Contents

Published: Tuesday 21 February 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Monday 20 February 2023

Early Day Motions (EDMs) are motions for which no days have been fixed.

The number of signatories includes all members who have added their names in support of the Early Day Motion (EDM), including the Member in charge of the Motion.

EDMs and added names are also published on the EDM database at www.parliament.uk/edm

[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

New EDMs

857Judgment on Bahrain state immunity

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

John McDonnell

That this House welcomes the High Court’s landmark ruling that the Kingdom of Bahrain does not have state immunity in a case brought by two UK-based Bahraini dissidents against the Bahraini government over spying allegations involving the use of spyware, which enabled it to conduct surreptitious surveillance on Bahraini political activists living in the UK and recognises that this decision comes in the same month as the 12 year anniversary of Bahrain’s pro-democracy uprising; further asserts that this decision clearly confirms that Bahrain and other states which conduct transnational repression on UK soil cannot hide behind state immunity and will be held accountable; and calls on the Government to protect individuals on UK soil from foreign cyber attacks and to hold the government of Bahrain to account.

858Water quality in northern Sri Lanka

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Munira Wilson

That this House expresses concern regarding water quality in northern Sri Lanka; is concerned by reports stating that the Sri Lankan Government refused to allow independent assessments of water quality in the region; notes that the consumption or use of water contaminated by waste oil has been linked to many diseases and birth defects; calls for steps to be taken to allow all citizens in northern Sri Lanka, the majority of whom are Tamils, to have access to clean drinking water; calls on the area around the Chunnakam power plant complex to be subjected to a full independent investigation; believes that organisations responsible for pollution of ground water in Chunnakam should have a duty to carry out remedial works; and further believes that all citizens affected by water contamination should be provided with competent medical follow-up and be compensated adequately by the Sri Lankan Government.

859National Lottery Community Fund recipients in Rutherglen and Hamilton West

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House congratulates the following National Lottery Community Fund recipients in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency and recognises the worthy work that this funding will facilitate: Burnhill Action Group who will continue the roll out of community engagement and activity programmes such as weekly family and youth hubs, Cathkin Duke of Edinburgh Centre and their establishment of a permanent base in the Whitlawburn Hub which will provide young people and their families with an integral community space, LEAP Project who will endeavour to offer safety, comfort and nourishment to individuals during the 12 weeks of Winter in 2023, Recycled Teenagers who facilitate generational peer support and, in turn, reduce social isolation in the community, Rutherglen West & Wardlawhill Parish who will provide much needed food, clothing and socialisation to those struggling due to the cost of living crisis, Whitlawburn Community Resource Centre who will create a space in which people can access food and drink, take part in activities, and receive IT advice and financial support; and commends the National Lottery for its work in funding community groups across the UK which strive to aid and enhance their wider communities.

860Croxteth Walled Garden, Botanical Collection

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 21

Ian Byrne

Margaret Greenwood

Mick Whitley

Maria Eagle

Sir George Howarth

Tony Lloyd

That this House recognises the botanical importance of housing Liverpool's Botanic Collection in Croxteth Country Parks Walled Garden in Liverpool West Derby; notes that the botanical collection is one of the oldest in the world and includes rare plants that have significant medical, scientific, educational and horticultural importance; recognises the benefits these gardens can have in terms of health and well-being; places on record the importance of the Croxteth Walled Garden to national heritage, the local community and internationally; notes that the botanical collection is currently being used by Myerscough College as an educational tool; calls on the Government to ensure that the Local Council is provided with sufficient funds to maintain and invest in the Croxteth Walled Garden and keep it open and accessible to the community and visitors for years to come; and further calls on the Government to prioritise long-term funding of all community green spaces and to recognise the importance that they have to health, education and well-being.

8612022 Champions League Final and Liverpool Football Club supporters

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 43

Ian Byrne

Dan Carden

Maria Eagle

Paula Barker

Kim Johnson

Sir George Howarth

That this House welcomes the findings of the Independent Panel Inquiry into the near-disaster at the UEFA Champions League Final in Paris on 28 May 2022; notes, further to EDM 131 tabled by the hon. Member for Liverpool West Derby, the total exoneration of Liverpool supporters by the panel from any blame for the chaos and horror at the Stade de France; notes the panel’s finding that overarching organisational failures caused the problems; supports the panel’s identification of eight key contributing factors including a securitised approach to the game by authorities which compromised the safety and security of those in attendance; notes that the panel draws parallels between Paris and Hillsborough; further notes the panel’s finding that UEFA and French authorities sought to deflect responsibility for this near-disaster away from themselves and onto blameless fans; demands a full public apology and retraction from UEFA and the French authorities for announcing on screens inside the stadium and to a global TV audience that the delay to kick-off was caused by the late arrival of fans at the stadium, when this was categorically untrue; further demands a full response from the FA in support of these findings; also demands full and transparent implementation by UEFA of the 22 key recommendations in this report; acknowledges the panel’s commitment to a fair and thorough inquiry and thanks them for hearing evidence from fans; and commends Spirit of Shankly supporters’ trust and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association for their substantial contribution to the panel inquiry.

862Ukrainian refugees and driving in the UK

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Siobhain McDonagh

That this House calls on the Government to support Ukrainian refugees who have made the journey to the UK by car to be able to use them without needing to undergo a permanent import and registration to UK number plates for the duration of their stay in the UK; and believes this would vastly simplify the process and bring the legal position of Ukrainian refugees into alignment with that of overseas students and workers who bring their cars to the UK on a temporary basis, as well as to similar concessions provided by other European countries in response to the humanitarian crisis.

863Ashton Wilson’s charity sleep-out for homeless veterans

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Dr Lisa Cameron

That this House congratulates Ashton Wilson on embarking on a 100 night sleep-out to support homeless veterans; commends his consistent effort over three years to raise funds for the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) who support and rehabilitate homeless veterans; recognises the struggles of veterans adapting to civilian life, and the acute struggles of veterans without fixed accommodation, including on access to employment and benefits; thanks the RBLI for its organisation of the annual Great Tommy Sleep out; commends Ashton’s fundraising, which last year reached £3,500 and enabled 15 veterans to receive emergency accommodation and be provided with much-needed training and support; and wishes Ashton the very best of success for this ongoing remarkable and commendable endeavour.

86440th anniversary of the Dance School of Scotland

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Carol Monaghan

That this House congratulates the Dance School of Scotland on its 40th anniversary; celebrates the school’s Musical Theatre Course which was founded 25 years ago; highlights the Dance School’s national reputation as a Centre of Excellence in both vocational dance and musical theatre training; notes that it is fully funded by the Scottish Government, thereby enabling students from all backgrounds to realise their potential as they pursue a career in the arts; emphasises the expertise and dedication of its teaching faculty and musical accompanists; commends the dedication, creativity, and talent of its students and the success of its alumni; congratulates the Dance School on its achievements over the last 40 years; and wishes it all the best for years to come.

865Local government funding

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Sir George Howarth

That this House acknowledges that local government fulfils a vital role and should be funded in such a manner as to enable it to continue to do so; notes with regret that councils face a funding gap of £3.19 billion for 2023-24; further notes that councils will be confronted with the unacceptable choice of cutting services or using already worryingly declining reserves to balance their budgets; expresses alarm that the gap is likely to increase to £5 billion in 2024-25 without taking into account increased energy costs and inflationary pressures; and calls on the Government to ensure that adequate funding is provided to local authorities in order to ensure that their budgets are future-proofed against the need to cut jobs and services in the short, medium and long term.

866Early diagnosis of special educational needs

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Mr Virendra Sharma

That this House believes that early diagnosis of special educational needs must be a priority for the Government, as a delay in diagnosis is associated with a multitude of negative consequences in later life, as well as an indirect increased financial burden to families and loss of life chances to the individual; notes that early intervention is known to improve a child's long-term outcomes; further notes that, as children undertake a baseline assessment when they enter school, that would be the most appropriate time to assess special educational and disability needs; and urges the Government to ensure early special educational needs diagnosis is a priority.

867Amendments to modern slavery guidance

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 2

Stuart C McDonald

Alison Thewliss

This House regrets the Prime Minister’s announcement of 13 December 2022, which included the intention to remove the gold-plating in our modern slavery system and significantly raise the threshold someone must meet to be recognised as a victim of modern slavery; opposes the subsequent updates to Modern Slavery Guidance, which include new, impossibly high standards of evidence required within the timeframe to trigger referral to the National Referral Mechanism, a reduction of the Recovery and Reflection Period for survivors of labour abuse and sexual exploitation from 45 to 30 days, and the removal of the NRM Multi-Agency Assurance panel process, changes that make it harder for survivors to be identified and supported, and represent a regression in efforts to increase identification and support of modern slavery victims; supports comments by anti-slavery campaigners that the existing system was not gold plated but already beset by delays and poor support; calls on the Government to reconsider these plans in light of the potential exploitation and harms they will cause, particularly for vulnerable refugees and trafficking victims, which includes a high proportion of children and young people; proposes that the government adopt a transparent data- and evidence-driven approach, in consultation with anti-trafficking organisations, to improve decision-making, following calls from STOP THE TRAFFIK supported by Anti-Slavery International; and encourages the Government to return to tackling modern slavery as both a serious crime and a safeguarding issue, not an illegal immigration issue, in order to tackle its root causes and better protect vulnerable people.

868Anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Bob Blackman

That this House extends condolences to the people of Azerbaijan as they commemorate the anniversary of the Khojaly massacre on 26 February; reflects on this atrocity, committed against citizens of Azerbaijan amid conflict in the region; and supports calls for a resolution to the conflict, which respects the territory of the Republic, and for the OSCE Minsk Group to increase works for a peace plan.

869Daysoft

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House congratulates Blantyre based manufacturer Daysoft on its one billionth contact lens sold; recognises Daysoft’s commitment to delivering their product with precision and care; commends company founder Ron Hamilton on inventing the affordable daily disposable contact lens; further recognises Ron and Company Director Moyra Hamilton for their efforts to foster an inclusive and stable working environment for employees; celebrates the hard work and loyalty of the Daysoft workforce who continue to deliver excellence on a major scale; and wishes Daysoft, and all who work there, the best in their future endeavours.

870First Ards Presbyterian Church Christian Endeavour Group 100th anniversary

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes and celebrates the 100th birthday of the First Ards Presbyterian Church's Christian Endeavour Group; further notes the contribution of leaders and individuals throughout all generations who have given of their time and resources to teach the young people who have attended Christian Endeavour for over 100 years; highlights the Christian Endeavour aim to Inspire, Equip and Encourage churches to Biblically develop youth as Christ-centred leaders and that there are over 43 countries worldwide connected to the Christian Endeavour network; sincerely thanks all the volunteers and leaders at First Ards Presbyterian Church for teaching children the importance of learning about God's kingdom; and wishes them all the very best for many more years to come of successful Christian Endeavour.

87140th anniversary of Belfast City Airport

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the 40th anniversary of Belfast City Airport, situated in County Down; further notes its tremendous history in administering flights to multiple destinations, including within the United Kingdom, and also abroad to areas in Europe such as Amsterdam; highlights the variety of the numerous airlines that reside with Belfast City Airport, such as British Airways, Emerald Airlines, KLM, Easyjet and Logan Air, which provide readily available and comfortable flights, including over 80 weekly flights io the capital city of London and other cities such as Glasgow and Cardiff, where thousands travel weekly for work and leisure; further highlights the kind and efficient nature of all staff in security, front desks, and airline handlers, who go above and beyond to ensure experiences are enjoyable and most important safe for all; and sincerely thanks Belfast City Airport for their contributions and importance to the Northern Ireland travel economy and wishes them every success for the future.

872Service family accommodation maintenance and repair

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Helen Morgan

That this House recognises the role that the armed services play in communities across the country; acknowledges the poor standard of housing that many service people and their families are facing, including at RAF Shawbury and Tern Hill Barracks in Shropshire; notes with particular concern the service family accommodation that the Ministry of Defence have deemed not fit to reach the minimum standard; and urges the Government to review the performance of their contractors Pinnacle, Amey and VIVO and take appropriate action to ensure service level agreements are met, and prevent bonuses being paid to company executives until service levels required by the contracts are being met on a regular basis.

873Attacks on emergency and blue light service personnel

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 1

Mr Gregory Campbell

That this House notes the ongoing and increasing incidence of attacks on police, ambulance, fire service and other personnel who deal with members of the public in life threatening circumstances; deplores all such attacks and calls upon those in judicial positions to impose sentences that will be seen to be a deterrent to such behaviour and reflect the unacceptability of such attacks as wider society; and pays tribute to all those personnel to whom we owe a debt of gratitude and who should have the full protection of the law whenever needed.

Added Names

Below are EDMs tabled in the last two weeks to which names have been added. Only the first 6 names and any new names are included.

835Local government

Tabled: 6/02/23 Signatories: 13

Sir George Howarth

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Rebecca Long Bailey

Carla Lockhart

Jon Trickett

That this House notes the important role of local government in providing services to communities; further notes that, regrettably, councils currently face a funding gap of £3.19 billion; expresses strong concern that the serious depletion of councils’ reserves will lead to vital services being cut; further expresses concern that, as a consequence of energy costs and other inflationary pressures on council budgets, the gap is likely to grow to over £5 billion by 2024-25; and calls on the Government to commit to providing additional resources in order to ensure that local government is properly funded to prevent the problems that will inevitably follow from the funding gap.

837Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Tabled: 6/02/23 Signatories: 15

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Stewart Hosie

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Owen Thompson

Paul Girvan

That this House notes that a powerful earthquake struck south eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, at 04:17 local time, and has killed more than 1,700 people through the night; further notes that thousands of other civilians have been found seriously injured and trapped and that the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck near the city of Gaziantep at a depth of 17.9km; adds that hours later, a second earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.5, hit the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province; underlines that so far over 1,700 people have tragically died in both Turkey and Syria and that seismologists said the first quake was one of the largest ever recorded in Turkey; further underlines the extensive damage to infrastructure, that among the buildings destroyed was Gaziantep Castle and that many victims in war-torn northern Syria were killed in refugee camps in rebel-held areas; sends condolences for each and every loss and urges the Government to make available any assistance possible.

838Celebrating support staff in further education

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 19

Emma Hardy

Jonathan Edwards

Jon Trickett

John McDonnell

Dan Carden

Rachael Maskell

That this House applauds the vital work undertaken by support staff in colleges, who help keep colleges running smoothly and support learners with their further education; recognises the national celebration day, organised by UNISON, which takes place on Friday, 10 February 2023, entitled ‘Champions in our Colleges’; further recognises that college support staff are often hidden behind the scenes and yet are vital to the education of people of all ages; and further recognises that their roles are incredibly diverse, working in classrooms to support learners, in offices completing vital administration, ensuring the college estates are clean and safe, technical roles ensuring that staff and learners have the equipment they need and so much more, and that they play a vital role in every aspect of college life and without them colleges could not run.

839VAT Burn campaign and reform of VAT on sunscreen products

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 20

Amy Callaghan

Patricia Gibson

Douglas Chapman

Jonathan Edwards

Hannah Bardell

Allan Dorans

That this House recognises the need to reform VAT on sunscreen products that provide a health benefit; acknowledges that Government advice to sit in the shade is not enough to protect our skin; supports sunscreen products being defined as a healthcare product, instead of luxury goods; and calls on the Government to initiate an awareness campaign around skin protection in the sun.

84312th anniversary of Bahrain’s pro-democracy uprising

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 18

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Jonathan Edwards

Tim Farron

Claudia Webbe

Rachael Maskell

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House notes the 14 February marks the 12th anniversary of Bahrain’s 2011 Arab Spring pro-democracy uprising that protested over 200 years of the AlKhalifa ruling dictatorship, state repression and structural inequalities, which authorities brutally crushed; raises alarm that Bahrain’s rights record has since deteriorated; decries that opposition leaders, human rights defenders and activists who were wrongfully imprisoned and tortured for their role in this uprising, including Hassan Mushaima, Dr Abduljalil AlSingace and Abdulhadi AlKhawaja, remain behind bars an echoes calls for their immediate and unconditional release; expresses grave concern that hundreds of political prisoners are subjected to medical negligence and discrimination, and calls for their release; expresses concern that AlSingace has been on hunger strike for over 19 months in order to demand the return of his confiscated research; calls on the Government to urge for his research to be given to his family members; decries Bahrain’s 2022 sham elections which were deemed to be the most repressive in 20 years; further decries that Bahrain holds 26 prisoners on death row at imminent risk of execution, many of whom allege torture including Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa; condemns that since 2012 the UK has spent millions in taxpayer money on technical assistance to Bahrain which has failed to lead to demonstrable human rights or democracy improvements, and yet continues the provision of assistance through the Gulf Strategy Fund despite its repeated implications in violations of international law and cross-party calls for its suspension; and reiterates these calls.

845150th anniversary of the Parkhead Congregational Church

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 6

David Linden

Jonathan Edwards

Allan Dorans

Patrick Grady

Chris Law

Peter Grant

That this House congratulates Parkhead Congregational Church on their 150th anniversary; notes that in 1863 twenty scholars and three teachers met in the East End of Glasgow to form a Sunday School, this eventually became the Parkhead Congregational Church; commends the Church for supporting the local community through many historical events over the past 150 years, particularly for supporting their congregation recently with the covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis; and hopes that the Parkhead Congregational Church enjoy a joyful celebration for their 150th anniversary.

847Complaints of sexual harassment at McDonald's restaurants

Tabled: 8/02/23 Signatories: 19

Dawn Butler

John McDonnell

Mary Kelly Foy

Jeremy Corbyn

Kate Osborne

Kim Johnson

That this House recognises the legal agreement under section 23 of the Equalities Act 2006 reached between the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and fast-food giant McDonald’s UK in response to concerns over the handling of complaints by staff of sexual harassment; believes that this vindicates the campaign of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union and McStrike to highlight a toxic culture which has been allowed to persist within the corporation and a number of its franchisees; further believes that whilst the actions to which McDonald’s has committed under the agreement are welcome, no amount of management training and policy statements can compensate for the power differentials between permanent management and workers on zero hours or other casualised contracts; considers that the single most significant step the corporation could take would be accept a voluntary recognition agreement with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union and facilitate access for union organisers to recruit those who wish to be represented by a trade union, to extend rights to workers on part-time and temporary contracts; and supports the demands of the Zero Hours Justice campaign to end the use of zero hours contracts where they are unilaterally imposed and, in the meantime, improve and protect rights for zero hours workers.

848Retirement of Tom Rennie from HM Coastguard

Tabled: 8/02/23 Signatories: 4

Drew Hendry

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Tom Rennie on his recent retirement; recognises that Tom dedicated 21 years of service to HM Coastguard as a station officer in Nairn; commends Tom on becoming one of the founding members of the first HM Coastguard Water Rescue Team, following extensive flooding in the Highlands in the early 2000s; pays thanks to all coastguards for their tireless work keeping communities safe; and wishes Tom a happy retirement.

849Heather Bryson, British Citizen Youth Award Ambassador

Tabled: 8/02/23 Signatories: 5

Drew Hendry

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Peter Grant

That this House congratulates 11 year old Heather Bryson on her recent success at the British Citizen Youth Awards; recognises that Heather was formally announced as a British Citizen Youth Award Ambassador for her work in providing an intergenerational lifeline with her exercise classes for people living with disabilities, community gifting and recycling projects; notes that Heather carries out live Zoom classes for care homes, particularly for those living with dementia; commends Heather's commitment to helping others; and wishes her ongoing success for the future.

850National Lottery funding for Cassiltoun Housing Association

Tabled: 9/02/23 Signatories: 3

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Cassiltoun Housing Association on its £9,220 grant from the National Lottery; notes that this will allow the club to provide art classes for Castlemilk residents who are over 50 years of age to improve their wellbeing; and commends the work of this organisation, along with those across the country, who provide such vital services to their communities.

851National Lottery funding for Castlemilk Community Church

Tabled: 9/02/23 Signatories: 3

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Castlemilk Community Church on received a grant of £98,522 from the National Lottery; recognises that this will fund an outreach programme over the next three years that aims to support newly arrived asylum seekers and refugees with settling into residency in Glasgow South constituency; commends this work, which will support approximately 1,500 individuals with 50 volunteers; and acknowledges the positive impact that this funding will have on allowing Castlemilk Community Church to continue their vital work.

852National Lottery funding for Queen's Park FC Foundation

Tabled: 9/02/23 Signatories: 3

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Queen's Park FC Foundation on receiving a grant of £9,696 from the National Lottery; notes that this funding will allow Queen's Park FC Foundation to deliver four ten-week programmes to older isolated adults living in the south of Glasgow; recognises that Queen’s Park FC Foundation uses sport as a way to improve the health and wellbeing of members of their community; and wishes them all the best in their future projects.

853National Lottery funding for Give A Dog A Bone

Tabled: 9/02/23 Signatories: 3

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Give A Dog A Bone... and an animal a home on their receipt of a £88,000 grant from the National Lottery; recognises that this will allow Give A Dog A Bone to provide chronically isolated and lonely individuals in Glasgow and Troon with the opportunity to make friendships and connections with other members of the community; commends their work with dogs which encourages people to engage with the project and helps them to connect with others, as well as nature; and further recognises the efforts of this organisation and their volunteers who dedicate themselves to supporting communities across Scotland.

854Moira Anderson Foundation 23rd anniversary

Tabled: 9/02/23 Signatories: 5

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

Apsana Begum

Jim Shannon

Peter Grant

That this House congratulates the Moira Anderson Foundation on its 23rd anniversary; recognises the significant work that the foundation undertakes across North Lanarkshire; understands that the service provided by the foundation is essential in supporting victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse; commends and thanks all staff and volunteers for their continuous hard work and dedication; notes that the service continues to successfully support those across the community; and hopes that it continues to do so as the service expands.

855Hoggs of Fife

Tabled: 9/02/23 Signatories: 5

Wendy Chamberlain

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Helen Morgan

Jim Shannon

Peter Grant

That this House congratulates Hoggs of Fife for winning the Rural Enterprise Award from the Scottish Countryside Alliance; notes the imagination and ingenuity that this award recognises; commends Hoggs of Fife for providing high quality clothing for the Fife community since 1888; appreciates the vital importance of local family-owned businesses to local communities; and further appreciates all local businesses for creating local jobs and supporting the local economy.

856Billy Waters bicentenary 2023

Tabled: 9/02/23 Signatories: 6

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Ian Lavery

John McDonnell

Apsana Begum

Stewart Hosie

Jim Shannon

That this House commemorates Billy Waters, the first African American popular performer to become celebrated in Britain, who died on 21 March 1823; notes that he enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1811 during the Napoleonic Wars, was promoted to petty officer, and lost a leg in an accident at sea; notes that he lived in London and started a family but his disabled war-veteran’s pension proved inadequate, and to survive he turned to busking on the street, which was deemed begging and illegal; further notes that wearing a large bicorn-hat with feathers and a judge’s wig, Billy Waters cut a flamboyant and mesmerizing figure, fiddling, singing and dancing with peculiar antics; notes that in his home neighbourhood, the St Giles Rookery, Billy was a well-loved community musician, and became a renowned London character, represented in images by leading Regency-era artists; further notes that in the stage production Tom and Jerry a former clown played the role Billy Waters as a bullying and ludicrous rogue; notes that this racist defamation led Billy to lose his good name, livelihood, and identity; further notes that he was arrested several times for busking, and died a pauper in the St Giles Workhouse; recognises Billy Waters as a British cultural pioneer, an inspiration for BAME, disabled and immigrant communities everywhere, and an early herald of the UK’s thriving Black performing arts community; and applauds the installation of a commemorative plaque on Dyott St where he and his family lived.