Dear John,

I hope this message finds you well and you're keeping cool as the summer heatwave comes to an end. It’s been a busy few weeks with a number of surgeries going on locally, and I’m looking forward to more visits and community events before Parliament’s recess comes to an end.

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.

🚐 Help Keep the Wheels Turning for 1st Roxeth Scouts!

If you support the scouts and love a good Italian dinner - why not join me and help to support the 1st Roxeth Scouts. We’re raising funds to keep their new community van on the road - a shared resource that’s already helping Scout groups and local organisations across Harrow!

| 🎟 Raffle & auction on the night

📅 Date & time: 1st September, 2025 - from 7:30PM

E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] for menu and sign-up

Your support will go a long way in helping Harrow Scouts fuel future camps, trips and community projects. Let’s come together for a great cause!

🚌 The van cost £7,250, with an estimated £1,000 in annual running costs (fuel, insurance, maintenance). Buying it outright has significantly depleted our reserves, so we’re now fundraising to ensure we can continue providing amazing experiences for our young people - and support the wider community too.

Here’s why your support matters:

• 🚐 Newly acquired van now transports equipment to camps and events throughout the year.

• 🤝 Shared resource: It’s also used by other Scout groups across the district.

• ⛪ Supports our community: We help church members at our venue move items when needed.

• 💸 Cost-effective: Owning a van saves repeated hire costs and lets us respond quickly when plans change.

• 🎪 Vital for local events: The van was essential for getting gear to this weekend’s Roxeth Show — without it, we simply couldn’t have taken part.

• 🏘️ Active community presence: From the Pinner Village Show to the upcoming Whitmore Lights Switch-On, the van helps us say “yes” to more opportunities.

🙌 With your support, we can cover the van’s running costs and start rebuilding our equipment fund - making sure local young people continue to enjoy the very best of Scouting.

Join us for the dinner (all meal costs will contribute to the van) and help us keep 1st Roxeth Scouts moving forward. Thank you! 💙

Headstone Village Show Returns – Monday 25^th August

On the historic grounds of Headstone Manor & Museum, join the Headstone Village Show on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August. The Manor is welcoming back Harrow in LEAF to present their 20th Annual Horticultural & Craft Show. Explore the show’s diverse and remarkable entries, culminating in an exciting award ceremony to round off the day.

Wonder across the beautiful grounds of Headstone Manor and discover an array of brilliant FREE entertainment for all ages and be sure to make the most of the delicious food and drink stalls on offer!

Book Tickets here: https://headstonemanor.org/events/headstone-village-show-harrows-diamond-anniversary-special/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMNoJpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHjns4o7Ufv_TKu7bOSqDnz74aeZ_T4WYAeCqdqqeSOLFYeKyAEbIboDN6f3z_aem_oqSJpPcDoDDBeBFoLxu91g

Small Business Strategy

Last month, I was proud to announce our new plan for small and medium sized businesses and I’m glad to see the plan endorsed by business leaders: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/business-leaders-back-the-uk-governments-small-business-plan

The new strategy includes:

🚫 Toughest late-payment laws in 25 years

💷 £4 billion in small business finance, including 69,000 Start-Up Loans

📉 Permanent business rate cuts from 2026

🏬 Improved access to high street premises

✂️ 25% less red tape and faster licensing for hospitality

🚔 13,000 more police officers on the beat

📈 Easier access for small businesses to win government contracts

📘 Read the full plan here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688b1f6f1affbf4bedb7b11d/our-plan-for-small-and-medium-sized-businesses.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawL_Nm9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBSTE0xeWRjY0UzWUxQMVZxAR7B4G6ykNExZZ5lMBiOh0ArsT0RP5V9fgG6qmZhRWnBoa2xb5JJkKy_yR91Rw_aem_xfODECgfpAULi9ziEVfZgQ

Visiting Harrow MS Centre

I had the pleasure of visiting the Harrow MS Therapy Centre, a fantastic local facility supporting people living with Multiple Sclerosis across Harrow and much of north west London.

With over 400 members and around 200 weekly users, the centre provides vital services including physiotherapy and access to a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, helping to improve quality of life for those affected by MS. The team does an incredible job, and they’re now looking to fundraise to upgrade and revamp the facilities - an important step to continue their brilliant work well into the future.

Find out more about the centre and how you can support: https://www.harrowmscentre.co.uk

VJ Day 80

This weekend, 80 years since VJ Day, we honour the courage and sacrifice of the many who fought, were captured, and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Our country will always owe a great debt to those who fought for a better future. Their bravery secured peace for generations to come, and their legacy lives on in the freedoms we enjoy today.

The Prime Minister hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street on Thursday evening to mark VJ Day, welcoming veterans and their families as well as members of the armed forces.

Recognising Palestine

Last month, on Sky News and elsewhere, I made clear my strong support for the international community coming together to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza.

The killing of starving Palestinians trying to get aid is devastating. The horror in Gaza must end - the Israeli Government must be held to account.

As a longstanding supporter of a Palestinian state, I believe that Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people.

As a contribution to a renewed peace process, I welcome that the UK is on a pathway to recognise the state of Palestine in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agrees to a ceasefire, and commits to a long-term, sustainable peace. This includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.

In July, I wrote formally to the Foreign Secretary raising grave concerns about the scale and severity of this crisis. Since then, I welcome that the Prime Minister has been working with our international partners to reach a ceasefire and to develop a credible, comprehensive peace plan.

Ahead of the UN General Assembly in September, the UK Government will assess how far the parties have met these steps. No party will have a veto through either their actions or inactions. This is a political judgment for the UK Government. I welcome that many other countries, such as Canada, are following the UK’s lead.

But recognition by itself will not change the situation on the ground. Like so many people in Harrow, I am deeply horrified by the near-daily reports of Israeli attacks on civilians – including women and children - attempting to access food, water, and healthcare. I utterly condemn the killing of civilians trying to meet their most basic needs.

I therefore support additional UK measures to alleviate the humanitarian situation, including air drops of humanitarian supplies alongside Jordan, and evacuating children from Gaza and into British hospitals. I also continue to support UK aid to the Palestinian Authority and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), whose services for Palestinian refugees remain vital.

Proposals to force the entire population of Gaza into Rafah, effectively imprisoning them, represent a cruel and unacceptable vision. I condemn these plans unequivocally. Permanent forced displacement violates international humanitarian law and must never be permitted.

I continue to support the UK Government’s decision in September 2024 to suspend around 30 arms export licences to Israel following a legal review that found a clear risk these weapons could be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law. This effectively halts military exports that could be used in the conflict.

I also support sanctions against violent settlers, the suspension of trade negotiations with the Israeli Government, and the sanctioning of far-right Israeli ministers who have incited violence. Furthermore, I will always defend the independence of international courts and uphold the UK’s longstanding position that such courts should determine whether genocide has occurred.

The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. I will continue to support efforts to work with our international partners to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza, for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for the immediate release of hostages, and for a surge of aid to Gazans in desperate need.

Met Engage

A brand-new way to stay informed about what your local police are doing in neighbourhoods across Harrow. I have just signed up, you should too.

📲 Get updates directly from your local officers about the issues that matter most to you - from tackling crime to community safety efforts. This will now be the main way the Met shares local updates.

🔗 Sign up here: www.metengage.co.uk

⚠️ Please note: Met Engage is not for reporting crimes.

📞 Call 101 or visit the Met website to report non-emergencies.

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

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