Dear Constituents,

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope you had a happy festive season – however you chose to celebrate – and are having a great start to the new year.

It has been a privilege to speak from the backbenches of Parliament this month, championing issues from climate change to the protection of Ukrainian refugees. Representing Hampstead and Highgate in Parliament continues to be my top priority.

Many of you will have seen that I resigned as City Minister, and I am sad to have left that role. The messages of support from constituents over these last few weeks have been of great comfort to me and I am hugely grateful to all of you who have reached out.

I have spent 10 years as an MP and, before that, five years as a councillor. I have dedicated my working life to being your public servant, and I will continue to do so.

Please do read-on to hear what I have been getting up to over the Christmas period and this month, representing your views in Parliament and in the constituency.

If you have any questions or if there is anything I can do to support you, do get in touch.

Best wishes, 

Tulip Siddiq MP

Member of Parliament for Hampstead and Highgate

Celebrating Christmas in the Constituency

It was lovely to be at the Royal Free Hospital on Christmas day to thank our doctors, nurses, paramedics and all the staff for their incredible service over the holidays – and all year round!

Theft and Phone Snatching

Last week, I met with the Metropolitan Police to hear about the work they are doing to tackle phone thefts and robberies. This is an issue that many constituents have raised with me, and I appreciate the anxiety and distress these thefts have caused.

The Met have told me that an estimated 64,000 smartphones were stolen in 2023, across London – double the number two years previously. These incidents have significant financial and emotional on victims and leave many feeling vulnerable.

The Met are analysing crime data and their undercover officers are targeting known hotspots and repeat offenders. I took the opportunity to stress the need for neighbourhood patrols to act as a visible deterrent against crime, as well as undercover officers. This is an issue that constituents have frequently raised with me in recent months.

Everyone deserves to feel safe and comfortable walking in their community. I will continue to push for action and support the Government in tackling this serious crime. If you have been affected by any incident, and you would like me to raise with the police, please do reach out to my office by email and I will assist you in any way I can.

Protecting Ukrainian Culture

It was great to be back in the Commons, earlier this month, where I had the opportunity to praise constituents who have opened their doors to Ukrainian refugees. Discussing the new UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, I asked the Foreign Secretary what this announcement will mean for Ukrainian refugees in Hampstead and Highgate who have made such a positive cultural impact on the community.

The ninth pillar of the Partnership rightly focuses on strengthening UK-Ukrainian cultural links. In this debate, I stressed the importance of Ukrainian refugees being able to preserve their culture here in Britain. I was pleased to hear the Foreign Secretary agree with me and thank people in the constituency for their help to welcome refugees into the community. You can watch me ask this question in Parliament here.

Strengthening Local Infrastructure  

The destruction caused by Storm Eowyn last week was a stark reminder of the need to protect our infrastructure from more serious storms in the years ahead.

The floods in South Hampstead in 2021 were devastating. The local drainage system could not cope with the extreme rain, and some homes were flooded with water and raw sewage.

However, this devastation was avoidable. With climate change bringing more storms, we need to protect vulnerable residents and fix our water industry. I raised this important issue in Parliament, as the Government conducts its Resilience Review. You can watch my contribution to this debate in Parliament here.

Commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day

Every year, I attend the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at the JW3 centre. I never cease to be moved by the stories of brave survivors and their families, and this year was no different. This was a particularly poignant service as it marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation Auschwitz-Birkenau.

It was a privilege to represent my constituents, alongside other local leaders, to remember the 6 million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust.

As a past board member of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, I believe strongly that we must never forget the horror of the Holocaust, nor the discrimination and persecution that enabled it. We must challenge Antisemitism and all language of hatred. Remembering this horrific chapter in our past is key to ensuring it never happens again. That is why I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust Book, pledging my commitment to this important day.

Community Bulletin

A Message From The Local NHS

We know that the cold weather and surging cases of flu are causing challenges across the constituency.

Our local emergency departments, including UCLH and the Royal Free, and our neighbouring boroughs are under significant pressure, with a high number of flu cases, particularly among children and young people.

Local NHS doctors are reminding us that it’s not too late to get vaccinated.

If you are aged 65 or over; if you’re pregnant, live in a care home, or have certain other health conditions, it’s really important to protect yourself from flu because you are at greater risk of serious illness.

• Flu cases are currently very high in Camden. If you think you or your child may have flu, find out what steps to take: flu symptoms in children and young people and flu advice for adults
• It’s not too late to get vaccinated. If you are eligible for a flu jab, contact your GP or book an appointment at your local community pharmacy. Has your child missed their flu vaccination at school? Find catch up clinics in Camden
• Your GP practice is here to help as usual. We have made additional evening and weekend GP appointments available throughout winter for adults and children across Camden. Find out how to book
• Your local pharmacist can provide expert advice and medicines for minor health conditions – and you don’t need an appointment. Find out about the services pharmacies offer: Think Pharmacy First
• NHS urgent treatment centres can help with urgent, but non-life threatening, injuries or illnesses. This might be sprains and strains, suspected broken bones, injuries, cuts and bruises, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, skin infections and rashes, or high temperatures. Find details of local centres.

Find out more about how to get the care you need from Your Local Health Team.

Financial Support With Your Water Bills 

• From April, water bills are rising. Thames Water is offering additional support for those who are struggling to pay. Some households could receive a discount of 50% on their bills.

To find out if your are eligible and register, click here.

Community Sport and Recreation Awards

• Do you know someone aged 18-30 who has championed a cause within the sport and recreation community? Nominate them for the Community Sport and Recreation Awards: Youth Edition 2025!

There are nine award categories, which reflect the breadth of the contribution young people make to the sport and recreation sector. If you have someone you would like me to nominate, email me and I will be happy to put them forward. To find out more about the event and the available categories, click here.