France, Taiwan, Austria, the Czech Republic, Solvakia, Lombardy and parts of Germany. In many countries, wearing a mask is now recommended even if it isContinue reading “The Government should make wearing face masks mandatory”

I have written for LabourList on why we need a government of national unity. You can read the article here.