This week Tony Lloyd signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust.

Friday January 27th marked the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history – and in the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during their Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

In the weeks around Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. This year, people will also be encouraged to take a stand against racism and prejudice today – and to speak out against hatred wherever they encounter it.

The reception, held on 13 Decemeber 2011, raised awareness of meningitis and septicaemia. Dr Hilary Jones and Dr Nelly Ninnis from St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, were available to speak to guests.

Tony Lloyd joined Labour colleagues, including Harriet Harman MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Women and Equalities Minister to mark White Ribbon Day and show support for the White Ribbon Campaign’s work to reduce violence against women.

The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest global effort of men working to end violence against women. White Ribbon Day falls each year on 25th November, the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.

Tony Lloyd MP participated in The Big Shave Off on Saturday 15th October. Orchid, who raise awareness for the three types of male cancer; penile, testicular and prostate hosted the ‘Guinness World Record Shave Off Charity Fundraising Event’ at the Manchester Arndale Centre.

Tony said, ‘Men aren’t typically very good at talking about these things, but we should all be talking about this very important cause.’

Disabled people in the North West, along with their families and friends, took to the streets in Manchester to protest against Government cuts to disability benefits and services on 22 October 2011. Their message to the government was clear: stop these cuts.

Following the event Tony Lloyd said, ‘A huge number of angry people turned up to protest against these benefits cuts. We should protect those who are vulnerable which is why these cuts are particularly cruel.’

Tony is pictured along with local Labour teams outside the centre, protesting against the planned closure of this well used clinic.

Tony said, ‘Cutting health services to a community with some of the poorest health in the city is shocking. When Ancoats Hospital closed this community was given assurances about replacement facilities and we’re fighting to make sure that NHS Manchester honours the promises made.’

Tony is pictured here taking part in the TUC march and rally in Manchester last week. Tony said, ‘People here today are angry they want David Cameron to think again on the cuts that are putting people out of work and causing so much damage to our communities’.

Over 30,000 people took part in the march which coincided with the start of the Tory party conference.

Tony is pictured at Deansgate Station as part of the TSSA led Save Our Stations and Ticket Offices Campaign.

Parliament heard passionate pleas for the Palestinians to be granted recognition as a state and admission to the United Nations as MPs prepared for the conference season. Almost 100 MPs of all parties have now signed a Commons motion calling on the UK to back the Palestinian state and polls show that 71% of UK voters believe Palestine should be recognised as a state.

Middle East minister Alistair Burt told MPs at a special one-hour debate that the Government still has not made up its mind how to vote – saying it depended on the exact wording of the Palestinian motion which is expected to be tabled next week. The Palestinians can apply to the UN General Assembly for recognition as a state, giving them the right to attend UN meetings and join UN organisations, or they can apply to the UN Security Council for full membership.

This week former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw backed the Commons motion tabled by Labour’s Ann Clwyd calling for Palestinian admission to the UN. In a letter to MPs he said:

“I did this because of the urgency of making it clear both to the Government and to my constituents how important it is that we, as a country, make the right decision on this.

“I’m as firm as anyone about Israel’s rights to security, as a sovereign state. We all understand the fears that Israelis have for their security, but it will not enhance their security to deny the right of self-determination permanently to the Palestinians. The World Bank, the UN, the EU and the IMF have all assessed the progress of the Palestinian Authority and judged it to be ready for statehood.”

Picture below are: (in the front row, left to right) Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru), Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour), Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), Cathy Jamieson (Labour), Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat(, Joan Ruddock (Labour), Sir Gerald Kaufman (Labour), (back row) AlexCunningham (Labour), Lisa Nandy (Labour), Ian Mearns (Labour), Virendra Sharma (Labour), Tony Lloyd (Labour), Andy Slaughter (Labour), Nia Griffith (Labour), Alan Whitehead (Labour, (middle row) Lyn Brown (Labour), Ann Clwyd (Labour), Jim Sheridan (Labour), (seated) Ann Begg (Labour).