Dear John,

As we head into the final week before the Easter long weekend, there’s a sense of renewal and spring in the air. The past month has seen some of the holiest dates in the calendars of the three Abrahamic faiths, with Eid arriving at the beginning of the month, followed by Passover and Easter next week. To our Jewish neighbours in Harrow, wishing you a joyful and meaningful Passover. It’s also been a pleasure to celebrate Holi with Harrow’s Hindu community - a festival full of colour, joy and togetherness.

Whether you’re planning time with family, organising an Easter egg hunt, or simply enjoying a well-earned break, the longer, lighter days and 7:30pm sunsets feel especially welcome. However you spend the coming days, wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful and restful Easter break.

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

Parliament Recalled

Today, Parliament is being recalled for an extraordinary session for MPs to debate draft legislation to protect the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe. Parliament has been recalled only a few times in my career, the first I can recall during September 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, this was followed by tributes made to the Queen Mother in 2002, tributes made to Jo Cox MP in 2016, to debate the UK-EU Trade agreement in 2020 and to discuss Covid-19 restrictions in 2021. 

Today, parliament will be recalled to debate the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill. The Bill provides the government with the power to direct steel companies in England, which we will use to protect the Scunthorpe site. It enables the UK government to preserve capability and ensure public safety. It also ensures all options remain viable for the future of the plant and the livelihoods it supports. After years of neglect, I'm proud that this Labour government is stepping up where Conservative governments walked away. We’re recalling Parliament to vote on emergency powers to bring British Steel into public ownership - to protect jobs, secure our industrial future, and stop the managed decline of a vital national asset.

West Harrow Park Turns 100!

Happy 100th birthday to West Harrow Park- one of our borough’s best green spaces! A new mural is now complete, and a fantastic year of centenary events is ahead. I’m looking forward to many of the festivities and I will be writing again soon following a special campaign to mark the 100^th Birthday bringing in the local community – save the dates below:

The Roxeth Show Revival - Saturday 12th July

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠! 🎉 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡

A group of local residents and businesses in South Harrow are reviving The Roxeth Show for a special day at Roxeth Recreation Ground! 🎈 Join the Roxeth Show in South Harrow as we celebrate music, food, and culture with an unforgettable community event for all the fam. Stay tuned for more details and please sign up & get involved with entertainment or a stall: https://forms.gle/ZP96ueFiJLVm64ig9

Follow The Roxeth Show on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572225744417

Good News this Weekend - NHS Waiting Lists fall for 6 Month in a Row

Labour promised 2 million more NHS appointments a year. We've now delivered 3 million in just 9 months.

After years of waiting lists going up under the Conservatives, they are coming down with Labour - cut by 219,000 so far.

After a successful campaign, we also have a £20m new unit to cut A&E waiting times at Northwick Park, and work to improve dentistry and GP services underway.

It's worth noting that the Conservatives and Reform voted against the extra NHS funding which has brought down waiting lists.

This is very far from job done, but Labour is getting our NHS back on its feet.

At the same time, within weeks of taking office, we said we’d employ 1,000 more GPs onto the frontline by the end of March.

Happy to report by cutting red tape and investing more in our NHS, Labour has recruited 1,503 extra GPs into surgeries, to deliver more appointments and better care for patients. 👨‍⚕️🩺

This doesn’t mean it’s ‘job done’ - there’s loads to do. But we are turning the tanker and the NHS is going in the right direction.

Wealdstone Action Weekend

My thanks to Sergeant Rose, local residents, and community groups for some really constructive conversations across Wealdstone last weekend. I’m pleased to see Wealdstone police successfully securing Home Office funding to take a more targeted approach to tackling anti-social behaviour along the high street and surrounding roads. It’s great to see partnership and proactive action in motion.

Following the recent boundary review, the whole Wealdstone area now falls into the Harrow West constituency. Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with local Police, Councillors, Churches, Temples, Mosques, Traders, and residents to help understand the community’s concerns better. My next coffee morning will take place in the summer will have representatives of Harrow Parks Forum, Wealdstone police, Harrow Litter Pickers and more and you’re invited to join us. Sign up for the next one here: https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/plan-for-wealdstone/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJmgwNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHozsq8U3JYxe2s9RkixVHIuC1JxFy4ZgpLvlgV8impuRwYLwFx99LTIpi3uR_aem_d0cduaQ-bZlVpCiZRZ_OzA

Petition for Step-Free Access at South Harrow Station

It was a pleasure to introduce my resident and friend, Majib, to the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, Seb Dance, alongside Krupesh Hirani AM and a few of South Harrow’s excellent traders. Many of you will remember that last summer, my work experience team and I joined Majib’s campaign, collecting hundreds of signatures in support. He was able to explain the importance of step-free access, following the success of similar campaigns at Sudbury Hill, Harrow-on-the-Hill, and Northolt stations.

I was pleased to bring the Deputy Mayor to Majib to strengthen our case for much-needed accessibility improvements. For years, the steep steps at South Harrow have made travel impossible for wheelchair users, parents with prams, and older residents.

With a new fleet of Piccadilly Line trains currently being tested in Ruislip for delivery this year, I’m determined to ensure ALL residents can benefit from a fully accessible transport network. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if step-free access allowed Majib and so many others to board these sleek new trains with ease?

📢 Let’s keep the momentum going! Sign the petition & help make South Harrow step-free: https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/petition-step-free-access-for-south-harrow-station/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJmddRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHqnsje1iQsPq2MQQuGbgZdIEx2oYCPXipose_xnZcTSj41OfvDdUgfk9xyI2_aem_OUYlSMG-H-k-SB8oxpPUuw

Employment Rights Bill

The Employment Rights Bill has passed last month, marking the biggest improvement in workers’ rights in a generation. Key reforms include:

✅ Day-one rights for all workers

✅ Stronger parental leave protections

✅ Expanded sick pay coverage

✅ A ban on fire & rehire and exploitative zero-hours contracts

Labour promised a New Deal for Working People - and we’re delivering!

Shaftesbury School Visit

As always, a joy to deliver my letters and get a grilling from some of the amazing students of Shaftesbury School who have written to me over the past year!

Many of you will know that our campaign for a new SEND school in Harrow required a lot of support over recent years. It wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated headteachers from Shaftesbury and Alexandra Schools, who joined me in Westminster to push for much-needed investment.

Last week, the Government announced £740 million in funding to help local authorities expand specialist units in mainstream schools, adapt existing provisions, and create new places in special schools for pupils with SEND.

This investment will mean more children can learn, achieve, and thrive at a school close to home, surrounded by their families.. With fewer than 1 in 10 mainstream schools currently offering SEN units or resourced provision, this marks a real turning point for many families.

Alongside this, Labour is investing an additional £1 billion to create 44,500 new mainstream school places by 2028 - ensuring we meet both current and future demand across the country.

A major step forward for our schools, our children, and their futures!

New Neighbourhood Police Officers

The Prime Minister announced this week, 3,000 new neighbourhood police officers by the start of next year.

This is the first step of this government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will put 13,000 more officers into communities by 2029 – an increase of more than 50%.

There will also be a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead in every force, working with residents and businesses to develop tailored action plans to tackle antisocial behaviour, which is blighting communities. A new government bill, which I voted for will also grans our police and councils stronger powers to tackle crime. This, alongside my continued push for more police resources in our neighbourhoods, is a step towards making Harrow safer.

Holi at Welldon Park

A fantastic first-ever Holi party at Welldon Park Academy! Huge thanks to the teachers, governors, parents, and-most importantly- the pupils for making it such a wonderful celebration.

Remembering Bill Ashton - A Champion for Youth Jazz

The passing of Bill Ashton, founder of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, is a great loss. His Harrow home nurtured generations of musical talent, from Amy Winehouse to Guy Barker. If anyone has photos from our campaign to save the Rayners Pub, where jazz thrived, please share them with me.

Iftar at Harrow Central Mosque

Joining friends for Iftar at Harrow Central Mosque was a reminder of the strength of our diverse community. Sharing meals and conversations during Ramadan highlights the power of unity and togetherness. Ramadan Mubarak to all observing!

Supporting UK Exports – Inciner8’s New Facility

It was an honour to open Inciner8’s new facility and meet CEO Darren Spencer, an Export Champion whose company provides clean-air waste incineration solutions globally.

Developing Gujarati Language & Culture

I had the privilege of delivering the keynote speech at the National Consortium for Languages Education’s Gujarati Conference. With GCSE Gujarati numbers in decline, it’s vital we preserve and promote this rich language for future generations.

UK Sanctions on Human Rights Violators in Sri Lanka

After years of campaigning for human rights in Sri Lanka, I’m proud that the UK has sanctioned figures responsible for serious human rights violations during the civil war. More details here: UK Government Statement.