Tulip Siddiq MP Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate
Dear Constituents,
I hope you have been able to enjoy some of this month’s very welcome sunshine.
The past few weeks have been busy for me in Parliament and in the constituency. In particular, I have been focusing on fighting the closure of the maternity unit at the Royal Free hospital in our constituency. It is a decision that will impact vulnerable women and leave an enormous gap in health care provision in our area. To voice your objection, click here.
In addition, I’ve been raising issues of importance in Parliament about the delay in ambulance response times, hate crime, children’s use of social media and the potential closure of Hampstead Post Office which I’ve been using since I was a teenager.
This month, the Chancellor delivered the Spring Statement in Parliament where she outlined key measures to grow the economy. I was delighted to hear that NHS waiting lists are down five months in a row and the national living wage will be giving 3 million people a pay rise this week.
My thoughts are also with those who have been affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The death and destruction in Gaza is intolerable. The UK and France have called for a Security Council meeting at the UN on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and protection of aid workers.
In the constituency, I attended an informative meeting with our neighbouring MP, Georgia Gould, to hear about the community-led research into how we can improve Kilburn for the most vulnerable. I also had the pleasure of meeting the student council of Highgate Primary School. I am always proud to see young people in my constituency keen to make a difference to their community. If you are a parent or teacher and would like me to visit your school, please do get in touch.
This month I was also honoured to be named as one of the 100 influential women in Westminster. It was lovely to attend the celebration event in Parliament, alongside so many amazingly strong women in the Speaker’s House. Although, we did notice there were no paintings of women on the walls – only men. There is clearly still much more work to do!
Please do read on to find out more about what I have been doing to voice your interests in Parliament and in the constituency.
Best wishes,
Tulip Siddiq MP
Member of Parliament for Hampstead and Highgate
Royal Free Maternity Unit
As some of you may know, last week, local health chiefs decided that our much beloved maternity and neonatal unit at the Royal Free Hospital should be closed. I am devastated.
Having given birth to two children at the Royal Free, I know how life-saving specialist services, unavailable at other local hospitals, will be negatively impacted.
When I was receiving care in the maternity unit, doctors helped me with gestational diabetes. Staff also told me that the ward is uniquely placed to support those with HIV and those who require interventional radiology. The Royal Free is the only local provider that offers this life-changing treatment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
I fear that that this decision could widen existing health inequalities and put women’s lives at risk. I raised my concerns with the Health Secretary in the House of Commons this week. To voice your objection, click here.
Hampstead Post Office
Hampstead Post Office provides vital banking services for elderly and vulnerable constituents and local businesses. I spoke to the Post Office Minister, Gareth Thomas MP, to directly raise constituents’ concerns set out in the Heath and Hampstead Society’s letter that I signed with others. I will continue to champion our local assets and monitor this specific case closely.
Tackling Antisemitism
Hampstead and Highgate has eight synagogues, the country’s largest Jewish cultural centre, and a vibrant Jewish community. I was therefore horrified to see reports of rising antisemitism on NHS wards, with many constituents having reached out to me, sharing their anxiety of using the health service.
Ukraine
I am incredibly proud of the strong and unwavering leadership the Prime Minister has shown in support of Ukraine in recent weeks. I passed on the gratitude of hundreds of Ukrainian refugees living in Camden during his statement to MPs about ceasefire negotiations
International Women’s Day: Standing up for Women at Home and Abroad
I was appalled to read that the day before Kyle Clifford murdered three innocent women, he listened to Andrew Tate’s podcast. Tate is a self-described misogynist. Misogynistic media content puts young women’s lives at risk. I believe social media companies need to take some responsibility for the dangerous content that is amplified on their platforms. During the International Women’s Day debate in Parliament, I spoke about the need to tackle this important issue. Click here to read my article in the CNJ and watch my contribution to the Parliamentary debate, here.
Promoting Reading for Pleasure
Growing up in the 1980s, I had my head buried in books. My imagination ran wild, and my creativity blossomed. Today, nine in ten children will own a smartphone by the age of 11. Reading for pleasure, meanwhile, has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 2005.
Promoting Ethnic Diversity in the Workplace
Increasing diversity in the workplace is pro talent and pro growth. With only 4% of financial services firms disclosing their ethnicity pay gap, I was disappointed to see the regulators roll back on their proposals to tackle this.
Women from an ethnic minority and lower socio-economic background are 33 times less likely to be found in a senior job in financial services, compared white men from higher socio-economic backgrounds. Put simply, we are not utilising all the talent available to us. I raised my concerns about this in Parliament with the Equality and Opportunity Ministers.
Improving Ambulance Services
Late last year, I received an email from a constituent who had been left stranded with a broken leg on Highgate Golf Course for multiple hours. The local ambulance service did not rescue him. This is unacceptable. I raised his case with the Government to ensure that such serious incidents are responded to appropriately. I have been assured that steps are being taken to prevent this from happening again.
Community Bulletin
Kilburn State of Mind Cafe
I am excited to share that the Kilburn State of Mind Cafe will be reopening on 5th April 2025, providing, once again, an inclusive and welcoming space for the Kilburn community.
Their café has always been more than just a place for coffee—it serves as a hub for social connection, learning, and support.
As a critical source of income, every coffee, cake, and conversation helps fund free IT/computing and music training, and other community projects.
The team have set up a JustGiving campaign where donations will directly fund the cafe’s operations and help them restock and buy essential equipment to reopen.
Any support is greatly appreciated!
Donate Here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ksomcafereopening?utm_medium=CA&utm_source=CL
Or head over to the JustGiving website and search for Kilburn State of Mind
National Youth Strategy
The Government is creating a new ten-year National Youth Strategy to tackle the challenges for this generation of young people and ensure that every young person can thrive.
The National Youth Strategy will bring power back to young people and their communities and improve youth focused services, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach from Government.
ASDA Foundation – Community Funding
Grants are now available from the Asda Foundation, aimed at helping grassroots groups to groups to support young people between the ages of 13 and 21. Up to £500,000 is available across the UK and organisations can find more information on how to apply here: https://asdafoundation.org/our-grants/young-futures-fund/
Guidance for Groups
This funding can be used by groups to host safe spaces for young people to be together, or to support a range of other activities or programmes that are aimed at improving physical health and wellbeing. Funding is available to groups who meet at least one of the following objectives:
- Provide services that support, educate and empower.
- Connect young people to their peers.
- Support rehabilitation and recovery and provide shelter.
- Deliver activities / programmes that improve physical health and wellbeing.
If you are a young person or work closely with young people, have your say here www.iwill.org.uk/NYS-Deliver-You/