MP’s UPDATE FOR BRENTFORD AND ISLEWORTH Residents May 2023

If you would like to raise issues with me as your MP Please email on [email protected] with your address, a quick summary of the issue (and relevant reference numbers).   

 

See my Web page for information on local and national services.

Illegal Migration Bill

 

I opposed the Government's latest attack on asylum seekers and refugees in the votes on the “Illegal Migration” Bill at its 3rd reading. The bill is now on its way to the Lords. If passed into law this terrible legislation will undermine the UK’s historic commitment to provide asylum to those with a legitimate claim because they are fleeing war, persecution and discrimination.

 

We have a proud history of helping those in need; from the Huguenot protestants fleeing France in the 1600s, Jews fleeing the pogroms in Russia, to those who’ve been forced out of Syria and Afghanistan and many more parts of the world besides.   Even Conservatives like Theresa May criticised the Government for their cruel approach to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.  I know from the dozens and dozens of emails I’ve had from people locally that they oppose this bill, and I will continue to oppose it when it comes back to the Commons.

In the Chamber

(a short list as half of April was the Easter Recess)

At an Urgent Question session on violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, I condemned the Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians over the recent weeks and months, and asked whether the UK Govt has raised this issue with the Israeli Government.

I used Transport Questions to tackle the Government on its inconsistent approach to its clean air policies.   I asked why they refuse to provide funding for the London Mayor’s ULEZ scrappage scheme to support those needing to replace a non-compliant vehicle - despite the fact they are providing funding for other cities like Birmingham.

 

A further Interim Report on the Infected Blood Inquiry enabled me to ask the Paymaster General if the scheme will be up and running by the end of 2023, as was recommended by the inquiry report. Too many affected people and their families have already been waiting too long for justice

Parliamentary Events

I welcomed local Young Carers to Parliament – their support programme is provided by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust which includes one-to-one mentoring, after school clubs, day trips and more.

At Transport Committee I challenged the Secretary of State Mark Harper on the cuts to cycling and walking budgets so soon after the Government created Active Travel England. This agency was set up to deliver safe alternatives to vehicle travel across the country. 

 

Then in a session on the anti-strike Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, I pushed the Rail Operators to admit that they had not sought this draconian legislation, and furthermore had no idea how to implement it if it becomes law.

I spent two days in Paris attending the OECD Parliamentary Network with Parliamentarians from across the world.   Our cross-party UK delegation discussed the global economic outlook, labour market challenges, different approaches to carbon mitigation, gender equality in politics, combating mis-and dis-information, and promoting integrity in elections.   The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) is essentially the “club” of 38 developed democracies founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.  It provides a wealth of high-quality comparative analysis of economic and policy trends. 

We also sat down with the team from the “UK desk” going over their biennial snapshot into the UK’s current situation. Published before Truss’s disastrous stint as PM it nevertheless had some messages for those of us who are hoping to be in Government before too long; inadequate public-sector investment,  too high levels of poverty due to low benefit payments, and high levels of regional inequality. 

 

I was re-elected as co-chair of APPG on Airport Communities – set up to oppose Heathrow expansion.

Seema Malhotra and I hosted Hounslow Council’s Cabinet members in Parliament to brief them on our work and discuss ways we can work closely together on behalf of the borough’s residents.

With other MPs it was wonderful to celebrate Vaisakhi in the Speaker’s House, and meet Sikh constituents who attended.

Access to Transport for disabled people is one of the Inquiries we are running on the Transport Committee. To get a better understanding of the issue, I spent a half day with Alan and Claire from Transport for All, who showed me the challenges they face travelling round London by bus, tube and train.  As a wheelchair user Alan feels Transport providers have made progress in making life easier for wheelchair users, though there is still more to do.  However, for autistic people such as Claire, most providers don’t even have a tick-box for neuro-diverse passengers, let alone understand and provide for their needs.  What I learned is that often, solutions are not necessarily costly or complex. 

COMMUNITY UPDATE

In the first of what I hope will be regular walking tours in the constituency with ward Councillors and local residents, Cllr Karen Smith showed me the extent of rubbish in and around the Duke of Northumberland River in the Woodlands area. It is apparent that the Environment Agency could do more about the situation in the river and on its banks, and Hounslow Council could do more to clear up rubbish on the roads and paths.

Hounslow Foodbox Community Garden I joined volunteers and local councillors at the Foodbox community garden. Along with Hounslow Mayor Cllr Raghwinder Siddhu I planted an apple tree, which came from the council’s tree scheme.

 

The veg plots will provide fresh local-grown fruit & veg for food parcels this year.  As always if you can donate time, items or money to Hounslow Foodbox it can make a huge difference for people locally.

Sri Lankan New Year: We celebrated Sinalha and Tamil New Year at a wonderful event of sport and dance organised by the Janahanda Foundation. After the tug-of-war we had Sri Lankan and Polish dances from the children.

The Hanuman Hindu Temple in Brentford had a visit from their spiritual leader, H.H Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji  to celebrate his 80th birthday.  It was a pleasure to meet him, and the many worshippers who had come to hear his wisdom.

I sponsor Brentford FC manager Thomas Frank’s match-day kit (the funds go to Brentford FC Community Sports Trust).  Along with other kit sponsors I was able to watch a training session, to meet the legendary Peter Gilham (club ambassador) and of course, star manager, Thomas.

Park Road Allotments: The Planning Inspectorate have bowed to pressure from me, Councillors and Hounslow’s planners and decided to hold the Park Road allotments appeal as a full Public Inquiry, rather than by written appeal.  This will ensure the Duke of Northumberland will have to publicly defend his application to build housing on this valuable community and environmental resource.  I was shocked the Inspectorate did not make the decision in the first place as their criteria clearly require that an appeal against refusal in a case of such complexity but also public interest should be via full Public Inquiry.

Chiswick Calendar Art Exhibition is showing work by local artists at the Clayton Hotel in Chiswick.  Catch it while you can.  Many of the pieces are for sale.

West London Chambers of Commerce held a briefing for local small businesses on trading with India, where I spoke about the UK’s trade relationship with India, and the potential UK/India Trade deal.

I attended the unveiling of the W4th plinth at Turnham Green Terrace with Andy Slaughter MP, local Councillors and community organisations.

Chosen from hundreds of entries, the winner is Christina Scheks' 'Ceiling in the Sky.' National treasure, actress Siân Phillips did the honours.

I also awarded Abundance London‘s annual prize for guerrilla gardening to 17 year-old Sam for his plots on Wellesley Road.  We also had uplifting entertainment from Chiswick school students

Boston Manor Residents Association is of and for residents of a large area straddling the Hounslow/Ealing boundary.  Cllr Guy Lambert and I attended their AGM and heard what matters to the community (crime and policing, phone masts and litter, as well as the works to Boston Manor park).

In November 2021, 21 year-old student and basketball coach Ali Akubar Ali was stabbed to death in Brentford and local grandmother Betty Walsh was injured. This was a random attack by a man found to be not fit to plead. The attack had a profound effect on the victims' families, friends and neighbours (as well as on Betty herself, of course).  Nail Adam was working in the police call centre that evening, and coincidently his brother is friends with Ali’s older brother Hassan. As an aspiring film-maker, Nail has made a film featuring Hassan called “Baby Brother”.  I was honoured to be invited to the launch of the film at the BFI – before it features in film festivals later this year.

I was shocked to hear from residents that the footbridge over the tracks that links the Strand on the Green area with the rest of West Chiswick is to be closed for replacement with virtually no notice having been given, and no consultation with residents or notification to Hounslow Council.  This meant there was no chance to consider that this work could be best done over the school holidays, and no chance to consider the design from the perspective of personal safety and on accessibility. I have written to Network Rail expressing my concern about their lack of communication and seeking consultation on the design.

Finally, Crime and Policing continue to be a concern for constituents. I meet Ch Supt Sean Wilson monthly and am pleased that we now have a Borough lead for Neighbourhood Policing, Supt Anil Puri.  Although the Government has now released funding to increase police numbers back to the level they were before “Austerity”, there is a recruitment challenge.  I have again raised with Sean constituents’ concerns about the inadequate response to victims of burglary and car theft, and of racial profiling with Stop & Search.  Following concerns raised by residents in Osterley, I have also written to Hounslow’s Cabinet Member for Safety regarding anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and fly tipping. 

 

Because it is such a priority issue, I want to hear from residents locally about your experience of crime locally, and what you want to see done better to tackle crime and protect victims.

 

Please do fill out my survey & share with any friends or family in the constituency.

 

 

With best wishes to all readers  – and do let me know what you think of these updates!

Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP