Dear John,

Parliament has been in recess over the past week, and I know many readers have been enjoying a well-earned half-term break. But while Westminster has paused, the work in Harrow continues. Over the past week, I’ve been meeting with residents to discuss key local issues, including policing and education.

This Friday, 28th February, I’m excited to be hosting my 9th Annual University Fair at Whitmore High School. Open to all students in Harrow, this event provides a fantastic opportunity to explore university options and future career paths. Over the years, I’ve spoken to many young people who told me this Uni Fair was their first step towards choosing a degree and shaping their future.

I look forward to welcoming students from across Harrow this Friday – please share with anyone you think might be interested!

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, Bluesky, Twitter and Instagram, or if you have an issue you would like to raise with me, contact me on [email protected] or 02072194243.

Two Million Extra NHS Appointments

There’s a long way to go in fixing our public services after 14 years of the Tories, but delighted that the latest statistics out this week show the Labour Government have delivered on the promise of two million more NHS appointments this year seven months ahead of the target.

Figures published by NHS England revealed that between July and November last year, the NHS delivered almost 2.2 million more elective care appointments compared to the same period the previous year.

Waiting lists have fallen by almost 160,000 since Labour took office, compared to a rise of almost 33,000 over the same period the previous year.

Thousands of patients have received vital operations, scans, treatments, and consultations earlier than planned, helping them get back on with their lives and back to work sooner.

Building on this, the government has announced an extra £40 million funding pot for trusts who make the biggest improvements in cutting waiting lists.

Ronan’s Law and Knife Crime

On Wednesday, the Home Office announced stricter rules for online retailers selling knives, as we pursue every avenue to protect young people from knife crime.

Retailers will be required to report any bulk or suspicious-looking purchases of knives to police to prevent illegal resales happening across social media.

We will increase the sentence for selling weapons to under 18s from 6 months to up to 2 years prison time. This increased penalty will also apply to the sale or supply of prohibited offensive weapons such as recently banned zombie-style knives.

A new offence of possessing an offensive weapon with intent for violence – even if the possession is legal – will be introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill, with a sentence of up to 4 years in prison.

Read more about this here ⬇️

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ronans-law-to-see-toughest-crackdown-yet-on-knife-sales-online

Cancer Waiting Times

During World Cancer Day, I met with Radiotherapy UK to discuss the crisis of cancer care in this country and where we need to get to, to ensure the next decade of cancer care is much better than the last decade. I have long campaigned for better access to Modern Radiotherapy, which could immediately reduce waiting lists while delivering faster, more precise, and effective treatment. Yet, despite being needed by 1 in 2 cancer patients and responsible for 40% of cancer cures, access to this life-saving technology remains far too limited.

Lord Darzi’s investigation revealed the scale of the challenge we face to rebuild our NHS including on cancer, with the UK found to have “appreciably higher” cancer mortality rates than other countries. I am pleased the Government is preparing for the future now, developing a ten-year plan for our NHS to ensure it is there for us when we need it for many years to come. But the challenges presented by cancer need a specific approach.

I welcome that the Government will develop a national cancer plan, to be unveiled later this year following the publication of its ten-year plan.

The Government has launched a call for evidence on the plan, to gather the views of patients, doctors, scientists and others on what should be included. You can have your say to support the shaping of the national cancer plan by sharing your experience or ideas here ⬇️

https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/shaping-the-national-cancer-plan/shaping-the-national-cancer-plan?fbclid=IwY2xjawIXBlZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQALhTq6ilyaXOc415jkzvo5zk7yMSlBdjoHSjjujCN3fp6dg3ibC-uzsQ_aem_PUWKmjXBmzE99dVCGKYmQQ

Alongside this, I am pleased the Government will relaunch the children and young people’s cancer taskforce, which will feed into its wider plan. The taskforce will bring together the country’s top experts to set out plans to improve treatment, detection and research for cancer in children.

The government also announced a world-leading trial to transform breast cancer care. Nearly 700,000 women will take part in the trial, testing how cutting-edge AI tools can be used to catch cases earlier. This trial is just one example of how British scientists are at the forefront of transforming cancer care – and further evidence of this Government taking action to bring in the reform our health service desperately needs.

Ukraine Talks in France

University & Apprenticeship Fair - This Friday

As mentioned above - Join Us for Harrow’s Annual University & Apprenticeship Fair!

On Friday, February 28th, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM, I’m proud to host my annual University and Apprenticeship Fair in partnership with the fantastic Whitmore High School.

This event is one of the few in Harrow’s calendar where students from local state schools can connect with representatives from 30 of the UK’s top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. With 63% of Harrow’s students progressing to higher education, this fair provides a valuable opportunity to explore future pathways.

This year, alongside leading universities, we’ll also welcome top companies offering apprenticeship opportunities, giving students a chance to explore alternative career routes.

Don’t miss this opportunity to take the next step toward your future!

Careers Fair

I want to extend a huge thank you to all the local residents who answered my call to get involved with my annual Careers Fair! As well as a big thank you to the brilliant staff at Rooks Heath for their invaluable support facilitating another successful event.

Pupils from Rooks Heath, Avanti House, and schools across Harrow met with representatives from leading organisations such as the NHS, British Airways, and industries spanning law, creative arts, gaming, the Army, technology, and more, including a CV and cover letter workshop from Google. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore a range of career pathways and gain valuable insights into their future ambitions…

I know these conversations about career options couldn’t come at a more pivotal time and will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. Thank you to everyone made the day possible!