It’s my first update of 2025, so here’s wishing you and your
family the very best in the year
ahead. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏


Dear John,

 

It’s my first update of 2025, so here’s wishing you and your
family the very best in the year ahead. I’ve just wrapped up my
first surgery of the year, assisting residents with a variety of
important cases, and it’s already been a busy start in Westminster
as well.

 

CAREERS FAIR FINAL REQUEST: DO YOU WORK IN HOSPITALITY, CREATIVE/MEDIA
OR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY?

My annual Careers Fair is being held with Rooks Heath School on
THURSDAY, 23RD JANUARY AND We are still in need of voices to speak
with Harrow students about careers in these industries! Please get in
touch with me on [email protected] if you can support on
the day.

 

We’ve just confirmed a Google CV-building workshop will be returning
to the Fair for Harrow students. This is open to all Harrow schools -
so parents/students please get in touch with your teachers to get you
on the list.

 

Below is my newsletter covering some of my work in Parliament and
locally in Harrow too – as always, throughout the year, you can find
regular updates from me on FACEBOOK
[[link removed]], BLUESKY,
[/gareththomasmp.bsky.social] TWITTER
[[link removed]] and INSTAGRAM
[[link removed]], OR IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE
YOU WOULD LIKE TO RAISE WITH ME, CONTACT ME ON
[email protected] OR 02072194243.

 

PARLIAMENT

CHILDREN'S WELLBEING AND SCHOOLS BILL

 

This week in Parliament, I was proud to vote for the Children’s
Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This Bill is the single biggest piece of
child protection legislation in a generation and this Bill will put
our vision of a child-centred government into action by:

 

🍎 STOPPING CHILDREN FROM FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS

Implementing landmark reforms in safeguarding and children’s social
care.

Introducing a mandatory register of children not in school – warmly
welcomed by schools and teachers across the country.

 

📈 RAISING SCHOOL STANDARDS

Enacting common-sense reforms to ensure more qualified, expert
teachers are in classrooms.

Delivering a cutting-edge curriculum that prepares children for the
future.

 

🎒 MAKING EDUCATION AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES

Providing free breakfast clubs for all pupils.

Capping the number of branded school uniform items to save parents
money.

 

The Conservative Party opposed this Bill. They did so putting forward
an amendment saying this was because it did not announce a new inquiry
into child sexual exploitation. This is despite the fact that when in
Government they themselves commissioned the Independent Inquiry into
Child Sexual Abuse.

 

The 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in
England and Wales, led by Professor Alexis Jay OBE, lasted seven
years, heard from more than 6,000 victims and cost £186.6 million. It
made 20 important recommendations on addressing systematic failure and
enhancing child protection. It also included a specific national
inquiry into Child Exploitation by Organised Networks, which lasted
two years alone.

 

This government is acting fast to implement the key recommendations on
enhancing child protection from Professor Alexis Jay’s 2022 national
inquiry, which the previous government failed to implement in full.

The time for talking on this issue passed long ago. Only meaningful
action will suffice now.

 

This government will make it mandatory to report abuse, and we will
put the measures in the crime and policing bill that will be put
before parliament this spring, making it an offence with professional
and criminal sanctions to fail to report or cover up child sexual
abuse.

 

We will also establish a victims and survivors panel to oversee
reforms and make grooming an aggravating factor in child sexual
offences

 

Labour are getting on with delivering the real reforms this country
needs – not pretending to stand up for victims they’ve
consistently let down over 14 years in government.

 

 

ELECTIVE REFORM PLAN TO REDUCE NHS WAITING LIST

🏥 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐇𝐒
𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬

 

We inherited a broken NHS, with millions of people languishing on
waiting lists. Their lives on hold. This week, the Government set out
our plan to cut down NHS waiting lists, tackling the hospital backlog,
and getting people the treatment they need faster.

 

The Elective Reform Plan sets out a new, whole-system approach to
tackling the backlog and hitting the 18-week referral to treatment
target by the end of this Parliament.

 

We’re creating half a million more appointments by opening Community
Diagnostic Centres for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Increasing
same-day tests so that patients aren’t waiting weeks between care,
and creating 14 new surgical hubs in hospitals by June of this year.
Under the plan, by the end of 2026, 65% of all patients will be
treated within 18 weeks.

 

The NHS should work around patients’ lives, not the other way
around, and these reforms will enable the NHS to be there for us when
we need it once again.

 

🔍 You can read more about the plan here:
www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-sets-out-plan-to-end-waiting-list-backlogs-through-millions-more-appointment
[[link removed]]

 

SANCTIONS REGIME

 

On Thursday, the Foreign Secretary launched a world-first sanctions
regime to cripple people-smuggling crime rings.

 

As the world’s first standalone sanctions regime dedicated to
targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime, it will
allow the UK to target individuals and entities enabling dangerous
journeys. Criminal networks are making huge profits exploiting
vulnerable people, including through dangerous sea crossings across
Europe. 

 

The announcement forms part of the government’s Plan For Change to
bring back control of the immigration system, smash the gangs, reduce
small boat crossings and secure our borders.

 

The Prime Minister spoke with police officers dealing with illegal
migration gangs on a visit to the City of London Police Headquarters.

 

CALLING ALL MALE CARERS - VISIT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Calling all registered male carers of Harrow - Join a special visit
and discussion at the House of Commons! Email [email protected]
or call 0208 868 5224

 

This is exclusively for registered male carers. If you're a carer
living in Harrow and wish to join, please register using Harrow Carers
online form: [link removed]

 

Promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party, Labour Central
Kings Manor, Newcastle, NE1 6PA, United Kingdom

UNSUBSCRIBE
[[link removed]]



Promoted by Hollie Ridley on behalf of the Labour Party, Labour Central Kings Manor, Newcastle, NE1 6PA, United Kingdom
[link removed]