Dear Constituents,

Israel-Iran Conflict

I have received several emails from constituents who travelled to Israel or Iran for personal reasons but were unable to get back to London because of the escalating conflict. Some constituents told me that they were facing a daily cascade of missiles and were in serious danger. Throughout this time, I have been raising their cases with the Foreign Secretary in Parliament, calling the FCDO officials for updates, and have supported constituents with securing repatriation flights.

Pushing for Stronger Diplomatic Pressure on the Israeli Government  

The situation in Gaza is intolerable and Israel’s obstruction of aid is inhumane. This is a deliberate choice that flies in the face of international law. Last month, the UK Government was clear; if Israel does not cease its renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, the UK will take further concrete actions in response. I am pleased the UK has sanctioned two Israeli ministers for their extremist rhetoric, alongside  Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. In Parliament, I called for even stronger international pressure on the Israeli Government to ensure aid reaches Gaza and no more Palestinians starve. You can watch my question, here.

Since then, IDF soldiers have continued to kill scores of Palestinian civilians queuing for food and water. These egregious actions leave Palestinians with the horrific choice of dying from starvation or risk being killed while seeking aid. I continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and the urgent provision of UN aid.

Standing up for the Royal Free Maternity Unit

I convened a meeting between clinicians from the Royal Free Hospital and the Health Minister, Karin Smyth, last week. Dr. Wright and Dr. Ali represented many Maternity Department and Royal Free specialists who are involved in care of complex pregnancies. The doctors were clear – the closure of the maternity and neonatal unit is the wrong decision. It will increase health inequalities, reduce access to specialist care and potentially put lives at risk.

Clinicians have tried repeatedly to raise their patient safety and health inequity concerns, but feel they have not been heard, and have certainly have not been reassured. Doctors and patients must have their voices heard, and I will support them every step of the way.

Protecting Neighbourhood Police Funding 

Stabbings don’t just impact us physically; they undermine community spirit. I am lucky to have Kilburn High Road in my constituency, but the recent incidents of knife crime have been intolerable. I raised this in my speech in Parliament, earlier this month. I stressed that the Government’s Policing Guarantee could not come sooner, and its funding must be protected.

Furthermore, in the days after this terrible spike in violence, I thanked One Kilburn for their work to bring community together. I also met with local police to raise the concerns of constituents about the worrying rise of retail theft and knife crime. My thoughts are with those affected by these incidents and I will continue to work closely with the police on these matters.

Hampstead Post Office is Saved!  

Two weeks ago, I convened a meeting with the new Postmaster of the Hampstead Post Office, Elliot Jacobs, with The Heath & Hampstead Society and the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum. Elliot set out his plans for the Hampstead Post Office. It was reassuring to hear his commitment to the community that current levels of service will be maintained, with a seven day a week service coming in 2026. I will continue to work closely with constituents and the new postmaster to ensure these vital services are available in Hampstead for years to come.

Tackling Inequity in ADHD Diagnosis   

The waiting time for an ADHD diagnosis is too long. However, some marginalised communities don’t even know where to start. I see this in my casework, day-in, day-out, where parents appeal to the wrong organisations for advice and information. Ultimately, their children end up on the waiting list for even longer. I spoke in Parliament and called on the Government and local authorities to work together to provide targeted information to marginalised groups, so that children do not fall even further behind their privileged peers.

Remembering Jo Cox MP  

I was honoured to attend The Great Get Together in Parliament in memory of Jo Cox. Jo believed “we have more in common than that which divides us” — a message that feels more important than ever. Having two ex-Prime Ministers, the Chancellor and the Home Secretary in the same room to celebrate my friend Jo Cox is huge testament to her legacy.

Visiting Local Schools

It was wonderful to visit two schools in my constituency, Gospel Oak School and Channing School. I had the pleasure of judging a debate on banning smartphones for under 16s with children from St Joseph’s Islington who have been learning debating skills at Channing. It is wonderful to see children growing their confidence and life skills through learning about politics and the art of debate.

Community Bulletin

Santander Community Banker 

Following the closure of their Kilburn branch, Santander is introducing a Community Banker locally to provide face-to-face support for customers. Their Community Banker will be available on Wednesdays between 9:30 and 16:30 from Wednesday 18th June at Abbey Community Centre, 172 Belsize Road, London, NW6 4BJ.

Met Engage 

The Met Engage platform will allow members of the public to subscribe to receive updates about what my officers are doing in their streets. These emails will be a mixture of updates on how we are tackling issues in the area, crime prevention advice and invitations to engagement events. People who sign up to the platform will be encouraged to let us know what matters most to them. Not only will this help the Met identify and address the crimes that matter most to residents, but it will also influence the messages that users receive, so that they receive the most relevant information possible. Visit the website: www.metengage.co.uk

The Environment Agency has introduced a new online service for reporting environmental incidents. Members of the public can now report pollution incidents online by visiting Report an environmental problem – GOV.UK.