Brighton hosts fact-finding visit from shadow Minister for preventing violence against women

The Labour Party has announced that Seema Malhotra MP has been appointed Shadow Minister with specific responsibility for preventing violence againt women - the first time a Shadow Minister has been tasked with this role.  Ed Miliband said the appointment demonstrates the importance Labour attaches to eliminating violence against women and girls.

A few days before hand, she visited Brighton to visit RISE, the local service provider for women and children experiencing violence.  She was accompanied by Labour's Brighton Pavilion PPC, Purna Sen, who is a trustee of RISE and has spent decades campaigning to stop violence against women, both  in the UK and internationally, and is an acknowledged authority on the issue.

Purna Sen and Seema Malhotra MP with Rise chief executive Gail Gray during the visit (picture: Brighton and Hove Independent)

Commenting on the visit, Dr Sen told the Brighton and Hove Independent:

“I offer my profound gratitude to the immensely-strong women who came to share their stories. They told us that they wanted their trauma to be useful in preventing the same happening to other women and their children.

“Though I have been working against violence against women for over 20 years – in war, in peace, in the UK and abroad – I am moved and angered every time I hear that women have been failed and my resolve to continue fighting this scourge is strengthened. I thank Seema for coming to Brighton for her first listening exercise in her new role.“

Office

During her visit to Brighton, Ms Malhotra found time to open the new Labour campaign office in Brighton Pavilion - at 179 Preston Road in the heart of the Preston Park Ward.  As well as cutting the ribbon she discussed local and national issues with Labour candidates and campaigners, including Preston Park Labour candidates Julie Cattell and Neil Schofield.

Seema Malhotra MP cuts the ribbon on Brighton Pavilion Labour's new office at 177 Preston Road

Seema Malhotra MP with Purna Sen and Labour activists from across the Brighton Pavilion constituency

Seema Malhotra MP and Purna Sen with Labour councillors and candidates from across the Pavilion constituency, including Preston Park's Julie Cattell (far left) and Neil Schofield (back row, second from right)