Tulip Siddiq MP

Member of Parliament for Hampstead and Highgate

Third Anniversary of the Invasion of Ukraine

This week marked the third anniversary of Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine. It marks three years of Hampstead and Highgate helping Ukrainians make our area their home. The compassion of my constituents towards refugees has been moving, and we must not lose this spirit.

In Parliament, MPs came together to show, once again, that we are unified in our support for the Ukrainian people. I spoke in the debate about the plight of young Ukrainian refugees who deserve an education to build their lives upon. A constituent told me that her family’s 18-month Ukrainian visa extension will expire during the middle of her son’s A Levels. I asked the Foreign Secretary what he is doing to ensure these students can finish their education in the UK.

The fight for Ukraine is a fight for democracy, freedom and the rule of law; just as important today as it was three years ago.

Meeting With Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley

This week I met with Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, to hear about what he and his colleagues are doing to tackle crime in London.

I raised issues affecting my constituents, including policing numbers, hate crime and mobile theft. I continue to engage with the Met on a regular basis, so please let me know if there are any issues you would like me to raise.

Protecting Hampstead Post Office

I have been using Hampstead Post Office since I was a teenager. I know how valuable it is to our community. However, the branch is at risk of closure. In a Westminster Hall debate earlier this month, I raised the importance of retaining this local asset.

Constituents use the Post Office to buy stamps, send and return packages, get forms, buy foreign currency and pay bills. Small local businesses rely on it too, to send goods across the country. I am supporting the Heath and Hampstead Society’s campaign to protect local postal services and I will continue to raise this issue in Parliament.

Children’s Advocacy and Mental Health Services

When I was Shadow Early Years Minister, I saw first-hand how early intervention in the children’s care system was deprioritised and underfunded by successive Governments.

In a Westminster Hall debate this month, I raised the issue of too many children in the care system not getting the advocacy support that they need. Advocacy services can be transformative to the lives of vulnerable children, providing them with a trusted and reliable adult who will always be on their side. I urged the Government to ensure that as many referred children receive the support they deserve.

More widely, primary schools are still dealing with the legacy of the pandemic and its impact on attainment. Although, we must not forget about the lasting impact on mental health. That is why, later this month, in the Commons, I asked the Education Secretary to outline her plans to improve children’s wellbeing.

Provision of Youth Services

The redevelopment of Highgate Newtown Community Centre has created a first-class space for local children and their families. It is a fantastic model of the community-centred housing this Labour Government will build over the next five years.

In a Westminster Hall debate, I talked about the vital role community centres play in the provision of youth services. I thanked the team at Highgate Newtown Community Partners for helping this development happen. You can read more about the project, here.

Cracking Down on Extreme Violence

The murder of three young girls in Southport last summer shocked the country to its core. I spoke in the Commons about the need to crack down on social media content that promotes the extremist violence we saw in this attack.

Extremists and those who seek to sow division amongst communities must not be allowed to act with impunity. I therefore urged the Government to work with social media platforms to tackle the growing threat of extremist content being available online.

The BBC at the Royal Free

Earlier this month, the country watched the incredible work of NHS staff at the Royal Free on their TV screens. The BBC spent a day reporting from inside the hospital, and I could not be prouder.

There were stories of success. One patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; it was caught early by doctors, operated on and she is now on the road to recovery. With 85% of pancreatic cancer cases untreatable – this was a brilliant outcome. However, there were also stories of strain. Notably, ageing NHS equipment and the need to improve at-home care. My Labour colleagues and I are doing all we can to fix this.

At the general election, I pledged that this government would deliver two million extra NHS appointments within a year. We have hit this target seven months early. We want to see more cancer success stories, and that is why the Chancellor announced a £70 million investment in new radiotherapy machines to improve treatment at last year’s Budget.

Our Plan for Change doesn’t stop there. Our local health service will be given more funding to deliver prevention programmes, tailored to community-need. The Camden area will receive £32.5 million, and Haringey almost £24.5 million. This is the biggest real-terms increase in local funding in nearly a decade. As your MP, I will keep pushing for greater investment and reform to ensure that staff and patients have an NHS they deserve.