Welcome to my January newsletter
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WELCOME TO MY JANUARY NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year! Refreshed after a lovely Christmas break, I’ve been
back in Parliament, where much attention has been paid to Labour’s
leadership contest. After such a disappointing result at the General
Election, it is imperative Labour moves forward and begins an
ambitious project to regain public trust and return to power. I wrote
this piece
[/cshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/house/house-magazine/108951/gareth-thomas-mp-next-labour]
earlier in the month outlining exactly what I would like in the next
leader of the Labour Party and I will outline a bit of this later in
my e-mail.

As ever, if you want to get in touch about any of the issues covered
here – or anything else – you can arrange an appointment at one of
my regular morning surgeries by calling my office on 0207 219 4243 or
e-mailing me at [email protected] 

ELECTION

[Team Thomas]

Firstly, I must pay a huge thank you to everyone that put their faith
in me and returned me to Parliament to represent the people of Harrow
West. I understand that there are readers for whom Labour was unable
to secure your support this time and I will work tirelessly to ensure
the Labour Party is an electable force, able to win your support back
in five years’ time.

To everyone that knocked on a door and delivered a leaflet in the
freezing cold, picked up a phone, entered data, stuffed an envelope,
donated money, or contributed to the campaign in any other way, thank
you so much for playing your part – you helped buck the national
trend and this will only help the party to regrow moving forward. I
will be in contact later in the week about a thank you party on the
evening of FRIDAY, 7TH FEBRUARY. Please save the date in your
calendar.

LABOUR LEADERSHIP

[Candidates for labour leadership in Liverpool over the weekend]

In my capacity as a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party, I have
nominated Emily Thornberry to go through to the next round of
nominations. Personally, I thought Emily was one of the best
performers of the Shadow Frontbench and it would be good to see her
reach the next round.

Earlier this month I attended the Parliamentary Labour Party hustings
and was impressed by the calibre of all 5 candidates that have cleared
the first hurdle - Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Rebecca
Long-Bailey all providing insightful analyses on our loss and ways to
rebuild, with Keir and Lisa definitely being ones to watch.

In order to get on to the final ballot, the candidates now have to
ensure either the backing of 33 CLPs (constituency Labour Parties) OR
3 socialist societies (including 2 Trade Unions). At this stage, Keir
Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey appear to be the front runners and are
most likely to reach the all member ballot, which will open in
mid-February.

If you are not currently a Labour Party member and would like to play
an important part in deciding our leader for potentially the next 10+
years, you have until 5PM TOMORROW (MONDAY, 20TH) to join and have a
say in the election in April [[link removed]]

MOUNT VERNON HOSPITAL

[Mount Vernon]

Just before I was elected in 1997, the Accident and Emergency service
at Mount Vernon Hospital had closed and there were rumours of efforts
to sell off Mount Vernon to housing developers, with plans to shift
the remaining services to other neighbouring hospitals. Those plans I
was able to stop, thanks in no small part to the superb campaigning
work by the excellent Community Voice, the Pinner Association, Hatch
End Residents’ Association, Headstone Residents’ Associations and
the South Harrow Residents’ Association. Together we successfully
lobbied the health authorities and government ministers.

Now after a decade of neglect by this Tory Government, Mount Vernon,
one of the NHS’s specialist cancer hospitals is under threat of
closure once again. Existing services are expected to move into
central London after a devastating inquiry last year found that the
hospital was so dilapidated and short of doctors and nurses that it
cannot provide modern cancer care or even basic elements of treatment.

Recent answers to my Questions in Parliament have revealed Ministers
don’t know if money will be available to help Mount Vernon.
Ministers cannot confirm they will find the money to keep the Cancer
Centre at Mount Vernon and make the “considerable investment in
buildings, equipment replacement and IT connectivity” to make it fit
for purpose.

It beggar’s belief that six months after publication of Nick Slevin
devastating report, Mount Vernon’s long term future hasn’t been
resolved. Later this week, I will be starting my campaign to ensure
Mount Vernon is fit for purpose. If you support the Government putting
the investment and staff into Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to ensure
that services can be delivered to the highest standard please make
sure you join the campaign. 

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Sent by email from the Labour Party, promoted by Keith Ferry on behalf
of Gareth Thomas, both at 132-134 Blenheim Road, Harrow, HA2 7AA
Website: www.labour.org.uk to join or renew call 0345 092 2299.

                                             
             

The Labour Party, 105 Victoria St Westminster, London, SW1E 6QT, United Kingdom
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